Skytrak vs. Flightscope Xi

[Bubba22]

What exact measurements do you get with the Xi? Both what it tells and what Goatbarn can get? I personally don't think Skytrak is expensive especially compared with the GC2. I think the comparison between Skytrak and Flightscope is getting into the comparison of club data vs ball data.

[ajohns38]

If anything I thought Skytrak captured more data than Xi.

[Dax]

For the metallic sticker question, essentially the sticker should just not point backwards. For shorter distances from tee to net with low spinning fast moving shots (I.e. For a driver) you should point the sticker to the ceiling to ensure a very accurate reading and a shot that does not register (we are talking a ball going over 150moh spinning less than 2k rpm). Noting that at 10 feet a real big hitter might have issues with their drives measuring and thus you should ensure that you have sufficient distance from tee to screen before buying.

[Brutaly]

Xi:
Ball speed
Carry
Total
Roll
Landing position
Lateral deviation
Club speed
Smash

What you can get out of it:
Carry
Total roll
Lateral landing
Club speed
Ball speed
time in air
spin
spin axis
launch vertical
Launch horizontal
Descent vertical
Height
Angle of attack
Face angle
Dynamic loft
swingplane vertical
Swingplane horizontal

It measures everything a X2 does but the software doesnt display it. Its a software locked X2 with a smaller battery and no camera.

This is from the top of my mind, im at home and the tablet and radar are at the studio. I can double check tomorrow.

Edit:
Forgot club path ofc.

[Brutaly]

I personally don't think Skytrak is expensive especially compared with the GC2. I

I agree. But the only real reason to buy GC2 imo is if you have a very small room for your studio/sim.

If i was in that position i would buy a skytrak for indoor use and a Xi+ for outdoor use and it would still be close to the same money. Seriously i dont get the pricing on GC2.

I still find skytrak to be expensive compared to Xi considering what you really get. Im eager to see what E6 clouds bring and hope it will exploit the potential of Xi and Xi+ fully.

[fhann]

[QUOTE=Bubba22;n32696]fhann, the lowest basic distance from unite to screen would be about 19 feet? What if you don't use the metallic stickers?[/QUOTE

The Flightscope X2 will not register all of the shots without the sticker. It would be unreliable in my opinion, to trust the data without using the metallic sticker inside.

If you place the sticker facing vertically upwards, you save the time and the distance the ball travels for the one quarter of a rotation the ball spins. Just do the math concerning ball speed and rotation and you can see the difference in distance required to detect 2 revolutions of the metallic sticker when it is place facing the target versus vertically upwards. Detection of the sticker is generally accepted when the sticker faces fully back towards the launch monitor.

Flightscope suggests that there is less chance to mar the sticker when striking the golf ball when the sticker is facing the target, but they also suggest placing the sticker facing upwards when encountering high ball speed/low spin situations.

[Dax]

Brutaly- Thanks you for your response. As far as distance, I am a 2 handicap and I know how far I hit the ball. I can consistently hit the 7 iron 190-200 yards (in Colorado). I play 714 MBs with c-taper x shaft. I can assure you I do not hit it 175 as the numbers showed last night. That being said, I think the inconsistencies are due to no sticker and not adjusting for altitude. But I will take your advice that it is very accurate. I figured that Flightscope might be more legitimate.

From the other data numbers can someone plug the numbers into a trajectory software and adjust the altitude to see if it was an altitude issue? I would agree that it is likely an issue of the following: (1) altitude not being set correctly to your playing conditions, (2) temperature could be set incorrectly as well, (3) no metal sticker on the ball, your spin numbers seem very low for a 2 handicap player using a 7 iron especially given your smash numbers as it looks like you were hitting them pretty good, and (4) maybe there is an issue with the environment you were hitting in as some things will interfere with the radar ( I am happy to discuss these if someone has questions).

[Bubba22]

I agree. But the only real reason to buy GC2 imo is if you have a very small room for your studio/sim.

If i was in that position i would buy a skytrak for indoor use and a Xi+ for outdoor use and it would still be close to the same money. Seriously i dont get the pricing on GC2.

I still find skytrak to be expensive compared to Xi considering what you really get. Im eager to see what E6 clouds bring and hope it will exploit the potential of Xi and Xi+ fully.

The other reason is to do soft chips and putts without additional equipment add on or using auto putt.

[fhann]

There is approximately 8 more yards carry distance for a ball speed of 115 mph and launch angle of 21 degrees with ball spin of 6800 rpm's according to Flightscope Trajectory Optimizer software. Carry distance of 160 yards at sea level versus 168 yards at 5000 feet above sea level, 70 deg. F.

There is definitely a spin detection problem without the metallic sticker being used by the original poster. Spin numbers were shown around 3200 rpm average which is definitely low. Ball speed and smash factors for 7 iron and 84 mph clubhead speed seem to in the range that I would expect for good hits. Launch angle appears good also for maximum distance. I therefore plugged in 6800 rpm as ball spin without any sidespin when inputting into ball trajectory software, since this is around the numbers that I have encountered for very good strikes using a 7 iron.

Given all of the above, it would still seem that the original poster may overestimate his carry distance which is considerably different than total distance. Total distance can be dramatically longer than carry distance depending upon turf conditions.

[FaultyClubs]

I still find skytrak to be expensive compared to Xi considering what you really get

Except your nice looking list is via some undocumented/unsupported work around, correct? If so, when that disappears the Xi suddenly looks overpriced!

[ajohns38]

Given all of the above, it would still seem that the original poster may overestimate his carry distance which is considerably different than total distance. Total distance can be dramatically longer than carry distance depending upon turf conditions.

I will go to the local golfsmith this weekend and hit my 7 iron and show you what more realistic numbers I generally get. the club head speed average was 88 as well, not 84. Also, don't you think it is strange that my 7 iron only went 8 yard longer on average than my 9 iron? Trust me, there is no over estimation.

[ajohns38]

(4) maybe there is an issue with the environment you were hitting in as some things will interfere with the radar ( I am happy to discuss these if someone has questions).

What cold be some concerns with interference? There were no objects infront of the monitor. Are you referring to lighting? Let mw know what i should look for an try to avoid.

[ajohns38]

I still find skytrak to be expensive compared to Xi considering what you really get. Im eager to see what E6 clouds bring and hope it will exploit the potential of Xi and Xi+ fully.

Skytrak is $500 less (~2,000) than FS Xi. (2,500). Are you saying it should not be this much considering what it does?

[Dax]

What cold be some concerns with interference? There were no objects infront of the monitor. Are you referring to lighting? Let mw know what i should look for an try to avoid.

Some things that could interfere with a radar would include a lot of metal that would make the room very reflective could cause problems (say a metal garage door with the unit facing the door), another would be a fan or a heater. I had an issue with the fan in my projector and fixed it very easily by moving it up another foot.

Hope this helps

[Dax]

Actually I believe fluorescent lighting can also cause issues as well.