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PRGR Launch Monitor Review: Surprising Performance From An Unexpected Place
For the last couple of years, the hottest gadget category for golfers has been personal launch monitors. The $500 and below group has more competition than ever. A surprise hit has been a low-cost, tiny launch monitor from Japan – the PRGR launch monitor
The original PRGR has been on the market in Japan for several years already under a different brand name (Red Eyes). It was repurposed for the US market in late 2019 as the PRGR HS-120A, and it immediately exploded in popularity.
When I first tested the original PRGR, I was truly surprised by its performance. The product is unsuspecting and basic looking, but it offered accuracy on par with some of the leaders in the industry, such as Trackman, under optimal conditions.
For the past couple of months, I have been testing the newer PRGR (HS-130A). There are some nice upgrades that I’ll cover in this review. Overall, this remains one of the best values in the category for its versatility and accuracy.
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What’s New With the PRGR (HS-130A)
The original PRGR (HS-120A) performed more than adequately. For $199, you got a launch monitor and swing speed radar that offered accuracy similar to products that cost thousands of dollars more. When I first tested it against my SkyTrak, I was shocked by its performance (especially indoors).
Since then, the PRGR exploded. Countless testimonials poured in with golfers comparing its numbers against products like Trackman and the GCQuad favorably.
Also, it has become a de facto swing speed radar for golfers who are doing speed training (including pro golfers like Jon Rahm).
The newer PRGR has a few notable upgrades:
- A higher-quality dual radar sensor
- An improved processor and algorithm to increase accuracy
- Larger, high-resolution display
- Improved wedge measurement (especially on higher-lofted shots)
- Ability to switch between yards and meters
Addressing the Wedge Issue
No product is without its faults. Over the past two years, I’ve interacted with many golfers who have used the PRGR. For the most part, people were very satisfied with the quality. However, some common issues arose.
The biggest complaint I received was with wedge readings. Because the PRGR’s sensor is smaller, it tended to miss some wedge shots, especially for golfers launching the ball higher. For someone like myself, who delofts wedges and starts them on a lower trajectory, that wasn’t an issue. One of the fixes was to have golfers stack the original PRGR higher or use a tripod.
Additionally, the original HS-120A had difficulting reading wedges at closer distances, say about 40 yards or less, depending on the setup.
The manufacturer in Japan took this feedback and improved the sensor and algorithm on the newer PRGR HS-130A.
I immediately noticed the difference when I started testing. Generally, I use my SkyTrak launch monitor as a benchmark (I’ve tested just about every launch monitor on the market at this point on the low end and high end). I know its accuracy, especially on wedge shots, is within a very tight margin of error compared to Trackman or a GCQuad (especially indoors).
The new PRGR and SkyTrak readings were virtually identical, even on shots as low as 20-25 yards.
I also hit shots just about as high as possible with my lob wedge to simulate a golfer who launched the ball much higher. Again, almost identical to my SkyTrak.
In my opinion, this is the biggest upgrade for the HS-130A. I’ve written before about wedge practice and how honing in your distances with intermediate shots (30 – 80 yards) is some of the most valuable practice any golfer can do. Dustin Johnson routinely credited this practice with his Trackman as the final piece of the puzzle to getting to #1 in the world and winning a major. So it’s not above anyone!
Improved Sensor
Perhaps the most important feature of any launch monitor is the quality of the sensor and how the algorithms calculate measurements like carry distance. The original PRGR surprised many because the sensor performed very well for the cost. When you have optimal conditions, such as being outdoors, you can expect more accurate numbers.
That said, when conditions aren’t perfect, launch monitors do struggle with misreads or not showing anything at all. I’ve seen this happen with budget units and even with enterprise-level products that cost $20,000.
As I mentioned, the improved sensor was mostly noticeable on wedge readings. I also found that the HS-130A had much better performance throughout my entire bag, especially indoors, where it’s harder for radar-based launch monitors to perform. I’ll share some numbers later in the article, but it was clear that the tolerances were tighter with fewer instances of the PRGR not reading the shot at all.
Overall, I’d say the upgrade in components makes an already great value even better. The newer PRGR has a modest price increase of $30 – it’s now available for purchase at $229. I still consider it perhaps the best overall value on the market with the upgrade in accuracy. You have to be prepared to put in a little extra work compared to its competition (manually adjusting clubs, no app) and make sure you have it set up properly (I’ll give some tips on that later).
Either way, at $229, I still think this is a viable option for golfers who have a lower budget or don’t want enhanced features like an app that products like the Swing Caddie SC300i and Rapsodo MLM offer.
The Screen is Larger
Another noticeable upgrade with the HS130-A is a larger, higher resolution screen. While this isn’t as big of a deal as the sensor improvement, it does make the PRGR a little more user-friendly.
Instead of toggle back and forth to see measurements like swing speed, ball speed, and smash factor, they are displayed on the entire screen. The only thing you would need to toggle between are carry versus total distance.
The new PRGR functions mainly the same as the prior model. You will need to change clubs for the best accuracy manually.
How the PRGR Performed Indoors
After years of testing launch monitors and measuring my on-course yardages, I can quickly tell how a product is performing. After a couple of months, I can tell you that the new PRGR performed exceptionally well for me indoors. I saw swing speed, ball speed, and yardage measurements that were almost identical to all of the other data I’ve collected throughout my entire bag.
The original HS-120A was no slouch indoors in my home studio, but the newer HS-130A had even tighter margins. But with any launch monitor, especially inside, conditions do matter.
You’ll want good lighting and enough distance behind and in front of the ball (typically about 3-5 feet in both directions). Having the monitor level (at minimum) to the playing surface is a must as well.
Also, the color of the net and what’s behind the net can affect readouts as well. I’ve had golfers who struggle to get readings on launch monitors (PRGR and other models) when it’s too “busy” for the sensor to pick up. For example, if you had a white net in your garage and all kinds of stuff behind it with different colors, the monitor can struggle to track the ball.
I have a black net in my home setup, a grey wall behind it, and proper lighting, so I had no issues with the PRGR picking up almost every shot.
However, it does take some time to find optimal positions and set up to get my best numbers. This goes for any of the budget launch monitors. I found that having the unit closer to the ball (about 3 to 3.5 feet) gave me the most accurate numbers with my wedges.
As I progressed through my bag, I found that moving it back to about 5 feet was more accurate with 7-iron and beyond. Additionally, since my irons have aggressive lofts, and I also deloft quite a bit at impact, I noticed that choosing an extra iron as my setting gave me the best readouts. So if I were hitting a 6-iron, I would set the PRGR to a 5-iron. This helps the unit with its calculations.
But please note that you might have to do a little tinkering of your own, or perhaps none at all, to get the best results.
Here are some numbers from a session versus my SkyTrak. Keep in mind that each launch monitor has its own calculation methods and measurements, but once again, the PRGR delivered against a proven product that costs 10x the amount.
| Club/Launch Monitor | Carry Yards | Ball Speed | Swing Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| LW - PRGR | 66 | 60 | 57 |
| LW - SkyTrak | 67 | 61 | 59 |
| PW - PRGR | 142 | 102 | 76 |
| PW - SkyTrak | 143.5 | 103.5 | 78 |
| 7i - PRGR | 180 | 120 | 85 |
| 7i - SkyTrak | 177.5 | 119 | 83 |
| Driver - PRGR | 272 | 161 | 109 |
| Driver - SkyTrak | 266 | 158 | 107 |
Long story short, the new PRGR continues its ability to accurately track your swing speed, ball speed, and carry/total yardages indoors under proper conditions. The new sensor and calculation methods have tightened things up even more.
If you are looking for a quality net to go along with the PRGR, we recommend reading our Spornia SPG-7 review.
Outdoor Performance and Some Other Considerations
When radar-based launch monitors have more space to see the ball travel, they typically perform better. There is one major caveat you should be aware of – range balls.
I like testing launch monitors inside because I can control the golf ball I am using. When I go to the range, I am at the mercy of the balls they are using. In this article, I explored how practice balls can vary greatly in quality, and oftentimes you won’t get the same results you would with a premium ball. So you do have to take your results with a minor grain of salt.
Unsurprisingly, I found that the new PRGR did an excellent job of showing carry distances on the range. It registered almost every shot with relatively accurate yardages I hit, with few exceptions.
Again, don’t expect perfection. No launch monitor, regardless of the cost, gets it right every time.
Lastly, I found that the PRGR (and many other products in this category) perform best when you’re striking the ball relatively well. If you’re hitting a few “duds” out there, expect it to struggle with reading. Although you should have a pretty good sense if you’ve had an extremely errant swing anyways.
Swing Speed Training
One of the biggest reasons the original PRGR became such a hit is that it is a very accurate swing speed radar. It’s one of the few launch monitors out there that will accurately record your swing speed without hitting a ball. More expensive models like the Swing Caddie SC300i and Rapsodo MLM cannot measure swing speed without hitting a golf ball. As such, the PRGR has become one of the preferred methods of tracking swing speed for professional golfers, coaches, and golfers of all levels.
If you are training with a system like SuperSpeed Golf, this is critical feedback to have. I’ve been working on my swing speed for years now, and I can tell you that having feedback on every swing helps tremendously. If you don’t have a method of tracking your swing speed, you’re essentially flying blind and can’t track your progress.
Compared with the original PRGR, the HS130-A gave me almost identical swing speed readings when training with the SuperSpeed sticks, so not much has changed on that front. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
One thing I did notice is that the newer model does not measure swing speed from the side. With the original PRGR, I found that I got my best readings with the radar placed to my side, a few inches in front of where the golf ball would be. The newer model performed best for me, about 3 feet behind me.
Another small benefit is that the new PRGR has enhanced measurements for other sports. You can record bat speed and ball speed in baseball or other sports like soccer or tennis.
Should You Upgrade From the HS-120A?
I’m sure many of you reading this might have a little FOMO if you have the original PRGR. In my opinion, I don’t think it’s necessary to upgrade unless you want the bigger screen and enhanced accuracy (especially on wedges). From my interactions with most people who have purchased the HS-120A, they are quite satisfied.
Where Does the PRGR Launch Monitor Fit In?
I continue to be surprised by this miniature launch monitor. The PRGR doesn’t look as polished as its competition, but it is excellent at providing carry distances, ball speeds, and swing speed data that is close (sometimes identical) to what I know are my typical numbers. The versatility of using it indoors and outdoors is a plus, though you might see varying results based on how much space you have inside and other conditions. And if you are training for increased swing speed, I’d say this product is a must.
Overall, the PRGR is for those looking to buy a launch monitor that is very basic and doesn’t cost much. It is definitely a no-frills offering. There is no accompanying app that models like the Swing Caddie SC300i, Rapsodo MLM, or FlightScope mevo have. Another budget model that costs a little more is the Swing Caddie SC200 Plus, which has a remote control to adjust the club you are using and does display loft (along with a few other features).
For $229, you can’t expect much, but I believe the product continues to “over-deliver.” The competition has more features if that’s what you’re looking for. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better overall value, in my opinion, especially if you are on a limited budget and want to get swing speed, ball speed, and distance.
You can purchase the PRGR bundle for Practical Golf readers here
Here are other articles I’ve written on launch monitors:
John,
I am so happy you reviewed this personal launch monitor. I, like you, was very skeptical having seen it on golf channel and being attracted to the price. I am one of those golfers itching to get my hands on a personal launch monitor but am really torn between a bunch of the offerings. I like that this unit works really well indoors. I, like you, live in NJ and my outdoor season is just about over so while I really like the Rapsodo MLM, the lack of ability to use it indoors is tough considering we are inside about 5 months a year.
I think I am down to the SC200 or the PRGR and i wanted to ask your opinion on slower swing speeds and capturing data. My son is a heck of a player and I am trying to get him to understand his actual distances with each of his clubs. He will likely have 7-LW that will be 125 yards or shorter. Swing speeds are likely going to be between 40-60 mph for those clubs. Any thoughts on slower swing speeds and the best of these units? I am not quite ready to pull the trigger on SkyTrak yet (I need to clean out my garage to make room). Thanks as always for your great advice and reviews.
In my experience, these kinds of launch monitors perform better with slower swing/ball speeds. I think the SC200 is a bit easier to use overall if I had a choice between the two. I hope that helps!
Thank you, that’s really helpful.
John
Which of these Units also display ” Launch Angle” when used outside?
Thanks
Launch angle would require a unit like the Swing Caddie SC300 or the Rapsodo MLM
How does one change clubs on the PRGR monitor ?
If you press the enter button it will allow you to change the clubs, which is very important for accuracy
A friend of mine purchased a PRGR and when looking at his user manual, it doesn’t have a listing of the meaning of the club codes.
When scrolling through the club selections it reads the following.
W9 W7 W5 W4 W3 W1 – we assume woods
I9 I8 I7 I6 I5 I4 I3 – we assume irons
U6 U5 U4 U3 – ??? possible hybrids
SW – sand wedge
AW – ???
PW – pitching wedge
It’s possible the U refers to hybrids.
We checked through the User Manual, but there’s no reference to the club head assignments.
Yes the “U” refers to utility or hybrids. The AW would be considered an Attack Wedge, or Gap Wedge – which would be a loft between a SW and PW (thnk around 50 degrees or so)
Hi. Is there anywhere which says what degrees are programmed in to the device for each club? Does it make a difference if my gap wedge is a 52 degree and the device has it as 50?
Also there is no option for a lob wedge at 69degrees so if you use a sand wedge will the data be very inaccurate? Thanks.
So what do we use for a driver, W1?
Thanks.
Yes driver is W1
So what is the ID for driver, W1?
Thanks.
How much ball fight do these monitors need? I’m trying to figure out the best way to dial in wedge distances (inside ~120 yards). Would really like to be able to hit real balls into a net with a launch monitor (hope my net is tall enough!) Range balls don’t fly the same… Any suggestions on the best way to do this?
In my testing with the PRGR indoors, it did pretty well when it had around 5 feet in front of the ball before it hits the net (also about 4-5 behind the ball as well). The good part is that I have found most of the units are far more accurate on shorter distances, which is why I always recommend dialing in your wedges as an effective practice technique.
Hi John,
Is there a video that shows how to use the PRGR? I’ve misplaced the written directions and I’m lost how to delete the clubs you want to hit and then read the displays. Any help or selections would be appreciated. Note: I’m 72 years old and I’m trying to improve my game.
My best to you,
Stan Benner
how long do the batteries last on the prgr?
I think it depends on what kind of batteries you use. I’ve used mine quite a bit and haven’t had to swap them out yet though.
Can the PRGR be set to measure distance in metres? Likewise the SC200?
No stand function for monitor….constant battle to place something (club, sleeve of balls etc) so the monitor actually sits up & does not lay flat on the ground.
I have this launch monitor and I’m having trouble with it reading distances for my wedges (54 degree sand wedge and 58 degree lob wedge). Have you heard of these issues? It is almost like because these clubs launch the ball high the monitor has trouble tracking the ball. For my 50 deg gap wedge it usually picks up the ball speed and distance, but not always. All other clubs it works well.
Is this indoors, or outside? If indoors I find it’s best to experiment a little with how far the launch monitor is behind you, and how much room it has to see the ball travel. The more space the better (if possible).
It was outdoors at a driving range, so it had plenty of room to see the ball. I experimented with the the distance the monitor was behind the ball with no luck. I also tried tilting the monitor up slightly since it seemed to only have issues with high lofted clubs.
Todd – my best guess is that you are launching the ball a bit higher than most, and the sensor is not seeing the ball. One last test you can try is elevating the monitor higher (not tilting) so that it has a chance to see the ball before it reaches its peak.
Try placing the ball about an inch inside the PRGR to target line and then hitting your wedge shot across this line to a 2 o’clock position. I also hit the wedges high and had the same problem. I also had some success if I placed the ball near to the back edge of a range mat to hit the shot and the PRGR was on the floor – so slightly lower.
Thanks for this excellent, in-depth review, and the trouble you took comparing this device with other launch monitors. Yes, the price of the PRGR makes it attractive and I did purchase it. Indeed, the small size and adequate reading of swing speed is dedfinetely a “plus”.
However, I am not yet overly convinced that this is a “must have”. (see https://youtu.be/dUHf5Om79A8). On the one hand, it seems a bit erratic in picking up the ball flight at all (perfect positioning of the device is probably of essence). But I am actually quite disappointed that you can not change the measurements/read-out from mph to km/h or yards to meters, respectively. That, for me, is a big minus, in particular as earlier, and even cheaper models of PRGR Red Eyes Pocket had this function.
Thanks for the review. Will it work reliably with foam balls? Does it tell you the distance the foam ball travelled or does it give you an idea of how far a normal ball would have travelled with that club head speed/loft, even though hitting a foam ball?
The device will measure the foam balls directly, so you will see slower ball speeds and distances compared to using a normal golf ball. However, it should accurately estimate your swing speed. Overall, if you want the best results you need to use real golf balls. Hope that helps!
Jon
I’m debating between the PRGR and SC200 Plus. They are both reasonably priced and I think you may actually have the best prices. I had a question that applies to both. Can you go back and look at previous swings at the end of a session?
Those are not features of either, if you wanted to look at data for shots then the app provided with the SC300 would probably be your best bet
Hi John,
Thanks for the review. It was very helpful.
I am assuming if it works well hitting into a net indoors, it would also work hitting it into a net outdoors in my backyard – is that a fair assumption?
Thanks.
Hi Jon – thanks for all your info with ref to the PRGR — really very useful – so I purchased one (diabolical instructions – also includes a diet mode – maybe a hint.
Anyway – one thing I can’t sort out you may be able to help — the carry distance is in yds – how can I change the swing speed and ball speed from m/ s to mph please – if there is a way please
Thanks very much — KM
Kevin – unfortunately, there is no way to change the measurements. There are a few different models of the PRGR around since the unit is produced in Japan. The one I tried for this review only measures in yds/mph
Hi Jon,
Does high altitude (11.000 feet) affect the performance of the PRGR device?
Thanks
Yes, higher altitude always affects ball flight. The device cannot make adjustments though, so it’s possible that the readings might be lower than what you’re actually seeing since it’s only measuring what the ball is doing in its initial ball flight.
Could this be used to determine swing speed for use with the Superspeed swing trainer? Do you have to hit the ball for it to measure swing speed?
Yes, it can! My recommendation would be to have it set off to the side instead of behind you. Place it a few inches in front of where the ball would normally be and it should read out your swing speed only.
On the PRGR can i delete certain shots. Or will they all get deleted
There is no ability to delete specific shots unfortunately
In the club selection part, what do I choose if I want to use my 3 Wood or 5 Wood or Hybrid?
If you hold down the enter button briefly the club selection will start flashing, then you can navigate using the up or down arrows to find the appropriate club. 3 Wood would be 3W and Hybrid would have an H.
Hey Jon,
I recently got one and it’s been great so far. One thing I’m curious from your testing experience, is it more likely to misread clubhead speed or ball speed indoors? I had a couple of driver swings where the ball speed to swing speed would have my smash factor up around 1.51 which is pretty high for me, so I figure one of the numbers was probably off by a little bit.
Glad to hear you are enjoying it so far! Having a smash factor beyond 1.5 (though impossible according to rules) does tend to happen with radar launch monitors. You’ll often see this with Trackman. I’ve noticed with the PRGR set up behind you, it will measure ball speed more accurately, and it tends to overestimate your swing speed a bit, which is why you’ll see a smash slightly over 1.5
If you do want more accurate swing speeds, I recommend putting the radar off to the side close to the ball position. It won’t register ball speed, but it will give you a better sense of how fast you are swinging. This method is used for those who are training with the SuperSpeed sticks.
HI Jon,
Is there a difference when you set up the PRGR monitor flat on the ground (without tripod) versus using a tripod? Will the readings vary?
Some people have more success with a tripod, especially with wedges to get better readings. There isn’t one size-fits-all, it’s best to experiment in the beginning to see what produces the best results for your ball flight.
Hi Jon
Does your offer for the PRGR launch monitor apply to the UK? I’m happy to pay postage.
Thanks
Ian
I have a prgr it will not read callaway turvis balls all I get is club speed. The logo’s on the ball must be the issue.
Does PRGR take weather conditions into account (i.e. temp) when giving yardages.
It does not take into account for weather conditions
Does this system work with foam gf balls used indoors or must really golf balls be used?
Real golf balls must be used to get accurate readings
I am finding that my swing speed is about 20 mph slower indoors measuring with the PRGR. I suspect it relates to set-up but I’ve tried behind, in-front and face-on and still see about 20 mph slower than indoor trackman.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
me too, i;ve only had it for a week…
are carry distance calculated for sea level? In other words, what if you’re at high elevation?
This is calculated at sea level. If you wanted a launch monitor that would take into account elevation then you should go with the Swing Caddie SC200+
Are there any Launch Monitors priced under $800 that can be hooked up to a TV so you can see the data or work with a screen and play different golf courses?
Excellent review! I have one question what is the difference between the PRGR 120a vs the 103a? I see that the screen is a little larger and the smash factor and flight distance appear simultaneously. Is there an “upgrade” is technology? I’m just curious.
That should read HS-130a not 103a.
Looking forward to the updated review.
Great update and thanks for the thoroughly review of the HS-130A. I’m enjoying my PRGR and for the money it’s a great addition to my training.
Thanks, Walt! It is a nifty little device I agree.
Thanks Jon for the updated review. Assuming you still have both units, have you had a chance to review the HS-120A and HS-130A side by side? I’ve done it and noticed the HS-130A reads about 4-6 MPH slower than the HS-120A. Just wondering if you’ve seen the same thing.
Can you clarify what do you mean when you say the original version is more accurate when you place it by “your side”? Does that mean directly down the swing path line by a few inches? I’ve been using it behind like I would when I hit a golf ball but I’ve never tried it in front.
No, actually on the side (not down the swing line – facing you head on. It was more accurate for me from the side (near ball position, perhaps in front of where the ball would be by a few inches), but most people liked having it directly behind them down the swing line. Hope that clarifies.
hello,
was wondering if i use W1 for driver
and what does “UT” stand for? is that utility iron or hybrid club? theres no “H” for the new model for hyrbid club so im assuming its UT?
I am an older golfer and enjoy golf in two competitions fortnightly, playing 4 games each month for 11 months a year, to this add about 10-15 social games each year.
On the course I wear a Bushnell iON 2 watch which gives me distances to hazards, and yardage (Meters) to the front, middle, back of each green.
The PRGR provides me the knowledge, to individually, know my ‘carry’ and ‘overall’ distances that each club in my bag provides, off the tee, fairway turf or light rough.
Between these two devices I have the ultimate ‘caddy’ info – distances, clubs to use – I don’t care about spin rates, launch angels or smash factors – the ‘numbers’ that impress me are Par, birdy, eagle etc,
I think one of the best updates that could be done to this device would be to have a speed training mode where it knows that no ball will be hit. I probably get misreads around 50 to 60% of the time when I’m speed training as it shows ball speed and smash factor. Makes it completely unreliable for me. I’ve found the speed radar to be more reliable for this purpose.
Hola a todos !! Recibí mi Prgr h120. No encuentro cómo funciona el smash factor. Me ayudan?? Gracias
I have an 18 and 16 degree hybrid. what U settings should I use when using my 2020 monitor
Jon, I like my new prgr launch monitor. I live on Santa Fe, N.M. at 7000 feet. Are the distance readings made for sea level?
How can I get the new PRGR to show averages?
Does this product measure low point (impact before or after the ball) and impact point (where on the club head was the impact)?
Thanks
Not at all. It’s really good for swing speed training because it measures the club head without hitting a ball. It’s also good for range and wedge training to gauge your distance. What you are looking for will cost a lot more than the PRGR.
A US distributor, AMH Sports ([email protected]), gives the following preset lofts for the PRGR HS-130A:
1W 10.5
3W 15
4W 16.5
5W 18
7W 21
9W 23
3UT 19
4UT 22
5UT 25
6UT 28
3I 20
4I 22
5I 24
6I 27
7I 30
8I 34
9I 38
PW 43
AW 50
SW 56
For best results, select the loft that most closely matches your club. My 7-iron has gone from 36 to 33 to 29 degrees over the years, and my woods/hybrid are all adjustable. Maybe the next upgrade will allow us to set the lofts to match our particular clubs (right?).