You've probably heard tons of reasons why you should buy the Square Launch Monitor.
And honestly, a lot of those reasons make sense.
The Square really is a solid launch monitor. Think about it—for less than $7,000, you get elite-level data tracking, zero subscription fees, and built-in simulation features that could make this thing worth every penny. Plus, it looks pretty sharp sitting there next to your setup.
But here's the thing—I don't think the Square works for every golfer out there. Actually, I think a bunch of you would be way happier with a different launch monitor.
So today, I'm going to walk you through five reasons why you might want to skip the Square and look at something else.
Let's jump in!
The Square Golf Launch Monitor has created more buzz than pretty much any golf gadget under $1,000 that I can remember.
And when you look at what it promises, that makes total sense:
It's the first photometric launch monitor you can grab for under $1,000. That means it uses high-speed cameras to track your ball, just like the $20,000+ units the pros use.
You don't pay any subscription fees—ever.
The short-game tracking actually works, which is huge since most budget monitors struggle when you're chipping and putting.
And then there's this cool Swing Stick feature that lets you practice your swing without smacking real balls into your neighbor's yard!
At $699, this sounds like you can't lose, right?
Well, hold on a second. Once you dig past all the marketing hype and those first excited reviews, the Square has some real downsides. And depending on how you plan to use it, these problems might totally kill the deal for you.
I've spent hours testing the Square right next to its competitors—the FlightScope Mevo Gen2, the Rapsodo MLM2PRO, and the SkyTrak+. And while the Square definitely shakes things up in the launch monitor world, it's not the perfect fit for everyone.
So let's break down the five big reasons you might want to pass on the Square Golf Launch Monitor.
Here's the thing—this is the Square's biggest deal-breaker, and there's no way around it.
The Square completely fails when you take it outside. Sunlight messes with its cameras and infrared sensors, making it impossible to get accurate readings. Even worse, if you leave it in direct sunlight for too long, you'll actually fry the internal components! That means you can't bring it to the driving range, can't use it in your backyard, and definitely can't practice with it at the course.
Think about what that really means for your golf game. Maybe you're picturing yourself using this in your garage during those cold winter months, then packing it up for summer range sessions. Well, forget about it—the Square stays home, period.
If you need something that works both indoors and outdoors, you'll have to look at radar-based options instead. The FlightScope Mevo Gen2 runs about $500, while the Rapsodo MLM2PRO costs around $700, and the Garmin R10 sits at $600. These use radar technology instead of cameras, so sunlight doesn't bother them one bit. Want a camera-based device that works outside? Get ready to spend at least $2,000 more.
Now, don't get me wrong—the Square does shine in tight indoor spaces where those radar units struggle to get clean readings. Radar needs about 8 feet of ball flight to work properly, but the Square only needs 4 feet. That's a huge advantage if you're working with a small room or low ceiling.
But let's be real here. If any part of your practice happens outdoors, whether that's weekly range sessions or just hitting balls in the backyard, the Square won't cut it. You need a tool that follows you wherever you practice, not one that's stuck in your basement.
When you unbox the Square, you get this weird mixed message. The packaging looks fancy—you've got multiple boxes, tons of accessories, and everything's laid out nicely. But then you pick up the actual device, and it feels like a toy. The thing weighs practically nothing, less than a can of beer!
Now, here's the thing—that lightweight feel might not seem like a big deal, but think about it. You're setting this device just inches from where you're smashing golf balls at full speed. You want something that feels solid, right? Not something that feels like it might blow away if you sneeze too hard.
What really gets me is what's missing. There's no carrying case to protect your investment, no protective cage around the sensors, and nothing to shield it from that inevitable shank we all hit sometimes. You know the one—where the ball shoots sideways instead of forward? Yeah, that ball could nail your Square directly, and there's zero protection built in.
Even the alignment stick, which helps you position the device correctly, keeps falling out of its slot. It wobbles around like it was added at the last minute instead of being designed as part of the system. For a device that needs precise positioning to work properly, that's not exactly confidence-inspiring.
The lightweight design creates another problem too. Since it barely weighs anything, the Square doesn't sit firmly on the ground. Got a slightly bumpy mat? The device shifts. Accidentally tap it with your foot? It moves. And here's why that matters—even small position changes can mess up your readings. The device needs to stay exactly where you put it, or your data won't be accurate.
Let me be clear, the Square works. It does what it's supposed to do. But when you compare it to competitors like the MLM2PRO, SkyTrak+, or the R10, those units feel sturdy and built to last. They have some heft to them, some substance. The Square feels like what it is—a budget option trying to compete with the big boys.
If you're planning to use this thing regularly, or if you want something that'll hold up over time, this lightweight build should make you think twice. Sure, it functions, but durability matters when you're investing in golf tech.
Here's the thing about the Square's data – it gives you some surprising extras for $699, but then leaves out the basics you'd actually expect. You get club metrics that pricier devices usually lock behind a paywall, which sounds great! But wait, there's no clubhead speed. No smash factor either. These are the numbers most golfers actually want to track their progress.
The Square does include dynamic loft, which measures the angle of your clubface at impact. Sounds useful, right? Well, it would be if the numbers weren't all over the place. Mine showed readings that made zero sense – we're talking 10 to 15 degrees off what my actual loft should be.
Let me break down the accuracy situation. Your irons and wedges? The Square nails those pretty well. Ball speed reads true, and carry distances match what you'd expect. But grab your driver or fairway woods, and things get sketchy. The numbers start drifting – not terribly, but enough that you shouldn't bet your swing changes on them.
Shot detection drives me a little crazy too. About every dozen swings, the Square just... doesn't see your shot. Poof, like it never happened! If you're just hitting balls for fun, no big deal. But when you're working on something specific and need every shot counted, that missing data gets annoying fast.
The hitting zone creates its own headaches. It's small – really small – and setting up your ball takes forever when you switch between clubs. Need to move from driver to 7-iron? You're adjusting tee height, repositioning the ball, and hoping everything lines up right. The alignment stick that's supposed to help? Mine kept falling over, which didn't exactly inspire confidence in my setup.
Look, the Square works "well enough" for plenty of golfers who just want basic feedback. But if you need reliable numbers across your whole bag, or if tracking clubhead speed and smash factor matters to your improvement plan, you'll end up frustrated. The fussy setup and random shot-detection hiccups make practice sessions feel like more work than they should be.
Here's the thing about the Square – while the hardware impresses, the software tells a different story. It's basically the bare minimum you'd expect from a launch monitor app.
The app looks clean and works fine, but that's about where the good news ends. You get basic driving ranges that do the job, nothing special. The closest-to-the-pin mode works, and so does putting practice, but neither will blow you away. Even the fictional courses they included – which actually look pretty decent – don't match what you'll find with other simulator software out there.
But wait, it gets worse. The Square doesn't save your shot history or store your practice sessions! Think about that for a second. You can't flag important swings, you can't build dispersion charts (those maps that show where your shots typically land), and you definitely can't track how you're improving week to week. Sure, they let you export a CSV file – basically a spreadsheet – but come on, who wants to deal with that every time they practice?
This missing feature really hurts. The whole reason you buy a launch monitor is to track your progress, right? Square makes this way harder than it needs to be. Real improvement happens when you spot patterns over time, not just by looking at one number once. Without dispersion maps to show your shot patterns, without bag mapping to understand each club's performance, and without trend lines showing your progress, you're basically flying blind. Did that grip change actually help your slice? Was today's good session a fluke or real improvement? Good luck figuring that out!
Meanwhile, competitors like the Rapsodo MLM2PRO cost about the same but give you a much better app experience. If having polished, useful software matters to you – and it should – the Square feels like taking a step backward instead of forward.
Here's the thing about the Square's Swing Stick—it's probably the feature that gets people arguing the most. You know what it is? It's basically a short training club packed with sensors that lets you play simulator golf without actually hitting a ball. Sounds cool, right? The idea is that you can practice your swing in tight spaces, maybe even squeeze in a quick round in your living room while watching TV.
But let me tell you, it doesn't really feel like playing actual golf. The distances you see on screen? They're usually way higher than what you'd actually hit—think 20 to 30 yards extra on your drives! Your swing might produce a nice draw on the course, but the Swing Stick shows it flying straight as an arrow. Sure, kids love it, and if you're brand new to golf, you might have some fun with it for a while. But if you're serious about improving your game, you'll figure out pretty quickly that this thing is more of a toy than a real training tool.
What really gets me though is that Square makes you buy it whether you want it or not. Every single Square package includes the Swing Stick—no exceptions. I've talked to other golfers who said they'd much rather have a protective carrying case for their unit, or hey, just knock $50 to $75 off the price! Makes sense to me. Think about it: instead of putting money into better software updates, stronger materials that won't break after a season, or even including a basic alignment stick, Square decided everyone needs this novelty item. That tells you something about what they think is important.
Now look, if you're buying this for the whole family, or you're someone who literally has no space to take a full swing, then maybe the Swing Stick works for you. It could be a fun little extra that gets some use on rainy days. But for most golfers? It's going to end up in that pile of golf gadgets you bought and never touched again—right next to that putting mat you used twice.
Here's the thing about the Square—it's definitely stirring up the golf world. We're talking about the first optical launch monitor under $1,000, which is pretty wild! It connects to GSPro without making you pay extra fees, and yes, it actually reads your putts. This little device makes indoor sim golf possible for folks who don't have massive basements, unlike those radar units that need a runway's worth of space.
But let's be real, you're making some serious trade-offs here. You can only use it indoors, the build quality feels a bit cheap, and you're missing some important data points. The software is pretty basic, and that Swing Stick accessory? It's more gimmick than game-changer. This isn't your perfect, do-everything golf gadget.
Here's another thing to think about—how long will this thing stay relevant? Right now, the Square feels fresh and exciting, but the budget launch monitor market moves fast. Really fast. Companies like Garmin, Rapsodo, and Swing Caddie push out software updates and new models constantly. Without major upgrades, your shiny new Square might feel old news by next golf season.
This matters if you're building a sim setup you want to keep for years. Sure, you're saving a few hundred bucks today, but what happens when you get the upgrade itch after just one winter? That's not much of a bargain anymore.
You know how it goes—those first few weeks with the Square feel amazing, especially if it's your first simulator. Then you try your buddy's high-end setup and realize what you're missing. Better driver numbers that you can actually trust, more detailed club data, and software that remembers your last session without making you start from scratch. If you're someone who loves upgrading your gear, buying the "cheap option now, better option later" approach usually costs more in the long run.
Want to practice at the outdoor range? The Square won't help you there. Need serious data tracking to improve your game over months? You'll want something else. Care about having solid software that stores all your stats? Keep looking.
The Square works best for golfers who check these boxes:
For that type of golfer, you're getting a neat piece of tech at a price that seemed impossible just a year ago. But for everyone else? There are better choices out there, even if you need to stretch your budget a bit.
Have you tried the Square yourself? Maybe your golf buddy has one? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I bet other viewers would love to hear what real users think about it.
If this helped you out, hit that like button and subscribe for more content like this. We've got plenty more reviews and comparisons coming your way. Until then, I'll catch you on the course!
