SkyTrak ST MAX Review (Hands-On): What’s New, How It Performs, and Whether It’s Worth $1,000 More Than the SkyTrak+

SkyTrak’s story is pretty simple: Give regular golfers pro-level feedback without the five-figure price tag.

The original SkyTrak did that better than any competitor for years. Then the SkyTrak+ came along and raised the bar again with hybrid tracking (dual Doppler radar plus photometric cameras), true club data, a bigger hitting zone, and a much more modern software experience.

Now comes the SkyTrak ST MAX. The color scheme has changed though the device otherwise looks the same. It promises faster responsiveness. It adds a speed training module. And it costs $2,995, which is $1,000 more than the current $1,995 price on the SkyTrak+.

So the question you’re here for: Is the ST MAX actually a better launch monitor, or is it a marginal upgrade that asks you to pay an extra grand for refinements?

I’ve spent time with the ST MAX, re-engaged with SkyTrak’s software, and stacked the experience against everything I know about the SkyTrak+.

The short of it: The ST MAX is excellent. And for the right golfer, it’s going to be worth the extra money. But for most golfers? Well, the SkyTrak+ very likely remains the smarter buy while you can still get one.

Let’s break down what’s new, what feels different in real use, how the software has matured, and ultimately who should pick the ST MAX and who should pocket $1,000 and grab a SkyTrak Plus before they’re gone.

What’s Actually New with the ST MAX

Under the hood, the SkyTrak ST MAX’s tracking engine is the same proven dual-radar-plus-camera system that made SkyTrak+ such a hit. It’s actually a Rapsodo engine, interestingly. The important thing is that it works. It means you should expect the same trusted ball-flight realism and club-data consistency that’s made the SkyTrak+ such a hit.

Here’s what SkyTrak did change with their new MAX model:

• Speed Training (exclusive to ST MAX). This is the headliner. A guided, structured speed-building module that lets you train with or without a ball, track progress over time, set goals, and work through drills. It’s not just a novelty. It’s a proper training tool built into the SkyTrak ecosystem. I’ll talk more below about my first-hand experience with this new feature.
• Dual USB-C ports. This is a relatively small feature, but it does provide a pretty nice quality-of-life bump. You can now charge and connect simultaneously, which does come in handy.
• Faster processor. The ST MAX speeds up the shot-to-show experience. It’s not instantaneous, but it is a beat faster than with the SkyTrak+. Simply means that the time from when you hit to when the shot information populates in the software is now a bit less.
• Charcoal finish. This is purely aesthetic, but I do like it. They’ve gone back to what I remember as the first look of the original SkyTrak, as opposed to the white body of the SkyTrak+. I think it’s a nice looks upgrade but not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

It’s the same cross-platform flexibility too — PC, Mac, iOS, Android — so whatever setup you’re running, you’re covered.

What didn’t change (thankfully):

The data set and simulation experience remains exactly the same.

• Ball data. Carry distance, total distance, ball speed, back spin, side spin, descent angle, side angle, launch angle, shot shape
• Club data. Clubhead speed, smash factor, club path, face angle, face-to-path
• Sim software. You still have compatibility with SkyTrak’s in-house, native Course Play software, which I’ll talk more about because it’s gotten better and better. And you’ve still got the same options to go the third-party route with platforms like E6 and GSPro. And built-in to the SkyTrak mainframe software menu options is one-click access to PinSeeker, which is pretty sweet if you like the idea of quick-shot wagers based on closest-to-the-pin contests against other SkyTrak users.

That’s the same foundation that made the SkyTrak Plus work so well. The new ST MAX essentially adds speed training, a new look, an extra USB-C port, and a slightly faster response time.

The ST MAX Unboxing and Setup Experience

This is going to become a recurring theme in this review: More of the same.

The SkyTrak ST MAX unboxing and getting-started experience is identical to the SkyTrak+. I mean, truly, it’s exactly the same. Nothing wrong with that.

The box is the same. The way the device is packed in that same box is the same. The size of the device is the same.

If it wasn’t for the new color and the new name, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.

And the sameness extends into the setup experience. You charge the device, download the software, and pick a connection mode. You’ve got three options:

• USB Mode (hard-wired): The most stable, and your internet stays live.
• Direct Mode (device-to-device Wi-Fi): Good when you lack network access.
• Network Mode (preferred): Connects over your router so you keep live syncing, online features, and easy access to third-party sim software.

SkyTrak does an awesome job of including little quickie how-tos on all of this stuff. That’s actually a theme I love throughout their software ecosystem. At every turn, there’s an option to click a little info icon and get a snapshot of what the topic includes and what you need to do to execute. Makes it very easy to make your way around and get where you need to go.

This even extends to the data. One really cool feature is that you get little video explanations of every data metric, so that you have an understanding of what the numbers mean and what they’re saying about your golf swing.

I’ll get into the software experience more in a minute, but just worth noting here that SkyTrak’s kind of set themselves apart from the competition in terms of the overall feel, reliability, fun-level, and game-improvement options in their software. Good stuff whether you’re on the SkyTrak+ or the ST MAX.

This is a good spot to mention again the new-to-the-ST MAX dual USB-C ports. They’re nice if you’re in a permanent sim setup where you can now charge on one side and transmit data on the other without any cable swapping.

Performance and Accuracy: Same Trusty Numbers, a Little Faster

If you liked the way the SkyTrak+ tracked, you’ll like the ST MAX. It’s the same core.

Accuracy is great. It’s one of the hallmarks of SkyTrak. But… There’s nothing improved accuracy-wise between the SkyTrak Plus and the ST MAX. Not that that’s a bad thing. Just saying as we start to investigate that $1,000 price difference.

What has changed is responsiveness. The pause between the shot and the display is lessened at least a bit. Enough to notice. And that’s always a good thing.

Otherwise, it’s business as usual in the best way. Consistency is the calling card that puts the SkyTrak units in this price class. The measurements don’t swing wildly from shot to shot the way some budget units can. It’s very reliable, session after session and just has a feel of more trustworthiness than some of the harder-to-setup-and-use launch monitors.

But again, that’s the same with both the SkyTrak+ and the new ST MAX. For the overwhelming majority of golfers, the core data, accuracy, and reliability of either launch monitor is enough for a very legit sim setup.

A Software Ecosystem That Continues to Impress

SkyTrak’s software used to be “good enough.” It’s now a reason to choose SkyTrak. It’s modern, clean, and logically organized. You don’t feel lost. For lack of a better phrase, it’s dumbed down in all the right ways. Just makes it easy on you, which I’ll never complain about.

A big separator for me is the amount of practice tool options that the SkyTrak software includes. You’ve got virtual range situations for every single type of shot you could possibly want to work on. I’m not kidding. There’s skills assessments, bag mapping, randomized practice, wedge matrix, and on and on.

It’s genuinely useful stuff. But again… It’s available on the ST MAX but also on the SkyTrak+ for a grand less.

Then there’s SkyTrak’s native software, Course Play (again an option for either the Plus or the MAX). This is where SkyTrak signaled it’s not just a budget disruptor anymore. It’s a platform.

Course Play Membership Tiers

• Core — $299/year
• Includes the Foresight Sports course pack (30-plus courses), Pebble Beach, and one new course per month.
• Elite — $599/year
• Includes both the Foresight and Trackman libraries (70-plus combined), Pebble Beach, and two new courses per month.

SkyTrak is the first launch-monitor platform to make both Trackman and Foresight course libraries available inside its own ecosystem.

And all of this runs cross-platform, whether on PC, Mac, iOS, or Android. You’re not locked into a gaming PC to get a great sim experience. That’s a huge differentiator for the ST MAX and, yes, the SkyTrak+. If you’re a Mac user, you’re used to being the afterthought in sim golf. Not here.

Does the subscription model add up? Yes, and that’s the tradeoff. If you want the full SkyTrak experience, you’ll be on a plan. Given how quickly the ecosystem has grown (more courses, new ranges and challenges all the time), I’m comfortable saying you’re getting real value for that recurring cost.

Speed Training: The ST MAX’s Big Advantage

So I’ve said it several times that there’s a lot of sameness between the ST MAX and the outgoing (but, importantly, still supported) SkyTrak Plus, but here’s where the ST MAX does peel off in a new direction.

The new speed training feature is really good. And it’s an important tool. We all know what increased speed means for your chances to score better. This gives you a guided path to swing faster on purpose.

You’ve got an option to build speed either with or without a ball. With either choice, you can set goals, track sessions, choose from a library of drills, and get video explanations. It’s a good tool, for sure.

I ran a couple of sessions back-to-back and could instantly see how motivating it is to chase your own numbers. And I like the option to train without a ball. Nice to be able to try to ramp up speed, and then see if you can transfer it to an actual shot when you’re ready.

The way it’s set up is with a classic speedometer look. You take your swing and the dial moves. But you’re chasing a number (either in distance or in miles per hour; your choice) that you’ve set ahead of time. Then if you reach your goal, the system will suggest the next reasonable interval to shoot for.

And all of the ancillary information — the explanations, the drills, and the tracking options — make the tool feel useful and also professional and trustworthy.

Now the value question: Is that feature worth $1,000 to you?

I think if you’re genuinely committed to a speed program and you know you’re going to stay on it for months, it can be. The MAX makes the work easier to do and easier to track, and that matters for consistency.

If you’re like most golfers who want a great sim experience and really solid practice tools, it probably isn’t.

I think the speed training feature is an excellent addition. And I think it’s well executed. But I can’t call it essential for everyone.

Value and Who Should Buy What

Here’s the honest read. The SkyTrak ST MAX and the SkyTrak+ run the same core engine and live in the same software world. You’re buying the same ball and club data, the same simulator compatibility, the same overall feel.

The MAX layers on the dual USB-C ports, a snappier processor, a new paint job, and the most meaningful feature: integrated speed training.

So the decision comes down to how you’ll actually use it.

If you plan to follow a real speed program, the ST MAX might legitimately make sense. You’ll use the feature, benefit from it, and appreciate the smoother hardware touches along the way.

If your priority is rock-solid practice and great sim play at the best possible price, the SkyTrak+ remains the smarter buy while you can still get one. It’s going to continue to be supported, so you don’t have to worry there. But you’ll save $1,000 and give up only the integrated speed lane and a few quality refinements.

The Final SkyTrak ST MAX Verdict

The ST MAX is excellent. But, mostly, it’s excellent because the SkyTrak+ is excellent.

Speed training is a very useful feature. I think anyone could benefit from it. But you should probably think hard about whether you’ll actually commit to the work.

In the sense of which unit is better, it’s clearly the new ST MAX, as you’d expect. It’s got the latest and greatest. But only by a marginal amount.

Because the SkyTrak+ is $1,995 right now, and because it shares the same tracking engine and software, most golfers will be happier holding onto the $1,000 and buying the SkyTrak Plus while they can. You can spend that money on the subscriptions.

If speed is your priority, go ST MAX and don’t look back. If it isn’t, go SkyTrak+. No wrong answers.

Marc's Overall SkyTrak ST MAX Rating