Important note before you read further: the SkyTrak+ has been discontinued and replaced by the SkyTrak ST MAX. If you're shopping new, the ST MAX is the current model. If you find SkyTrak+ stock at a discount, the analysis below still applies — but verify what you're getting. For the Bushnell Launch Pro, the upfront cost is around $2,499 — check current price for the latest. The SkyTrak+ launched at around $1,995.
Both are camera-based photometric systems with measured spin and excellent indoor performance. The Bushnell Launch Pro uses Foresight internals (3-camera system, same family as the GCQuad) and gates full capabilities behind a subscription. The SkyTrak+ gives you all 16+ metrics without a subscription, with a wider software ecosystem. Total cost of ownership over three years is competitive — subscription structure is the key differentiator.
Manufacturer photos
Specs Side-by-Side
| Feature | 📷 Bushnell Launch Pro | 📷 SkyTrak+ ⚠️ Discontinued |
|---|---|---|
| Price (at launch) | $2,499 | $1,995 (check current stock) |
| Technology | Photometric (3 cameras, Foresight internals) | Photometric (camera-based) |
| Data Metrics | 12+ (full set with Gold sub) | 16+ |
| Spin Measurement | Directly measured ✓ | Directly measured ✓ |
| Club Path / Face Angle | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Indoor Performance | Excellent | Excellent |
| Outdoor Performance | Good (needs diffuser in bright sun) | Good (needs diffuser in bright sun) |
| Simulator Software | FSX Play + GSPro (Gold tier only) | FSX Play, TGC 2019, WGT, E6 (sub-gated) |
| Subscription | Silver $199/yr · Gold $499/yr | ~$130–$600/yr depending on tier |
| Battery | Built-in rechargeable | Built-in rechargeable |
| Status | Current model | Discontinued — see ST MAX |
| Our Score | 8.8 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
Accuracy & Technology
Both units are photometric systems that read ball and club data at impact using high-speed cameras — neither tracks ball flight through the air, so ceiling height and room depth are non-issues. Both directly measure spin (not estimated), which is the critical differentiator from radar systems at this price point.
The Bushnell Launch Pro uses a 3-camera system with Foresight Sports internals — the same technology family behind the GCQuad and GCHawk. Foresight has a long track record in tour-level fitting bays, and those internals translate into real-world consistency that independent reviewers and forum testing consistently validate. Ball speed, launch angle, and spin data align closely with high-end radar units in controlled conditions.
The SkyTrak+ built on the original SkyTrak's reputation and added club path and face angle data, pushing measured metrics to 16+. Independent community testing (r/golfsimulators, Golf Simulator Forum) consistently placed it within 1–2% of TrackMan on core metrics in well-controlled conditions. Its accuracy at the price point earned it a strong reputation before SkyTrak discontinued it in favor of the ST MAX.
One note: accuracy for photometric systems is sensitive to setup — level surface, correct distance from the ball, and adequate lighting all matter. Both units perform best indoors with consistent lighting rather than outdoors in variable conditions.
Indoor Performance
This is one area where these two monitors are genuinely on equal footing. Both photometric systems read the ball at impact — no ball flight tracking required, so ceiling height restrictions and room depth minimums that apply to radar units don't apply here. A tight one-car garage sim works with either.
Both need a level surface and consistent lighting. Neither requires clearance behind the ball for radar tracking. If indoor sim use is the primary goal, the hardware capability is comparable between the two.
The key indoor differentiator is software access. The SkyTrak+ supports FSX Play, TGC 2019, WGT, and E6 Connect — with different software tiers gating different platforms. The Bushnell Launch Pro supports FSX Play and GSPro, but GSPro requires the Gold subscription ($499/yr). If you're planning to build around GSPro on a budget, factor in that subscription cost from day one.
Cost of Ownership
| Cost Breakdown | 📷 Bushnell Launch Pro | 📷 SkyTrak+ (discontinued) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware (at launch) | $2,499 | $1,995 |
| Silver Sub (basic sim) | $199/yr | ~$130–$200/yr (varies by tier) |
| Gold Sub (GSPro + full metrics) | $499/yr | ~$400–$600/yr (top tier) |
| Year 1 (Silver tier) | ~$2,698 | ~$3,125–$3,195 |
| Year 1 (Gold / top tier) | ~$2,998 | ~$3,395–$3,595 |
| Without any subscription | $2,499 (limited metrics) | $1,995 (full 16+ metrics) |
The hardware prices are closer than many buyers expect — around $2,499 for the Bushnell Launch Pro vs around $1,995 for the SkyTrak+ (check current pricing on each). The meaningful cost difference comes from how each handles subscriptions.
The SkyTrak+ delivers its full 16+ metric dataset without any subscription. You pay once and get everything the unit measures. Subscriptions on SkyTrak+ unlock specific sim software platforms, with tiers ranging roughly $130–$600/yr depending on which platforms you want — so you only pay for what you actually use.
The Bushnell Launch Pro tiers its own hardware capabilities behind the subscription: Silver ($199/yr) gives basic sim access, Gold ($499/yr) unlocks GSPro and the complete metric set. If you want everything the unit is technically capable of delivering, you're looking at $499/yr on top of the hardware cost.
Software & Ecosystem
| Software Feature | Bushnell Launch Pro | SkyTrak+ (discontinued) |
|---|---|---|
| FSX Play | ✓ Included | ✓ Compatible |
| GSPro | Gold sub required ($499/yr) | ✗ Not supported |
| TGC 2019 | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Sub-gated |
| WGT | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Sub-gated |
| E6 Connect | ✗ Not supported | ✓ Sub-gated |
| Full metrics without sub | ✗ Requires Gold sub | ✓ Included |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Session history | ✓ | ✓ |
The software ecosystems are almost inverse of each other. The Bushnell Launch Pro connects natively with GSPro — one of the most popular and fastest-growing sim platforms — but requires the Gold subscription ($499/yr) to use it. The SkyTrak+ does not support GSPro at all, instead covering TGC 2019, WGT, E6 Connect, and FSX Play through its tiered subscription structure.
If GSPro is your target platform, the Bushnell Launch Pro is the clear choice between these two — just budget for the Gold tier. If you prefer TGC 2019 or E6 Connect, the SkyTrak+ ecosystem is broader, though the ST MAX is the current model to consider for new purchases.
Neither unit's software ecosystem is static — manufacturers add and adjust platform support over time, and third-party sim software continues to expand compatibility. Check the current support list on each manufacturer's website before purchasing.
Who Should Buy Which
- ✓ GSPro is your preferred sim platform
- ✓ You want Foresight-family photometric accuracy
- ✓ You're comfortable with a subscription to unlock full metrics
- ✓ You want a current (non-discontinued) model
- ✓ FSX Play is your primary sim software
- ✓ You don't need TGC 2019 or E6 Connect
- ✓ You want full metrics without a hardware subscription
- ✓ TGC 2019, WGT, or E6 Connect is your preferred platform
- ✓ You prefer a pay-for-what-you-use software model
- ✓ You want 16+ measured metrics out of the box
- ✓ Widest course library compatibility matters
- ⚠️ Note: buy the ST MAX new — SkyTrak+ is discontinued
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