Durability of the Skytrak launch monitor?

[GWM91]

New member to the board and thinking about buying a new Skytrak launch monitor, but have a few questions that Skytrak customer can’t answer.

I’m not an experienced golfer and have only been golfing for approximately 4 years. So, my swing isn’t consistent enough to hit straight golf shots. I’m trying to get my golf game into the lower 90’s and high 80’s. For that reason I plan on using the Almost Golf Balls until I get better.

if anyone can help me out on a few things it would be greatly appreciated.

1. How durable is the Skytrak launch monitor? I’m only interested in how often the unit will need repaired, not setup issues.
2. Is the extended warranty or Skycare Product program worth the high price?

Thanks in advance,

[FCMTX75]

I've my SkyTrak for 10 months and use it at least 3-4 days per week on average. I have had no issues with at all. I have the metal case on it and only have the occasional miss read with the driver. Irons and other clubs are 99% reliable. I've never had a any connectivity issues or major glitches of any kind. I did not purchase the extended warranty, so I can't tell you about that. So far I am very pleased with the unit and it has helped my game tremendously with being able to practice more and practice with purpose. I just recently purchased TGC19 and that is where the SkyTrak shines. It works great with TGC. Pull the trigger on it, you will not regret it.

[Dan McWhirter]

February 2016...so almost four years...working great! I am disappointed that e6 Connect is still not enabled, not even the demo...but supposedly it works great. I would not bother with the extended warranty; which I found an un-needed expense, but I was concerned with a brand new product. You should get a metal case...as with all "next to the ball" launch monitors...a bad shank can destroy a high tech device.

[alexsmith11]

I purchased my skytrak in July 2018 and 11 months later the laser curtain (the trigger to make the skytrak work) stopped working. I didn’t have the extended warranty, but luckily someone from skytrak generously helped me out with getting the repair done. This saved me something close to $500.

Looking back at it, I think I would get the warranty for the piece of mind as the unit is still a considerable cost and comes with only 6 month warranty.

cheers

[Jerome]

My SkyTrak(~ two years) has been solid. No hardware issues.

[thorin33]

I did not purchase the extended warranty but did invest in the metal cover. My wife and kid's have all hit the Skytrak with a shank and the unit works perfectly a year later.

[Gresh12]

I’ve had mine about 2 years. Zero maintenance/repair issues to date. I have the metal case and wouldn’t use the device without it. My daughter hit it with her downswing once (she hit a mile behind the ball when I told her to swing harder and club bounced off mat into SkyTrak) and once wildly swinging the club back down after hitting a shot. It has taken probably 5 shanked balls from adults as well. I’m a single digit handicap and account for two of those shanks and my buddy that’s a pro has one so in my opinion no one is immune to doing it once (particularly after a few drinks).

My credit card has extended warranties that double manufacturers warranty up to an additional year so check if you have something similar as I think this is fairly common.

I turn down all extended warranties as these are huge profit margin business for insurers meaning on average you’re getting ripped off. My opinion is if I can afford a “nice to have item” then I can pay to fix it or replace it in the unlikely event it breaks. Insurance is for things that cost tens or hundreds of thousands if they go wrong.

[GWM91]

Thanks everyone that’s has replied. I went ahead and purchased the Skytrak launch simulator with WGT Game Improvement package and the protective case.

Almost purchased the one time purchase of The Golf Club 2019, but after reading through the message boards, I think it’s best to wait and see what comes out after the PGA show. Plus, that’ll give me enough time to play around with the bag mapping and other features with the WGT Game Improvement package.

I still like to hear more from other people and their experiences with the simulator hardware. Once I register my simulator I still have 30 days zero purchase the extended warranty and 7 days for the 1 or 2 year Skycare Product Program if I decide to.

Please keep your experiences coming...

[Morini]

The biggest risk is by far laser curtain failure. Guessing extremely wildly, I'd say it has hit 15 percent of users who have had ST for 18 months or longer. I hope you enjoy WGT, feedback had not been good. I doubt there will be a serious competitor for TGC 2019. Especially after lidar based courses are being created.

[GWM91]

Thanks that’s what I’m was trying to figure out with the durability of the unit.

As for WGT, I’ve read numerous post about them and none are good. But, you have to purchase one of their packages to be able to buy any additional software packages like TGC 2019 or True Golf E6. Just didn’t want to pay $900 for something and be stuck with it, especially if something else comes out at the PGA show that’s better and/or a better deal.

[GungHoGolf]

I’d estimate laser curtain failures at under 1% of units based on number reported in my SkyTrak Users group on Facebook with 3300 members.

[Celeras]

You'll enjoy the purchase, however keep an eye on the PGA show in mid January. You have 30 days to refund the SkyTrak just in case they decide to announce something new. Nobody knows if they will, but they've been radio silent for some time now so it's been speculated that is a possible reason.

[GWM91]

Thanks, that was another area that concerned me, just didn’t want to ask to many questions. It never dawned on me about the 30 day return policy if they introduced a new model or price adjustment if they lowered the price of this model. They just extended the sale to January 15th, maybe they are trying to sell all their current stock, who knows.

Will definitely keep an eye out mid to late January.

[pwade3]

I bought mine in 2015. Have had no issues and it has been through a lot. Used it at the range and had dirt sprayed all over it. Scratched the lense trying to clean it. Ugh 😩 Has been hit by a few friends stray shots and it hardly every misses any shots. Yardage is bang on and have been so surprised how great this unit is considering the cost of it. Only issue is once it a while it seems to lock up and looses connectivity but not very often and only with TGC. It has been rock solid. I am getting nervous about the curtain issue though and I think I might send it in this spring to have it looked at (and replace the lense). Coming up on 5 years.

[JB3]

I have had mine for about 14 months now and its pretty solid. It can be a little funny with the wifi but once you get a routine with your use its easy fixes while playing. I go weeks with perfect connection and then I have a day or two here and there where i do a lot of reconnecting. But that reconnect takes no longer than 2 min max. Usually I just hit the program in task bar and reconnect. one out of 15 I have to reboot the unit.
I also had Left handed laser fail at 8 months and I did not have the warranty, but as the person said above i was taken care of and the unit was sent back and fixed and shipped for free. I was with out unit fro about 10 days so it was pretty fast turn around i think.

[thorin33]

I bought mine in 2015. Have had no issues and it has been through a lot. Used it at the range and had dirt sprayed all over it. Scratched the lense trying to clean it. Ugh 😩 Has been hit by a few friends stray shots and it hardly every misses any shots. Yardage is bang on and have been so surprised how great this unit is considering the cost of it. Only issue is once it a while it seems to lock up and looses connectivity but not very often and only with TGC. It has been rock solid. I am getting nervous about the curtain issue though and I think I might send it in this spring to have it looked at (and replace the lense). Coming up on 5 years.

Is there a proper way to clean the lens?

[GungHoGolf]

Like you would clean glasses or goggles. Soft cloth with a spritz of windex on it.

[pwade3]

Is there a proper way to clean the lens?

I was surprised at how easy it scratched. I used a soft cloth that I had from my sunglasses, but the dirt that got on the lens needs to be removed very carefully. It was the removal of the dirt that did the damage. I was not careful enough in that process. Lesson learned.

[jaus]

Had mine for four years now. Had to replace the left laser curtain in year two after 14k shots. The only problem since then (estimate 30k shots) is that the battery meter is not registering accurately.