How to test your SkyTrak numbers against GC2 numbers for the exact same shot

[Mickey]

Some of you have seen the Par2Pro video wherein Cory compares carry, ball speed, spin and launch per ST against the same numbers from GC2 for the same shot. He has the two devices side-by-side. The issue - to keep the ST from blocking the cameras on the GC2, the ball must be placed well behind ST's red dot.

I went to GolfTown this weekend to test my ST distances (driver and 6 iron only) against the GC2 using the Par2Pro method. I could never get a single shot to register on both devices until a sales associate changed the configuration (see attached image). He moved the GC2 to a few paces off my left foot and changed it to read left-handed. You'll see in the image that the green light on the GC is on and the ball is on SkyTrak's red dot.

I then hit about 30 drivers and 40 or so 6 irons. Every single shot registered on both devices perfectly. I was only interested in carry, spin, launch and ball speed. I'm pleased to report that after hitting 70 shots, a grand total of one had SkyTrak come in more than 5 yards short of GC2. In fact in virtually all cases ST distances were within +/- 5 yards of GC2 with no bias either way. This was true for driver and 6 iron. What's more, the launch, spin and ball speed were also crazy close to each other.

Bottom line: ST is not "a good launch monitor for the money" - its a "good launch monitor" - full stop.

It would take a special type of incompetence to screw this up, but it appears that SkyGolf is making a go at it.

[Tekbud]

This is fantastic. While I've never used a GC2 for any length of time this makes me feel better about not being able to get a cheap used GC2, nor wanting to spend 4x the money on a new one.

[doublebogey]

Thanks. This is an awesome post and comforting to all who might think their SkyTraks are off.

[Godfather]

Were you hitting draws, fades, and/or straight shots? I'm asking because of the left-handed GC2...

[Mickey]

6 iron - always draws - can't hit anything left to right with irons. Driver both ways. Didn't look at side spin numbers but the shot shape was the same on both devices.

Straight shots? - can't do that.

[hks8888]

Great job, Mario! Nice post!
It looks like a bold and risky set-up, but I'm glad that you didn't hit GC2 with your clubs.

[Mickey]

Never came close.

[aja]

Very good information and very useful comparison. But, still have to agree with your last statement.

[ForeLeft]

This is great. Thanks for posting this. Glad that I went with SkyTrak and didn't pay extra for ES16 or GC2.

[pwade3]

Thats a great comparison. Thank you for sharing that. I had a comparison recently on a much smaller scale. My daughters coach has a flight scope that he brought to our house for one of her lessons. We just had enough room behind and in front, but just barely. It was only picking up about 50% of the shots, but I had a good look at the readings on the ones that it did pick up and the numbers were right on the ST. We were all impressed to see them as close as they were. In saying that, I can't believe the software Flightscope has. Makes ST s/w look like a toy. I would pay extra to have that kind of s/w. Very impressed with ST though. GC2 would cost me $9000 cdn with taxes. I'm estimating they are 6K US. I could buy 3 ST!!! Lol.

[ernie18]

lol love the last line!

[Mickey]

Canadian also. The C$ quote I got from foresight Canada before christmas was 10500. Was told the price is going higher because of the sharp decline in the loonie.

[pwade3]

Okay, then 4 ST's.

[Sascha1818]

But that was with there useless sim software wasn't it ?

[pwade3]

Guilty as charged!!

[Mickey]

Yes. Just got update on pricing. Gc2 standalone (no software) is C$9000. Going to C$9900 (estimate) shortly because of the decline in C$. Including performance software package and metal shield its just under C$13,000 pretax. Going to C$14,000+ (estimate) shortly because of decline in C$.

[Mazenblue]

As mad I have been with SkyTrak, the Foresight heavy sales pressure of "it's going up next week, if you buy it today I can sell it to you for....". Its great to hear to hear the SkyTrak numbers are so close to the GC2. Hopefully they will get the other issues solved too.

[coz]

Were you hitting draws, fades, and/or straight shots? I'm asking because of the left-handed GC2...

does it matter? The machines just measure launch conditions. It shouldn't matter right?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Godfather]

does it matter? The machines just measure launch conditions. It shouldn't matter right?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Calculations may do something different for a hook/draw vs a slice/fade. So if you are hitting draws as a righty and the unit is backwards reading as a lefty, it is thinking it is a fade and so the algorithm may come up with less total yardage than if it were on the other side.

[goatbarn]

myth!

Ball doesnt care if youre righty or lefty. So Bubba fade is the same as DJs draw. All that matters is launch conditions, which has nothing to do with right or left handiness.

[FaultyClubs]

It doesn't matter. If the ball parameters are the same the ball will end up in exactly the same place. What matters are the ball launch parameters. What we call it is irrelevant.

[TorchRedRob]

Agreed. It only sees spin one way or the other, and in a certain amount. A fade vs a draw is irrelevant to the unit.