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The new Bushnell “Circle B” Launch Pro launch monitors are being released today and, frankly, we’re a little perplexed.
Not about the quality or performance of the products, mind you. The Bushnell Launch Pro is a superb launch monitor, finishing just a whisker behind the Garmin R50 in MyGolfSpy testing last year. What has us flummoxed is that, as far as we can see, the new “Circle B” models are virtually the same as the models they’re replacing, just with a new color scheme.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Aside from packaging, the only new addition we can see is a new, lower-priced software subscription tier.
Let’s take a closer look.
Bushnell “Circle B”: Same as it ever was
Seriously, we checked. Other than a nifty new suit of clothes, the new Bushnell Circle B Launch Pro and Launch Pro LPi launch monitors are virtually identical to the previous models.
Same groom, new tuxedo.
The new orange-and-black scripting is eye-catching but Bushnell seriously whiffed on the timing. These should have been released just before Halloween.
The “Circle B” Launch Pro is Bushnell’s flagship indoor/outdoor launch monitor. In MyGolfSpy testing last year, it proved to be the best personal launch monitor for outdoor use as well as the most accurate in indoor and outdoor applications.
The “Circle B” LPi is the indoor-only version of the Launch Pro. Both launch monitors use a proprietary high-speed three-camera system and what Bushnell calls “optimized infrared technology” for enhanced accuracy.
Meet the new boss …
As mentioned, the biggest update appears to be a lower-priced software subscription option. Bushnell’s existing Gold Tier remains intact. For $499 per year, the Gold package provides 25 golf courses for simulator use, plus a full palette of club and ball data. That includes carry distance, ball speed, vertical and horizontal launch angle, total spin, back spin, side spin and spin tilt axis. Club data metrics include club head speed, smash factor, club path and angle of attack.
The new Silver Tier package is $199 annually. It includes five courses plus the full ball and club data package.
The Gold Tier package includes access (at an added cost) to GSPro, third-party software with 4K graphics and more realistic ball physics. The Silver Tier does not include that option.
Same as the old boss
While both of the new “Circle B” launch monitors seem to be essentially the same as Bushnell’s previous models, it’s also important to note that the Launch Pro is virtually identical to the Foresight GC3.
There’s a reason for that.
Vista Outdoor, a major player in outdoor sports and recreation, owns Bushnell and Foresight. Vista purchased Foresight in 2021 for $474 million, adding it to its outdoor gear and recreation division called Revelyst. That makes the two basically sister companies.
While the Bushnell Launch Pro and Foresight GC3 feature the same hardware, they offer different software access and pricing. The Foresight GC3 runs a cool $7,000 but includes a full suite of simulation and performance software. No subscriptions are necessary.
The new Bushnell “Circle B” Launch Pro is $2,499. It gives you limited data as is and would require at least the Silver Tier subscription package to be useful.
The indoor-only Bushnell LPi unit retails for $1,499.
Both units are available for pre-sale starting today at www.bushnellgolf.com.
The post Why The New Bushnell “Circle B” Launch Pro Series Has Me Confused appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
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