SkyTrak vs GCQuad - Which One Should You Get
If you are a keen golfer, you'll know that improving your game requires a tremendous amount of practice. Unfortunately, unless you have an experienced and skilled coach by your side, it is often challenging to know whether you are progressing or not. Sometimes, you can get into bad habits.
Golf launch monitors allow you to identify and correct your technique, but the market is complicated. There are so many products out there, all offering something a little different. Here, we compare two of the most popular and leading optical launch monitors in the golf simulator industry - SkyTrak vs GCQuad - Foresight's update to ever-popular GC2.
Technology
Both SkyTrak and GCQuad use camera technology to measure the flight of the ball as it leaves the clubhead. However, the way they do it is slightly different.
SkyTrak captures images of a golf ball immediately after the impact using two high-speed cameras and then crunches the numbers to provide information on launch angle, ball speed, backspin, sidespin, side angle and so on.
SkyTrak's photometric technology requires less space than a doppler radar-based units to capture the ball data, which means you can create a golf simulator setup even if you have a limited space available.
SkyTrak enables you to input a series of desired variables and environmental factors such as weather and course conditions. This helps simulate real-world golf and provides more accurate shot analysis.
GCQuad uses camera-based technologies as well to assess ball flight characteristics. However, it is the only launch monitor in the industry to use quadroscopic imaging (a system that uses four cameras instead of stereoscopic's two). This means that the device can capture the most subtle changes in ball speed, angle and rotation in a way that many stereoscopic systems cannot. GCQuad is able to capture over 6,000 frames per second, describing practically every aspect of the ball while it is in flight.
Which you choose depends primarily on your budget. While GCQuad offers one of the most accurate systems in the world, SkyTrak is vastly less expensive and still very accurate. (You will typically pay around $14,000 for a GCQuad and additional $4,000 for the Clubhead Measurement Add-On, while SkyTrak retails for around $2,000).
In general, home buyers will opt for the SkyTrak while commercial operators, golf coaches, and club fitters will most likely select the GCQuad. It is worth pointing out, however, that either product will suit both purposes. You can use GCQuad in a home studio and the SkyTrak at a training facility - both will perform admirably.
Indoor/Outdoor Use
SkyTrak has designed their launch monitor for indoor use. However, you can use it outside, so long as you follow certain protocols. Always place the device on a flat mat (to mirror a teeing off green) under a roof of some sort, and keep the camera sensors out of direct sunlight.
Foresight Sports, on the other hand, designed GCQuad to be used both indoors and outdoors.
Please note both SkyTrak and GCQuad are not waterproof.
Features
Both SkyTrak and GCQuad offer a host of features designed to help you improve your skills. How they achieve this, though, is slightly different.
GCQuad offers ball flight statistics, such as ball speed, horizontal & vertical angles, back spin, side spin, and carry distance, as well as some add-ons such as putting analysis and clubhead data as optional software add-ons. As with SkyTrak, standard ball flight metrics include ball speed, back spin, side spin, carry distance, and horizontal and vertical launch angles.
However, Foresight's software differs from SkyTrak's. Foresight supplies the GCQuad with FSX 2020 - a suite of simulation software tools that allow you to practice your golf on realistic courses. Foresight Sports' developers have painstakingly recreated some of the world's most exclusive golf courses, allowing you to travel all over the world to practice your swing right from the comfort of your own home. Skill building modes help you improve your skills while multiplayer lets you compete with other golfers.
FSX 2020 gives you professional-grade analysis. The tool allows you to see every metric associated with your shot in real-time using powerful onboard processing hardware. Foresight Sports, however, does not provide clubhead metrics as part of the standard GCQuad package. If you want to learn more about how your club behaves when you strike the ball, you will need to purchase the Clubhead Measurement Add-On for $4,000. This extra provides you with information on clubhead speed, smash factor, angle of attack, club path, impact location on the club face and more. You can then view visual representations of your shots using FSX 2020.
SkyTrak does not feature native software with golf courses. But like its rival, it too offers both free and premium packages.
SkyTrak's Basic Practice Range plan provides features that allow you to practice your shots at any time, providing similar metrics to the GCQuad. Standard software included in the base price gives you a 3D practice range you can see on your iPad/PC or project onto an impact screen in front of you, first person camera view with shot tracer, and a shot replay facility.
If you don't mind paying $99 annually, you can upgrade to the SkyTrak's Game Improvement Plan. This lets you take part in competitions, such as longest drive and closest-to-pin, allowing you to test your skills against other golfers all over the world. You can also indulge in some of the things that you might do at a regular driving range, such as target practice. Game Improvement software also allows SkyTrak to integrate with 3rd party golf simulation softwares such as E6 Connect, TGC 2019, WGT, Creative Golf 3D, Fitness Golf, ProTee Play, and Golfismo by Creative Golf which you can purchase for additional cost right from SkyTrak's website.
While both SkyTrak and Foresight Sports charge for access to premium features, their prices differ a lot. Thus, SkyTrak is more suited for users on a budget while GCQuad is for those who don't mind paying a little more for the best tracking, speed, and extra software features.
Compatibility is excellent on both devices. SkyTrak will sync with Android, iOS, and PC while Foresight Sports GCQuad will work with both Android and iOS.
Conclusion
SkyTrak and GCQuad are both excellent devices targeting different markets. SkyTrak appeals mostly to home users while GCQuad is for serious enthusiasts or professional coaches who want in-depth data about their clients' technique.
