Are you in the market for a golf simulator?
If so, you have arrived at the right place.
Several years ago I had spent close to a year researching all of the different options for a golf simulator build for my garage. I researched, read, talked to people and eventually pulled the trigger on making it happen!
I had experienced or played on several different units including the SkyTrak and the Protee.
Let me tell you, I am thrilled with my setup!
I am now able to play golf 365 days a year and have played over 700 rounds of golf over the last several years. I am averaging over 20 rounds of golf per month on my simulator and this does not include all of the practice shots I hit.
I have a thing for hitting drivers on number 18 at Pebble on auto-rewind and irons into the 11th hole at Augusta. The 12th hole par 3 at Augusta is also one of my favorites.
I must have gone back and forth 5 different times when making the decision on the actual simulator or the brains of the build. One day I would decide I wanted the SkyTrak and the next day I was going with the Protee.
I ended up going with the SkyTrak, but believe I would have loved either or. The goal here is to provide a breakdown and some items to consider. At the end of every section, I will provide you with what unit works better for each category.
Many of us have dreamed of having a golf simulator! I know back to my teenage days, I wished I could play golf 365 days a year and work on my game.
This dream has now become a reality for much less money than it would have cost 20-30 years ago. The good news is that the technology and the price of a golf simulator build is actually less nowadays.
You can also get some great financing deals and overall package deals to save you money.
More about that later, but let’s dive right into the main question for today, which one should you buy, the SkyTrak or the Protee
SkyTrak vs Protee
Overall, you can’t go wrong with either unit and you will have an awesome golf simulator setup regardless of your final decision. Every build is slightly different based on budget, space, and other factors that come into play when building a golf simulator.
Here are the following categories we will review in the SkyTrak vs Protee:
- Software Options
- Cost
- Portability
- Data
- Difficulty of setup
- Left and Right Handed Play
- Shot Delay
Check out pricing, packages and financing options at Rain or Shine Golf (Highly Recommended):
Category #1: Software Options
One of the most important factors when deciding on a golf simulator is what software is able to run on the system. I have played on some high end commercial based simulator and have been disappointed in the graphics and/or the courses and lack of choices.
One of the major important areas for us is the realistic nature of the experience on a golf simulator. The better the graphics, the better the realistic nature of the experience. Also, we want to play many different courses.
Enter The Golf Club (TGC) software into the picture. The great news is that both the SkyTrak and the Protee are compatible with the TGC software.
This gives you access to some amazing graphics when setup with a gaming computer and some incredible course options.
One of the many areas where TGC is superior is the course choices. Most of the world’s top 100 courses are options on the software.
This is because they gave golfers and golf nerds the opportunity to build and design their own course. This led to courses like Magnolia National and other top 100 courses that might have a slightly different name, but are the actual course.
There is nothing better than playing golf on a cold, snowy January day on your golf simulator while taking on Pebble Beach, Oakmont, Whistling Straits or TPC Sawgrass. The challenge is great and the realistic nature is amazing!
With the SkyTrak the TGC software is an additional cost, but the SkyTrak usually sells for less than the Protee, so it evens out in the end
Final Verdict: Tie (Both Simulators have access to TGC)
Category #2: Cost
The base pack of the Protee and the SkyTrak when purchased with the TGC software end up being very close in price.
Overall, if you are going with the TGC software (highly recommended), then you the cost is going to be very similar.
If you are going with a software less than the TGC with the SkyTrak then the total purchase for the SkyTrak and the software will be slightly less.
However, I would highly recommend spending a little bit of extra money as it will make your total investment a better investment with the right software.
In the golf simulator world, you want a realistic read on the shots that you hit and the visual component to be high quality.
You can get this with either the SkyTrak or Protee when paired with the TGC Software.
Final Verdict: Tie (Similar cost when pairing with TGC software)
Category #3: Portability
The SkyTrak can be used both indoors and outdoors. You can use it as part of your golf simulator setup or take it with you to the driving range and course and pair with your iphone or ipad. The Protee meanwhile is set up in a permanent setting and takes some tweaking to get just right.
The SkyTrak is an actual launch monitor that is a grab and go and can fit into most golf bags. Overall, the SkyTrak, if you want to use it in multiple locations, is a better option if portability is high up on your list.
With my SkyTrak it stays at my house for the most part and I do not take it with me to the range of the course, but it is an option.
Final Verdict: SkyTrak
Category #4: Data
The Skytrak reads the ball and does not provide club head data. The Protee reads both the ball and the club head and gives you data on both. So the estimates of club head speed on the SkyTrak is based on the actual ball speed.
I find the the accuracy of the SkyTrak to be very good, but if you are seeking clubhead data than the Protee would beat out the SkyTrak in this category.
If you can analyze all of the data and are using this as a pure game improvement strategy than the Protee might be perfect for you as a result of the providing both sets of data!
Overall, when using the TGC software you will get data on ball speed, club speed, spin axis, launch angle and side spin. The Protee data might be slightly more accurate because it reads both ball data and clubhead data.
Final Verdict: Protee
Category #5: Difficulty of Setup
One of the complaints I have heard about the Protee is how difficult it can be to set up. This actually brought some nervousness to my research process and I was concerned about getting the Protee setup just perfectly.
I have heard the customer support in this process is fantastic and I think they will provide the help needed to get your Protee setup just right!
The SkyTrak is as simple as taking it out of the box, charging it for the proper time, connecting to your computer via three different options and starting to play.
I do have some simple tricks to make sure the SkyTrak is square and that I am hitting the ball along the proper lines.
Overall, you will have to decide if you want a permanent setup that takes some time and some support or a plug and play situation with the SkyTrak
Final Verdict: SkyTrak (I prefer the plug and play setup)
Category #6: Left and Right Handed Play
My situation was somewhat unique. While I am right handed, both of my sons are left handed. I have around 14 feet of space with a wall on one side.
The enclosure I purchased is around 14 feet wide, so I needed the versatility of not having a permanent setup. If you have a total of 16 feet and can set everything up on the center, then the Protee with its more permanent setup is a wonderful option for both right and left handed play at the same time.
However, if you hae less than 16 feet and hae to worry about running out of space than the SkyTrak can be a quality option. It can be somewhat tiresome to move it frequently, but with the right markings on the ground, it becomes an afterthought.
There are also some designs that allow you to simply spin the SkyTrak for right and left handed simultaneous play!
Final Verdict: Tie (Depends on the amount of space you have!)
Category #7: Shot Delay
You may have read about the shot delay with SkyTrak. I personally hardly notice the delay and in fact I believe it has helped me develop my feel in my golf swing.
I can with about 90% accuracy predict my shots and understand what an overdraw feels like or a shot lost to the right.
The Protee has no delay and the shot immediately flies out onto your screen. While this might be the edge, I don’t mind the SkyTrak shot delay.
If this is something that you think might bother you, than the Protee would win in this category.
Final Verdict: Protee
Final Thoughts: SkyTrak vs Protee
You can’t go wrong! If you want a permanent setup and have 16 feet of width and onely want to use it for golf simulator purposes then the Protee is your best bet. If you want the versatility, ease of setup, and a little bit lower entry price than the SkyTrak is best for you.
Golf simulator golf is rather impressive and I completed a study of data from my most recent rounds in both simulator golf and actual golf and check out the results below:
So, I did a little comparison of golf scores to measure up the realistic nature of the SkyTrak. What better way than to actually compare scores shot over the past 15 rounds, both outside and with my SkyTrak Golf Simulator setup.
Here is the complete post – How Accurate is SkyTrak Golf
| 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
Conclusion
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!
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.