Square Golf Launch Monitor or a Discounted Original SkyTrak?

Square Golf and the original SkyTrak are the two camera-based launch monitors that budget indoor builders compare most often, and the choice is less about which one is better in the abstract than about which one fits your budget and your room. Square's Launch Monitor lists at about $700 at time of writing, and per the sources we checked it has no annual subscription. The original SkyTrak is now more often found near $1,000 on discount than at its original price, and it carries a $99 per year Game Improvement Plan if you want bag mapping, shot history and skills challenges.

If you are choosing between a new Square and a discounted or used original SkyTrak, three questions do most of the work. Do you need to hit outside? Can you live with marked balls and a short wait between shots? And how much will you pay over three years once plans and software licences are counted? Square comes out ahead on indoor spin with the right balls, on processing speed, on putting data and on running cost. The SkyTrak keeps its edge if you want outdoor use, don't want to manage special balls, or prefer a unit with a longer track record behind it.

How we put this together: we compared published manufacturer specs, retailer listings and owner reports, then applied the criteria below. We don't accept free gear, and links may earn us a commission.

Square or SkyTrak in one table

Feature	Square Golf Launch Monitor	Original SkyTrak
Tracking	Dual high-speed cameras plus infrared sensors	High-speed camera, photometric
Price	About $700 at time of writing	About $1,000 discounted; about $2,000 historically
Yearly plan	No annual subscription in the sources we checked	Game Improvement Plan at $99 per year
Ball for reliable spin	Marked balls	No special balls needed
Shot processing	Fast, with minimal wait	Delay of up to about 2 seconds
Putting	Putting analysis included	Not listed in the sources we checked
Indoor or outdoor	Indoor only	Indoor, and outdoor with proper setup
Battery	Up to 8 hours	About 5 hours
Weight and size	1 lb; 7.48 x 2.76 x 2.76 in	1.7 lb; 5.75 L x 6.75 H x 2.5 W in
Connection	Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	Wi-Fi only, over a direct network or your home network; no Bluetooth
Main software	GSPro, Awesome Golf, Square range software	E6 Connect, TGC 2019, WGT

Pick Square if you want indoor-only use, putting data and the lowest running cost, and you are willing to buy marked balls.

Pick SkyTrak if you also want to hit outside, don't want to manage special balls, or want the longer track record.

Our site has not run either unit, so every comparison below rests on published specs, owner reports and the arithmetic we show.

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Why this matchup uses the original SkyTrak

Square at about $700 sits far below SkyTrak+ at about $3,000, so the two are not in the same price band. The original SkyTrak, now often found near $1,000 on discount, is the realistic rival for a budget builder. If you were hoping this page would pit Square against SkyTrak+, that is a different decision. SkyTrak+ pairs a camera with dual Doppler radar and club data, which changes the category entirely. Our SkyTrak+ review covers that unit on its own terms.

The original SkyTrak launched in 2014, which makes it more than a decade old at the time of writing. Its age matters for a buyer in two ways. SkyTrak's development focus has since moved to SkyTrak+, so the original gets less attention than it once did, and a used unit carries more risk around batteries and resale value. Our original SkyTrak review goes through the model in more detail, and the used checklist later on this page covers what to inspect before you pay.

If you want the Square side of the story in full, read our Square Golf launch monitor review first, then come back to the trade-offs here.

Spin readings and the marked-ball question

Both are camera systems. They track ball speed, launch angle, spin rate and carry, and both turn those readings into the numbers you see on screen. The difference lies in how each one reads spin, and that is where most of the buying decision sits for a budget indoor build.

Square gives its most reliable spin readings with marked balls. Owner and reviewer reports describe inflated backspin and occasional spin axis misreads when players use unmarked balls. If your practice routine already uses a bucket of plain range balls, plan on buying the marked type for the unit to read well, and count that as part of the cost. Square also continues to put out firmware aimed at spin capture, though you should check the current release status before you buy.

SkyTrak needs no marked balls. It has a long reputation for steady launch and spin readings on full shots, which is the main reason many players pick it over camera units that depend on special balls. You can practise with the balls already in your bag, which keeps the running cost down.

Where marked balls change the decision

The marked-ball question is really a question about your habits. If you only ever hit one brand of ball and are happy to buy the marked version of it, the requirement is a one-time adjustment. If you rotate between several brands of range ball, you would be managing a second ball supply just to keep the spin numbers honest. For a player who likes to hit whatever is cheapest on the mat, the SkyTrak's freedom from special balls is a real advantage, not a footnote.

Both units also need proper lighting and correct ball placement to read well. Our pages on lighting interference and accuracy and SkyTrak ball placement cover the setup side in more detail, and most readings that look wrong trace back to one of those two things.

Neither matches the club data from a TrackMan or GCQuad unit. If club path and face angle are what you are after, our most accurate launch monitor page compares the premium options.

Shot delay and the rhythm of a practice session

Shot delay rarely shows up on a spec sheet, but owners mention it more than almost anything else. The original SkyTrak can take up to about two seconds to process a shot, which owners have complained about for a long time. That sounds like very little until you hit a bucket, and it slows rapid-fire range sessions where you want to hit, look, adjust and hit again.

Square processes shots faster, with a minimal wait between impact and numbers. For someone running through a short session of irons or wedges, that gap separates a session that flows from one that feels like waiting. The difference matters more the more shots you hit in a row, which is why it matters so much for drills.

Setup differs too. Square includes an alignment stick, which helps you line the unit up quickly. The SkyTrak needs manual alignment adjustments, and getting those right is part of the first-session routine. Neither takes long once it is set, but the SkyTrak asks for more patience on day one.

Session feel is about how the whole loop works, not just the number on the screen. If you like to hit a ball, check it and move on, faster processing matters more to you than it does to someone who hits a few shots and then reviews the data. Our shot delay explainer explains why delay happens in the first place, and our SkyTrak freezing fix page covers the lag problems some owners run into.

Fitting either one into a room

Both units sit beside the ball rather than behind it, which is a big reason budget buyers reach for camera systems. A behind-the-ball radar unit needs depth you may not have, while a side-mounted camera needs only a little space to one side. Confirm the exact placement guidance Square publishes for your room before you mount it.

Here is a worked example. Take a 12 ft deep spare bedroom, with the screen 1 ft off the wall and the ball about 9 to 10 ft from the screen. Either monitor fits that layout. The limits are your swing and the ceiling height, not the unit. For comparison, a behind-the-ball radar such as the Mevo+ wants 16 to 18 ft of total depth, which this room cannot give it. Our MLM2PRO vs Mevo+ comparison and Square vs Mevo+ pages go deeper on that trade-off.

Left-handed golfers need to think about placement too. Side-mounted camera units go on the opposite side for lefties, so the lens still faces the hitting area. Check each brand's lefty instructions and app settings before you set anything up, since mounting the unit on the wrong side puts the lens in the wrong spot.

If your room is tight, our room size guide and small space simulators show the layouts that work. Measure the full depth from the back wall to the far end of your swing, add the screen thickness, and then decide whether a unit's placement fits.

Simulator software and putting

Software is where the two units feel most different day to day, and it is where the running cost quietly grows. Here is how the two compare in the sources we checked.

Area	Square Golf Launch Monitor	Original SkyTrak
Simulator software	GSPro, Awesome Golf, Square's own range software	E6 Connect, TGC 2019, WGT
Practice tools	Quick replays, trajectory views, club data, putting analysis	Game Improvement Plan: bag mapping, dispersion, skills challenges, wedge matrix drills, shot history
Putting	Putting analysis included	Not listed in the sources we checked
Interface	Built around quick practice loops	Described by owners as dated, and better suited to larger screens
Best platforms	iOS, Android and PC	PC and iOS, with Android support described as less consistent

The SkyTrak's structured training sits behind the Game Improvement Plan, which is the $99 per year fee already counted in the cost section. Bag mapping and dispersion tracking give you a clear picture of how far each club really goes, and the skills challenges and wedge matrix drills give you a reason to practise with purpose instead of hitting random shots. If you like training with a plan, that paid tier is the feature that justifies the ongoing fee. If you just want to hit balls and see numbers, you may never open it.

Square's approach is more about the round itself. Quick replays and trajectory views let you check a shot without digging through menus, and the putting analysis is included rather than sold as an extra. Club data is present, though the exact club values reported should be checked against your own needs before you rely on them for club fitting.

Two licences deserve a note before you commit. E6 Connect and TGC 2019 are sold separately from the hardware, and each costs several hundred dollars, so check current prices before you assume a SkyTrak gives you a full range of courses. GSPro is a separate fee on Windows PC only, and it applies to either unit if you choose it. Both buyers pay the same GSPro fee, so it will not change which unit is cheaper, but it can change how much the software side of your budget costs.

On the interface itself, owners describe the SkyTrak screens as dated, and say the software is better suited to a PC or iPad than to a phone. Square's software is designed to work across iOS, Android and PC, which is a practical advantage if your only spare screen is a phone or an older Android tablet. If you are planning a setup around a tablet on a stand, our iPad simulator guide covers the screen choices that work well, and our SkyTrak software setup guide walks through the connection steps for the SkyTrak.

Three-year running cost compared

This is the section most budget buyers should read twice, because the sticker price is only the first number. Here is the arithmetic, using the prices and fees we have listed above.

• Square, new: about $700 at time of writing, plus no annual plan. Marked balls add a running cost that depends on which ball you buy, and GSPro adds a fee if you choose it.
• SkyTrak, discounted: about $1,000 plus the Game Improvement Plan at $99 per year. Three years of that plan comes to $297, so the total is about $1,297, before any E6 or TGC licence.
• SkyTrak, at its historical price: about $2,000 plus $297 for three years, which comes to about $2,297 before licences.

The gap on the discounted SkyTrak path is about $597 over Square's sticker price, before you account for marked balls. That gap is large enough that the marked balls would need to cost a lot to close it, and the SkyTrak's extra licences would widen the gap further. If a buyer adds GSPro to either unit, both pay the same fee, so the comparison stays the same.

The point is simple. On every path shown above, Square costs less to own over three years, unless a used SkyTrak turns up well under $700 and you skip the plan. Used prices move around, so check current listings yourself rather than trusting a number from an old post. For more on how these fees add up across the category, our subscription models explainer lays out the common patterns, and our no-subscription launch monitors page lists the options that avoid ongoing fees.

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Outdoors, batteries and connections

Square is designed for indoor use only. Bright ambient light and direct sun hurt its readings, so the garage or spare room is where it belongs. If you want a unit that can handle a bit of outdoor practice, the SkyTrak is the one to look at, though it needs a careful setup. You can shade the lens, and you should avoid placing the ball against a background that gives poor contrast with the camera's view. Our SkyTrak outdoors guide walks through the setup in more detail.

Battery life is a clear point for Square. It runs up to about 8 hours on a charge, while the SkyTrak runs about 5 hours. Both can run plugged in, so for a fixed indoor setup the battery figure matters less than it would for a portable unit. It does matter if you plan to move the unit between a room and the outdoors, or if you want a long session without thinking about a charger.

Connection is different too. Square connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to iOS, Android and PC, and it stores shots in the cloud. The SkyTrak connects over Wi-Fi only, using either its own direct network mode or your home network. Direct mode can need a manual reconnection if the link drops, and the SkyTrak has no Bluetooth. If your Wi-Fi is patchy in the room you have chosen, read our Wi-Fi disconnect fixes before you buy either unit, because a dropped connection mid-session is more annoying than a slow shot.

Both units store sessions in the cloud, but some SkyTrak history features sit behind the paid plan. Check which history you need before you decide whether the plan is worth it for you.

Buying a used original SkyTrak: what to check

Many budget buyers are looking at used units, and a used SkyTrak can look like a bargain next to a new Square. Before you hand over money, work through this list. Some of the steps depend on what the seller and SkyTrak will confirm, so treat anything you cannot verify as a reason to pause.

• Ask how the seller will release the unit from their SkyTrak account so you can register it, and confirm the process with SkyTrak support before you pay.
• Ask whether any paid plan or software licence transfers to you. Assume it does not unless SkyTrak confirms it in writing.
• Check battery health by asking for a session length test. An original battery should run around 5 hours when new, so a short run tells you the battery is worn.
• Confirm the current SkyTrak app still supports the original model and that firmware updates are still available.
• Inspect the lens window for scratches or impact marks from mishits, and ask whether the unit was kept in a protective case.
• Check that the charger and cables are included, since replacements add to the cost.
• Compare the asking price with the cost of a new Square plus three years of costs from the section above.

If the seller cannot answer the account and plan questions, the unit may be harder to use than the price suggests. A used SkyTrak with a locked account or a plan you cannot transfer is not a bargain. For the wider picture on buying second-hand equipment, our used golf simulator guide covers the questions that apply to the whole category.

When SkyTrak+, Square Omni or another unit makes more sense

Neither unit is the right answer for every buyer. This decision tree shows where the two stop being the obvious choice.

• If you want club data and long-term support from SkyTrak, look at SkyTrak+ at about $3,000. It combines a camera with dual Doppler radar and club data, so it is a different tier altogether. Our SkyTrak+ review covers the model in detail.
• If you like Square's approach but want to avoid the marked-ball routine, check the Square Golf Omni, a newer Square model. Confirm its current features before you buy, and read our Square Golf Omni review for the details.
• If you want outdoor range use and a low price, compare the Garmin Approach R10 and the Bushnell Launch Pro, or look at the MLM2PRO. Our portable launch monitors by price band page sorts the options, and our Launch Pro vs R10 comparison covers the two closest rivals.
• If you want a radar unit and have 16 to 18 ft of depth, the Mevo+ is the one to compare. Our Square vs Mevo+ page sets the two side by side, and the MLM2PRO vs Mevo+ comparison covers the other radar option.

If none of these match your room and budget, go back to the table near the top of this page and work through the rows that matter most to you. Price, indoor or outdoor use, and the marked-ball question will usually settle the choice in a few minutes.

Questions people ask before choosing between them

These are the questions that come up most often before a purchase. Each answer is short, and the ones about used units matter most if you are shopping second-hand.

Does the original SkyTrak still get app and firmware updates?

SkyTrak's development focus has moved to SkyTrak+, so the original model gets less attention than it once did. Whether the current app and firmware still fully support the original unit, and for how long, is worth confirming directly with SkyTrak before you buy. If you are looking at a used unit, check that the current app still lists the original model as supported.

Can a SkyTrak membership move to a new owner?

SkyTrak plans are tied to an account, so a membership does not automatically move to a new owner with the hardware. Ask SkyTrak support about its transfer policy before you buy used, and assume nothing transfers until they confirm it. Budget for a fresh Game Improvement Plan at $99 per year as part of the total cost.

What kind of marked ball does Square need?

Square reads spin most reliably with marked balls, and unmarked balls can produce high backspin readings. Confirm whether Square sells its own marked balls or accepts any ball with a specified marking, because that changes your running cost. Unmarked balls still work, but the spin numbers are less dependable.

Will either work with just an iPad and a TV?

Both units pair with iOS apps, so an iPad can serve as the screen for either one. Mirroring an iPad to a TV is a common budget setup, but confirm the app supports mirroring before you rely on it. GSPro needs a Windows PC, so an iPad alone will not run it. For more on TV-based setups, see our TV simulator guide.

How do left-handed golfers set up each one?

Side-mounted camera units go on the opposite side of the ball for left-handed golfers, so the lens still faces the hitting area. Confirm each brand's lefty instructions and any handedness setting in the app before you mount anything. Mounting on the wrong side puts the camera in the wrong spot, so check this first.