What They Have in Common
Both are camera-based systems that work indoors and outdoors without special balls. Both track the core metrics you'd want at this price — ball speed, spin, carry, club speed, smash factor, face angle. Both connect to GSPro and E6. If you're choosing between them purely on spec sheets, they're closer than they look. The discontinuation status is what makes this comparison easy.
Where They Differ
Technology
The Launch Pro uses three high-speed cameras (Bushnell calls it "Triscopic" — basically photometric imaging from three angles). The SkyTrak+ uses a hybrid of dual Doppler radar and photometric cameras. In practice, both approaches can be accurate for ball data. The camera-heavy approach the Launch Pro uses tends to do well with spin indoors, where radar units can struggle without special balls. The SkyTrak+'s hybrid design was meant to get the best of both worlds — radar for tracking ball flight, cameras for spin data — and from what I've seen, it acquitted itself well in testing before the discontinuation announcement. Neither is a clear winner on technology alone. The practical difference is that one has an active development team behind it right now.
Built-in Display vs. App-Only
The Launch Pro has a 3-inch touchscreen built in. That might sound minor until you're at a range without reliable Wi-Fi and you're squinting at a phone. You can see ball data on the device itself without any subscription, which is a meaningful real-world advantage. The SkyTrak+ has no built-in display — you're running everything through a connected device. If your sim setup already has a dedicated tablet or PC and you're always in a controlled environment, this doesn't matter much. If you want flexibility, the Launch Pro's screen earns its keep.
Club Data Requirements
The Launch Pro requires metallic club face stickers for club data — path, face angle, the works. Worth knowing: those stickers aren't legal for tournament or competitive play, which matters if you're using this partly for serious practice rounds. The SkyTrak+ tracks club data without stickers. No stickers required, no metallic tape to keep restocked. If club data without stickers is important to your workflow, that was a genuine SkyTrak+ advantage. But again — discontinued.
Subscription Structure and Total Cost of Ownership
This is where things get real. The Launch Pro has three tiers:
- No subscription: Ball data only, viewable on the built-in screen. No course play, limited utility.
- Silver ($199/year): Ball data + club data + 5 courses via FSX Play.
- Gold ($499/year): 25 courses, GSPro access, E6 access.
- One-time club data unlock: $1,500 (no annual fee for club data, but no sim access).
The SkyTrak+ required a SkyTrak membership for course play, though the exact tier pricing has gotten murky since the discontinuation announcement. If you're buying SkyTrak+ from closeout stock, you need to independently verify what software access you're actually getting and for how long.
For the Launch Pro: if you're on Gold, you're looking at $499/year. Over three years, that's $2,499 hardware + $1,497 software = ~$4,000. Over five years, ~$4,994. That's a real number. Budget for it.
Continued Support and Platform Longevity
There's no diplomatic way to say this: buying discontinued hardware at full price is a risk. SkyTrak may honor software access for existing users, or they may sunset the platform — the history of golf tech companies shows both outcomes. The Launch Pro is actively supported, receiving firmware updates, and Bushnell has been expanding the ecosystem.
Who Should Buy Which
Bushnell Launch Pro
- You're building a dedicated sim room and want a long-term primary device with active software development.
- You want to use your launch monitor at the range without a phone or tablet — the built-in screen handles ball data out of the box.
- You're comfortable with the subscription math and will either go Silver or Gold depending on how much course play you want.
- You practice with multiple club types and want detailed club data, and you're fine using face stickers during practice sessions.
SkyTrak+ (closeout only)
- You found it at a significant discount — think 30–40% below MSRP — and you're primarily using it for ball data and basic sim play on a platform you've independently confirmed is still being supported.
- You already have a primary launch monitor and want a backup or secondary unit.
- You accept the risk that software support timelines are unclear and you're not building a long-term sim setup around it.
I'd be hesitant to recommend the SkyTrak+ to anyone building their first or primary simulator setup, regardless of price.
The Bottom Line
The SkyTrak+ had real merits — no stickers, solid hybrid tech, competitive pricing. But discontinued hardware at near-full MSRP isn't a value play; it's a gamble on software longevity. The Launch Pro's subscription costs are real and you should do the math before you buy, but you're getting an actively supported device with a built-in display and a clear roadmap.
Get the Bushnell Launch Pro.
See Also