SkyTrak Launch Monitor

[Maverick]

http://www.skytrakgolf.com/

iPad app:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/com.sporttrak.skytrak/id876548058?mt=8

[davray666]

Will be interesting to hear what Skytrak has to say about this. I have been designing my own camera based LM as a hobby project for some time and understand the tech behind. Inaccurate data for short irons and wedges is expected. The fact that they use an accelerometer to compensate for bad leveling will add to the error. Accelerometers are not very accurate when it comes to measuring absolute angles. Google it and you will find an article on the topic from one of the manufacturers. Depending on how they do the static and dynamic calibration and compensation, the error could be up to 10 degrees in both H ad V LA. The shorter the captured ball travel the worse it gets.I plan to order one just for fun as soon as they are available in EU and will test the accuracy with my cameras.

[hks8888]

Thanks for the review.

[hks8888]

Now we have a couple of people experiencing inaccurracy of short distance shots. It is a bit disappointing. Hope the developer can address this issue here.

[wee988]

My skylark came yesterday. Very excited. Does anyone notice a delay any shorter than 4 seconds with an iPad air 2? The reason I ask is that I am going to likely buy one today or tomorrow if I have time and wondered if the increased processing power helped with the delay or not. If not I may get one of the older/cheaper models.

[keithpbz]

Hitting sand wedges that were landing around 82-83 yards and skytrak saying 101-105 with around 2,100-2,400 spin. 8 irons that were landing around 148 and skytrak saying 160 with around 2,500 spin.

[sb81]

Thanks for the reviews, mine should be here tomorrow. Does GC2 have an issue this noticeable with short irons? Obviously it is over 3 times the price but just for comparison?

Also someone needs to sniff some packets to see what is getting sent from the device. :-)

[Jel]

Skytrak/Seth should chime in on the short iron issue and how maybe it can be reduced.

[hks8888]

Is Seth still on vacation?

[hks8888]

Wow. That's way off. Have you possibly counted in some circumstances such as wind and humidity etc.? What is your usual distance for 8 irons and sand wedges?
Hmmm.. This might be also related to the launch angle issue???!!???? Somebody from the company should answer this.

[DustinF]

(New to forum....have been lurking waiting for the Skytrak release). Received mine yesterday and want to join in to talk about the unit. After charging, I only had about an hour with the unit but figured I'd post my initial impressions. I used it in my basement hitting area w/ newish balls facing the logo towards the unit.

For reference, i'm a 2 handicap w/ driver SS around 105.

I hit about 50 balls between pitch shots and full hybrid (most club I can use in the basement).

Pitch shots seem to be pretty accurate as the space I used I can tell what a 10yd pitch would look like and the unit picked it up no problem.
Short irons did seem to be a touch short for me, but not as short as earlier posters noted. I was hitting my GW about 105yds and my PW 115, both a little short of what I'd expect in real world shots. Specifically when i really hit down on them, the spin seemed to really jump which made the distance shortish so maybe there is something a touch off there.
Mid irons to hybrid seemed great and pretty spot on w/ expected distances and shot shapes. It went low when i tried to go low, draw, fade, etc.

I plan to take the unit outside as soon as a mild day arrives in Michigan to test against a trackman and try to confirm how accurate the spin is etc and would like to see how it does with tee'd up drivers etc.

In my initial session, the unit missed picking up 2 balls (not bad in my mind), and also could not get the clubs to edit in the app. to get my setup in there.

Otherwise, I'm actually very pleased with the unit and app for a my initial review. I'm sure there will be tweaks in the app to get some of the issues people have resolved, but for my purposes of getting more out of my at home winter practice sessions, I think this unit is going to fit the bill. I'd encourage everyone to keep posting reviews and issues as I'm sure user review will be the way to getting the app/unit even better.

[hks8888]

Great review!! Thanks!!

[hks8888]

Here is an excerpt from the online manual regarding the ourdoor performance. It is quite complicated.
Outdoor performance may vary in certain lighting conditions. Avoid the sun shining or reflecting directly into the lens of the SkyTrak device.
You should use new, or relatively new, quality distance, performance, or Tour type golf balls in good clean condition. The type and condition of the ball you use will affect ball flight data, most noticeably ball speed and spin. Ball imperfections, mud, excessive markings, cut covers, and/or otherwise identifiable markings on the ball, etc. can affect SkyTrak’s dimple recognition capability, making ball data difficult to analyze.

[pctekbr]

I am glad to hear that i am not crazy about the distance on the shorter clubs. The reason i have a problem with it is because that is what i wanted to practice the most. So, when i see my wedge go 105 instead of 125 i am going to start swinging harder and mess up my swing.

i will try a test today and make sure the logo on the balls are not pointing at the skytrak. i did notice on the range that the skytrak does not like grass or dirt on the lens cover. it did register a 6ft shot that was actually about 160yds.

[Mike Z]

The manual? That's a novel concept!!!! Just kidding. The ball definitely does make a difference - my experience bore that out. To clarify, I was getting the "shorts" on even brand new balls. I think it has to do with launch angle. I hit the ball really high. Even my 9-irons were short of what I see on the course. But the 8 was pretty darn close. If I ever get the app to record the club I am using I can post some launch angles of "short" and "as expected".

Here is an excerpt from the online manual regarding the outdoor performance. It is quite complicated.
Outdoor performance may vary in certain lighting conditions. Avoid the sun shining or reflecting directly into the lens of the SkyTrak device.
You should use new, or relatively new, quality distance, performance, or Tour type golf balls in good clean condition. The type and condition of the ball you use will affect ball flight data, most noticeably ball speed and spin. Ball imperfections, mud, excessive markings, cut covers, and/or otherwise identifiable markings on the ball, etc. can affect SkyTrak’s dimple recognition capability, making ball data difficult to analyze.

[keithpbz]

There was no wind last night when I was hitting. I am a scratch golfer who plays alot of individual amateur tournaments. Normal sand wedge is 101 and 8 iron is 152. I asked them before and got no answer as to what the default elevation they use for program. If it is sea level or a higher elevation. That will affect distances but not the spin rates, I'm hoping it was just the cheap range balls and poor lighting at the range. If not they better have a good return policy.