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Foresight GC2 Review: A Surprisingly Affordable Launch Monitor From Foresight

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This might be one of the most surprising new launch monitors we’ve seen in a while.

Foresight Sports has introduced the new Foresight GC2, and what makes this launch monitor so interesting isn’t necessarily some groundbreaking new technology. It’s the price.

Foresight isn’t exactly known for budget launch monitors. The company’s products have traditionally occupied the premium end of the market, so seeing Foresight introduce a camera-based launch monitor for $1,699 immediately caught our attention.

But getting the price that low obviously requires some compromises.

So what exactly do you get with the new GC2? How does it compare to the more expensive Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Circle B? And perhaps most importantly, does the accuracy hold up against Foresight’s more expensive hardware?

We put the GC2 and GC3 side-by-side to find out.

What Is the Foresight GC2?

The easiest way to understand the GC2 is to look at where it fits within Foresight’s launch monitor lineup.

At the top, you have the Foresight GCQuad with its four-camera system. Below that sits the GC3 with three cameras. And now, with the introduction of the GC2, Foresight has a two-camera launch monitor serving as a much more affordable entry point into its camera-based ecosystem.

And despite the lower price, the GC2 still feels very much like a Foresight product.

It can be used both indoors and outdoors, offers at least five hours of battery life and includes a built-in 2.8-inch color display.

The build quality is also excellent. Nothing about the GC2 feels particularly cheap or “budget,” which is exactly what we’d expect from Foresight.

There are, however, some significant differences compared to the GC3.

Foresight GC2 vs. GC3: What’s Missing?

One of the first differences you’ll notice is the screen.

The GC2’s display is considerably smaller than the one found on the GC3, and it isn’t a touchscreen. That’s one feature we really like on both the Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Circle B, so it’s unfortunate to see it missing here.

The GC2 itself is also slightly smaller and lighter than the GC3.

But those aren’t the differences that should determine which one you buy.

The big one is club data.

Reducing the GC2 to a two-camera system means this is a ball-data-only launch monitor. Unlike some other devices where additional data can be unlocked later through software or a subscription, there isn’t an option to add club data to the GC2.

If club data is important to you, that immediately becomes one of the biggest reasons to look elsewhere.

If you’re primarily interested in accurate ball data, however, the GC2 becomes much more compelling.

How Much Does the Foresight GC2 Cost?

The new Foresight GC2 is priced at $1,699, putting it significantly below the GC3 and creating a much lower entry point into Foresight’s hardware ecosystem.

That’s a pretty big departure for a company generally associated with premium launch monitors.

It also makes the GC2 particularly interesting for golfers who want the accuracy and build quality associated with Foresight but don’t necessarily need all of the features found in the company’s more expensive units.

→ Check the latest Foresight GC2 price at PlayBetter and use coupon code GOLFICITY for the best available price.

What About the Bushnell Circle B?

This is where the decision gets a little more complicated.

The Foresight GC3 and Bushnell Circle B share the same underlying hardware. Both use three cameras and can provide club data, but they’re sold using different pricing models.

The GC3 is essentially the fully unlocked version with a higher upfront purchase price, while the Circle B lowers that initial cost and uses subscriptions to unlock additional functionality.

We’ve compared those two launch monitors previously, and our preference between them was the Circle B. Even when paying for the higher subscription tier, it takes years for those subscription costs to reach the difference in upfront price versus purchasing a fully unlocked GC3.

If you absolutely hate subscriptions, the GC3 may still make more sense. But for many golfers, the Circle B provides a more attractive entry point into that three-camera hardware.

Now the GC2 introduces another choice at an even lower price.

Where to Buy the Foresight GC2

If you’re shopping for the new Foresight GC2—or comparing it against the GC3 or Bushnell Circle B—we recommend checking out PlayBetter.com.

We’ve partnered with PlayBetter because they carry the major launch monitor brands and have a customer service team that actually understands golf and simulator equipment. That can be especially helpful when you’re trying to figure out which launch monitor makes the most sense for your budget and setup.

Plus, Golficity readers can use coupon code GOLFICITY to get the best available price.

Foresight GC2 vs. GC3 Accuracy Test

Of course, a lower price doesn’t mean much if the launch monitor isn’t accurate.

To see how the GC2 performs, we set it directly alongside a Foresight GC3 and hit a series of shots with an 8-iron, wedge and driver.

It’s important to point out that this wasn’t intended to be a scientific laboratory test. Placing two launch monitors directly next to each other can potentially introduce interference, and there are other variables that can affect the results.

Instead, we wanted to see whether the two units would produce generally comparable measured ball data when reading the exact same shots.

And overall, the results were impressive.

8-Iron Results

Starting with the 8-iron, the GC2 and GC3 produced extremely similar numbers.

On one shot, ball speed measured 102.1 mph versus 103.2 mph, while peak height came in at 91.2 feet versus 90.1 feet.

Spin was even closer: 4,475 RPM on the GC3 versus 4,425 RPM on the GC2.

Spin axis was separated by only a fraction of a degree.

We continued to see similar results on additional shots, with launch angle, spin and spin axis generally tracking very closely between the two units.

Wedge Results

Next, we switched to a 53-degree Vokey SM11 and tested both partial and full wedge shots.

Again, the measured data remained surprisingly close.

On our partial wedge test, ball speed was within approximately 1 mph, launch angle was within about one degree, peak height was separated by roughly one foot and spin was within approximately 100 RPM.

Another benefit worth mentioning here is that the GC2 doesn’t require specially marked golf balls to capture its data.

We conducted our testing with a standard Titleist Pro V1, making the GC2 particularly convenient for golfers who want to move between indoor and outdoor practice without changing golf balls or applying special markings.

Driver Results

Finally, we moved the launch monitors into position for driver.

Even on a poor drive, both units recognized the shot and produced comparable numbers. Spin was within roughly 30 RPM, launch angle was separated by less than half a degree and both launch monitors correctly identified the rightward spin axis.

On a better drive, total spin remained within approximately 100 RPM, while launch direction and launch angle were again extremely close.

Ball speed showed a slightly larger difference of around 2 mph, but overall the measured data continued to track well.

What About Carry Distance?

If there was one area where we consistently saw a larger difference, it was carry distance.

Depending on the shot, we occasionally saw several yards of separation between the GC2 and GC3.

That’s worth pointing out, but it’s also important to distinguish between measured data and calculated data.

Numbers such as ball speed, launch angle and spin are directly measured by the launch monitor. Carry distance is then calculated using those measurements along with environmental and algorithmic variables.

Interestingly, we even noticed occasional differences between the carry distance displayed directly on the GC3 and what appeared within the Foresight software.

For that reason, we put more weight on the measured numbers during this informal comparison—and those numbers were generally very close.

How Accurate Is the Foresight GC2?

Based on our initial testing, accuracy looks like one of the GC2’s biggest strengths.

That isn’t necessarily surprising. If there’s one thing we’d expect Foresight to get right, it’s launch monitor accuracy.

What makes the results interesting is that we’re seeing ball data that compares favorably with significantly more expensive Foresight hardware.

You’re obviously giving up club data and some premium hardware features to reach the lower price, but based on our initial side-by-side testing, ball-data accuracy doesn’t appear to be where Foresight made its biggest compromises.

The Catch: Foresight Plus Subscription Costs

There’s one important part of the GC2’s $1,699 price that you need to understand before buying: software and subscriptions.

Foresight has introduced its new Foresight Plus membership structure, including Silver and Gold membership tiers along with Course Pass options for accessing its library of newly mapped 4K golf courses.

And those costs can add up.

At a minimum, stepping up to the Foresight Plus Silver membership at $199 per year unlocks additional features such as challenges, drills and Course Pass compatibility.

If you want to use the GC2 for virtual golf within Foresight’s ecosystem, you’ll also need a separate Course Pass subscription.

Course Pass is priced at $295 per year, while Course Pass Pro costs $595 per year.

There’s no question that Foresight offers one of the more premium virtual golf experiences available, particularly with its newer 4K courses. But that premium experience comes at a price.

So while the GC2 hardware starts at a very attractive $1,699, golfers interested in building a full simulator need to consider the total long-term cost rather than looking only at the price of the launch monitor itself.

GC2 vs. Circle B: Which Should You Buy?

For us, the more interesting comparison isn’t necessarily GC2 versus GC3. It’s GC2 versus Bushnell Circle B.

And the deciding factor largely comes down to one question:

Do you need club data?

The Circle B’s three-camera system gives you the option to access club data, although doing so requires at least the Silver membership tier at $199 per year.

The GC2 costs less upfront, but club data simply isn’t an option.

If you’re interested primarily in accurate ball data and don’t care about club measurements, the GC2 makes a lot of sense. You’re getting Foresight’s camera-based technology and excellent build quality at a considerably lower hardware price.

If club data matters to you, however, we’d lean toward the Circle B rather than buying a GC2 and later realizing you wish you had access to those additional measurements.

→ Check the GC2 price at PlayBetter | Check the Circle B price at PlayBetter

How Does the GC2 Compare to Other Budget Launch Monitors?

The subscription costs also open the door to another conversation.

At $1,699, the GC2 hardware itself is relatively affordable by Foresight standards. But once you start adding annual software and virtual golf subscriptions, other launch monitors begin looking increasingly competitive.

Products such as the Square Omni and Rapsodo MLM2XPRO come in at lower initial hardware prices and also offer less expensive paths into their respective software ecosystems.

The MLM2XPRO, for example, is priced at $899.99 and adds features such as ball and club data along with putting capability. Even after factoring in its $199 annual membership, it remains a significantly smaller overall investment.

That doesn’t automatically make those launch monitors better than the GC2. Foresight’s camera technology, build quality and software experience remain significant selling points.

But if you’re shopping primarily based on value, it’s important to compare the total cost of ownership rather than just the price printed on the box.

Who Should Buy the Foresight GC2?

The GC2 ultimately makes the most sense for a pretty specific golfer.

If you want to get into Foresight’s proven camera-based launch monitor ecosystem, care primarily about accurate ball data and don’t need club measurements, the GC2 is a very compelling option.

Our initial accuracy testing was impressive, the hardware feels every bit like a Foresight product, it works indoors and outdoors, and the $1,699 starting price is remarkably low compared to what we’ve traditionally seen from the company.

But we’d think carefully about your long-term plans before buying.

If you know you’re going to want club data, the Circle B is probably the smarter investment. And if your priority is getting the most simulator functionality possible for the least amount of money, products like the Rapsodo MLM2X PRO and Square Omni deserve a serious look as well.

The bigger takeaway is that golfers suddenly have another legitimate option in an increasingly competitive launch monitor market.

We certainly didn’t expect Foresight to be the company introducing one of the more interesting new budget-friendly launch monitors—but based on our first experience with the GC2, we’re glad they did.

→ Shop the Foresight GC2 at PlayBetter and use coupon code GOLFICITY for the best available price.

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