Original Skytrak vs Skytrak Plus: Which Model Is Right for You In 2025?

Our first launch monitor was the original Skytrak back in 2016. 

At that time, it was revolutionary and the dominant force in the launch monitor personal use space.

Today, the original Skytrak faces competition from multiple directions—even from Skytrak’s own in-house successor: the Skytrak Plus.

So many of you have questions comparing the original Skytrak and the Skytrak Plus so we’ve decided to answer all of them here.

This side-by-side OG Skytrak vs Skytrak plus comparison will let you decide which launch monitor works better for your game.

Can the original Skytrak still compete? Is it a better fit for some golfers?

There are a few different elements at play here.

• How much experience do you have with launch monitors?
• What’s your budget? 
• How often will you use it? 
• What data do you need?

We will go through EVERYTHING each of these 2 launch monitors can do. By the end, you will know which model will work best for your game. 

Let’s get into it.

What is the Original Skytrak?

The original Skytrak is a personal golf launch monitor released in 2014 and designed mainly for indoor play and some restricted outdoor use. 

It was one of the first launch monitors targeted at the home consumer market and it’s the best-selling launch monitor in the golf simulator space. 

The Skytrak’s photometric camera system gives you ball flight data like backspin, launch angle, ball speed, and carry distance to assess your performance. 

What is the Skytrak Plus?

The Skytrak Plus is the next-generation version of the original Skytrak, released in 2023.

What’s new?

With dual Doppler radar technology, Skytrak Plus now captures club data such as club path and face-to-target alignment.

Key improvements include:

• Enhanced accuracy for more reliable data
• Faster response times to keep up with your game
• Upgraded user interface for a more immersive, user-friendly experience

These upgrades give you a more comprehensive tool for analyzing and improving your game.

FYI: Check if Skytrak Plus makes the cut in our best launch monitor guide 2025.

Our Video Review

Differences Between The Original Skytrak and Skytrak Plus

Naturally, Skytrak Plus improves on the original Skytrak in almost every area—except price… and portability (though that may not be a major concern for most users).

But for some, the original Skytrak may still be the better fit.

Club Data Addition

The biggest difference for us between the original Skytrak and the Skytrak Plus is the addition of club data. The following club data metrics have been added to the Skytrak Plus:

• Face to target
• face to path
• club path
• Smash factor

With this club data, you can better understand how different swing factors influence ball flight.

For example, I now understand why some of my shots have strong slices. The club data shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship between my swing and the ball’s behavior.

The issue? A combination of an open clubface (relative to the path) and an outside-in swing path.

Insights like these are powerful for game improvement at all levels.

No extra equipment needed: You won’t need club stickers or special golf balls to access this data.

Skytrak Plus achieves these club insights with dual Doppler radar technology.

What does this mean?

• The dual Doppler radar provides a three-dimensional view of the club’s movement at impact, helping you fine-tune your swing.
• Unlike the original Skytrak, which only offers ball data (like carry distance, backspin, launch angle, and ball speed), Skytrak Plus includes comprehensive club data.
• While the original Skytrak does measure club head speed, it lacks the depth of data available on the Skytrak Plus.

Outdoor capability:

The dual Doppler radar also allows Skytrak Plus to work accurately outdoors—even in direct sunlight—something the original Skytrak struggles with.

The caveat? You can’t hit shots from the grass with either Skytrak model.

Both launch monitors are most accurate when used from a hitting mat at the range or a tee outdoors.

User Interface Changes

Enhanced driving range interface: With Skytrak Plus, the additional club data is now displayed on the driving range screen.

To view the extra data, simply click the shot detail button at the bottom of the screen.

Even with 13 data points on the Skytrak Plus screen (compared to 6 on the original Skytrak), the design remains clean and uncluttered, making it easy to absorb without feeling overwhelmed.

Need a quick tutorial?

Skytrak Plus now includes instructional videos from Nic Clearwater, guiding you on how each data metric impacts your game. 

With Skytrak Plus, you can now see shot optimizer data right on the main screen.

In the original Skytrak, you had to navigate to a separate screen after each shot to view this data.

Incorporating the Shot Optimizer directly into your training makes for a much smoother user experience.

New to Skytrak?

The Shot Optimizer is an intuitive, color-coded system that lets you compare your shots to optimal launch conditions, including:

• Launch angle
• Backspin
• Descent angle

After each shot, each data metric turns green, yellow, or red based on how close you are to the optimal range—giving you instant feedback to help you improve.  

• Green is telling you you’re in the optimal range
• Yellow, you’re close to the optimal range but still need improvement 
• Red means you’re outside the optimal range and that metric needs targeted work     

We like that Skytrak Plus provides quick visual feedback, giving you an immediate sense of where your game stands.

It does an excellent job of simplifying complex data, especially for beginners, and makes sessions more interactive and fun by encouraging you to aim for an “all green” optimized shot.

What’s new with Skytrak Plus?

A shot score feature has been added to the main screen. Here’s how it works:

• Hit 20 shots with any club, and Skytrak will calculate an expected distance for that club.
• Each shot is then compared to scores from golfers worldwide, creating a shot score.

Think of it as your predicted score for 18 holes—the lower the number, the better your shot. It’s a quick quality check on each shot, helping you gauge performance ins

Seeing your score improve with each shot provides immediate feedback, making it easier to track progress and set new performance goals.

New Club Graphic Feature:

Skytrak Plus also added a club graphic feature that displays club path and face-to-target angles on the right side of the screen.

It’s a handy feature for a quick snapshot of your club data.

Our experience with the graphic?

The text labels, like “close” and “inside,” are a bit small. While it’s easier to read on a larger screen, we’d recommend increasing the font size in the next software update for improved readability. 

Increased Hitting Area

You get a 40% larger hitting area with the Skytrak Plus. 

This means you have an easier and quicker setup for each shot as you can just put the ball down near the laser dot and get an accurate reading. 

The measurement difference is as follows:

• the Skytrak Plus has a 4.5” x 4.5” hitting zone,
• the original Skytrak has a 2” x 2” hitting zone

With the original Skytrak, you need to be a bit more precise.

The original Skytrak needs you to place the golf ball on the laser dot to ensure you don’t get no-reads or misreads. 

Shots Missed By Skytrak Plus vs Orginal Skytrak

The original Skytrak has a miss rate of between 3% and 4% or 3 or 4 in 100 shots.

The number of shots missed or no-reads by the Skytrak Plus is far lower.

You are talking like 1% or 1 in 100 for no-reads with the Skytrak Plus.

That is a big improvement.

The practice experience just feels way smoother on the Skytrak Plus with these misreads minimized. 

New Internal Processor / Shot Delay

The Skytrak Plus features a new internal processor that significantly improves the shot delay seen in the original Skytrak.

With the original Skytrak, there was about a 3-second delay between hitting the ball and seeing the ball flight on screen.

In our testing, the Skytrak Plus reduced this delay to around 2 seconds—a full 1-second improvement.

Will it still be noticeable?

If you’re used to an instant-feedback launch monitor, the delay could still annoy you.

Personally, I like a slight delay, as it gives us a moment to reflect on what we think the shot shape will be. 

USB-C Update

The Skytrak Plus has upgraded to a USB-C charging port, replacing the micro USB connection from the original Skytrak.

Why does this matter?

USB-C is now the universal standard, making it a smart move by Skytrak for future compatibility.

Competitors like Mevo Plus are still using Micro-USB which means it has limited future compatibility. 

Charging speeds are faster with a USB-C connection and it also has improved data transfer rates.

Wifi Frequency Band Update

Skytrak Plus has a wifi frequency band of 5GHz (gigahertz) while the original Skytrak has a band of 2.4GHz.  

This faster data speed means you get more reliable data transmission from the device to your computer. 

The higher wifi frequency also means you get lower latency.

What does that mean?

The data captured by your Skytrak Plus launch monitor takes less time to process and display in the simulation software.

Increased Battery Life

Skytrak Plus advertises an increased battery life for Skytrak Plus, which is 4 and a half hours from the original Skytrak 4 hours. 

From our testing, Skytrak Plus battery life averages around 4 hours and 10 minutes.

For comparison, the original Skytrak ran out at about 3 and a half hours.

Is battery life consistent?

Not exactly. Battery life can vary based on the amount of processing and commands you’re using with the launch monitor.

The takeaway? Don’t take Skytrak’s official numbers—and our testing—as absolute. Battery life may fluctuate based on usage.  

Common Features Of Original Skytrak and Skytrak Plus

Room Size Requirements

The room size requirements for indoor play are the same for both Skytrak Plus and the original Skytrak.

To swing comfortably without hitting walls or the net, you’ll need:

• Minimum room depth: 10 feet (though we recommend 12 feet for comfort)
• Room width: 10 feet
• Ceiling height: 9 feet

How to check if your space works?

Try swinging your driver (the longest club) in the room. If you can swing freely without hitting walls or the ceiling, you should have enough space for a Skytrak setup.

Same Subscription Plans

You can buy the same subscription plans for the original Skytrak and the Skytrak Plus. 

They will both unlock the same features. 

What does the Essential Plan ($130 per year) include?

This plan gives you access to challenges like:

• Longest drive 
• Closest to the pin
• Target practice

Plus, you get the same game improvement features on the original Skytrak and Skytrak Plus

• Bag mapping to optimize your distances with each club
• Wedge matrix to help you understand how different swing lengths and lofts affect your wedge distances
• Skills assessment to test your ability to hit various shots under different conditions.

You also unlock simulation course access with the Essential plan.

Both launch monitors become compatible with external virtual golf course simulator providers like e6 after you pay the Essential Plan $130 yearly subscription.

Remember though: 

While the Essential Plan allows simulator compatibility, you’ll still need to pay the external simulator’s annual fee to access the courses.

Without this yearly subscription, you can’t play simulation courses out of the box on either launch monitor.

E6 Software Pack

The E6 software pack for $120 per year gets you access to 15 simulated golf courses on e6 for both Skytrak Plus and the OG Skytrak. 

You can play real courses like Bandon Dunes and the Belfry on this E6 add-on. 

There is something about playing real-life courses that makes it far more engaging, especially when friends are over.

E6 will work on PC and iOS too.

For what you get, this E6 software pack is really good value.

One Thing: 

This E6 software will only allow you to play stroke play. You can’t play scramble, match play or stableford. 

You have other great options though:

Skytrak’s in-house simulator offering called Course Play is also available on both the original and Skytrak Plus. 

It’s got a yearly subscription of $220 per year and you can play virtual course versions of Pebble Beach and Quail Hollow. 

The ball physics and graphics in Course Play are a step up from E6, though there are a few glitches. This is understandable, as it’s new software (released in June 2024).

Skytrak is known for quick software updates, so we can expect most issues to be resolved soon.

Is putting important to you?

Currently, putting isn’t available in Skytrak’s own gameplay challenges or game improvement sections, but you can putt on the course in Course Play.

What does Course Play cost?

To access Course Play, you’ll need both:

• An Essential Plan at $130 per year
• A Course Play subscription at $350 per year

Course Play is available only on PC and iOS for both Skytrak models.

And what about GS Pro—the most popular golf simulator?

Neither Skytrak model has official integration with GS Pro, but there is still an unofficial way to play GS Pro with Skytrak if you’re interested.

Sign up to this discord and follow the instructions in the Skytrak+ section to set up your Skytrak Plus with GS Pro.

Warranty

The product warranties for both the original Skytrak and Skytrak Plus are identical.

What’s included?

Optional warranty upgrade: Within the first 30 days of purchase, you can extend the warranty by an additional 6 months. 

30-day satisfaction guarantee: Return either Skytrak device within 30 days of purchase for a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

6-month warranty: Covers protection from defects on both units.

Original Skytrak vs Skytrak Plus Pricing

The Skytrak Plus is priced at $2,495, while the original Skytrak costs $995 (at the time of this update).

Subscription Requirements

With both Skytrak models, you’ll need yearly subscriptions to access game improvement features, challenges, and simulated golf courses. We covered these subscription options in the ‘Differences’ section.

What’s Included Without a Subscription?

One benefit both Skytrak models offer without a subscription is full access to the Skytrak virtual driving range.

Within the virtual range all the user interface features are included like:  

• Shot optimizer
• Shot score,
• Club graphic
• Heatmap

Who Is The Skytrak Plus Suitable For?

• Go for the Skytrak Plus if you’re focused on club data to improve your swing mechanics and understand ball flight
  • Access to club data provides a more complete picture of your swing, accelerating improvement if you’re ready to learn and apply the insights.
  • Club data is not available with the original Skytrak.
  • Skytrak plans to add more club data features, like angle of attack, in future updates.
    
• Playing outdoors at the range?
  • The original Skytrak struggles to read shots accurately outdoors, especially in sunlight.
  • Important: With Skytrak Plus, avoid hitting from the grass; it’s designed for use with tees or golf mats only.
    
• Looking for continuous software updates?
  • The original Skytrak, now 10 years old, still receives software updates, but Skytrak’s main focus has shifted to Skytrak Plus.
  • The frequency and focus of updates for the original model may decrease over time as Skytrak Plus continues to improve.
    
• Want greater accuracy in your readings?
  • Skytrak Plus combines dual Doppler technology for club data with an improved photometric camera system for ball data, providing more accurate readings than the original.
  • You can find the detailed accuracy test results in our comprehensive look at SkyTrak Plus performance.

When Should You Get The Original Skytrak Over Skytrak Plus?

If you fit into either of these groups, the original Skytrak will be a better fit. 

• You’re only planning to use the Skytrak as an indoor simulator
  • The original Skytrak works well indoors but may struggle outdoors, especially in sunlight.
• You’re primarily interested in basic data
  • If all you need is distance and ball data, the original Skytrak provides these essentials.
  • Simulation software like e6 only requires ball data to simulate your shots, so you’ll have full access to games and features with the original model.
• You don’t plan to use the launch monitor frequently
  • If you won’t be using it regularly, the original Skytrak’s value proposition may make more sense than investing in the advanced features of the Plus model.

Or

• The $1,500 price difference is a concern
  • If the cost gap between the original Skytrak and Skytrak Plus is too steep, the original model offers a reliable, highly-rated alternative to get started.

If you fit into any of these categories, the original Skytrak may be the better fit for you.

Original Skytrak vs Skytrak Plus: The Verdict

As expected, the Skytrak Plus updates make it a more powerful, intuitive, and accurate launch monitor.

However, there’s still room for the original Skytrak as a reliable and trusted veteran in the launch monitor market.

Have more questions?

Feel free to leave your questions in the comments section or send us a message on our contact page—we’re here to help.