SkyTrak ST MAX
GGL Score 90/100 · Guide budget £1,500–£2,100
Choose ST MAX for a new purchase when its additional features and clearer new-unit buying route justify the premium over an older offer.
Check Amazon ↗Read our assessment →SkyTrak ST MAX vs SkyTrak+: Should You Upgrade?
Existing SkyTrak+ owners should not upgrade just because ST MAX is newer. First identify a problem the new hardware solves. New buyers should compare the current ST MAX price with the complete cost and risk of the exact older-unit offer.
Updated 5 October 2026 · Research-based editorial comparison. Golf Gear Lab has not conducted a controlled head-to-head test of these units. Scores express our buying judgement, not a measured accuracy difference.Quick verdict · Side by side · Room fit · Three-year cost
Which should you buy?
SkyTrak+ / ST+
Previous generation · assess the exact used, refurbished or clearance offer
Keep a working unit if it already supports your practice. For a new-to-you purchase, insist on a worthwhile saving, clear condition and confirmed support.
Read our legacy assessment →Guide budgets are not live offers; promotions may fall below them. Check current retailer prices. We may earn from qualifying purchases through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Retailers do not determine our verdict.
The differences that affect your purchase
| Buying decision | SkyTrak ST MAX | SkyTrak+ / ST+ |
|---|---|---|
| Buying position | Current model in the Golf Gear Lab shortlist | Previous generation; owner, clearance and refurbished research |
| Tracking family | Dual Doppler radar plus photometric cameras | Dual Doppler radar plus photometric cameras |
| Confirmed MAX additions | Speed-training feature and dual USB charging/data convenience | Check the exact unit and current software features |
| Accuracy conclusion | No independent head-to-head finding from Golf Gear Lab | Shared tracking approach is not proof of identical performance |
| Software | Confirm the exact included membership and renewal | Verify your existing entitlement or the seller’s supplied trial |
| Upgrade budget | Purchase price minus actual net proceeds from old unit | Keep existing hardware at £0 incremental hardware cost |
| Risk checks | Exact model, included software and retailer terms | Condition, battery, account ownership, connection and warranty |
Our verdict for existing owners: keep it unless a feature earns the upgrade
If your SkyTrak+ connects reliably, provides the feedback you need and runs the software you enjoy, keeping it is the strongest starting point. Paying again for hardware should deliver a useful change in your actual practice routine.
SkyTrak confirms speed training and simultaneous USB charging/data convenience for ST MAX. Consider how often you would use these features, rather than assuming a new model will transform every shot measurement.
Calculate your real upgrade cost
Upgrade cost = current ST MAX price − net sale proceeds from your existing unit + changed accessories and software costs. Deduct selling fees and delivery from resale proceeds. Do not treat the original purchase price as money you can recover.
For example, £1,500 for a replacement minus £800 net proceeds gives a £700 hardware upgrade. These are illustrative figures, not a resale valuation or live offer. Ask whether the benefit is worth that amount before selling a working monitor.
Should a new buyer choose discounted SkyTrak+?
Possibly, when the saving is meaningful after you include missing accessories, replacement batteries, software and the value of a clear return route. A small discount is less persuasive when condition and support are uncertain.
- Ask the seller to demonstrate a full session and the connection method you plan to use.
- Confirm serial number, included charger/case and battery condition.
- Confirm account ownership or transfer requirements with SkyTrak; do not assume the seller’s software entitlement transfers.
- Obtain the applicable warranty and return terms in writing.
- Check compatibility with the current app on your device before paying.
The manufacturer lists certified pre-owned ST+ stock in its US store. That establishes an older-unit buying route, not current UK stock, a UK price or identical local warranty terms.
What we can and cannot say about performance
Both manufacturers’ descriptions identify radar and camera tracking. We have not conducted an independent head-to-head accuracy test and do not claim a measured accuracy improvement for MAX. If accuracy is your reason to upgrade, look for controlled evidence using the same balls, clubs and reference device.
Also separate software changes from hardware changes. Ask whether the feature you want already works with your existing unit and membership before replacing it.
Will either fit a UK garage?
Side-on placement avoids the extra tracking distance behind the ball that rear-mounted radar systems need. It does not remove the need for a safe swing. Measure width, ceiling height and the position of beams with your longest club, then add the screen or net clearance required by its supplier.
For mixed-handed households, leave a safe position for the monitor on both sides of the ball. Moving it between players is a practical drawback of both choices. Do not use a nominal room size as a guarantee that your swing will fit.
Use our free simulator planner → · Room-size planning guideThree-year ownership cost: compare the same setup
Total = current hardware price + device or PC + mat, net or screen + software over 36 months + required accessories. A monitor-only price is not a complete simulator quotation.
| Cost to record | How to compare fairly |
|---|---|
| Hardware | Use the current retailer price for the exact model; guide budgets are editorial planning bands. |
| Computer and display | Use £0 only if your existing device meets the selected software requirements. GSPro-style PC builds must include the PC separately. |
| Membership | For an annual fee A, three paid years cost 3 × A. If the exact offer includes year one, two renewals cost 2 × A, assuming the fee stays unchanged. |
| Credits and licences | Allow for actual rounds and paid third-party software. No mandatory subscription does not mean every course is free. |
| Room equipment | Compare the same safe mat, screen/net and protection. Add a projector only if you want projected golf. |
Illustration only: a £250 yearly licence adds £750 across three paid years, or £500 after an included first year. This is arithmetic, not a quoted membership price for either product. Confirm UK renewal prices and taxes before choosing.
Compare software costs → · Budget for the complete roomQuestions buyers ask
Should every SkyTrak+ owner upgrade?
No. Upgrade only when a confirmed ST MAX feature or a hardware problem justifies the net cost.
Does the newer model guarantee better accuracy?
We have not independently established that. The tracking descriptions alone do not prove an accuracy improvement.
Will my current subscription transfer?
Confirm the account and hardware-change process with SkyTrak. Do not assume a second-hand seller’s entitlement transfers to you.
Is used SkyTrak+ always the cheapest option?
No. Add missing accessories, software and potential condition-related costs, then compare an exact current ST MAX offer.
Evidence and limitations
Our recommendation combines published specifications, software terms and UK setup needs. It does not establish which unit is more accurate. Distances and shot shapes may be derived from measured launch inputs; a longer metrics list does not mean more independently measured quantities. Check the manufacturer’s definition of each metric before buying for coaching.
SkyTrak ST MAX features · SkyTrak UK software and offers · SkyTrak certified pre-owned ST+ description (US)
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