SkyTrak vs Garmin R10: ST MAX or R10 for a Home Golf Simulator?

SkyTrak and the Garmin R10 come at a home simulator from opposite sides. The SkyTrak ST MAX is a camera unit that sits beside the ball with radar for the club, made for a simulator room; the Garmin R10 is a pocket radar that sits behind the ball and goes to the range just as easily. Here they are side by side: price and memberships, how each reads the ball, what Jay found testing each, the room each needs, software and GSPro, outdoor use, the SkyTrak+, and which to buy. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has filmed SkyTrak units since the original and the R10 since 2021, and his tests of each are linked below.

GSV's SkyTrak link applies the code GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS on its own, and GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first R10 order at Shop Indoor Golf.

SkyTrak ST MAX and Garmin R10

• SkyTrak ST MAXGSV code for SkyTrak: GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS.Applied automatically through the GSV link.
  See it at SkyTrakCopy GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS
• Garmin Approach R105% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
  See it at Shop Indoor GolfCopy GSV5OFF

Buying through GSV's links and codes helps support the channel: GSV earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you still get every saving available.

The short answer

• SkyTrak ST MAX: for a dedicated indoor simulator, a short room and club data from the floor beside the ball. Course play needs a SkyTrak membership.
• Garmin R10: for the lowest cost, the range, and Home Tee Hero or GSPro on a budget, in a room deep enough for a unit behind the ball.

SkyTrak ST MAX vs Garmin R10 side by side

	SkyTrak ST MAX	Garmin R10
Maker's list price	$2,995	$599.99
How it reads	Photometric camera and dual Doppler radar	Doppler radar
Where it sits	Beside the ball, 15 in away	6 to 8 ft behind the ball
Course play	SkyTrak Core, $299.99 or $349.99 a year	Garmin Golf, $99.99 a year
GSPro	Not supported by GSPro	Supported by GSPro
Club data	Speed, smash, path, face, face to path	Speed, path, face, attack angle
Runs on	Windows PC, Mac, iPad, Android	iPhone, iPad, Android, PC
Connection	Wi-Fi or USB	Bluetooth

SkyTrak was selling the ST MAX at $1,695 with a year of Core (Foresight) included in October 2026, which narrows the gap a lot. Figures are the makers' own, read October 14, 2026.

Price and memberships

SkyTrak has a free Basic plan for the driving range and shot data. Its paid plans, all yearly by SkyTrak: Essential $99.99 for practice games without courses, Core (Foresight) $299.99 with 50 courses, Core (Trackman) $349.99 with 52 courses, and Elite $599.99 with both course packs.

Garmin: the Garmin Golf app gives the range and shot data free, and the Garmin Golf membership, $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, adds Home Tee Hero with more than 43,000 courses.

• First year with course play, at list price: ST MAX about $3,295; R10 about $700.
• First year at SkyTrak's October 2026 price: the ST MAX came to $1,695 with a year of Core included.

The SkyTrak membership plans page goes through each tier.

How each reads the shot

The ST MAX photographs the ball as it leaves for speed, launch and spin, and its dual Doppler radar reads the club. SkyTrak told Jay, testing the SkyTrak+ on the same platform, that club path and face angle are calculated, and most confident on wedges. The ball goes on SkyTrak's red laser dot, and in his SkyTrak+ testing it still read a ball half an inch below or an inch behind the dot.

The R10 reads everything with radar from behind. Ball speed, launch angle, launch direction and club speed are measured; spin axis, face angle and carry are calculated, and Jay found it was not reading spin axis indoors. Titleist RCT balls improve its spin reading a lot.

What Jay found with each

GSV has not filmed the two side by side, so these are separate tests.

• SkyTrak+ indoors (2023): fades and draws on an 8-iron read correctly, with path and face to match, and good-strike spin of 7,000 to 7,300 rpm where it should be. The shot delay was better than the original SkyTrak, but still noticeable.
• SkyTrak+ outdoors in full sun (2023): wedge carries matched where the balls landed at a 35 yd flag, even with old range balls. One very high shot into bright sun may have misread.
• SkyTrak ST MAX (2025 and 2026): the same platform with dual USB ports and steadier internals; speed training read ball speeds of 164 to 165 mph without trouble.
• Garmin R10 against an Uneekor EYE XO (2021): ball speed within about 1 mph and launch direction close, but side spin sometimes the wrong way and driver launch low. See the Garmin R10 review.

Room and setup

This decides it for many rooms. The ST MAX sits on the floor 15 in from the ball, across from the golfer, and needs nothing behind the golfer; for a left-handed golfer it moves to the other side. The R10 sits 6 to 8 ft behind the tee, with the tee at least 8 ft from the screen, and works for both hands without moving.

In the GSV Sim Builder, a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling and a 5 ft 9 in golfer works from 14 ft 4 in deep with the ST MAX and from 15 ft 6 in with the R10; both need about 17 ft for a layout with nothing to watch. Check your own room in the room size checker.

Software and GSPro

• SkyTrak: SkyTrak's own app on Windows, Mac (Apple M1 or newer), iPad and Android, with course play from Foresight and Trackman in the Core and Elite plans. SkyTrak says no iPhone works with course play. It can join the home Wi-Fi network, which is how Jay runs his. GSPro says SkyTrak is not officially supported.
• Garmin R10: Home Tee Hero on an iPhone, iPad or Android with an A12 chip or newer, E6 Connect on iPhone and iPad, Awesome Golf, and GSPro, which supports it over Bluetooth on a Windows PC for $250 a year.

More in the SkyTrak 6.2 update and the GSPro guide.

At the range

The R10 is the range unit: battery powered, light, and radar sees more of the flight outside, without RCT balls. SkyTrak lists the ST MAX for indoor use; outdoors, SkyTrak's own advice is to play out of direct sun and from a tee where possible. Jay's 2023 test of the SkyTrak+ in full sun on a mat went well.

What about the SkyTrak+?

SkyTrak no longer sells the SkyTrak+ new: in October 2026 it was listed only as certified pre-owned. The ST MAX took its place on the same tracking platform, adding dual USB ports, steadier internals and GOLFTEC speed training. See SkyTrak ST MAX vs SkyTrak+.

Which to buy

• The ST MAX for an indoor simulator room, a room under about 15 ft 6 in deep, club data from a camera unit, and SkyTrak's Foresight or Trackman courses.
• The R10 for the range, the lowest cost, Home Tee Hero's course list, or GSPro without a workaround.

The launch monitor finder checks both against your budget and room, and Garmin R10 vs Rapsodo MLM2PRO compares the R10 with the other radar unit under $1,000. GSV's codes: SkyTrak discount code and Garmin discount code.

SkyTrak ST MAX and Garmin R10

• SkyTrak ST MAXGSV code for SkyTrak: GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS.Applied automatically through the GSV link.
  See it at SkyTrakCopy GOLFSIMULATORVIDEOS
• Garmin Approach R105% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
  See it at Shop Indoor GolfCopy GSV5OFF

Free consultation with GSV's partner builders

Still deciding? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure the launch monitor, the room and the screen fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.

Get a free consultation

SkyTrak vs Garmin R10 questions

Is SkyTrak more accurate than the Garmin R10?

GSV has not tested them side by side. Indoors, the SkyTrak reads the ball with a camera beside it and read shot shape well in Jay's tests, while the R10 calculates spin axis and sometimes missed side spin against an Uneekor. Outdoors the R10 sees more of the ball flight.

Which needs less room, SkyTrak or the Garmin R10?

SkyTrak. It sits beside the ball, so nothing goes behind the golfer. In the GSV Sim Builder, a room 14 ft wide with a 10 ft ceiling works from 14 ft 4 in deep with the ST MAX and from 15 ft 6 in with the R10.

Do SkyTrak and the Garmin R10 need a subscription?

Both work without one for range and shot data. Course play needs SkyTrak Core at $299.99 or $349.99 a year, or the Garmin Golf membership at $99.99 a year.

Do SkyTrak and the Garmin R10 work with GSPro?

GSPro supports the R10 over Bluetooth. GSPro says SkyTrak is not officially supported.

Can you use SkyTrak or the Garmin R10 outdoors?

The R10 is built for the range, on a battery. SkyTrak lists the ST MAX for indoor use and advises hitting off a mat out of direct sun outdoors; Jay's 2023 SkyTrak+ test in full sun went well.

Is the SkyTrak+ still available?

Not new. In October 2026 SkyTrak listed the SkyTrak+ only as certified pre-owned. The ST MAX replaced it on the same tracking platform.

Can you play courses on an iPhone with SkyTrak or the R10?

With the R10, yes: Home Tee Hero runs on iPhones with an A12 chip or newer. SkyTrak says no iPhone works with its course play; use a PC, Mac, iPad or Android.