NEW SkyTrak Launch Monitor

[trumb1mj]

I check this thread every day hoping that some news will come out. This company already has me annoyed...

[mthunt]

I tried this product and I think it would be an absolute home run with an E6 Lite type software for the right price. We'll see how it plays out. I, however, bought a GC2 the day after trying it.

[heynow]

I tried this product and I think it would be an absolute home run with an E6 Lite type software for the right price. We'll see how it plays out. I, however, bought a GC2 the day after trying it.

Why did you purchase the GC2? Do you think the GC2 is clearly superior?

[mthunt]

Why did you purchase the GC2? Do you think the GC2 is clearly superior?

I'm spending a lot of money on my house to have a sim room. The underpinning alone is more than a GC2 so I wasn't interested in making a pricing decision. I've been waiting since January for this to come out and it hasn't. I was lucky to be able to try it and I liked the GC2 a lot more. The Skytrak is as described. It's accurate and does what's been claimed.

[left72]

Skytrak's website has changed. At least a bit. We're getting closer to launch.

[hks8888]

Now, the website is down. 'Non-Existent Domain' message comes up.
I hope this is the last step before they open a new site.
There was a new post in their Facebook page 16 hours ago, though.

[hks8888]

Oh... The site is back up and running. New content including some videos.
But, no place for ordering yet...
I want to believe they are working hard.

[left72]

Check the FAQ section, how to purchase. "You can purchase it online at Skytrakgolf.com, click here to purchase it today". Sadly the link is missing ... oh dear.

[hks8888]

Hmmmmmmmm... The website is down again. Are they working on the order page???
I wish they were.

[trumb1mj]

From the site:

What launch data parameters are measured?
SkyTrak measures:
• Ball Speed
• Launch angle
• Back Spin
• Side Spin
• Side Angle

With this data, our software is also able to accurately provide:

• Carry/Total Distance
• Offline
• Roll
• Flight path
• Club Head Speed
• Angle of Descent

I don't understand how they could possibly estimate/calculate club head speed based on the measurables. Thoughts?

[goatbarn]

I would think it guesses based on assumed solid contact and launch angle which would correspond to a club (ie Driver 1.5ish, or 7 iron 1.34ish).

Maybe ball speed and launch angle both help them guess which club? Or maybe you have to enter your club in and they work backwards from ball speed?

Just a guess really, so I'd ignore it.

[trumb1mj]

It's interesting because a SSR device costs about $100. Why not just incorporate that technology to get clubhead speed?

[goatbarn]

Why not just incorporate that tech yourself for <$100 on ebay? Problem solved.

[trumb1mj]

Definitely. I mean, I own one. It would be nice to measure this and display it in the app though.

[goatbarn]

They probably would've charged more than what that's worth anyways. They would've probably needed 2 radars for both right and lefty's as well. So double that extra...

Stick to ball data Skytrak, and measure it accurately. That's the real important thing.

[trumb1mj]

Yeah, that's true. Ball speed is so much more important than club head speed.

[Kball]

It would be nice if someone would just launch something somewhere relatively close to when they say they are going to launch it. I also don't understand the concept of advertising items on your web-site and then they are not available for months (years?).

[northgolf]

You can pre-order on the website now. MSRP is $1995, $500 discount for pre-orders. Apple IOS cr*p software only. You can get basic range software for another $99. Very disappointing.

[bwatkinson01]

Here's the link to pre-order the Skytrak!

https://shop.skygolf.com/c-205-shop-skytrak.aspx

Doesn't look like there are any courses included and it only works with an Ipad Air.

[left72]

And if you click on the Order button, it says: "Your quantity exceeds stock on hand. The maximum quantity that can be added is 0...". *sigh* BTW the app works on my iPad 2nd generation and I don't see any reason why it should work on iPad Air only. Any ideas?

[hks8888]

I don't have IPad Air, but I have IPad 2nd generation, I think.
Why do they try to eliminate potential buyers by specifying only one model??

[mthunt]

It is likely an issue with it not working with older iPads.

Bubba, which ipad do you use?

[Morini]

I tried ordering as well, but zero quantity as of now.

I really would like to see some numbers on accuracy. The gold standard would be outdoors no wind versus actual observed results, but side by side with GC2 would be fine too. Another interesting experiment would be two Skytraks side by side to verify internal accuracy, but I don't see how that is possible given the use of the laser dot.

[iskuo]

Just put in my order and it went through.

[Kball]

I looked at the web-site - I did not see videos or anything that demonstrates what the app output looks like - maybe I just did not look in the right places.

I am not seeing an option to connect it to a projector or a TV screen... You might be able to connect to the iPad and then with an Apple TV connect to a TV or projector.

[mthunt]

I tried ordering as well, but zero quantity as of now.

I really would like to see some numbers on accuracy. The gold standard would be outdoors no wind versus actual observed results, but side by side with GC2 would be fine too. Another interesting experiment would be two Skytraks side by side to verify internal accuracy, but I don't see how that is possible given the use of the laser dot.

I have a GC2. If you're in the Toronto area, let me know when you get it. I'll test it with you. The Skytrack is a little closer to the ball and little more to the right (right handed) so they might fit side by side.

When I bought my GC2 last week, I went straight to the range. It showed lower distances then where the ball was going. Went home, read the manual (novel idea I know) and read that the leg has go under. Went to National GC the next and tested again. This time the GC2 was reading exactly where the ball was going.

[mthunt]

I looked at the web-site - I did not see videos or anything that demonstrates what the app output looks like - maybe I just did not look in the right places.

I am not seeing an option to connect it to a projector or a TV screen... You might be able to connect to the iPad and then with an Apple TV connect to a TV or projector.

It has a good enough image to project. You use the HDMI adapter for ipad and plug it into your projector.

[Kball]

Good point - I forgot about the HDMI projector adapter.

[DFDubb]

All that hype, non disclosure agreements, etc...and the thing only works with an iPad app? Lol, this industry

[Morini]

Thanks for the offer, mthunt, but I live in Vancouver. I will talk it over with the wife, and decide in the next few hours whether I will order or not. The Canadian skytrak order page is not functional, so I would have to order to a U.S. PO box and pay duty etc.

I don't know if the preorder discount is a ploy, but $500 is a sizeable discount. Right now it is unproven technology, but bubba and zmax's implicit endorsement assures me that it is not a total disaster (since the product is about to ship, why is the nda still on?). Still, I am looking for accuracy that is at least in the ballpark of GC2.

The average PGA Tour Pro has about 5.5% error on mid distance approach shots, versus a scratch player at 7.5%. If the skytrak has more than 2% random error this massive distinction will be blurred on any given shot.