⚡ Verdict in 30 Seconds

The SkyTrak+ is a generational leap over the original — not just an incremental update. It adds full club data (speed, path, face angle, attack angle), uses dual photometric cameras plus radar instead of a single camera, and lands within 1% of TrackMan on every metric we tested. The original SkyTrak is discontinued and only available used. If you're buying new, there's only one choice. If you own the original and are wondering whether to upgrade: yes, the club data alone justifies it.

Specs Side-by-Side

Feature📷 SkyTrak (Original)🚀 SkyTrak+
Price~$1,500 (used/refurbished)$1,995
StatusDiscontinued (new)In Production ✓
TechnologySingle Photometric CameraDual Photometric + Radar
Ball Data MetricsBall speed, launch angle, backspin, sidespin, carry, totalAll original metrics + spin axis, descent angle
Club Data✗ Not available✓ Club speed, path, face angle, attack angle, dynamic loft
Total Data Points818
Accuracy (vs TrackMan)Within 2–3%Within 1%
Spin MeasurementCamera-based (good)Dual-sensor (excellent)
Indoor PerformanceGoodExcellent
GSPro Support
E6 Connect Support
TGC 2019 Support
WiFi ConnectivityWiFi (2.4 GHz)WiFi 6 (2.4 + 5 GHz)
Shot Processing Speed~3–5 seconds~1–2 seconds
Software UpdatesNo longer receiving updatesActive development
Our ScoreN/A (legacy)9.4 / 10

Technology Deep Dive

The original SkyTrak uses a single photometric camera positioned beside the ball. It captures high-speed images of the ball at launch to calculate ball speed, launch angle, backspin, sidespin, and carry distance. For its era (launched 2014), this was groundbreaking technology that brought accurate ball data into home simulator setups for the first time.

The SkyTrak+ is a fundamentally different machine. It combines dual photometric cameras with Doppler radar — a hybrid approach that captures both ball and club data with far greater precision. The dual cameras photograph the ball and club at impact while the radar tracks ball flight. This fusion approach is why the SkyTrak+ lands within 1% of TrackMan on virtually every metric.

Why dual sensors matter. A single camera can only see the ball. Dual cameras + radar can see the ball AND the club, from multiple angles, with radar validating what the cameras capture. This is how the SkyTrak+ gets club path, face angle, and attack angle data that the original SkyTrak simply cannot produce.

The Club Data Gap

This is the single biggest difference between the two units and the primary reason to upgrade. The original SkyTrak measures ball data only — it tells you what the ball did, but not what the club did. The SkyTrak+ measures both.

Club Data Metric📷 SkyTrak (Original)🚀 SkyTrak+
Club Head Speed
Club Path
Face Angle
Face to Path
Attack Angle
Dynamic Loft

Why does this matter? Because ball data tells you what happened — club data tells you why. If your shots are fading right, ball data shows you the sidespin, but club data shows you whether it's an open face, an out-to-in path, or both. Without club data, you're guessing at the cause. With it, you know exactly what to fix.

For club fitting, coaching sessions, and serious swing work, club data is non-negotiable. This alone justifies the upgrade for anyone who practices more than casually.

Simulator Software Support

Simulator Platform📷 SkyTrak (Original)🚀 SkyTrak+
SkyTrak App (built-in)
TGC 2019
GSPro✓ Native
E6 Connect
WGT✓ (via app)
Creative Golf 3D

The simulator landscape has shifted dramatically since the original SkyTrak launched. GSPro has become the go-to platform for serious home sim users — it's affordable ($250 lifetime or $35/month) and has 200,000+ courses. The original SkyTrak doesn't support it. The SkyTrak+ does, natively.

E6 Connect is the other major platform, used by commercial simulator facilities and serious home setups. Again: SkyTrak+ supports it, original doesn't. If sim play is a priority, the original SkyTrak's software options feel dated in 2026.

Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Let's be direct. Here's how we'd frame the decision:

ScenarioRecommendation
Buying your first launch monitorSkyTrak+ — no question, buy current tech
Own original SkyTrak, use dailyUpgrade — club data + accuracy improvement pays for itself
Own original SkyTrak, use weeklyUpgrade — modern sim support alone is worth it
Own original SkyTrak, use casuallyKeep it — still works fine for basic ball data
Budget under $1,200 firmUsed SkyTrak — still delivers solid ball data for practice
Building a home sim setupSkyTrak+ — GSPro/E6 support + club data are essential
The real cost of "saving" money. A used original SkyTrak at $1,000 saves you $995 upfront. But you lose club data, modern sim support, active software updates, and ~1–2% accuracy on every metric. Over 3 years of regular use, the SkyTrak+ costs roughly $2.75/day more. For data that's meaningfully better on every shot, that's a trade most serious golfers should make.

Who Should Buy Which

📷
Keep/Buy Original SkyTrak if…
  • ✓ Budget is firmly under $1,200
  • ✓ You only need basic ball data
  • ✓ You don't use GSPro or E6 Connect
  • ✓ You practice casually (1–2x/month)
  • ✓ You already own one and it still works
  • ✓ You're not working with a coach
🚀
Buy the SkyTrak+ if…
  • ✓ You want club AND ball data
  • ✓ You're building a home simulator
  • ✓ You use GSPro or E6 Connect
  • ✓ You practice regularly (weekly+)
  • ✓ You work with a coach or fitter
  • ✓ You want within-1%-of-TrackMan accuracy

FAQ

Yes, for most users. The SkyTrak+ adds club data (club speed, club path, face angle, attack angle), uses a dual photometric + radar system for better accuracy, and supports modern simulator platforms like GSPro. If you use your launch monitor regularly for practice or simulation, the upgrade pays for itself in better data quality.
For basic ball data and casual simulator use, a used or refurbished original SkyTrak still works fine. However, it lacks club data entirely, uses older single-camera technology, and won't receive future software updates. At used prices around $800–$1,000, it can be a budget entry point, but the SkyTrak+ is the better long-term investment.
Yes. The SkyTrak+ measures club speed, club path, face angle, face-to-path, attack angle, and dynamic loft — none of which the original SkyTrak can measure. This is the single biggest upgrade and matters enormously for swing improvement and club fitting.
The original SkyTrak works with TGC 2019 and WGT (via SkyTrak's app). The SkyTrak+ adds native support for GSPro, E6 Connect, TGC 2019, and the SkyTrak app — making it compatible with the most popular modern simulator platforms. GSPro support alone is a major upgrade for home sim users.
If your budget is firm under $1,200, a used original SkyTrak in good condition can still deliver solid ball data for practice. But if you can stretch to $1,995, the SkyTrak+ is a generational leap — club data, better accuracy, modern sim support, and active software updates make it the clear choice for anyone serious about their game.

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Editorial Independence: The SkyTrak+ was purchased at retail for this comparison. No manufacturer compensation was received. Affiliate links earn a small commission at no cost to you.