Skip to content
Foresight Sports GC3 Golf Simulator Review: Now With Multiple Models To Choose From | 2025 Update!

Foresight Sports GC3 Golf Simulator Review: Now With Multiple Models To Choose From | 2025 Update!

Can you get a better, more accurate launch monitor for your indoor golf simulator for the price of the GC3/GC3S? Our golf reviewer Marc gives you the straight story on this most affordable Foresight Sports GLM!

The Foresight Sports GC3 certainly isn’t the only great golf launch monitor option.

But it’s definitely one of the best.

And, as of late 2024, it now comes in two different versions that both include a Bushnell golf rangefinder and access to Foresight’s new LINK-Enabled Technology.

That means that you can now choose between a more-money-up-front-but-no-subscriptions model or save some money on the front end with a pay-as-you-go subscription option.

And, in either case, you can now pair your GC3 launch monitor data with your included-with-purchase Bushnell rangefinder to get personalized club recommendations based on your shot history right in the rangefinder viewfinder.

In other words, if you’re to believe the marketing hype, there’s a lot that’s intriguing about the Foresight GC3.

But I already knew all of that before I ever tried the GC3. Its reputation as a super legit golf launch monitor is well understood by anyone following the space. Hell, just turn on the TV and watch the pros warm up on the range, and you’ll see a lot of Foresight Sports technology by way of the GC3’s big brothers, the GCQuad and QuadMAX.

With the opportunity to finally get hands-on with the Foresight Sports GC3, I wanted to confirm all of those things that I had read about as well as learn whatever I didn’t already know. I wanted to see, firsthand, just how easy it was to set up and operate, how accurately it recorded shot data, and if there were any hidden pain points that I didn’t know about.

Now, I’ve got those answers, and I’m going to share my findings with you. Read on for my no-holds-barred, in-depth review of the Foresight Sports GC3 and GC3S. If you’re shopping for a golf launch monitor, there’s a lot of information here you’ll want to consider.


Foresight Sports GC3 vs GC3S vs Bushnell LPi

First things first, let’s knock out the biggest confusion about the GC3, which is how it compares with the GC3S and Bushnell LPi. In my opinion, the branding and marketing geniuses at these companies haven’t done us any favors in helping us understand these products and how they differ. And if you search online, you’re in for a wild ride of varying information.

I’ll say it as clearly as I can: The Foresight Sports GC3, GC3S, and Bushnell LPi are almost the exact same golf launch monitors. Stay with me.

They all provide the same three cameras to record the same ball and club data metrics.

They’re the same shape and size. They set up and work exactly the same. It’s a whole lot of the same.

The difference between the GC3 and the GC3S is that, with the GC3 you pay everything up front and then are done with any expenditures, and with the GC3S, you pay less up front but then owe an annual subscription to access all of the golf simulator software and club data (ball data remains even if you don’t pay the subscription). Think of it as the new Bushnell Launch Pro, only now it comes with a rangefinder.

In the case of the LPi, it’s an indoor-only unit. That means that it doesn’t include the built-in screen and battery that make the GC3 and GC3S such versatile indoor-outdoor options. Instead, with the LPi, you’re limited to indoor use. You also don’t get the LINK-Enabled Bushnell rangefinder with the LPi, and it does include the annual subscription for the software and club data (after a free first year). But the advantage of this golf launch monitor option is a lower purchase price.

Confused yet? A lot of people are. If you want to dive into a deeper explanation, we got you.

 

The Bushnell LPi golf launch monitor at the 2025 PGA Show (image by PlayBetter)

You’re probably wondering how we ever got to the point of having three nearly identical products with different brand names and different pricing models.

In 2021, Bushnell’s parent company, Vista Outdoor, bought Foresight Sports. At that point, Foresight was already selling the GC3. So rather than just leaving things as they were, Bushnell decided to re-brand the GC3 as the Bushnell Launch Pro, all while continuing to sell the GC3.

Then, in late 2024, the two sister companies further refined the line to arrive at where we are now: An all-in-one GC3, a pay-as-you-go GC3S, and an indoor-only LPi.

Like I said, the whole thing is a ball of confusion. But who really cares? What matters is that we’ve got three kickass golf launch monitors. If you hate subscriptions, the GC3 might be the choice for you. If you want a lower initial purchase price and don’t mind a subscription, then it’s the GC3S. And if you know you’re only going to use this indoors, maybe it’s the LPi.

In this review, I’ll refer a lot to just the “GC3.” But understand that the same information (unless we’re talking price structure) applies to the GC3S. And a lot of the same information also applies to the LPi.

Of course, none of these are great options if they don’t work as well as advertised. Let’s find out.

Setting Up the Foresight Sports GC3: It Doesn’t Get Any Easier Than This

The Foresight Sports GC3 laying on a table at PlayBetter in its open box

I’ve tested a lot of golf launch monitors. And the GC3 is, without question, one of the simplest and most convenient to use.

It’s all about the built-in LCD display on the launch monitor itself. With other products, you have to interface with an app to see the results of your shots. This incredibly useful feature comes into play mostly when you’re outdoors at the driving range. With the GC3, you can see your data immediately after your shot, without having to pick up your phone or look back at a computer screen.

Now don’t get me wrong. You, of course, can connect your GC3 to the Foresight Sports software. And you’ll want to do that when you really want to study your shot data or when you want to play simulator golf. But for those times when you just want to work through a quick range sesh and get your numbers so that you can see if your distances and spin rates are where you expect them to be, this is one of my absolute favorite devices.

Another thing I love about the GC3 is how easy it is to align. This part of the setup process can be a real pain with other devices, especially radar-based units that sit behind the ball and have to be perfectly in line with the ball and target. With the GC3, you basically just set it down and start firing shots. You should put an alignment stick down to make sure your GC3 is reading the same shot direction as where you’re aiming, but that literally takes just a few seconds.

Then there’s the build quality of the GC3. It is an absolute tank. It seriously makes some of the other really good golf launch monitors in this price range feel cheap by comparison. The GC3 is so solid and well built that it is the one golf launch monitor anywhere near this price point that when I pick it up, even before turning it on, I feel like it’s a high-quality product worth the asking price. In other words, the GC3 makes a hell of a first impression.

Now, let’s fire it up.


Foresight Sports GC3/GC3S Data and Accuracy

Here’s where we get to the really good stuff. If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a golf launch monitor, it needs to be accurate. And, I’m sorry, but you’re not going to find a golf launch monitor for under $10,000 that’s more accurate than the Foresight GC3.

I have used the GCQuad and QuadMAX, and those units are the ultimate in accuracy. But they also cost a lot more money.

What I’m trying to say is that if you want better accuracy than the GC3, it’s going to cost you more than what some people pay for a new car. And unless you’re a tour-level player, or just require the absolute best that money can buy, I don’t think you can do any better in terms of accuracy than the Foresight Sports GC3.

It used to be that the GC3 was available as a Ball Data Only model or a Ball-and-Club Data model. But Foresight has consolidated things so that every GC3 now comes fully enabled with ball and club data (GC3S and LPi require subscription for club data). I think that’s great news, because I really do think that if you’re going to buy a golf launch monitor this nice, you’re being short-sighted to not want the club data. It provides so many useful insights into your game.

The Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor being held in the hands of a PlayBetter employee over its packaging above a table

Here’s what you’re getting right out of the box with the Foresight GC3:

Ball Data:

  • Launch Angle
  • Side Angle
  • Ball Speed
  • Total Spin
  • Carry Distance
  • Side Spin/Spin Axis

Club Data:

  • Clubhead Speed
  • Club Path
  • Angle of Attack
  • Smash Factor

For the GC3’s triscopic high-speed camera system to accurately read club data, you have to apply a small circular sticker to the top of the face of each golf club. I definitely don’t love that, but it’s also not a big deal. And the stickers are very durable. I’ve had them on my clubs for several months, and they are still intact and working even after repeated clubface washings.

If you play competitive tournament golf, the club stickers aren’t legal, so you’ll have to take them off and reapply new ones when you want to get back to working with your golf simulator. But I don’t have that problem. I’m on more of the charity event scramble circuit than anything approaching serious, competitive golf.

I’m blown away by the accuracy of the GC3. And I’m impressed with the data set. But I do think that the data metrics could be a little bit better for the price. For example, with the FlightScope Mevo+, even before you add the Mevo+ Pro Package, you get 20 data metrics right out of the box, significantly more than with the GC3. Then again, the Mevo+ is more finicky to set up than the GC3, and for as great as the Mevo is, I give the accuracy nod to the GC3.

But the real pros and cons of a photometric unit like the GC3 versus a radar unit like the Mevo Plus come into focus when we use these golf launch monitors indoors. And I’ve done just that.

Using the Foresight GC3 in a Golf Simulator Studio

 

The Foresight Sports GC3 golf launch monitor on a golf hitting mat in the PlayBetter warehouse

 

With its three-camera system, the GC3 reads golf shots from the side of the golf ball. This makes for a huge space-saving advantage. It means that you only need enough room behind you to comfortably swing a golf club.

Radar golf launch monitors sit usually at least 8 feet behind the golf ball. Think of how much extra room depth that requires. Also, radar units need several feet between the ball and hitting screen or net in order to accurately read the shot. But the GC3 gathers all of the information it needs at the moment of impact. That means that you only need enough space in front of you so that the ball can hit the screen or net without ricocheting back into your body.

While room size requirements, height of the golfer and length of their swingour general room-size recommendations for comfortably using a Foresight Sports GC3 indoors are:

  • 10 feet wide
  • 10 feet deep
  • 9 feet tall

Something like the Mevo Plus is probably going to require as much as 21 feet of room depth. That means that if you’re tight on space, the GC3 might become that much more of a no-brainer.

But before you make that decision final, just consider who is going to be using your golf simulator studio. If you plan to play indoor golf regularly with both righties and lefties, the GC3 is going to present a problem. That’s because you’re going to have to move the launch monitor from one side to the other every time you switch between a righty and a lefty. That’s not a very practical way to play a round of simulator golf. If that’s going to be a common scenario for you, you might be better off with a radar launch monitor that can stay in a fixed position behind the ball.


Using the Foresight Sports GC3 Outdoors

The GC3 weighs 5 pounds and is a foot tall, so it’s not like it’s portable to the point of being able to easily slide into your golf bag. But it does include a built-in handle that makes transport really simple.

All that to say that moving the launch monitor back and forth between your indoor sim studio and the outdoor driving range is kind of a mixed bag. It’s easy, but not something you’ll probably want to do all the time.

Once you do get the GC3 outdoors at the range, it’s a dream. I told you about how simple it is to set up, which is a great feature when you just want to get some quick numbers pre-round.

Another awesome advantage is that the GC3 can easily and accurately read shots hit off of both artificial and natural grass. A launch monitor like the SkyTrak+, by comparison, really struggles to get numbers when you’re hitting off of real grass. No such issue with the GC3. To me, that’s a big deal. If I’m outdoors at the range, I want to hit off of the same real grass that I’m going to play from out on the course.

Foresight Sports GC3 Golf Simulator Software Options

Foresight Sports GC3 being held by a hand over a golf hitting mat

The GC3 comes with:

  • FSX Play Software
  • FSX 2020 Software
  • FSX Pro Performance Software
  • 25 Golf Courses

That means that you can play full-blown, really realistic simulator golf on the very same day that you get your GC3. And I’ve found that experience to be totally awesome. The graphics, especially with FSX Play, are stunning. If you’ve got a nice projector and impact screen, you’ll be blown away by how realistic you can make your indoor golf experience using the GC3.

One thing to note is that you will need a gaming computer to run the FSX software. So keep that in mind (and budget) if you’re planning a golf simulator studio.

As for the simulator golf courses that are included with the GC3, the 25 included with purchase are good but not great. There aren’t any household big-name courses. The courses are still fun to play, and the graphics are great.

But it’s when you choose from the a la carte FSX course library menu that you get into the really cool golf simulator course options. Prices range between $150 and $500 per golf course, which may sound like a lot, but you own those courses for life. And, in my experience, the graphics quality, detail, and overall realism is unmatched. 

You can play stunningly lifelike sim versions of big-name courses like:

  • The Old Course at St Andrews
  • Pebble Beach
  • Spyglass Hill
  • The Links at Spanish Bay
  • Pinehurst No. 2
  • And More

To play these kinds of golf courses with graphics as realistic as what you get with FSX Play is just such a dream. You might never leave the house.


GC3S Subscriptions?

Remember, with the Foresight GC3, there are no subscriptions. The only extra money you’ll have to pay beyond the $6,999 purchase price is if you want to buy additional FSX sim courses beyond the 25 that come with the unit. Or, if you want to use a third party simulator software like GSPro, which would run you another $250 a year, though Foresight now gives you a free first year of GSPro with a GC3 or GC3S purchase.

For a lot of golfers, not having to pay a subscription every year is a huge plus and well worth the extra up-front purchase price. And, because these Foresight units are built so well, you’re going to be in great shape to own your GC3 for many, many years.

But there are golfers who want to get a GC3 but don’t want to spring for the 7 grand up front. That’s why Foresight introduced the GC3S, their first-ever subscription option. You pay $3,799 up front and get one free year of the FSX and GSPro software. After that, you’ll pay $499 per year if you want to continue playing FSX courses.

I’m normally a guy who’s pretty anti-subscriptions. I just find that they’re such a pain and they’re just creeping into every single facet of our lives. Drives me a bit crazy. But I also like options. So while I see the GC3 as the better overall value, I get why the GC3S is going to be attractive to people who either don’t have as much up-front spending power or who don’t plan to own their Foresight golf launch monitor for several years.

New As of Late 2024: LINK-Enabled Technology

 

View looking down into a box with the Bushnell Pro X3 LINK in its protective foam packaging

 

Foresight Sports shook things up considerably late last year with their introduction of LINK-Enabled Technology.

The way it works is that Foresight or Bushnell golf launch monitor users can now pair their devices with the Foresight app and use it to store shot data. Then, they can use any Bluetooth-enabled Bushnell rangefinder to link with the app, pull that data, and deliver personalized club recommendations right in the rangefinder reticle.

For the right type of user, it’s pretty cool technology. And the really cool thing is that they’re including a LINK-Enabled rangefinder with every GC3 and GC3S golf launch monitor. So, you get everything you need to enjoy this advantage right out of the box.

I do think that some golfers won’t see much point in this. Especially the better players. They may already know how far they carry each one of their clubs. But, still, you’re getting a top-of-the-line rangefinder, which anyone (especially really good players) could use.

Should You Buy the Foresight Sports GC3 or GC3S?

 

View of the blue back of the Foresight GC3S launch monitor sitting on the golf course

 

I’m not going to spend your money for you. And I respect that the GC3 might be pushing the top end of a lot of prospective golf launch monitor users’ budgets.

But if you can afford it, and especially if you’re planning an indoor golf simulator setup that has room depth limitations, you’re not going to find a better and more accurate launch monitor for the price.

As for whether to buy the GC3 or GC3S, I think it’s fairly straightforward. If you only plan to own the launch monitor for a few years or don’t have $7K to spend up front, go with the GC3S. Otherwise, I think the GC3 is the better play.

As for the Bushnell LPi, to me, that’s a less clear value proposition. At $2,799, it’s $1,000 less than the GC3S. But you don’t get the rangefinder and you still have to pay the subscription. Plus, with the LPi there’s no screen or battery, so you’re limited to indoor-only use. So, I don’t know. Personally, if you can swing it, I think you’re better off stretching your budget for the indoor-outdoor flexibility you may enjoy down the line.

There are a lot of great golf launch monitor options available today, so do your research. But I think you’re going to have a hard time finding a better long-term solution than the Foresight Sports GC3. At the very least, I recommend making friends with someone who owns one.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.

Next article Everything You Need To Know About the Square Golf Launch Monitor