SkyTrak vs GC2

[ryanoneill1]

I just purchased an impact screen and hitting mat for my basement. I am looking at either GC2 or Skytrak. I have hit off a GC2 before and loved the experience. I was looking at purchasing a used GC2, but worried about what would show up at my door. I can afford the $8000 price tag for GC2 +FSX, but don't know if I should spend that kind of money. I live in the midwest so can only golf 6 months of the year. Love to practice, but with a new child it is hard to leave the house. Which is why I started to get a setup in my basement. I really want it for course play and to be able to practice during the winter. To me I can probably play off the same course as long as the graphics are good. Looked at some of the Skytrak TGC videos and the quality doesn't look the best. Do you think the E6 will look better? I spoke to Skytrak and E6 and both agree they will support each other, but not sure when.

So if I can drop $8000 of GC2+FSX do I or will I get the same result with Skytrak and E6(when/if) it comes out?

[luv2golf]

Just thought I would throw some data comparison out there for anyone curious how these two units compare. I owned a GC2 for a few months this summer because it was a sweet deal on a used unit and was honestly an impulse purchase. Never had intentions of keeping it long term. I sold it a month ago because I didn't want to sink a couple thousand more for a gaming PC and software. I recently purchased a Skytrak to try out. I pulled up some GC2 data from about a month ago to compare to my first Skytrak session. This obviously wasn't the same shots being compared, but for reference, I play to around a scratch handicap during the summer. So my swing should be consistent enough to get a decent comparison. One other thing to note, my GC2 was only used outdoors on the course and my Skytrak session was indoors. I very well may not have been swinging as hard indoors. I plan on going outside tomorrow to compare apples to apples. I will report any changes I see. The following are averages from 5 Skytrak shots and 7 GC2 shots with a driver. The Skytrak doesn't give decimal figures on Ball Speed or Carry, so that number is rounded I guess. Like I said, not the most scientifically sound experiment but something to chew on. I'll update tomorrow with outdoor data.

................Ball Speed - Launch - Backspin - Carry

GC2.........150.71.........10.8........2,626...... ..245.71

Skytrak....145..............10.74......2,796...... ..232

So add in the 4% added distance coming in the next app version and they are bang on.

[keithpbz]

Using trajectoware drive 1.0 (which I find to be very accurate) those numbers are pretty close for both. 5 mph ball speed difference is where the difference in carry is coming from. On a side note if you can get your launch angle up 2-3 degrees and maintain same spin numbers you could gain about 7-10 yards of carry. At 10.8 degrees launch your landing angle is pretty shallow, good for roll but not good for maximizing carry.
Also flightscope trajectory optimizer shows similar carry distances for both.

[mayassa]

Does the SkyTrak use a flash?

[luv2golf]

No it doesn't

[Vincent_Vega]

Just thought I would throw some data comparison out there for anyone curious how these two units compare. I owned a GC2 for a few months this summer because it was a sweet deal on a used unit and was honestly an impulse purchase. Never had intentions of keeping it long term. I sold it a month ago because I didn't want to sink a couple thousand more for a gaming PC and software. I recently purchased a Skytrak to try out. I pulled up some GC2 data from about a month ago to compare to my first Skytrak session. This obviously wasn't the same shots being compared, but for reference, I play to around a scratch handicap during the summer. So my swing should be consistent enough to get a decent comparison. One other thing to note, my GC2 was only used outdoors on the course and my Skytrak session was indoors. I very well may not have been swinging as hard indoors. I plan on going outside tomorrow to compare apples to apples. I will report any changes I see. The following are averages from 5 Skytrak shots and 7 GC2 shots with a driver. The Skytrak doesn't give decimal figures on Ball Speed or Carry, so that number is rounded I guess. Like I said, not the most scientifically sound experiment but something to chew on. I'll update tomorrow with outdoor data.

................Ball Speed - Launch - Backspin - Carry

GC2.........150.71.........10.8........2,626...... ..245.71

Skytrak....145..............10.74......2,796...... ..232

Ok guys. Here is my update after taking the Skytrak outside. It was an overcast day today with no direct sunlight. So should have been the perfect conditions for testing. I will say that I was disappointed in how many shots the Skytrak failed to read. I was teeing my ball up about an inch to the right of the laser dot. I use a white R15, not sure if that is partly to blame. Anyway, the following was my averages for 7 total shots with the ST. Just like my GC2 data, the balls being used were a mixture of ProV1's and Bridgestone B330S. I added the Side Angle and Side Spin to my previous data. It's obvious that I was swinging slower indoors in my first Skytrak session. I've always believed that theory, and this data further reinforces that for me. I was launching the ball slightly higher today (something I've been working on), so that helped add to the ST carry totals. But overall, it's pretty close.

...................Ball Speed......Launch......Back Spin......Side Angle......Side Spin......Carry

GC2_______150.71_______10.8______2,626_______.86R_ ________-692.57_____245.71

ST_________149_________11.81_____2,606_______.89L_ _________-158.71____245.29


So take this info how you will. It appears that Skytrak might still be reading ball speed just a hair slow, but the difference is quite small. Does anyone know if the 4% adjustment in the coming update will add that 4% to the ball speed reading or just add 4% to the overall carry in the ball flight algorithm? I'm still very much in the honeymoon stage, but so far I'm pretty darn pleased. I will say that the software ball flight was matching my real life ball flight almost exactly today. The only gripe I have is that I believe the range app shows ball flight slightly lower than what it actually is. An 11-12 degree launch shows far too low on the range app in my opinion.

[luv2golf]

Are you teeing up on a grass range or mats? Any grass that kicks up will affect the ST reading. I had that problem when I took mine to a grass range.

[TaS]

I actually paid up to get the protee software too purely for the multiple tees (to play with family members).

[Vincent_Vega]

Are you teeing up on a grass range or mats? Any grass that kicks up will affect the ST reading. I had that problem when I took mine to a grass range.

It was on grass. Just on a vacant hole on my home course. I tee my driver up pretty high and I certainly don't hit the ground at all with my driver. I guess it's possible that the tee coming out of the ground after impact could throw some grass up, but I would think the ball data would already be captured at that point. Not to say that it wasn't causing the no-reads though, because I didn't have any no-reads on my indoor session. Doubt I'll test it out on the range mats with the rubber tee, because I hate hitting range balls. Overall, I'm very pleased with how it compares to the GC2.

[davray666]

In the same setup where the ST failed to read a few shots, did the GC2 fail as well on any shots?
Or since you have had the GC2 for a while, would you say it's robust when it comes to detecting shots?

[keithpbz]

The upcoming update is for the flight algorithm, not any actual measure data.

[Vincent_Vega]

In the same setup where the ST failed to read a few shots, did the GC2 fail as well on any shots?
Or since you have had the GC2 for a while, would you say it's robust when it comes to detecting shots?

In my experience, the GC2 very rarely has a "no-read". It's much less sensitive to outdoor factors. This might be the only area where the GC2 has a substantial advantage. Other than that, it appears to me that they're very comparable units. The GC2 possibly does a SLIGHTLY better job of reading side spin as well. As for the Skytrak missing some shots, it's possible it was due to human error. I've only owned it a few days, and I'm still experimenting on tee/ball placement based on my tee height, etc. I also have a driver with a white head which might be an issue. Indoors using a real tee on a Country Club Elite mat, the Skytrak has picked up every shot.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

As long as the grass is cut very short, you should be able to hit driver no problem. Since you have a white head, make sure you move the tee position about 1" behind (to the right from the golfing position) the red dot. I was even able to hit irons fine off well-manicured grass last week at a tournament. The only pain is having to move it due to divots. And understand that if you chunk it and take a size able amount of earth with it, it's probably not going to read.

[FaultyClubs]

>>> The GC2 possibly does a SLIGHTLY better job of reading side spin as well

Wondering why you say that? Your latest data in post #49 shows a significant difference in side spin (-693rpm versus - 159rpm). That's a 20 yard offline difference which seems quite a lot compared to a couple yards carry discrepancy.

You didn't post the HLA numbers but sounds like you kept all the data. How do the HLA numbers compare?

[davray666]

I have had my ST for 10 months and used if for 8. It never misses to pick up a shot as long as it launches lower than some 35 deg. I have a white head SLDR but I have only used it from a mat. The accuracy for all long clubs is OK as long as you can somehow determine your HLA and do a sanity check. It's sometimes way off.
Distance vs. a real course play varies a lot but it's consistent. So I have a good idea of what it is for each club and kind of keep that in mind when I practice.
I don't blame the ST unit for the difference, I believe it's me hitting indoor vs. outside and mat vs. grass.(real course play is significantly longer)
The thing that I got tired of and what made me buy a GC2 was the short game accuracy. Once you start using it to tune those wedge shot shapes and distances. You will see some interesting effects and accuracy issues. To detect it you need to have a way to measure HLA and VLA.
My GC2 will arrive on Wednesday and I really hope it's much more accurate for the short game tuning. If not then I guess TM4 is the next stop.

[FaultyClubs]

Curious if the short game issues were consistent with Skytrak's stated specifications?

[davray666]

No. Want to know more. Read the ST vs. TM thread.

[FaultyClubs]

Interesting spreadsheet...I had missed it...thanks for doing the tests. Thought the ST would do better. Carry is the least of its problems.

[Vincent_Vega]

>>> The GC2 possibly does a SLIGHTLY better job of reading side spin as well

Wondering why you say that? Your latest data in post #49 shows a significant difference in side spin (-693rpm versus - 159rpm). That's a 20 yard offline difference which seems quite a lot compared to a couple yards carry discrepancy.

You didn't post the HLA numbers but sounds like you kept all the data. How do the HLA numbers compare?

The HLA is there... .86R for GC2 and .89L for ST. Like I said, the key word is "possibly". My typical miss is a pretty strong draw/hook, and in my limited experience the GC2 did a better job of picking up the severity of that draw/hook. Certainly not enough data to draw 100% conclusions which is why I said "possibly".

[davray666]

After a long detour and lots of problems the GC2 finally arrived today.
I have only had a 30 min session so far so no final conclusion yet but I tested the shots that ST can't measure since that was the reason I bought it.
Works like a charm. Any wedge shot, including flop shots that seam to go straight up in the air are detected.
(Yes I raised the ceiling and I now have a 1 piece screen that stretches all the way from the floor, along the wall and up following the ceiling. So now I can do 70 deg flop shots that land softly on the screen material)

My hitting position is 3m away from the screen. Even super soft chips that land before they reach the screen are measured correctly.
It's really cool to do a 2m soft chip and see it land 2m away and see the 2m carry number on the unit.
Will do a more detailed review with a session vs. Trackman like I did for the ST. but it's a bit cold for that now.

Here's a picture of the arsenal so far.

[luv2golf]

LOL!!! That's to funny. I have 2 of the 4 and almost bought a GC2 a couple of weeks ago, but decided to wait and see what skytrak does the next couple of months.

[wee988]

davray you are my new idol

[Mike80]

davray666:
You should post a picture of your setup. Curious how you have your screen going up the ceiling.

[davray666]

I will post a detailed description in the correct thread later. Had to return the front screen to the shop for some changes yesterday.
The whole setup is made up of 1 back stop 700gram /m2 glasfiber reinforced PVC, Then I have some fluffy material 5cm in front of that and then finally 15cm in front of that, the projection screen that is made of a nylon/cotton 50/50 blend material.
No idea if it will be great or not. This is a long term experiment. I somehow suspect I will end up with the conclusion that I should have bought Par2Pro's HQ material to start with. We will see.