The First-Ever Plug-and-Play Golf Simulator 

Garmin has just made history (again!) with its new epic, all-in-one launch monitor and golf simulator: The Approach R50. 

And now you can do amazing stuff with it in a complete PlayBetter SimStudio™! Here’s how easy and truly awesome this whole setup is:

• With the R50, you don’t need to be connected to a PC or mobile device to get data or play simulated golf. All you have to do is push the power button on, and you can be teeing off at the first hole at Pebble Beach—or whatever course you choose from Garmin’s 43K+ library of real-world golf courses!
• The Garmin R50’s got a built-in 10-inch color touchscreen display, that is fully customizable—and that you can also play Garmin’s vastly improved Home Tee Hero virtual golf on—right on the device! 
• You don’t even need an internet connection to use it as a launch monitor or for Home Tee Hero software. (You will need internet for initial setup, firmware updates, and compatible third-party sim software)
• To get your virtual golf or your customized launch monitor data on a TV or impact screen, all you have to do is plug the HDMI cable into the TV or projector.
• When you pair the Approach R50 with a PlayBetter SimStudio™, you can use the HDMI to get virtual golf on your impact screen (along with select data tiles if you want), while you see your impact video and customized data tiles on the R50’s display! 

Set up multiple ways to view your shots—no PC, phone, or internet necessary!

Robust, Accurate Golf Launch Monitor Data—Right Out of the Box

The Garmin Approach comes loaded with rich ball data and club data—for no extra cost! Here’s what you’ll get:

Ball Data:

• Ball Speed
• Launch Angle
• Launch Direction
• Spin Rate (measured, not calculated)
• Spin Axis (measured, not calculated)
• Smash Factor
• Total Distance
• Carry Distance
• Total Deviation
• Apex Height

Club Data:

• Clubhead Speed
• Path Angle
• Angle of Attack
• Face Angle
• Face to Path

But is it accurate?

According to our golf reviewer, Marc, who was one of the first to spend some time with the R50, 

“I gotta say, I was incredibly impressed with the R50. I put it head-to-head against the Foresight Sports GC3, which I know is dead-on accurate. Across the board, the R50 was right there, within a yard or two, a degree or two, and a hundred-or-so RPMs on all of the data points. Very, very impressive!”

Read Marc’s full Garmin Approach R50 review here!

Read a Garmin R10 vs R50 comparison

Read a Garmin Approach R50 vs Foresight GC3/Launch Pro comparison

Garmin R50’s Golf Simulation Options — Home Tee Hero & Third-Party Compatibility

Let’s zero in on what you can do simulator-wise with this epic golf launch monitor! 

You’ve already learned that you can make it the centerpiece of your home golf simulator setup, or take it anywhere—to the range, a buddy’s, to a net set up in your garage or backyard—and play virtual golf as well.

So, what kind of virtual golf can you get on this thing?

As of right now, you have four fantastic options (it’s possible Garmin will add more options later, like they did with the R10):

• Home Tee Hero (Garmin’s proprietary sim software)
• E6
• GSPro
• Awesome Golf

It’s important to note that you will need a PC and Wi-Fi connection to play third-party software—i.e., anything not Home Tee Hero. Third-party sim software will also require additional subscription costs.

Exclusively for the R50, Garmin has run its Home Tee Hero software through a technical boot camp, and it has come out the other side with much more realistic graphics and  improved mapping. Translation: it looks far more realistic. This upgrade will not trickle down to the Approach R10. It’s an R50 exclusive! All you need is a Garmin Premium Golf subscription, that is still only $9.99/month or $99.99/year!