Two launch monitors are creating serious buzz right now—the new FlightScope Mevo Gen2 and the Square.
Both companies are doing their own thing, and here's what makes them interesting: they each pack features you won't find anywhere else. No other launch monitor at this price point offers what these two bring to the table.
And here's the kicker—they're targeting the same golfer. Maybe that's you!
So if you're torn between these two launch monitors, wondering which one deserves your hard-earned cash, this head-to-head breakdown will make your decision a whole lot easier. Let me walk you through exactly what sets them apart, what they share, and most importantly, which one fits your game better.
Shopping for a launch monitor these days? Yeah, it's no joke. You've got hundreds of options staring back at you, with prices ranging from a few hundred bucks all the way up to five figures. And right in between, dozens of devices are fighting for your attention.
Here's the thing—it's tough to figure out which products actually deliver and which ones are just hype.
The FlightScope Mevo Gen2 and the Square caught our attention because they're both pushing the category forward, just in different ways. The Mevo Gen2 packs some serious features like real-time data tracking and spot-on ball flight analysis. What does that mean for you? You get the kind of feedback that actually helps you improve, whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who takes their game seriously. Plus, its compact design means you can toss it in your bag without thinking twice, and the simple setup means you'll spend more time practicing and less time fiddling with tech. Additionally, the FlightScope Mevo Gen2 features advanced metrics that help golfers analyze their swing and make data-driven adjustments on the fly. This level of insight is often reserved for high-end equipment, but the Mevo Gen2 makes it accessible for players of all skill levels. With such capabilities, you can confidently take your practice sessions to the next level, ensuring every drive, chip, and putt counts. Additionally, the FlightScope Mevo Gen2 review highlights its ability to connect seamlessly with various devices, allowing for easy data sharing and analysis on the go. Users praise its accuracy and user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those who may not be tech-savvy. With these advantages, the Mevo Gen2 stands out as an essential tool for golfers looking to enhance their skills.
Now, the Mevo Gen2 takes FlightScope's professional-grade radar engine—the same tech tour pros trust—and squeezes it into a $1,199 package. No subscriptions eating at your wallet every month, no hidden fees popping up later. You buy it once, and you get reliable ball and club data that works indoors or outside. That's huge if you want radar accuracy without the typical radar price tag!
The Square takes a completely different approach. This is the first real camera-based launch monitor that breaks the $1,000 barrier. Until now, if you wanted optical tracking (that's when cameras track your ball instead of radar), you were looking at spending at least two grand. By smashing through that price wall, the Square makes side-mounted camera technology available to way more golfers.
So yeah, they use different tech—radar versus camera—but both are shaking things up in what I call the "serious golfer, realistic budget" category. And that's exactly why we're comparing them head-to-head.
Let me explain why this matchup really matters. These two launch monitors sit in a sweet spot in the market. They're not those entry-level gadgets that only tell you carry distance and leave you guessing about everything else. But they're also not those five-figure machines that only teaching pros and tour players can justify buying.
Both fill that frustrating gap in the middle, and that's precisely why golfers everywhere are taking notice.
Before we dive into the head-to-head comparison, let's break down what makes each launch monitor tick.
Unlock your best swing with the FlightScope Mevo Gen2 Launch Monitor. Combining precision tracking and portability, it’s ideal for golfers seeking pro-level insights on every shot.
The Mevo Gen2 will set you back $1,199, which might sound like a lot at first. But here's the thing – it sits in this sweet spot between the budget options and the crazy expensive stuff. You know those popular budget units like the Garmin R10 or Rapsodo MLM2PRO? The Gen2 costs more than those, but you're getting more for your money. At the same time, it's nowhere near the pro-tier equipment that costs as much as a used car.
The best part? No subscriptions! Once you buy it, you're done spending money. Other companies love to hit you with monthly fees, but FlightScope keeps it simple – pay once, and you own everything.
This is where things get interesting. The Gen2 uses something called Fusion Tracking, which basically means it combines two different ways of tracking your golf ball. First, it uses Doppler radar – that's the same technology police use to catch speeders. Then, it adds synchronized image processing, which is a fancy way of saying it takes pictures and analyzes them super fast. Together, these technologies track your ball's flight better than either one could alone.
What's really cool is that FlightScope uses this exact same technology in their Mevo+ and even their X3C system, which costs a whopping $15,000! So you're essentially getting pro-level tracking tech at a fraction of the price.
When you open the box and start hitting balls, you immediately get 18 different measurements. We're talking ball speed, club speed, how much your ball spins, the angle it launches at, how high it goes, your attack angle – basically everything you'd want to know about your shot. It tells you carry distance, how much roll you get, and your total distance. It even tracks putting metrics if you want to work on your short game.
Now, let me be straight with you – you won't get every single feature available. The advanced club measurements, like face-to-path (which shows if your clubface is open or closed) and impact location (where you hit the ball on the clubface), aren't included. If you want those features, you'll need to step up to the Mevo+.
Here's the thing about the video feature—it's probably the coolest part of this whole setup. You prop up your iPhone or iPad with the FS Golf app running, take your swing, and the system automatically creates a video with a tracer line following your ball. Plus, it stamps your data metrics right on the screen, so you can see your club speed, ball speed, and whatever else you want displayed.
If you're someone who learns better by seeing things, this feature is absolutely perfect for you.
The Gen2 comes loaded with simulator capabilities right out of the box. You get a lifetime license for E6 Connect, which includes eight real golf courses—we're talking actual courses you might've seen on TV! The system also works with GSPro, Awesome Golf, and Creative Golf. And get this, TGC 2019 compatibility is coming soon.
The best part? No subscriptions eating away at your wallet every month. No annoying paywalls blocking features you already paid for. Everything's included from day one.
Let me tell you about the physical design—the Gen2 got a makeover compared to the older Mevo models. It's taller and slimmer now, kind of like it went on a fitness program! The whole thing weighs less than a pound, so you could literally carry it in your pocket if you had big enough pockets. The built-in battery lasts six hours on a single USB-C charge, and there's a handy kickstand that lets you adjust the tilt and roll angles.
Setting it up is pretty simple, but you'll need some space. Indoors, you need 8 feet between the unit and where you're hitting from, plus another 8 feet of room for the ball to fly. That's 16 feet total of clear space. If you're outside though, you just need those 8 feet behind the ball since Mother Nature handles the rest of the flight path for you.
Let's talk about the downsides – because yes, there are a couple worth mentioning.
First up, you can't upgrade to the Pro Package or get Face Impact Location features. At least not right now, anyway. This means you're stuck with the basic features that come standard. Think of it like buying a car without the option to add leather seats later – what you get is what you get. If you're someone who likes to start simple and upgrade over time, this might bug you a bit.
Here's the thing about space requirements: you'll need more room than those compact side-mounted or overhead camera systems. We're talking about needing roughly 8 to 10 feet of clear space behind you, compared to maybe 4 to 6 feet with other setups. Picture your typical garage or basement – if you can barely squeeze in your golf mat now, this system might have you rearranging furniture! It's not a deal-breaker for most people, but if you're working with a tight space, you'll want to measure twice before buying.
The good news? These limitations won't affect your day-to-day practice sessions much. You'll still get accurate readings and solid feedback on your swings. But let me know if either of these issues sounds like a problem for your setup – it's better to know now than be surprised later.
Experience top-tier golf analysis with the Square Golf Launch Monitor, designed for precision and premium performance on every swing.
At $699, the Square is turning heads for good reason. You're getting serious technology without breaking the bank, and here's the kicker—no subscription fees! Just like the Mevo Gen2, you buy it once and you're done. No monthly charges sneaking up on you to use the features you already paid for.
Here's what makes the Square stand out from the crowd: it uses cameras instead of radar to track your shots. This is called photometric technology, which basically means it takes super-fast photos of your ball and club to figure out what's happening. The clever part? It sits next to the ball, not behind it like most launch monitors do.
Why should you care about where it sits? Well, if you're hitting balls in your garage or basement, space matters! Those radar units need room behind you to work properly—sometimes 6 to 8 feet. The Square? It just chills out beside you, taking up way less room.
Now, let's talk about the data you're getting. For your ball flight, the Square tracks everything you'd want: ball speed, which direction it's going, launch angle, spin rate, how high it goes (apex), carry distance, how far it rolls, and your total distance. That's a lot of info to help you understand your shots!
For your club data, you're looking at swing path (are you coming from inside or outside?), face angle (is your clubface open or closed at impact?), dynamic loft (the actual loft when you hit the ball), and angle of attack (are you hitting down or up on it?).
That's pretty amazing for this price range, honestly. But here's what you won't get—smash factor and clubhead speed. Smash factor tells you how efficiently you're transferring energy to the ball, and clubhead speed is, well, how fast your club is moving. Would these be nice to have? Sure. But for $699, you're still getting plenty to work with.
Right out of the box, you're getting 10 built-in courses – these are fictional layouts, but here's the real kicker. The Square connects directly with GSPro, E6 Connect, and Awesome Golf, and you won't need to pay extra subscription fees! That means you can play famous courses from around the world without shelling out monthly charges.
Now, let me explain how the credit system works. When you buy the Square, you get 1,000 credits to start with. That's enough for about 55 solo rounds of golf, which isn't bad at all. Once you use those up, you'll need to reload credits – it costs about two cents per hole. Think about it this way: if you play 18 holes twice a month, those initial credits will last you over a year. For casual golfers who hit the sim maybe once a week, this setup can save you serious money compared to paying $30 or $40 every month for other systems.
Here's something cool – the Square actually reads your putts! Most budget launch monitors skip this feature entirely, but not this one. It tracks your putting direction, measures how fast the ball leaves the putter face, and shows you exactly how far it'll roll. You're getting the full picture of your putting stroke, which helps you practice those crucial short-game shots that make or break your score.
The Square weighs about a pound, so you can easily toss it in your golf bag. The battery is removable and lasts eight hours on a single charge – that's enough for several rounds with your buddies. When it does run low, just plug it in with a USB-C cable, the same one you probably use for your phone.
Setting this thing up couldn't be simpler. Place it down next to your ball, open the app on your phone or tablet, and you're ready to swing. No complicated calibration, no confusing menus to navigate through.
One important heads-up though: the Square only works indoors. The infrared sensors that track your shots don't play nice with sunlight, so you can't bring it to the driving range on a sunny day. It's strictly for your garage, basement, or indoor simulator setup. Just something to keep in mind if you were hoping to use it outdoors!
You get quite a bit packed in the box with this one. The package includes marked balls, which help the device track your shots better, plus shaft stickers that you'll stick on your clubs for accurate readings. There's also a remote control, a removable battery you can swap out when needed, and here's something cool — the Swing Stick. This short trainer club lets you practice your swing indoors without actually hitting a real ball, so you can work on your form without worrying about breaking anything!
Now, let me be honest about the build quality. When you pick this thing up, it feels lighter and more plasticky than those pricier units you might see at the golf shop. But here's the thing — that lighter construction helps keep the price down, and for most folks, it does the job just fine.
This device works indoors only, so you won't be taking it out to the driving range. That means you're limited to practicing in your garage, basement, or spare room.
You also can't save your shots or look back at your practice sessions. Each time you start up, you're basically starting fresh — there's no history tracking to show your progress over time.
The lightweight, plastic construction I mentioned earlier? While it keeps costs down, it might not feel as sturdy as you'd expect if you're used to premium golf equipment.
Here's what might frustrate some serious golfers: the device doesn't measure smash factor or clubhead speed. Smash factor tells you how efficiently you're transferring energy to the ball — basically, how solid your contact is. Without these measurements, you're missing some key data about your swing.
The hitting zone is pretty small too, so you need to place your ball carefully each time. It takes a bit of patience to get the positioning just right, especially when you're first starting out.
Let's put these two side by side and see how they really stack up against each other.
The Mevo Gen2 costs $1,199, and here's the thing – you don't pay any subscriptions. You get a lifetime E6 license right out of the box. That means you're getting access to premium golf simulation software that usually costs hundreds of dollars per year, but you pay once and you're done.
Now, the Square takes a different approach at $699. You still don't have any subscriptions to worry about, which is nice! You get free connectivity to GSPro, E6, and Awesome Golf – these are the big names in golf simulation software. But here's where it gets interesting: Square uses a credit-based system for sim play. Think of it like buying tokens at an arcade – you'll need to purchase credits when you want to play certain courses or features.
If your budget is tight and you need to keep that initial cost down, Square wins this round pretty easily. You're saving $500 right off the bat! But let me explain why Mevo Gen2 might actually save you money in the long run. With Mevo, you get bundled real-world courses and never pay per round. So if you're planning to practice a lot – say, three times a week – those Square credits could add up fast. After a few months, you might end up spending more than that initial $500 difference.
The Mevo Gen2 uses Fusion Tracking radar to capture 18 different measurements directly from your ball. Tour pros actually trust this same technology, which tells you something about its accuracy!
Square takes a different approach with its camera system. It performs great indoors and gives you club data like angle of attack, which helps you understand your swing better.
Here's the thing: if you want radar-level ball tracking that works both indoors and outdoors, the Mevo Gen2 makes more sense. But if you're dealing with limited indoor space and still need useful club data, Square fits the bill better.
This is where you'll see the biggest difference between these two. The Mevo Gen2's radar system really shines when you're tracking full ball flights outdoors—it needs that space to work its magic.
Square plays to its strengths with that camera-based design. When you're hitting indoors, especially in tight spaces, cameras beat radar almost every time. Why? They don't need the same depth that radar units require to track your shots accurately.
So let me be clear: neither one is "better" in every situation. Pick the one that matches where you'll practice most!
The Mevo Gen2 comes with lifetime access to E6, which includes eight real golf courses right out of the box. You also get broad third-party software support, and here's the kicker—no ongoing fees to worry about.
Square gives you ten fictional courses built into the system. It works with GSPro, E6, and Awesome Golf too, but it uses a credit system instead of traditional subscriptions.
If you're itching to play real-world courses from day one, the Mevo Gen2 takes this round.
Let's talk about what you actually see when you're using these devices. The Mevo Gen2 gives you automatic shot tracers with data overlays – basically, it draws the path of your ball flight right on the screen and shows you the numbers at the same time. Think of it like watching a golf broadcast where they trace the pro's shots, except it's your swing! The visual feedback really helps you understand what's happening with each shot.
Now, Square takes a different approach. You get a clean, simple app that shows your ball data and club data side by side, which makes it easy to see everything at once. But here's the thing – there's no shot history or storage feature. Once you move on to the next shot, that previous data is gone, which can be pretty frustrating when you're trying to track your progress.
Between the two, the Mevo Gen2 just feels more polished and complete. Don't get me wrong, Square works fine for basic practice, but not being able to look back at your session later? That's a real letdown when you're trying to improve your game.
Here's where things get interesting, and your practice space really matters. The Mevo Gen2 needs 16 feet of indoor space total – that's 8 feet behind the ball and 8 feet in front. If you've got a garage or basement with some room, you're golden. Plus, it works outdoors too, so you can take it to the range or your backyard.
Square, on the other hand, is indoor-only but super space-friendly. You don't need nearly as much room, which is great for tighter spaces. The catch? The hitting zone is pretty small, and you need to be precise about where you place the ball. Move it an inch or two off the sweet spot, and the device might miss your shot completely.
So this really comes down to where you plan to practice most often. Got plenty of space and want flexibility between indoor and outdoor use? Mevo Gen2 makes sense. Working with a smaller room and only need indoor practice? Square could be your answer – just be ready to be patient with that hitting zone!
Let's talk about how long these devices last on a single charge. The Mevo Gen2 gives you 6 hours of continuous use, which honestly covers most practice sessions you'll ever have. Think about it – even if you're hitting balls for three hours straight, you're still only halfway through the battery.
Now, here's where Square gets interesting! You get 8 hours of battery life, but that's not even the best part. Square comes with a removable battery that you can swap out whenever you need to. So if you're the type who likes marathon practice sessions or you're running a golf clinic all day, you can just pop in a fresh battery and keep going. It's like having a backup gas tank for your car – pretty handy when you need it.
Here's the thing though – both options give you more battery life than you'll probably ever use in one go. Most golfers practice for maybe an hour or two at a time, so even the Mevo's 6 hours is triple what you'd typically need. Unless you're planning to live at the driving range (and hey, no judgment if you are!), either device will get you through your session with battery to spare.
Square definitely wins this round with its longer life and swappable battery feature, but let's be real – it's kind of like comparing two buffets where both have more food than you could possibly eat. You won't go hungry with either choice.
Yes, the Mevo Gen2 works great both indoors and outdoors. You'll need 16 feet of space indoors (8 feet behind and 8 feet in front of the ball), but outdoors you only need 8 feet behind since the ball flies naturally into open space.
No subscription needed! Square uses a credit system instead - you get 1,000 credits to start (about 55 rounds), then reload as needed at about two cents per hole, which beats paying $30-40 monthly for other systems.
Radar (Mevo Gen2) tracks your ball's entire flight path using radio waves like airports track planes, while cameras (Square) take super-fast photos to analyze impact and initial launch - radar's better for full outdoor flights, cameras excel in tight indoor spaces.
Square wins for tight spaces since it sits beside your ball instead of behind you, needing way less room than the Mevo Gen2's 16-foot requirement - perfect when you're squeezing practice into that cramped basement corner.
Yes, both track putting! You'll get data on ball speed, direction, and roll distance - the Mevo Gen2 includes this in its 18 measurements, while Square specifically highlights putting metrics as a standout feature for short game practice.
Okay guys, here's where I stand on this whole thing:
Go with the FlightScope Mevo Gen2 if you want radar technology that actually works—both inside your garage and out on the range. Here's the thing: radar measures your ball flight the same way airports track planes, which means you're getting professional-level accuracy for around $1,000. Plus, you get lifetime access to E6 golf courses without paying monthly fees, which saves you hundreds of dollars every year!
Grab the Square instead if you practice mostly indoors and don't have 16 feet of space to spare. This thing uses camera technology—basically super-smart photo analysis—to track your shots, and it's the first time anyone's made this tech affordable. We're talking about the same type of system that $2,000+ monitors use, but at half the price.
Now, let me be straight with you—neither one's perfect. The Mevo Gen2 won't tell you advanced stuff like your club's angle of attack (how steep you're hitting down on the ball), and you need more room to set it up properly. The Square feels a bit cheaper when you hold it, skips some measurements golfers want, and weirdly won't let you save your practice sessions.
But here's what gets me excited about both of them. The Mevo Gen2 brings radar accuracy down to a price that regular golfers can actually afford—that's huge! Meanwhile, the Square makes optical tracking possible without taking out a second mortgage.
At the end of the day, your choice comes down to three things: your space, your wallet, and what feedback matters most to you.
Let me break it down even simpler. Ask yourself what you really need. Do you want dead-on accuracy whether you're hitting balls in your basement or at the driving range? The Mevo Gen2 makes more sense. Do you need something that works in tight spaces, costs less, and gives you that fancy camera-based tracking without spending thousands? That's when the Square becomes your best bet.
Either way, you're looking at one of the best launch monitor deals on the market right now. These things measure your ball speed, launch angle, and spin rate—the three numbers that basically tell you everything about your shot quality.
