Equipment
Foresight GCQuad: A Launch Monitor That Can Grow the Game?
It’s hard to imagine that a $14,000 launch monitor could be the ticket to bringing more people to the sport of golf, but the more time you spend using Foresight’s new GCQuad the more you see the potential. And there may be no company that sees a greater potential for growth in golf right now than Foresight.
“There are 25 million people playing golf, at least occasionally, in the United States,” said Jon Watters, Foresight’s Vice President. “We think we can help triple those numbers.”
Foresight made its first splash in the golf world in 2010. The San Diego-based company released the GC2, a camera-based launch monitor barely bigger than a dozen golf balls that was not only extremely accurate and easy to use, but sold for roughly half the price of leading launch monitors.
“It was the first time a camera-based system was able to go head to head with a radar-based system,” Watters said.
While well received, the GC2 played a secondary role to radar-based launch monitors among die hards because it didn’t provide club head data. That changed in 2013 when the company released HMT (head measurement technology), a complimentary launch monitor that attached to the GC2 to provide the whole picture at impact: ball and club data. It wasn’t just a “me too” product; its club data was arguably more accurate than what leading radar systems produced.
Foresight’s GCQuad.
This year, Foresight is launching an all-in-one unit called GCQuad that the company says is twice as accurate as it previous models. It’s also at least twice as fun thanks to an add-on software called “Zombie Golf” that will sell for $495. Our Zak Kozuchowski exchanged emails with Watters about Foresight and the GCQuad for the Q&A below.
WRX: Shortly after launch, the GCQuad was already oversold by more than a month. Who is buying the new units, and why are they buying them?
Jon Watters: We extended a special offer to existing customers that allowed them to trade-in their existing technology as a partial payment for the new GCQuad unit. We have been overwhelmed by the response and corresponding orders that resulted from this offer. It was really cool to see two units from our first 10 production units getting traded-in for GCQuads. I think that speaks to the quality of design and engineering that goes into all the technology we produce here in San Diego.
Why they buy the new GCQuad may vary between customers, but again I think it’s because of the reputation we have earned in the marketplace in delivering the very best technology available today. In fact, all the new features in the GCQuad are a result of customer feedback and requests to make the experience with our products even better and easier to use.
WRX: How have launch monitors changed golf? Has Foresight made a specific impact?
JW: Launch monitors have impacted just about every aspect of golf. In many ways it’s similar to how smartphone technology has impacted our lives. In the span of a decade they went from a luxury item to being an integral part of our everyday lives. The same goes for launch monitors. Today, launch monitors are an integral part of instruction, fitting and even recreational gameplay because people are getting immediate, tangible benefits from using them. Our specific influence on this shift comes from making the launch monitor more accurate, reliable, user-friendly and cost-accessible to everyone who enjoys the game.
We were also the first company to make a launch monitor that could effectively support true-to-life golf simulation. Golf simulators used to have a reputation as “entertainment devices” and weren’t viewed as a serious golf tool. Now, thanks largely to our technology’s ability to go indoors without compromising accuracy or reliability, you see golf simulators everywhere: retail stores, hotels, recreational facilities and in the homes of casual players and tour pros alike. This simply wasn’t the case before Foresight Sports existed.
WRX: What allows Foresight’s launch monitors to be so accurate? How was the new GCQuad made to be more accurate than GC2 and HMT? Basically, the question I’m getting at is, “What’s Foresight’s competitive advantage at the moment?”
JW: There are two key things about our technology that offer a distinct advantage when it comes to accuracy. The first is positioning. Camera-based technology like ours allows our launch monitors to be optimally positioned to measure — not calculate — what happens at the moment of ball and club impact. Measuring from any other position, such as behind the golfer as other technologies do, means critical elements of data are being missed that simply can’t be calculated, validated or reproduced from other captured information.
The second key advantage of our launch monitors is the virtually unlimited ceiling of technological advancement. Just as with computer processors, image-capturing technologies continue to rapidly redefine the state of the art when it comes to size, power and precision. Like its GC2 predecessor, the GCQuad leverages the most advanced technologies available today — faster processors, higher resolution image sensors, next generation connectivity — it’s all in there. To put this in perspective, our GC2 was the most advanced and accurate launch monitor in the industry when we released it in 2010. Today, the GCQuad captures 10 times as much information as the GC2. Our core capturing and analysis technologies only continue to evolve and get better.
WRX: Can you foresee a time when people would rather play golf on a launch monitor instead of “real” golf?
JW: Absolutely. In fact, since the inception of golf simulators, there has been a segment of players who prefer the virtual game experience to the “real” experience. Back in the late ’90s I saw this firsthand when I was involved with an indoor golf facility in Louisville, Kentucky. And by all indications, the segment of players who prefer the virtual experience is only going to grow.
The reason why virtual golf is poised to see explosive growth is two-fold. The first reason is the evolution of the technology itself. Every aspect of the virtual golf experience continues to get better – more accurate, more real, more cost accessible – making it harder to justify the advantages of the “real” experience. When you add in the ability to engage players with gaming experiences like shooting at zombies or playing a round at a famous course with three other players from around the world, the appeal of virtual golf becomes obvious.
The second reason is the inherent scaling limits of the traditional game. We can build a facility full of state-of-the-art simulation bays at a fraction of the cost – and space requirements – of a golf course development or expansion. The reality is that worldwide land resources are limited, and new golf course creation is becoming increasingly harder to justify. The traditional game of golf is now in a state of attrition, and anyone who doesn’t see that isn’t paying attention. In my opinion, the virtual experience is critical for the game of golf to be viable moving forward, and I believe technology companies like ours will play a key part in making this happen.
WRX: You mentioned Zombie Golf. How did that come about?
JW: Zombie Golf is actually the first gaming app created by our in-house Game Studios team. The genesis of the idea itself came from a creative session we held with the team late last year. Everyone was encouraged to bring a game idea to the session that would engage, entertain and hopefully inspire a new audience of non-players to get in the game of golf. After discussing a myriad of ideas, Zombie Golf was unanimously voted the first game we would build to launch in conjunction with the PGA Show and the GCQuad introduction.
Beyond its appeal to both golfers and non-golfers, we see Zombie Golf evolving into a multi-level game that might even spill over into traditional golf play. Imagine playing a round of golf on one of our virtual courses and having zombies suddenly invade your course. That’s what we call changing the game!
Learn more about Foresight and the GCQuad at foresightsports.com.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that 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, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Pingback: GolfWRX Members Choice: Best launch monitor of 2021 – GolfWRX
Bernardo L Barkley
Jul 22, 2020 at 11:04 am
I love my Quad best golf purchase I ever made hands down, only cause it takes the pictures at impact. Helped me game and helped me understand my swing better, and on top of that it is portable this hands down the best launch monitor out there
Pingback: Will A $14,000 Launch Monitor Help Or Kill The Game Of Golf? | Dog Leg News
Barry
Apr 19, 2017 at 12:29 am
Golf is dead! Golf is to complicated and expensive for the selfie generation. Girls hit the gym and social media, guys go cycling etc. where you can be ‘good’ and reach a decent level within 2 years. I love golf and play it a lot but it is just not attractive enough in these times. Sadly said!
Matt
Apr 18, 2017 at 9:49 pm
This idea will definitely pull people off of the course to go play a game indoors. Good. I’m tired of a 5hr rounds of cart golf. The ones that truly love the game will stay and play and keep some courses afloat some will sink. The ebb and flow of golf depends on the die-hards, and them passing the game on.
Can’t keep growing a game it’s got to shrink at some point…
J Zilla
Apr 18, 2017 at 5:40 pm
I can definitely see this growing the game (however that’s defined) especially in major cities like NY or Tokyo. I can’t even imagine how the average NYer is even able to play regularly lugging their clubs on the train or driving an hour out of the city. But I can see a simulator range a few blocks away having a lot of appeal.
Throw in some goofy games like the Zombie thing and put them into places like Dave & Busters and now you have more people playing at night or during the winter and it’s fun for the average non-serious golf person similar to how TopShot golf is.
I guess it comes down to the definition of growing the game, though. I mean I consider myself a pretty serious golfer even though most of time is spent on the typical outdoor range not on a course. How is that any different than playing on a simulator? Might even be better for my game simulating holes instead of standard range work
TR1PTIK
Apr 19, 2017 at 10:10 am
+1
Josh
Apr 18, 2017 at 10:41 am
So trackman gets crushed on these boards for being ‘too expensive’ but this will grow the game? Seems like sponsored content and should be labeled as such in all fairness.
Patrick norm
Apr 18, 2017 at 7:27 am
Golf grew because of the advent of seeing players like Palmer and Nicklaus on television. There was an explosion of players and courses throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. There was also the explosion of baby boomers who when unable or unwilling to jog or play tennis transitioned to golf. Now that boomers are slowly leaving golf, they are not being replaced by millennial athletes . I introduced my 3 kids to golf at an early age and currently non of them play because of time and expense.
I don’t know if this less expensive launch monitor will re introduce them to golf , but it fits the explosion of the smart phone, tablet and lap tops. And most importantly, time. Maybe these guys are onto a trend. We need more meillenials in golf to,replace the baby boomers. It’s called critical mass and golf is barely hanging on.
Mat
Apr 18, 2017 at 7:10 am
So Wall-E was a documentary, huh…
Matt
Apr 18, 2017 at 9:40 pm
+10
Harry
Apr 17, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Likely to grow the acade space game but not the actual game unless it gets a few new folks to step outside to a course. Plus it’s not like an arcade will be selling clubs (and if so not decent ones). The real market is as it has been- pros, instructors, and fitters.
Tyler
Apr 17, 2017 at 3:06 pm
i think the GC2 is what the major golf retailers use in their hitting bays. Employees have told me they are off about 30% on distance.
For example i was hitting a 9 iron 125-130 in a bay. Same day went to the outdoor range, no wind. I was about 135 all day with it. My usual distance for a nine iron.
Just give me the outdoor’s and a laser.
chinchbugs
Apr 17, 2017 at 1:41 pm
$14k makes that $3k set of irons seem not that bad…. #SorryBob (Parsons)
Barry
Apr 17, 2017 at 1:18 pm
I can see this being a great way for newer teachers and average golfers to have a more affordable launch monitor.
Ron
Apr 17, 2017 at 12:14 pm
This is not the future of golf. Notwithstanding the investment, which I’ll get to next, there is NO ONE I currently know that calls me up on a beautiful summer day and asks me to come spend a few hours in their dark basement rather than playing the real sport outdoors. Simulated rounds are good for winter, and that’s it. And even then, I still golf in Jan and Feb if we get a mild day. The market for these is fitters and indoor simulators. People who do personally purchase will do it for two reasons. 1) Practice and the need for good information. And these are the serious ones who know what to do with that information. or 2) for fun. If you are buying it for the practice, not only do they need to be serious golfers, but they also have to be able to afford a $15k investment. The market there is SO small. If you are buying it for fun, you already have affordable options out there like Opti Shot that cost less than $500. Sure the accuracy and data isn’t great, but it’s just for fun. If simulated golf was truly the “future of golf”, I would have expected by now to see a lot more of my buddies owning Opti Shots. And here’s the other thing, you also need SPACE to use it! You can’t just set this up in your living room and even most basements don’t have the required ceiling height. There are so many reasons why these things are never going to take off. They’re great in the markets they are in right now. I think the only time we will see somewhat of an uptick in this market for personal LMs, is when affordability meets accuracy. The closest I’ve seen so far is the SkyTrack that you can get for under $2k. But even that isn’t jumping off the shelves. Get out there and play.
larrybud
Apr 17, 2017 at 3:23 pm
You realize half the country doesn’t play golf for the better of 3-4 months?
KC
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:35 am
A $14K launch monitor is going to grow the game?! This is honestly the stupidest thing I’ve read on WRX.
Thus
Apr 17, 2017 at 4:09 pm
Indoor golf facilities are growing, people are too busy too play 4 hour rounds, and the weather is not always sunny.
These things are growing golf whether you are a hater or not.
Not all units are being brought for personal use only.
david
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:56 am
What an f’d up world…all phones have done aside from turning the human race into fat fat zombies who look down at a screen all day as they walk into oncoming cars, is slowly put an end to human communication and interaction. I suppose golf courses will eventually be obsolete in the same way. I’m glad I’m now in my 60’s and won’t be around to see the ugly future we have painted for our race.
JD
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:05 am
Those microchips in those phones also make devices keeping you alive well into your 90’s pal…
Pal
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:23 am
Yeah pal. Keep your opinion to yourself and be thankful for all those amazing microchips keeping you alive.
freowho
Apr 17, 2017 at 8:57 pm
But the world is overpopulated. We need people to die. Have you seen the movie Wall-E? Playing golf on simulators is not about being time poor. It’s because people can’t walk anymore.
toad
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:40 am
Companies like this are definitely the future of golf. Kinda sad… golf is meant to be played outside in the fresh air. That being said, you’ll see more Zombie golfers in the future.
JD
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:01 am
Totally agree, but would you rather play virtual golf at Pebble Beach in your own home, or drive 30min for a $60 tee time, only to play on crap greens and bunkers that aren’t taken care of…. Unless you’re paying $100+, you’re not playing true golf on a well manicured course.
Truth
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:32 am
Sounds like you need to move somewhere with better golf courses if all you’re playing on are those with crap greens and unkept bunkers. I play “true golf” all the time on great semi-private courses that run me $40-50/round. If you define “true golf” as a round that is only played on PGA tour quality tracks then maybe you should find a different hobby. And, frankly, if you’re investing $14K in a LM or sim because you’re such a course snob then you’re part of the reason why those local courses can’t keep up with the high standard of conditions you so nobly demand.
ooffa
Apr 17, 2017 at 12:23 pm
C’mon, Truth, Leave the guy alone. Just because in the trailer park town you live in you can play a nice course for 50 bucks doesn’t mean it’s like that everywhere.
JD
Apr 17, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Read below man. Their price point is no where near competitive to create demand. They will continue to just try to grow their market share of pro golfers and golf shops and are completely ignoring 85% of the market…
I moved from Mich to VA and there is quite the difference with public courses and how far your $ takes you…
TR1PTIK
Apr 17, 2017 at 12:56 pm
I think your definition of “true golf” is a little different from the guys who invented the game or my own. I agree that bunkers with massive footprints and the like in them is unacceptable, but expecting every course in the world to be of similar quality to PGA Tour courses is a bit unreasonable or realistic. Play it as it lies.
toad
Apr 18, 2017 at 12:10 am
Very good point… When they get cheap enough I wouldn’t mind having one. Especially if I still live in the Northwest.
N. D. Boondocks
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:35 am
Other games I’d like to see and play during our long (long, long) winter….
Golf Battleship
whack the ballpicker
tic tac toe
caps (like the beer drinking game)
duck shoot (like the carnival game)
that challenge shooting range in the dirty harry movie
Burton
Apr 17, 2017 at 12:06 pm
It’s not compatible with Foresight, but E6 offers a Carnival Shooting Game through E6 Cloud.
https://e6golf.com/e6-cloud/
Adam
Apr 17, 2017 at 10:14 am
I can see this being the case in very crowded urban environments or in winter. However, fact is you’re still hitting off a mat. Half of the challenge is dealing with lies, wind, hazards, breaks on the green, green speeds, etc.
TR1PTIK
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:39 am
Probably the most valid comment so far. Regardless of price (and $14K is a good price currently) the ability for larger facilities to incorporate this kind of technology will help grow the game because it makes the game more accessible and enjoyable for a whole new demographic. I’d hate to see the traditional golf course go away (hopefully that will never happen), but the potential to grow the game is there. All of you guys complaining about cost because you want one in your garage are completely missing the big picture. It is unlikely that a $1000 LM will ever be made that also incorporates the same level of accuracy. If you want, we can use the smartphone analogy again. Look at the price? Has it changed much over the past decade? If anything, prices have gone up slightly. Yes, there are smartphones available at more affordable prices, but they are inferior in quality and function because they use older technologies to reach those price points. To that point, it is possible one day to get a GC2-quality device for ~$1000, but it will look like a toy in comparison to whatever current-gen products come to market. The biggest drawback of this technology is like Adam said, no wind, no variation in lie, or breaks on the green.
Dat
Apr 17, 2017 at 9:56 am
Great! Now reduce the price by $13,500 and then you can “grow the game” lol.
Mathieu Fournier
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:26 am
Exactly
JD
Apr 17, 2017 at 9:53 am
If they’re going to compare these to smartphones, then lets continue with the analogy…
Apple was only widely successful as a company when they put a device (iPhone) in our hands that was 1st better than anything else, and 2nd affordable to the masses. Prior that they were branded as a luxury computer company, marketed for all but available for few.
Now to Foresight… without question putting launch monitor data in people’s hands makes golf affordable because you can practice for free and play virtual courses for free… something everyone would take advantage of…. for the right price…
These things need to get to the $1000 range to have any sort of ROI for us golf fans. If they are truly looking to “grow the game” and grow their business, they should really learn from Apple… your software is your IP, get the cost to manufacture down and make it a reasonable price point, and these would be in the garage of every MILDLY interested golf fan…
Avg golfer does not need club path data and all that noise, we want distance, club head speed, spin rate and enough data to put a reliable line on the ball. If you had $1000 for a golf season, would you spend it on 10-12 rounds of golf, or unlimited rounds of virtual golf, rain or shine, in the comfort of your own home…
Dick Kusleika
Apr 17, 2017 at 9:51 am
Action Figure Man: the how to buy action figure man episode
Jack Nash
Apr 17, 2017 at 9:13 am
14 G’s? Grow the Game? Why, if that’s the case, I’ll take 2.
Pike
Apr 17, 2017 at 8:55 am
Zombie golf… What a time to be alive.
ooffa
Apr 17, 2017 at 8:54 am
Nice Ad
Cris
Apr 17, 2017 at 11:40 pm
I think there should be some disclosure stating that this is paid advertisement. This sound like an article, but rather like an advertorial.