SkyTrak update?

[andygg1986]

Distance is a guess in that it is calculated using an algorithm, but the parameters that are fed into the algorithm are all measured. It’s no different than using a trackman indoors.

skytrak has never claimed to measure club head speed. They are making an educated guess at it, so smash factor would also just be a guess. I wouldn’t attempt to make any swing changes based on a guess. To get measured smash factor the cheapest options are to upgrade to a flightscope or GC2 with an HMT.

[MisterA]

Well, something has to be accurate no? Otherwise Skytrak is one heck of an expensive guessing machine.
I hope Trackman will confirm the Skytrak numbers somewhat otherwise it's quite useless to me.

What also got me a bit worried is al these 'fixes' I read about: try this ball, or this marking, use it in the shade or indoors, place the ball behind the laser dot for x inches,...
When do you know if you set it up 100% correct?

Just hope I don't get to regret the purchase. We'll see. I'll give it another shot...

[Davidmcc]

http://www.golfwrx.com/332522/whats-your-smash-factor/

Smash factor = ball speed / club head speed


So if the unit can display (FAKE) club head speed and it can display BALL speed - then I am guessing they can make it do the simple math for us and display SMASH Factor. What am I missing here? I guess we can call it GUESS factor. Or FAKE factor.

Also - if club head speed is a guesstimate (???) then why even display it at all?

[Gresh12]

The Skytrak measures ball speed (and quite accurately up until the 150+ where it starts measuring a bit low). I’ve put mine beside Trackman a couple times and besides HLA I am confident in measured parameters (the HLA I feel has some issues, not catastrophic issues but enough I lose some confidence).

Skytrak does not measure club data at all so while the smash factor is an easy calculation if you have club speed it’s meaningless without measured data. I suspect they are estimating the club speed by dividing ball speed by an assumed smash factor by club (probably easy to validate if I go look at some of my old data files). For centre solid strikes it’s probably not awful but any type of mishit will be useless data.

If you buy a Skypro I think it will feed club speed in to the app (they were piloting more club data but haven’t released it yet based on Skypro or R-motion) and then you’d get a better smash factor number.

[DannyMRICS]

SkyTrak gives an indicative swing speed which is pretty accurate if you strike it well. Not so much on off centre strikes. If you take your highest shown club speed, you won’t be far away.

It’s no good for swing to swing comparisons really.

The whole point of smash factor is to give a figure to assess quality of strike, so a smash factor would be pointless really; just not accurate enough to be worthwhile imo.

[Wizard of Coz]

I agree smash factor is really a cool number but pointless. When your hitting enough balls you know what a solid strike is and the corresponding ball speed. Ball speed is the key for me.

[FaultyClubs]

Smash factor indicates efficiency of hit and is big factor in distance. Doubt anyone can tell their smash factor by feel. There's some pretty elite golfers who were hitting less than ideal sf and didn't know until being tested. SF needs to be accurately measured to be actionable. It's more than just hitting the "sweet spot".

[Morini]

ST does not measure club head speed. I wish they didn't report it at all. GC2 at three times the cost does not measure club head speed either. Without club head speed, no smash. If you want club head speed, buy a swing analyzer, swing speed radar, or pony up for HMT or Trackman.

[thorin33]

My last few sessions have shown be that is really is me and not the Skytrak. When I first got my Skytrak (Nov 2018), I was one of those people that thought it accentuated my draw far more than in real life. I live in a snowy, cold weather climate so I couldn't test it on the range. A few weeks ago I was able to get to the range and do a lesson. At the range, using the same mat that I have at home, I really could see that my shot shape was what ST was showing me. After my lesson, I worked on a few things on the ST and lo and behold, my shot shape is much better now. So for those people who question the accuracy of the ST, I feel that is is quite accurate.

[Davidmcc]

Yesterday I had a lesson at my GolfTec and we put the Skytrak up against the TrakMan. SkyTrak is short. consistently short - sometimes 20+ yards on longer clubs. Swing speed errs slow averaging between 5-15mph under. The shot shape is very on point and within a negligible margin of error with TM. This is fairly consistent with my outside game numbers which I use a Garmin G7 GPS to track distance on all clubs with. It would be nice to be able to get better swing speed readings for the price. That is my only real complaint.

[Paul Logue]

I wouldn't call it a gimmick. Irons and fairway woods are spot on compared to what I hit in real life. Driver is where the problem is but they are working on it.

[Gresh12]

This is why I was asking for ball data between his TM and ST session. I find mine accurate up to ball speed in to the 150s which is where I top out. If you have ball speeds that consistently exceed this then you'll see some drop off and maybe you have the wrong device to your point.

Let's do an example taking ST out of the mix. I have a TM report with a driver shot that had the following data:

Ballspeed: 157 mph
Clubspeed: 106 mph (1.48 smash which doesn't factor in to calculations for distance but just shows it was a good strike)
Launch angle: 12.7 degrees
Spin: 2900 (report doesn't give azimuth but I picked a shot I know was dead straight)
Carry distance: 262 yards
Total distance: 281 yards

Now let's enter the 157 mph ball speed, 12.7 degree launch with 2900 in to Flightscope Optimizer and we get:

Carry distance: 252 yards
Total distance: 258 yards (medium firmness setting)

So flight model alone produced a 23 yard total difference distance with the exact same ball data (even if we ignore roll which wasn't clear what was being reviewed were 10 yards different).

I have low ceilings where I practice so I don't hit too many ST shots with clubs longer than 5 iron (and I find the distances spot on through 5 iron to TM and outside) but my choke down 3 hybrid (holding at the bottom of grip to clear ceiling) carries around 205-210. At my last TM session hitting my 3 hybrid at the top of the grip it was carrying 215-220 which seems like a pretty realistic difference for 4 inches of shaft.

[Wizard of Coz]

Definitely anything but a gimmick. If your 10-20 yards short on driver but spot on under 200yards. It'd does wonders for your outdoor game. So if you want to improve skytrak will get you there.

[Davidmcc]

Well, it was a lesson - so I was more concerned with what I was doing and the results of it (mostly working on hitting draws with driver). The carry & swing speed was the obvious differences. The roll was similar as was the curve/trajectory. I also know generally how long I hit my clubs on average due to tracking this over the years with the Garmin. So when I hit everything short on the ST - even shots that I nut - - it is irritating.

[Morini]

I had ST up against the Trackman indoors. VLA was very close. Spin was close most of the time, and since Trackman does not read spin as well indoors, not sure which was accurate when differing. Ball speed was very close most shots.

I never experienced anything where carry would differ by 30 yards. 10 at the most, usually within 3.

[thorin33]

Well, it was a lesson - so I was more concerned with what I was doing and the results of it (mostly working on hitting draws with driver). The carry & swing speed was the obvious differences. The roll was similar as was the curve/trajectory. I also know generally how long I hit my clubs on average due to tracking this over the years with the Garmin. So when I hit everything short on the ST - even shots that I nut - - it is irritating.

Did you enter in your current altitude on your ST? I don't know if the Trackman adjusts for altitude but the Skytrak does. I thought the ST was short as well until I put in my altitude.

[Davidmcc]

Yeah I’m just above sea level so I keep it at a few hundred feet with temp in 70s

[Beolink]

Anyone heard of any recent news regarding a possible Skytrak app / program update this year?

[trumb1mj]

No. It’s almost been a full calendar year...