Yes, one can use their Skytrak both outside and inside. The SkyTrak is light, compact and easy to move from place to place. It can be set up as part of a golf simulator build or taken to the driving range and course and paired with your smart device or Ipad for quick feedback.
Are you in the market for a golf simulator?
Dreaming about playing golf year round?
I have been there and have done a great deal of research and then eventually made the leap and built my very own golf simulator for my garage.
I have now played over 700 rounds of golf with my SkyTrak Launch Monitor on my The Golf Club (TGC) software and let me tell, it has been amazing.
To be able to play golf 365 days a year and not worry about rain, snow, cold weather or time of day has been truly fantastic.
As a kid I dreamed about being able to play golf in the winter. There I was stuck in my house with what seemed like 3 feet of snow in the north eastern part of the United States.
Now, regardless of the temperature or weather conditions, I am able to utilize my SkyTrak and my golf simulator setup to get better at golf and have a ton of fun with family and friends.
I hear many questions about the SkyTrak and the golf simulator setup. Below, I will take you through one of the most common ones, can you use the SkyTrak outside.
Update: While I have played over 1,000 rounds in my golf simulator setup, I have used it outside on occasion with success.
Can You Use SkyTrak Outside?
While it might be better indoors, it can be used outdoors. A quick connect to an Iphone, Ipad or another device can provide you with immediate feedback at the range or on the course!
Is the SkyTrak Portable?
Yes, it can easily fit into your golf bag and taken with you to the course or driving range. The easy to setup and connect SkyTrak can provide real time information during your practice or even on the course.
Using Indoors? What Space is Needed?
What Does the SkyTrak Measure?
The SkyTrak is a photometric launch monitor that uses a series of captured ball images to accurately measure spin as well as ball speed, launch angle, and side angle. The software system that can be used will collect data and display it in a chart for your analysis.
How I Use My Skytrak!
Like I said before, I have owned my SkyTrak for several years now and have played over 700 rounds of golf at courses like Augusta, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits, St. Andrews and many other top 100 courses in the world.
The versatility of the product, being able to use it indoors and outdoors, is truly exceptional especially considering the price point that the SkyTrak sells at.
I highly recommend Rain or Shine Golf for those in the market for a SkyTrak or other options int he Golf Simulator World.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
I also take my SkyTrak Launch Monitor with me to the driving range, even though I do go to the driving far less often now because I have the setup in my garage to allow me to practice and receive real time feedback.
The data is helpful in knowing ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and spin axis.
Many people know that SkyTrak has a 2-3 second delay, which I would argue has actually helped me improve my knowledge and feel in my swing. I am able to predict with 80-90% accuracy the start line and the draw of the ball.
Gone are the days of having to pay 20-40 thousand dollars to have your own golf simulator or launch monitor. While there may be more precise launch monitors at this price point, it is pretty accurate.
In fact, from a scoring and playing perspective I did an analysis on my last 15 rounds, both in actual golf and simulator golf and here are my scores:
| Golf Simulator Score | Relative to Par | 15 Total Rounds | Real Golf Score | Relative to Par |
| 72 | 1 | Round #1 | 76 | 4 |
| 75 | 0 | Round #2 | 78 | 6 |
| 72 | 3 | Round #3 | 74 | 3 |
| 81 | 9 | Round #4 | 71 | 0 |
| 75 | 3 | Round #5 | 70 | -1 |
| 73 | 3 | Round #6 | 71 | 0 |
| 75 | 3 | Round #7 | 72 | 0 |
| 71 | -1 | Round #8 | 73 | 1 |
| 71 | -1 | Round #9 | 72 | 1 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #10 | 74 | 3 |
| 73 | 3 | Round #11 | 74 | 3 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #12 | 74 | 4 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #13 | 72 | 1 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #14 | 73 | 3 |
| 76 | 4 | Round #15 | 73 | 2 |
| 1102 | 31 | 1097 | 30 | |
| 73.47 | 2.07 | 73.13 | 2 |
Accuracy of Golf Simulator vs Reality – Data Breakdown
- Total Strokes (15 Total Rounds) = 1102 in Simulator Golf and 1097 in Real Golf
- Total Strokes Over Par (15 Total Rounds) = 31 in Simulator Golf and 30 in Real Golf
- Average Score = 73.47 in Simulator Golf and 73.13 in Real Golf
- Average Strokes Over Par = 2.07 in Simulator Golf and 2.0
I also use my SkyTrak to practice on the simulator courses of the TGC software. I will pick out a challenging driving hole like the 18th at Pebble Beach and set the auto-rewind feature, which allows me to hit drive after drive.
This is a fantastic setup as this hole calls for a draw, but not an overdraw into the water. I am able to get over the fear of water left and develop my swing.
Or I will stand on the 11th hole at Augusta and practice hitting that approach shot. The water sits left, a bunker sits long and right and you must draw a nice flighed shot into that hole.
From there I can head to the 12th hole at Augusta of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass and work on my distance control with my irons. Such great fun and it can even be snowing out.
Or I can take my SkyTrak to the driving range and have the software calculate my average distance on different irons. I simply put what club I am hitting ito the software and it takes the data that I can analyze when I get home through the app.
This provides the advantage of having a very good idea on how far each iron in your bag travels. This is called bag mapping and can help you hit that shot on the course when it counts!
The possibilities are endless and having 100,000 courses at your fingertips through the TGC software with some amazing graphics makes the golf simulator a life changing purchase!
Let’s face it, in many parts of the USA, the winters can be depressing and difficult on golfers. Now you can play simulator golf year round, 365 days a year. Your game will improve and you will have fun! What a wonderful combination.
Also, if you set up the simulator build somewhere on your property (some use a basement, extra room or even build a separate shed like building on their property) you can complete speed training through SuperSpeed Golf or work on that short game.
Let’s say you really need to practice those 30 year pitch shots. Find a shot on the course that you struggle with, turn on the auto-rewind and get to work. Before long your buddies will be jealous of not only your game, but your simulator setup!
For many junior golfers this can be a game changer that allows them to practice year round and truly develop like the golfers in the warmer parts of the world.
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf.
I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
One last thing that has helped me gain significant distance is the SuperSpeed Training Sytem.
This overspeed based system where you train every other day for about 10-15 minutes with different swing sticks can help you increase your swing speed by 5-8% which can be 20-30 hards. Who wouldn’t want an extra 20-30 yards. Plus it helps improve your mechanics.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Final Words
The SkyTrak Launch monitor has provided everything I had hoped for. I was relieved after many months of research on how wonderful of an experience it provided.
I have been able to have fun with family and friends, work on improving my game and pretty much play golf anytime I have free time! The barriers of improvement and playing are gone and I am able to work on my game when I want with some impressive feedback and data to drive my game!
I can use it indoors or outdoors, playing a round of golf, or praticing different shots. It is the ultimate game changer for us in colder parts of the country or with limited time each day to play a round of golf!
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.