Swing Caddy SC200 Plus launch Monitor Review: still great value with new features
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Swing Caddy recently introduced the SC200 Plus launch monitor as a replacement for its SC200 model. Almost all functions have remained the same, but they have added the swing speed mode – which allows you to measure your swing speed without hitting a ball.
I had the opportunity to test the SC200 Plus and I share my opinion in this review. In general, it remains one of the great values in the personal start-up monitor category. With the new swing speed mode, golfers following a training program focused on increasing swing speed can measure their progress.
Still A Great Value
The category of the personal launch monitor has got off the ground in the last 1-2 years. There are a lot of choices now and I have tested almost all of them. You can clearly state that Swing Caddy was the pioneer in this space. I heard that the original SC200 starter monitor was the best-selling product in the entire category throughout its entire life cycle. That's why I was a little surprised when I discovered that it was being stopped.
The SC200 Plus initially cost $ 399, which was somewhat disappointing because the original was less than $ 300. Fortunately, you can buy it here now for $ 289. In fact, this is the same price as its predecessor, but now you get the swing speed mode.
At this price level, I still believe that it is an excellent value for the functions you get and the accuracy. The Rapsodo MLM, Swing Caddy SC300 and FlightScope mevo will cost you around $ 150 – $ 200 more. They offer apps and improved data functions. But for some people the price point is out of their reach. Or the improved functions are not necessary.
At the bottom, the PRGR start monitor is about $ 100 less than the SC200 Plus. It offers comparable accuracy (perhaps a little better), but lacks a few bells and whistles and requires a little more effort to work.
In general, the SC200 Plus remains an excellent option for golfers with a limited budget but who still want a few premium features, such as a remote control, practice modes and voice output. I would consider it one of the best intermediate options for less than $ 500.
Very good accuracy
After testing the Swing Caddy SC200 Plus against my SkyTrak launch monitor, I believe the sensor offers comparable accuracy to the original SC200. Not much has changed in that area.
Testing in, you can see some of the original data I have collected against SkyTrak, which costs about $ 1700 more:
Club SkyTrak YardageSC200 Yardage% difference
Pitch Shot (LW) 53,855.63.29
SW99102.43.4
PW130.2133.22.27
7-iron173,6176.81.87
3-hybrid213209.81.51
Driver249.8255.12.09
The SC200 Plus does pretty well indoors if you have about 4-5 feet behind and in front of the ball. It is certainly not perfect (it is not a start monitor), but it gives you very good estimates of your swing speed, ball speed and wearing distances.
Since Swing Caddy uses a radar sensor, you can expect it to perform better outdoors when there is room to watch the ball move. For those who want to add a little more data to their reach sessions, it fills that void nicely. Keep in mind that when using range balls your distances can be influenced, about which I wrote in this article.
Simplicity
My favorite part of Swing Caddy start monitors is simplicity. All you have to do is turn on the SC200 Plus, have a quick calibration of the barometric pressure take place and you are ready to go.
The most important feature for accuracy is adjusting the clubhouse that touches you. The SC200 Plus comes with a remote control, with which you can make those changes at the touch of a button. It will also call up your shooting distances shortly after it reads your ball flight.
There are four modes to choose from.
Exercise : displays the shot distance, the swing speed, the ball speed, the smash factor, the time played and the total number of shots.
Target: You select a distance and take ten shots, after which you get a score of 10 after each shot.
Approach: Random distances are selected for you and you get a score of 10 after each shot.
Swing Speed: Capture swing speed without hitting a ball
The SC200 Plus also stores your recording data for each club. Over time you will see your average wearing distances and club head speeds for different clubs in your bag.
Swing Speed Mode
The only difference between the original SC200 and the SC200 Plus is the swing speed mode. You can now practice swings without hitting the ball, and it will display your swing speed. For some, this feature may not be a major problem or even not interesting at all.
However, with the rising popularity of swing speed training, I find the swing speed mode a very nice addition. One of my top recommendations for golfers who want to increase the swing speed is the SuperSpeed Golf Overspeed training system. One of the fundamental parts of that training is the use of a swing radar to track your swing speed when you use their training clubs (you don't hit balls). The SC200 Plus can be a valuable companion to that product because you can now compare your swing speeds and see if you make a profit.
Apart from that, I don't think many golfers would like to wave their clubs without hitting a ball. Anyway, this new feature does not entail any additional costs.
How I would use the SC200 Plus
For most golfers, I believe that a personal starting monitor can be a great exercise tool if they use it correctly. My primary recommendation is to use products such as the SC200 Plus to sharpen your wedge distances. Many golfers struggle with shots between 25 and 100 meters and you will see excellent accuracy because it is easier for each starting monitor to record shots at shorter distances. I have seen great results in my own game, and frankly it can be worth the price of admission alone for that functionality in terms of its impact on your golf game.
With the SC200 Plus you can use a combination of target mode and approach mode. You can first choose in distances between 50-100 meters and get your feeling for every shot. You can then test yourself with random yardage selections to see how well your body remembers those distances.
Even if you want to follow swing speed training with a product such as SuperSpeed Golf, the new swing speed function is a great companion.
Last but not least, you can also use the SC200 Plus to get reasonably accurate data about wearing distances for each club in your bag. This is a way to add more structure to your practice sessions, especially if you hit a net without any other form of feedback.
Wrapping It: Still a Great Value
In general, the SC200 Plus is not a major change from its predecessor, and that is a good thing. If it is not broken, do not repair it! For less than $ 300, you can get reasonably accurate feedback about your club distances, ball speed, and swing speed. The added practice mode swing speed is a great tool for those working on increasing their speed.
Looking at the rest of the category with personal start monitors, I still believe it is suitable for golfers with a limited budget but want a wide range of functions.
You can buy the SC200 Plus for $ 289 through this link, which is the lowest price you can find online.