Bushnell Launch Pro vs SkyTrak+: Which Photometric Unit Should You Buy?
These are two of the most popular photometric launch monitors for home bays. Both sit beside the ball instead of needing a long ball-flight runway, so they fit tight rooms where a radar unit would struggle. I have built bays around both, and the short version is this: the Bushnell Launch Pro is the more accurate device, while the SkyTrak+ is the better value and the friendlier on-ramp into a full simulator.
Neither one is plug-and-play free. Both lean on a subscription to unlock their best behavior, which is the part most spec sheets gloss over. Below I walk through accuracy, software, what each one actually costs you over three years, and who should buy which. I have no horse in this race, and affiliate links never change how I rank anything.
The 30-Second verdict
If you want the most trustworthy numbers and you plan to do real practice or fitting work, the Bushnell Launch Pro is the pick. It is the closest thing to tour-level data you can put beside your ball at home, and it slots into a narrow room with no fuss.
If you want a complete, fun simulator setup for less money and you can live with data that is very good rather than reference-grade, the SkyTrak+ wins. It plays beautifully with sim software and gives you more golf for your dollar.
| What matters | Bushnell Launch Pro | SkyTrak+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000 to $3,500 (license tier) | ~$3,000 |
| Tech | Photometric (cameras) | Photometric plus radar |
| Best at | Raw accuracy and fitting | Simulator value and play |
| Room fit | Sits beside ball, tight rooms OK | Sits beside ball, tight rooms OK |
| Subscription | Unlocks features and sim | Needed for sim software |
Want the long versions? Read our Bushnell Launch Pro review and our SkyTrak+ review.
Accuracy: where the Launch Pro pulls ahead
Both units are photometric, meaning they use high-speed cameras to photograph the ball (and on these models, the club) right at impact. That camera-based approach is why they work in a small space. They read what happens in the first few inches off the face, so you do not need 8 to 16 ft of ball flight the way a radar unit like a Garmin R10 or FlightScope Mevo+ does.
The Bushnell Launch Pro is the more precise of the two. It is built on the same camera platform used in professional fitting bays, and it shows up most on the data points that are hardest to measure indoors: spin, spin axis, and club path. If you are dialing in gapping, testing shafts, or you just want numbers you can fully trust, the Launch Pro is the one I reach for.
The SkyTrak+ is not far behind, and for most golfers the gap will not be visible. It adds radar to its cameras, which helps it nail ball speed and read low-spinning shots well. Where it can wander a touch is on heavy spin and the very edges of club data. For practice and play, that difference is academic. For fitting and serious gapping work, it matters, and that is the line I draw between them.
Software: the real reason people buy SkyTrak+
This is where the conversation usually flips. The SkyTrak+ has long been the value champ because it ties cleanly into the software golfers actually want to play. It works great with GSPro (~$250/yr, the enthusiast favorite with a massive community course library) and with E6 Connect, and its own SkyTrak app is genuinely good for skills challenges and range work. You do need a SkyTrak sim subscription to unlock full simulator play, so budget for that.
The Bushnell Launch Pro is a more pro-leaning tool. Out of the box it is a fantastic data device, and a subscription unlocks its simulation features and connections. It also pairs with GSPro and other sim platforms, so you are not locked out of great course play. The difference in feel is that SkyTrak+ was designed first as a home simulator, while the Launch Pro was designed first as a measurement instrument that also plays simulator golf.
One practical note for both: GSPro needs a Windows PC and connects through the OGT connector. If you are leaning toward GSPro, factor a capable laptop or mini PC into your plan, because the launch monitor is only half the system.
Total cost over 3 years
Sticker price is not the real number. Both of these want a subscription, so let me lay out roughly what you actually spend if you keep one for three years and run GSPro for course play. These are ballpark figures to compare apples to apples, not exact quotes.
| Cost item | Bushnell Launch Pro | SkyTrak+ |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | $2,000 to $3,500 | ~$3,000 |
| Native subscription (3 yr) | ~$600 to $1,200 | ~$300 to $900 |
| GSPro (3 yr) | ~$750 | ~$750 |
| Rough 3-year total | ~$3,350 to $5,450 | ~$4,050 to $4,650 |
The takeaway: the Launch Pro can come in cheaper if you buy the lower license tier, but its highest tier with full features can run past the SkyTrak+. The SkyTrak+ lands in a narrower, more predictable middle band. Check current pricing and license tiers before you buy, because both companies adjust them, and the license tier you pick on the Launch Pro changes the math the most. You can compare live prices at Rain or Shine Golf and Shop Indoor Golf, who carry both. For a full breakdown of where the money goes in a complete bay, see our golf simulator cost guide.
Space and setup: both fit tight rooms
This is the best news in this matchup. Because both are photometric and sit beside the ball, neither needs the long ball-flight room that a radar unit demands. If your space is short front to back, these two are exactly the category you want.
You still need a sane room. Plan for a minimum ceiling around 9 ft, ideally 10 ft, and a comfortable bay of about 10 ft wide by 12 ft deep by 9 to 10 ft tall. Make sure you have swing clearance for both righty and lefty if more than one person uses it. Both units want a level spot beside the hitting area and a clean view of the ball, and both are easy to align once you have done it a couple times.
If your room is long and open, you are not limited to these. A radar unit like the FlightScope Mevo+ or a budget Garmin Approach R10 can work well with enough ball flight. But if you are reading this because your room is small, photometric is the answer, and these are the two best photometric options for a home bay.
Who should buy which
Here is how I send people home, plainly.
- Buy the Bushnell Launch Pro if accuracy is your top priority, you want to do club fitting or serious gapping, or you want the device you will never second-guess. Pick the license tier that matches how much simulator play you actually want.
- Buy the SkyTrak+ if you want the most complete, fun simulator for the money, you mainly want to play virtual courses and run skills challenges, and very-good data is plenty for your game.
- Buy neither if you only want to groove a swing. A net plus your phone covers a lot of golfers, and a full simulator is a indulgence rather than essential gear. Be honest with yourself about how often you will really use it.
Both are excellent, and you will not regret either. Match the tool to the job: measurement instrument first (Launch Pro) or home simulator first (SkyTrak+). When you are ready, you can check current pricing on both at Shop Indoor Golf.
Comparing builds? Shop Indoor Golf and Rain or Shine Golf carry the launch monitors, enclosures and packages we recommend.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings (see how we test). A net plus your phone is enough practice for many golfers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bushnell Launch Pro more accurate than the SkyTrak+?
Yes, slightly. The Launch Pro uses the same camera platform found in pro fitting bays and is more precise on the hardest indoor numbers like spin and club path. The SkyTrak+ is still very good and adds radar to help with ball speed. For practice and play the gap is hard to see. For fitting and serious gapping, the Launch Pro is the safer choice.
Do both units require a subscription?
Effectively yes. The Bushnell Launch Pro needs a subscription to unlock its simulation features, and your license tier affects both price and capability. The SkyTrak+ needs a subscription to unlock full simulator play in its app. Both also work with GSPro at about $250 per year if you want its community course library, so always factor software into your total cost.
Will either one fit a small room?
Both fit tight rooms well. They are photometric, so they sit beside the ball and read impact directly instead of needing 8 to 16 ft of ball flight like a radar unit. Plan for a ceiling of at least 9 ft, ideally 10 ft, and a bay around 10 ft wide by 12 ft deep. Make sure you leave swing clearance for both righty and lefty players.
Which is the better value over three years?
The SkyTrak+ lands in a predictable middle band, roughly $4,050 to $4,650 over three years with GSPro. The Launch Pro can be cheaper on its lower license tier but more expensive on its top tier, so it ranges wider. If you want the most golf per dollar, SkyTrak+ usually wins. If you want top accuracy at a controlled price, the Launch Pro entry tier is compelling.
Should I consider a radar unit instead?
Only if your room is long and open. Radar units like the FlightScope Mevo+ or the budget Garmin Approach R10 need roughly 8 to 16 ft of ball flight to read well indoors. If your space is short front to back, photometric units like these two are the right category. If you have a deep garage or basement, a radar unit can save money and work great outdoors too.
I build and test home golf simulators for a living, and I write every review and guide here. I tell you where to save and where it pays to spend. How we test →