Equipment
Garmin launches all-in-one Approach R50 launch monitor
Following the success of its budget-friendly Approach G10, Garmin is expanding its presence in the launch monitor space with the new Approach R50, a feature-rich launch monitor and simulator at a sub-$5,000 price point.
This three-camera unit tracks over 15 ball and club data points and records high-speed impact videos. Impressively, all data is delivered on a 10-inch built-in touchscreen display.
The R50 can connect via HDMI to an external screen, allowing for display on both the device and Home Tee Hero’s enhanced course maps, which cover over 43,000 courses.
“Leveraging our most advanced technology with an elaborate three-camera system, our Approach R50 can provide golfers of all levels with the cutting-edge metrics and analytics they need to help improve their game,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales at Garmin. Whether you want specific shot metrics, insight into how and where the ball leaves the club, or just want to play a round on a rainy day, we’ve got your game.”
Golfers can play rounds on more than 43,000 courses via the Home Tee Hero simulator and join weekly tournament rounds.
In addition to Home Tee Hero, the R50 supports third-party simulators such as GSPro, E6 Connect (coming soon), and Awesome Golf.
Golfers can connect the Approach R50 to a monitor or projector for a fully immersive virtual course experience. The R50 also includes a training mode that records sessions and saves stats for each club, allowing players to track progress over time.
Usable both indoors and outdoors, the Approach R50 offers up to four hours of battery life.
The Garmin Approach R50 is available on the company’s website, priced at $4,999.99.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Brandon Nattress
Nov 15, 2024 at 2:57 pm
This looks awesome!
Christopher
Nov 13, 2024 at 11:13 am
What happens to it when somebody shanks one of the end of the club directly into it. Looks like it is made out of plastic…
Vince
Nov 13, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Garmin did direct impact testing on the unit. Should survive it just fine.
Source: I work at Garmin
John
Nov 13, 2024 at 1:10 am
The R10 was absolute rubbish. Indoubtbzhis is any better.