Personal launch monitors provide cost-friendly (relatively speaking) indoor golf simulator setups and are competing with state-of-the-art launch monitors.
SkyTrak is one of the leaders in the personal launch monitor market. So the question we want to address is: For $3,000, is SkyTrak+ worth it? We headed to the MGS Lab to put it to the test.
SkyTrak+ versus Foresight GCQuad
If our 2023 personal launch monitor test taught us anything, it’s that not all personal launch monitors are the same. Yes, there are similarities and the performance gap between consumer-grade and enterprise class is narrowing, but weaknesses remain.
How does the SkytTrak+ compare to a Foresight GCQuad head-to-head with data? We know Foresight GCQuad is the gold standard for indoor testing. That’s why we use it.
Let’s see the results focusing on a driver, 6-iron and pitching wedge. Each data observation consists of the average outcome for each metric.
Driver Data
The driver’s mission is to maximize distance off the tee. Here’s what we found when we looked at key metrics like carry distance, ball speed, club head speed, launch angle and backspin.
6-Iron Data
Iron data is where SkyTrak+ produces more consistency. Once again, ball speed is the best performance differential. For the 6-Iron, SkyTrak+ produced less than a one-percent differential for ball speed.
Here are the results for carry distance, club head speed, launch angle and backspin. Notice how most of the differentials are tighter versus the driver data.
Carry Distance – 2.34% Club head Speed – 1.81% Launch Angle – 8.92% Backspin – 3.65%The glaring weakness for the 6-iron data is the differential in launch angle which remains consistent with the driver data.
Pitching Wedge Data
The pitching wedge data is the final confirmation that SkyTrak+ produces consistent ball speed data. There is a less than a one-percent differential between the SkyTrak+ and Foresight GCQuad for ball speed.
Carry Distance – 0.68% Club head Speed – 1.90% Launch Angle – 6.47% Backspin – 4.48%
Additional Data Observations
Spin Axis
Why is spin axis important? It is the measurement that tells you how much the axis of the ball tilted at impact. Spin axis has a strong correlation with curvature, which is important for measuring how far offline a ball travels.
Picture a globe on a stand with its slight tilt. For the right-handed golfer, a negative spin axis results in left curvature. A positive spin axis results in right curvature. Spin axis is one of the main reasons we utilize and trust Foresight GCQuad for indoor testing.
Club Path Data
The direction the club head is moving at impact in relation to the target line. Similar to other measurements, for the right-handed golfer, a negative number means left and a positive number means right. If you’ve heard of the terms “out to in” and “in to out,” those refer to club path. “Out to in” will be a negative number. “In to out” will be a positive number.
Face to Path Data
Face-to-path is the relationship or angle difference between the club face and the club path. It also plays a role in determining the spin axis.
Offline Data
Once again, a negative number represents a shot to the left. A positive number is a shot to the right.
Is SkyTrak+ Worth It?
SkyTrak+ is on sale for $2,695. Is it worth it? For less than $3,000, don’t expect the accuracy levels of $20,000-plus launch monitors.
However, the features SkyTrak+ offers, the ease of setup and the opportunity it provides for 24/7 access to practice is phenomenal. If you get the full package, you can play golf anytime.
Ball data as a whole is encouraging for SkyTrak+, especially when it comes to ball speed accuracy. Metrics such as carry distance, launch angle and spin are more consistent as you use a shorter golf club (irons specifically). It is likely this data will improve over time with firmware and algorithm enhancements.
However, if you are purchasing a SkyTrak+ with an emphasis on overall data (ball and club data), you might be underwhelmed or misinformed, especially when it comes to driver data. We found driver data accuracy to be one of its weaknesses in this year’s testing of best golf launch monitors. Those findings are consistent with this new batch of data.
A Final Note on Testing
For most short to mid-iron data metrics, consumers should expect SkyTrak+ to be within less than 5% accuracy compared to Foresight GCQuad, especially ball speed, club head speed, carry distance and backspin.
For driver data, as speed increases, SkyTrak+ is more efficient with certain metrics (ball speed and club head speed). Consumers should expect these numbers to be within 1% accuracy compared to Foresight GCQuad.
Driver carry distance, regardless of speed, appears to be between 7-9% shorter carry than Foresight GCQuad.
Launch angle across the board appears to be between 6-12% lower than Foresight GCQuad and this number increases as the golf club gets longer.
Is the SkyTrak+ Right for You?
Ultimately, whether SkyTrak+ is worth the investment is up to you. While it may not provide you with $20,000 worth of data, the SkyTrak+ still performs very well and many readers have reported positive results.
Editor’s Note: This article is written in partnership with SkyTrak.
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