Personal Launch Montitors

bluetees1999 · February 17, 2016

Has anyone tried any of these?

Ernest Sports, SkyTrak Golf, Voice Caddie....cost in the hundreds rather than tens of thousands like FlightScop, Trackman

Let us all know your experience if you have.

Thanks

Roadking_6 · February 17, 2016

I have been wanting to hear the results as well. Can't afford a trackman that costs more than my truck but would love to have a cheaper alternative. May not be perfect as nothing is. But being able to get some kind of idea of ball flight, spin and launch numbers at home would be fantastic. I would be happy with just a driving range simulator

Fah Uhl · February 17, 2016

It is also a question whether you will actually profit from the data without some guidance to improve

DaveMac · February 17, 2016

Minefield of a subject, particularly if you only have a modest budget. Do a search there are a couple of threads on this subject, there is a comprehensive review thread on the FlightScope Xi.

I bought and returned a SkyTrack because of subscription issues.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1277816-personal-launch-monitors/page__st__30#entry12918228

My main goal for a personal launch monitor was to make practice more 'real'. It is doubtful many of us would have sufficient funds for a top of the line unit (FlightScope Xi tour is the cheapest full dataset launch monitor) so doing damage to ones swing is not going to be an issue.

I suppose you could summarise these units into four categories, (ballpark starting price)

Fun: ES12, ES14 (~$600)

Practice: FlightScope Xi, SkyTrak (~$2500)

Fit: FlightScope Xi+ ((~$5000)

Teach: Trackman, FlightScope Xi tour, FlightScope Elite, GC2/HMT (~$9000)

There is a little crossover with SkyTrack and GC2 both of which it could be argued are capable of fitting. The top units can fulfill all the roles.

As I said complicated market.

bluetees1999 · February 17, 2016

It is also a question whether you will actually profit from the data without some guidance to improve

This is a great point.

somaplr · February 25, 2016

Minefield of a subject, particularly if you only have a modest budget. Do a search there are a couple of threads on this subject, there is a comprehensive review thread on the FlightScope Xi.

I bought and returned a SkyTrack because of subscription issues.

http://www.golfwrx.c...0#entry12918228

My main goal for a personal launch monitor was to make practice more 'real'. It is doubtful many of us would have sufficient funds for a top of the line unit (FlightScope Xi tour is the cheapest full dataset launch monitor) so doing damage to ones swing is not going to be an issue.

I suppose you could summarise these units into four categories, (ballpark starting price)

Fun: ES12, ES14 (~$600)
Practice: FlightScope Xi, SkyTrak (~$2500)
Fit: FlightScope Xi+ ((~$5000)
Teach: Trackman, FlightScope Xi tour, FlightScope Elite, GC2/HMT (~$9000)

There is a little crossover with SkyTrack and GC2 both of which it could be argued are capable of fitting. The top units can fulfill all the roles.

As I said complicated market.

Good summary. After pretty extensive research, I have chosen a SkyTrak after extensive hitting on that vs GC2 at the local Golf Galaxy. Numbers are identical after 10 shots side by side comparisons - not saying GC2 isn't slightly better, but it's not $5000 better (IMO).

You'll see a few "distance" complaints on SkyTrak...and I've talked to a TON of people about this. And not many GC2 "wrong" distance complaints. Why?

SkyTrak has opened itself from a pricing standpoint to a LOT more of the mass market golfers. The people owning GC2's are VERY serious golfers or professionals. If you're buying a GC2 - you are all in on your numbers and know what they mean. SkyTraks price point have been opened up to not just really good golfers, but also your once a month enthusiast. I haven't met one single person under a 3-4 handicap that has any complaints with their SkyTrak...most of the guys once you get down to that level know their numbers and most importantly, know what the numbers mean.

The biggest sector of complaints when it comes to SkyTrak is one of two areas 1) The people complaining their distances are "short" - this is because people are swinging inside. There is a very mental aspect to this and swinging inside can shave more than a few mph's off your swing. 2). People complaining about driver distance being off - there are ways to remedy this as discussed on golfsimulator.com but I believe the majority of the "distance" issues come from just a pure crushing of the ego. Constant complaints that people "driver the ball" 280 "on average" and on SkyTrak can't get passed 250 regularly. Check your ego at the door when you get a launch monitor of any kind...it's mostly not a "defect"...it's you. Haven't heard a scratch golfer complain about distances off yet. You don't "average" 290 off the tee as a 15 hdcp lol.

Most of the SkyTrak issues are like above it seems, and more technical or subscription based.

somaplr · February 25, 2016

I have been wanting to hear the results as well. Can't afford a trackman that costs more than my truck but would love to have a cheaper alternative. May not be perfect as nothing is. But being able to get some kind of idea of ball flight, spin and launch numbers at home would be fantastic. I would be happy with just a driving range simulator

SkyTrak. I'm in SW ohio.