The home golf simulator market has changed a lot over the last few years—but nothing has disrupted it quite like the Square Golf Home Edition.
At $700, it’s one of the cheapest launch monitors on the market.
But unlike most budget options, this one uses photometric (camera-based) technology, which immediately puts it in a completely different category for indoor simulator use.
After spending time with it—and even comparing it against a GCQuad—the biggest question isn’t whether it’s cheap.
It’s whether it’s actually good enough.
And surprisingly… in a lot of ways, it is.
HUGE VALUE
SQUARE GOLF HOME EDITION
Excellent accuracy with no on-going subscriptions required!
Table of Contents
- Why the Square Golf Launch Monitor Matters
- First Impressions: Small, Simple, and Purpose-Built
- What You Get in the Box
- The Swing Stick: A Gimmick or Useful Feature?
- Why Photometric Technology Is a Big Deal Indoors
- Hitting Zone: Small but Usable
- Ball Data: Where the Trade-Offs Start
- Club Data: Impressive for the Price, With Limitations
- Performance Testing – Square vs GCQuad
- Software Experience: Better Than Expected
- Course Play and Pricing
- GSPro Compatibility: The Real Game-Changer
- Where the Square Falls Short
- Who Should Buy the Square Golf Launch Monitor?
- Alternatives to Consider
- Final Verdict: A New Entry Point for Simulator Golf
Why the Square Golf Launch Monitor Matters
If you’ve been researching golf simulators, you’ve probably noticed a pattern:
- Affordable launch monitors → usually radar-based
- Accurate indoor setups → usually expensive photometric systems
That gap has always been the barrier.
The Square changes that.
It’s currently one of the only options under $1,000 that gives you:
- A photometric launch monitor
- Indoor-friendly performance
- Compatibility with full simulator software like GSPro
That combination is why this thing has gotten so much attention—and why it’s worth taking seriously.
First Impressions: Small, Simple, and Purpose-Built
One of the first things you notice when you unbox the Square is how small it is.
It’s about the size of a small Bluetooth speaker. Lightweight, compact, and easy to move around.
That sounds great—but in reality, portability isn’t a major selling point here.
This is an indoor-only device.
Because it relies on infrared cameras, sunlight interferes with it. So while it’s easy to move between setups, it’s not something you’re taking out to the driving range.
Build Quality
The housing appears to be aluminum, and overall the build quality is solid for the price.
It doesn’t feel premium. It doesn’t feel fragile either.
It feels like exactly what it is—a well-designed entry-level device that prioritizes function over polish.
Setup and Connectivity
Setup is straightforward:
- Bluetooth connection to phone or PC
- USB-C charging
- Rechargeable battery
Bluetooth can sometimes be a weak point in launch monitors, but in my experience, it’s been reliable with the Square. No connection issues, no dropouts—just works.
What You Get in the Box
Square includes a few extras that are actually important to how the system works:
- Marked golf balls
- Reflective club shaft stickers
- Remote control
- The “Swing Stick”
The first two are essential. The last one is more of a bonus—but an interesting one.
The Swing Stick: A Gimmick or Useful Feature?
The Swing Stick is essentially a weighted training club with no clubface.
It allows you to use the simulator without hitting a ball, which opens up some different use cases:
- Playing sim golf in a living room
- Letting kids participate safely
- Casual practice without a full setup
For serious golfers, it’s not going to replace hitting real shots.
But it’s also not meant to.
It works surprisingly well for what it is, and the fact that it’s included at no extra cost makes it a nice addition—especially if you’re planning to use your simulator as more of a shared or family experience.
Why Photometric Technology Is a Big Deal Indoors
This is where the Square separates itself from most budget launch monitors.
Instead of radar, it uses a camera-based (photometric) system, which captures data at impact rather than tracking the ball in flight.
That has a major impact on space requirements.
Radar vs Photometric Indoors
Most radar-based systems need:
- 6–8 feet behind the ball
- 8–10 feet of ball flight
- Net or screen space
That adds up to 18–20 feet of total room length.
The Square doesn’t need any of that.
Because it sits next to the ball and only measures impact, you can use it in much tighter spaces.
Accuracy Advantage Indoors
Radar systems also tend to struggle indoors because they don’t have enough ball flight to track.
Photometric systems don’t have that limitation.
That’s why high-end systems like GCQuad and Trackman IO dominate indoor setups—and why getting this type of technology at $700 is such a big deal.
Hitting Zone: Small but Usable
The hitting area is roughly 6 inches by 6 inches.
That’s smaller than premium systems, but it’s workable.
You do need to be somewhat consistent with ball placement, but there’s enough tolerance that you’re not constantly adjusting between shots.
It’s also larger than the SKYTRAK+, which is worth noting given the price difference.
Ball Data: Where the Trade-Offs Start
The Square provides all the core ball data you need:
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Launch direction
- Backspin
- Side spin
But there’s an important distinction in how it handles spin.
Measured vs Calculated Data
You can choose between two modes:
Calculated Mode
- Works with any golf ball
- Spin is estimated
Measured Mode
- Requires marked balls (Square balls or TP5 Pix)
- Spin is directly measured
This is one of the clearest compromises at this price point.
Higher-end systems can measure spin using standard golf balls by tracking dimples. The Square can’t do that.
Does It Matter?
If you’re a serious player focused on accuracy, yes—you’ll want to use measured mode.
If you’re more focused on general simulation and gameplay, calculated mode still performs well enough to be enjoyable.
Club Data: Impressive for the Price, With Limitations
The Square can also provide club data—but it requires reflective stickers placed on the shaft.
You’ll get:
- Club path
- Angle of attack
- Dynamic loft
- Face to target
Interestingly, it does not provide club speed.
Accuracy Considerations
Because the sticker is on the shaft (not the clubface), it’s likely that some of this data is calculated rather than directly measured.
That doesn’t make it useless—but it does mean you shouldn’t expect tour-level precision.
Still, at this price point, having club data at all is a major plus.
Performance Testing – Square vs GCQuad
To get a better sense of how the Square performs, I compared it to a GCQuad.
Instead of running both at the same time (which can cause interference), I ran separate sessions with the same clubs and compared the results.
What I Saw
The differences were there—but they were small.
- Ball speed was slightly higher on the Square
- Spin was slightly lower
- Carry distances were slightly longer as a result
Launch angles were very close.
Club data showed some variation—particularly in club path—but nothing extreme.
What Actually Matters
The biggest takeaway wasn’t the individual numbers.
It was the dispersion patterns.
They were very similar.
And for most users, that’s what matters.
If you’re not doing professional club fitting or chasing elite-level data, the Square performs well enough to deliver a very realistic experience.
HUGE VALUE
SQUARE GOLF HOME EDITION
Excellent accuracy with no on-going subscriptions required!
Software Experience: Better Than Expected
The Square app is available on iOS, Android, and PC.
It includes:
- Driving range
- Approach/closest-to-pin practice
- Putting practice
- Course play
Driving Range
Simple, but effective.
You get:
- Ball flight visualization
- Dispersion tracking
- Data display
One feature I really like is the real-time visualization of the hitting zone. It makes it much easier to consistently place the ball in the correct position.
Practice Modes
The approach and putting modes are surprisingly strong.
The approach mode lets you work on distances to real greens, and the putting mode tracks performance across different lengths.
And this is worth emphasizing:
Putting is very good on this system.
That’s something a lot of launch monitors struggle with—especially radar-based ones.
Course Play and Pricing
The Square includes its own course play system.
- No subscription required
- 1,000 holes included
- Additional holes use inexpensive credits
The course library is growing, but it doesn’t include major or famous courses.
That’s where third-party software comes in.
GSPro Compatibility: The Real Game-Changer
This is where the Square goes from “interesting” to “serious.”
It works with GSPro.
For anyone not familiar, GSPro is:
- The most popular simulator software available
- Over 2,000 courses
- Online play and tournaments
And here’s the key:
You can use the Square with GSPro without paying any additional fees to Square.
You only pay the GSPro subscription (~$250/year).
Performance in GSPro
This is where I really evaluate launch monitors.
With the Square:
- Ball flight looks right
- Distances feel consistent
- Chipping works well
- Putting works extremely well
That last part is huge.
Many radar-based systems struggle with short game. The Square doesn’t.
Where the Square Falls Short
It’s not perfect, and it’s important to understand where the compromises are:
- Requires marked balls for measured spin
- Club data likely partially calculated
- Smaller hitting zone
- Indoor-only use
None of these are deal-breakers—but they’re part of the trade-off for the price.
Who Should Buy the Square Golf Launch Monitor?
The Square is a great fit if:
- You want a low-cost indoor simulator
- You plan to use GSPro
- You have limited space
- You care about short game realism
It may not be the best option if:
- You want a mobile-only experience (it’s good but some competitors’ apps are better)
- You don’t want to use a gaming PC (for GSPro)
- You need highly accurate club data
- You don’t want to use marked balls
Alternatives to Consider
If the Square isn’t quite right, here are a few alternatives depending on your priorities:
Mobile-First Options
Mid-Tier
Higher-End
Each of these comes with different trade-offs—especially around space, accuracy, and software.
Final Verdict: A New Entry Point for Simulator Golf
The Square Golf Home Edition doesn’t replace high-end launch monitors.
But it doesn’t need to.
What it does is open the door for a huge number of golfers who previously couldn’t justify the cost or space requirements of a simulator.
For $700, you’re getting:
- Photometric tracking
- Solid accuracy
- Full GSPro compatibility
- Excellent short game performance
That combination simply didn’t exist before.
And that’s why this launch monitor matters.
HUGE VALUE
SQUARE GOLF HOME EDITION
Excellent accuracy with no on-going subscriptions required!
