Need a trackman type device...Input needed

[bananaezgo]

I recently installed a net return and mat in my basement and I would like to install a ball flight mnitor this next year. I have read a little about the Sky trak and want to know about others. Are the prices coming down? Will it pay to wait a while? I need carry/roll, BS, SS, backspin and sidespin. It would be very nice to have AoA and azimuth but they aren't show stoppers for me. Please give any input and/or your setups and what you would do differently. thanks.

[Thrillhouse]

I really want a gc2 but man are they pricey! I think they run you about 5 grand used.

[Golfrnut]

Yeah, first question would be, what's your budget?

For an accurate monitor, you are looking at a starting price of about $2.5K and up.

[hobbygolfer]

Second question:
How long is the ball in the air, until it hits the net? Doppler radar devices need a couple of yards to "see" the ball and you have to use metal dots to mark the ball for the unit to operate correctly. if you don't have enough space, you will have to either check out SkyTrack or GC2.

Regards,
Michael

[bananaezgo]

I have about 10' between my mat and net. Would a skytrak or GC2 work in that environment? I'm wanting to keep the budget under 3K. I have a great monitor already if it is needed.

[Golfrnut]

GC2 doesn't require much at all as it is not a radar-type launch monitor, accuracy is very good for what it is. No club data without the additional HMT upgrade, but you will get all the ball data.

You will have to be pretty lucky to find one at that price point though. The ones that do go for low, go quickly.

[bananaezgo]

Thanks golfnut

[andrevanderpost]

I have just installed a Net Return net, Elite Feel mat and the Skytrak LM. It is awesome set up and the Skytrak is phenomenal. Easily as accurate as the GC2 and the software for the iPad is getting better with every release.

It is not often that my expectations are surpassed, but this set up (especially the Skytrak) is way better than I expected.

There is currently a $300 discount on the Skytrak.....

[Mob]

Thanks for starting this thread, as I was thinking about the same thing. Which is more accurate between GC2 and Skytrak? Is there a difference in what they show?

[bananaezgo]

Andre where did you purchase your skytrak and what should I expect to pay? I will have to buy an I-pad as well but that's ok. I bought the country club elite mat and am very well pleased with both the net return and the mat. Thanks for your post. I'm actually leaning toward the skytrack.

[andrevanderpost]

I got the Skytrak directly from Skygolf: www.skytrakgolf.com you can get the base package for about $2000 or the "advanced" which includes additional software when registered on the iPad for $2094. I bought the "advanced" one as there is good chance it will eventually include a subscription for simulator type stuff

There is a Facebook offer at the moment for the $300 discount on either the base or advanced option.

After applying the discount, you should be looking in the region of $1700 to $1800 for the Skytrak. If you are going to get an iPad, spend the extra money and get an iPad Air 2. The response time in processing the shot data is much quicker (sub 3 seconds).

The Skytrak measures ball speed, launch angle, backspin, sidespin and spin axis (i.e. Spin direction). It calculates carry distance and total distance. It also calculates club head speed based off a formulae, unlike the GC2 which just divides ball speed by a static smash factor of 1.45 to get club head speed.

Hope this helps.

[Mob]

[quote name='andrevanderpost' timestamp='1419797735' post='10651987']
I got the Skytrak directly from Skygolf: www.skytrakgolf.com you can get the base package for about $2000 or the "advanced" which includes additional software when registered on the iPad for $2094. I bought the "advanced" one as there is good chance it will eventually include a subscription for simulator type stuff

There is a Facebook offer at the moment for the $300 discount on either the base or advanced option.

After applying the discount, you should be looking in the region of $1700 to $1800 for the Skytrak. If you are going to get an iPad, spend the extra money and get an iPad Air 2. The response time in processing the shot data is much quicker (sub 3 seconds).

The Skytrak measures ball speed, launch angle, backspin, sidespin and spin axis (i.e. Spin direction). It calculates carry distance and total distance. It also calculates club head speed based off a formulae, unlike the GC2 which just divides ball speed by a static smash factor of 1.45 to get club head speed.

Hope this helps.
[/quote]

Is there any testing to show how accurate this device is compared to GC2?

[andrevanderpost]

I've done some empirical head to head testing and the results are very very close to each other. For me the Skytrak actually represents my on course results better than the GC2. The only real difference is is the club head speed and I belive this is a difference in how each piece of software calculates the number. The measured numbers are basically the same between the two devices.

[Mob]

[quote name='andrevanderpost' timestamp='1419802188' post='10652285']
I've done some empirical head to head testing and the results are very very close to each other. For me the Skytrak actually represents my on course results better than the GC2. The only real difference is is the club head speed and I belive this is a difference in how each piece of software calculates the number. The measured numbers are basically the same between the two devices.
[/quote]

Thanks, that is helpful. I have been wanting something to help me know what my ball flight is, while hitting into a net in the garage. Looks like I may need to pull the trigger and get one of these. Any negatives, or downsides I should know about before purchasing?

[Mob]

One other question, I understand that this originally didn't work for left handers, as far as sidespin goes. Have they fixed this software issue yet?

[t4t3r]

Don't believe it's been fixed yet. Version 1.8 should be coming soon.

[bananaezgo]

Great info here thanks so much.