For clubhead and ball speed this punches miles above its price — in my testing it tracked right alongside Trackman, a GCQuad and a Full Swing KIT. Treat the distance numbers as a guide rather than gospel, especially on mishits, and use it the way I do: as a ball-speed and club-speed feedback tool off a known baseline. For that, and for speed training with SuperSpeed, it is superb value.
COACHES QUICK TAKE
Use code rosseves for 10% off at SuperSpeed Golf, where the PRGR launch monitor is sold.
THE REVIEW
Quick bit of honesty before we get into it: there are affiliate links on this page, and if you buy through my code I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only review kit I have actually used with my own game and my students' — that is the whole point of these pages, and it is why the money side never shapes what I tell you.
Tested by PGA coach Ross Eves, the PRGR (HS130A) is a pocket-sized radar launch monitor that costs $199.99 (around £151, down from $229.99). First things first: this is sold on the SuperSpeed site because that is where I buy it, but it is really the PRGR portable radar. It is a pocket-sized Doppler radar that reads club speed, ball speed, smash factor and an estimated carry and total distance. A couple of buttons, pick your club, and swing. That is it.
It genuinely fits in your golf bag, which I love. No tripod, no phone, no setup faff — it sits on the ground behind the ball and shows the numbers on its own screen. For something this simple it is remarkably useful.
The bit that matters: I have run it side by side against Trackman, a Foresight GCQuad and a Full Swing KIT, and for club speed and ball speed it was right there nearly every time. On pure, well-struck shots the numbers are excellent. Where it drops off is on mishits — the distance figure is worked out from an algorithm based on your speed numbers, so it cannot see spin or launch. Hit a spinny one that flies shorter, or a big slice or hook, and the distance reading gets unreliable.
So here is how I actually use it, and how I tell my students to: treat it as a club-speed and ball-speed device off a known baseline. If I already know from Trackman what my club and ball speed are at a given distance, the PRGR is superb for tracking those two numbers day to day. If you have genuinely no idea how far you hit each club it will still give you a baseline — just do not treat it as gospel. For instant feedback it is brilliant: hit a poor one and watch what happens to your ball speed, try a change and see what it does to your club speed.
It is also excellent for speed training. It reads a dry swing with no ball, so you can lay it down and pair it with your SuperSpeed sticks and chase a bigger number every rep. That combination is where this thing really earns its place in the bag.
For what it is worth, SuperSpeed feature Padraig Harrington using the PRGR as his personal speed-training and on-course monitor — so I am not the only one who rates it for that job.
One small annoyance: on a raised range mat the unit often needs to sit level with the mat to read cleanly, which can be a bit fiddly to set up.
Want more data? If you are after a more premium unit, my Shot Scope LM1 is probably a step up — grab the code on my Shot Scope discount page. The Stack System radar is also very good and similar in a lot of ways, though it is really built to integrate with the Stack speed programme — and the PRGR is a good bit cheaper.
At $199.99 (around £151 at today's rate, down from $229.99) it is outstanding value for a radar that tracks speed this well. If you want more of my coaching, the Handy Golf app is where I put it all.
Use code rosseves for 10% off at the SuperSpeed checkout, where the PRGR is sold.
Tested July 2026.
Pros
Cons
Club and ball speed held up against Trackman, GCQuad and Full Swing KIT in my own testing
Genuinely pocket-sized — fits in the golf bag
Dead simple: a couple of buttons, no phone or tripod
Outstanding value for a real Doppler radar unit
Reads dry swings (club speed only), so it is ideal for speed work
Brilliant instant feedback for ball speed and club speed
Distance is algorithm-estimated, so it gets unreliable on mishits, big curves and spinny shots
Cannot read spin or launch
Needs to sit level with a raised range mat, which is fiddly
Not a replacement for a premium unit if you need true carry, launch and spin
BRAND
CATEGORY
PRICE
BEST FOR
PRGR
Tech
$199.99 (approx £151)
Golfers who want accurate clubhead and ball speed numbers for speed training and baseline yardages — without premium launch-monitor money.
COACH'S VERDICT
For clubhead and ball speed this punches miles above its price — in my testing it tracked right alongside Trackman, a GCQuad and a Full Swing KIT. Treat the distance numbers as a guide rather than gospel, especially on mishits, and use it the way I do: as a ball-speed and club-speed feedback tool off a known baseline. For that, and for speed training with SuperSpeed, it is superb value.
- Ross Eves, PGA Professional
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the PRGR launch monitor and how does it work?
It's a pocket-sized Doppler radar — really the PRGR HS130A, sold via SuperSpeed. You pick your club, press a couple of buttons and swing; it reads club speed, ball speed, smash factor and an estimated carry and total distance, shown on its own screen. No phone, no tripod, no setup.
How accurate is the PRGR launch monitor?
For club speed and ball speed it is excellent — in my testing it tracked right alongside Trackman, a GCQuad and a Full Swing KIT on well-struck shots. The estimated distance is less reliable on mishits, because the unit cannot read spin or launch.
Who is the PRGR for?
Golfers who want reliable club-speed and ball-speed numbers off a known baseline, players doing speed training, and anyone who wants instant feedback without lugging a tripod or phone around. If you need full carry, launch and spin data, it's not the tool for you.
Is the PRGR worth it, or should I buy a premium launch monitor?
If you mainly want reliable club and ball speed and a baseline distance, it is superb value at $199.99. If you need full carry, launch and spin data, look at a more premium unit like my Shot Scope launch monitor.
How does the PRGR compare to the Shot Scope LM1 or the Stack radar?
All three are affordable radars. The Shot Scope LM1 is a slight step up if you want a more premium unit. The Stack radar is very good and similar, but it's really built to integrate with the Stack speed programme. The PRGR is a good bit cheaper and hard to beat for simple, reliable speed numbers.
Can you use the PRGR for speed training?
Yes. It reads a dry swing with no ball, so it pairs perfectly with SuperSpeed sticks for chasing bigger club-speed numbers.
Do any tour players use the PRGR?
SuperSpeed feature Padraig Harrington using the PRGR as his personal speed-training and on-course monitor, so it's trusted at the very top for exactly that job.
Does the PRGR fit in a golf bag?
Yes — it is pocket-sized, with no tripod or phone needed. The only small catch is that on a raised range mat it often needs to sit level with the mat to read cleanly, which can be a touch fiddly.
Is there a discount code for the PRGR?
Yes — use code rosseves for 10% off at the SuperSpeed checkout, where the PRGR is sold.
Ross Eves Msc, Bsc Hons
PGA Golf Professional - Biomechanics Coach
Ross Eves is a golf professional and biomechanics coach based in the UK. He specialises in swing analysis, golf fitness and helping golfers at all levels improve through evidence-based coaching methods.