What They Have in Common
Both are indoor-only, camera-based photometric launch monitors that sit beside the ball. Neither has a built-in screen — you're reading data on a phone, tablet, or PC. Both track the core ball flight metrics: ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance, direction, and apex.
Where They Differ
What you're paying for — and paying ongoing
This is where the comparison really lives.
The Square Golf Original is $699 flat. No subscription. Includes 10 courses through what seems to be its own platform, plus GSPro compatibility. You buy it, you use it.
The Bushnell LPi is $1,499 hardware plus a mandatory subscription: Silver at $199/year or Gold at $499/year. There's no free tier — if your subscription lapses, you lose access to all data. That's not a paywalled extra feature, that's the product.
Run the math. At three years: LPi at Silver = $1,499 + $597 = $2,096. Square Golf at three years = $699. At five years: $1,499 + $995 = $2,494 vs $699. The gap only widens.
If you go LPi Gold, the five-year total hits $3,994. The Square Golf Original could pay for itself twice over with money left for new clubs.
The subscription isn't inherently wrong — plenty of serious golfers pay $499/year for the software ecosystem it unlocks. But it needs to be front-of-mind before you buy.
Technology and data depth
Both units are photometric and camera-based, which means indoor spin tracking should be solid from both. The LPi uses three cameras (its "triscopic" setup), which is likely why Bushnell prices it where they do — more camera angles usually means more reliable ball capture in different lighting conditions, though I don't have accuracy benchmarks to compare directly.
The Square Golf Original uses high-speed camera plus machine vision. It does require dotted balls for tracking — that's a real cost to factor in. Dotted range balls typically run around $30–50 for a bag. Not as steep as RPT or RCT balls ($70/dozen), but it's not free. The LPi does not require special balls, but it does require club face stickers for club data.
Both units track club data — swing path, face angle, dynamic loft, angle of attack on the Square Golf side; club speed and smash factor on the LPi side.
Sim software and course access
The Square Golf Original plugs into GSPro, which has a massive library of courses and a devoted sim community. Ten courses come included with the unit itself. If you're already paying for a GSPro license, the Square Golf slots right in.
The LPi connects to FSX Play, Bushnell's simulation platform. The Gold tier unlocks more of it; Silver gets you a more limited version. From what I've seen, FSX Play is a capable platform, but the course library and community are smaller than GSPro's. You're also not getting course access separate from the subscription — it's all bundled, which means you're paying for sim software whether you want it or not.
Setup and portability
The LPi connects via Ethernet or USB-C and has no battery. It's a permanent or semi-permanent installation — you're running a cable. That's fine for a dedicated sim room. Less fine for a garage setup where you want to fold things down on weekends.
The Square Golf Original has an 8-hour removable battery and connects via Bluetooth. You can pack it up, bring it to a friend's place, set it up in different rooms. That's a real difference in how you can actually use it.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Bushnell LPi if:
- You're equipping a commercial sim bay or high-end fitting studio where the subscription cost is a business expense, not a personal one.
- You're already committed to the FSX Play ecosystem or a facility that runs on it.
- You want three-camera photometric tracking and don't mind a hardwired installation.
- Budget genuinely isn't a constraint and you want a Bushnell-backed product with commercial-grade support.
Buy the Square Golf Original if:
- You're building a home sim and don't want an annual bill attached to your hardware.
- You're already paying for GSPro and want something that connects without another subscription.
- You want to be able to move your setup — different rooms, range sessions, travel — without dragging a power cable.
- You're a mid-handicap golfer who wants legitimate club and ball data without spending $2,000+ before year two.
- The $800 price gap is meaningful to you, and you'd rather spend it on a mat, net, or projector upgrade.
The Bottom Line
The Bushnell LPi is a serious piece of hardware for serious (or commercial) setups. But the no-free-tier subscription model means you're signing up for $199–499/year on top of $1,499 hardware, forever. The Square Golf Original gives you a capable indoor photometric unit, GSPro compatibility, an 8-hour battery, and zero ongoing fees for $699.
Most home sim golfers are going to be better served by the Square Golf — more flexibility, lower total cost, better software ecosystem access. The LPi makes sense when someone else is paying the bills.
Get the Square Golf Original.
See Also