SkyTrak+ vs FlightScope Mevo+: Settling the Biggest Golf Launch Monitor Debate of 2024

In our ongoing series of head-to-head golf launch monitor showdowns, this one feels like a much anticipated title fight.

Kind of like how the Garmin Approach R10 had a stranglehold on the best golf launch monitor under $1,000 title until the Rapsodo MLM2PRO and Swing Caddie SC4 came along, the FlightScope Mevo+ has enjoyed something of a competition-free run in the under-$3,000 price point until the SkyTrak+’s 2023 debut.

Coming in right at $3K, or $2,995 to be exact, the SkyTrak+ seems to be aiming directly at the same consumer that’s been considering the $2,199 FlightScope Mevo+. Also in this fight is the Bushnell Launch Pro, now starting at $1,99.99, which we’ll compare to both of these devices in upcoming posts. But for now, let’s determine a Mevo+ vs. SkyTrak+ winner in what was one of the top arguments of 2023 and remains as one of the top golf launch monitor debates of 2024.

Has SkyTrak done enough to knock the Mevo+ from its throne?

Is it worth $800 more? And while we’re at it, is that the actual price difference? Because, as you know in this age of subscriptions, sometimes determining actual price isn’t entirely simple.

What does the Mevo+ do better than the SkyTrak+, and what does the SkyTrak+ do better than the Mevo+?

As there always is with today’s golf technology, there’s plenty to unpack. I’ve put each of these to the test in every indoor and outdoor scenario that I could dream up. I’ll give you my call-it-like-I-see-it honest assessment on a 0 through 5 scoring scale over 10 different categories.

If you’re the consumer that’s looking for better performance and accuracy than what’s available in the under-$1,000 golf launch monitor class but don’t want to jump quite to the pro level that could cost several thousand dollars more, you very well may be deciding between the SkyTrak+ and the Mevo+. This post is for you.

Golf Launch Monitor Price

SkyTrak+ = 3; FlightScope Mevo+ = 4

The win for the FlightScope Mevo+ in this category all comes down to customizability. With the Mevo+, you don’t have to pay for extra data if you don’t want it. With the SkyTrak+, you kind of have to pay for everything.

So here’s how it works: If you want all the data that the FlightScope Mevo+ is capable of delivering — and as you’ll see below, it’s a lot — it’s going to cost you an additional $1,000 for the Mevo+ Pro Package. So with the Pro Package, the Mevo+ jumps to $3,199, or about $200 more than the SkyTrak+.

But if you don’t want the Pro Package, you can get the Mevo+ for $2,199, which is about $800 less than the SkyTrak+.

Now the Mevo+ Pro Package is sweet. It gives you, among other things, all of your club data. So that’s things like club path, face to path, and face to target. Those are extremely useful metrics for a lot of golfers. But for others, they are overkill.

The SkyTrak+ includes a similarly impressive range of data metrics, but there’s no option to not pay for data you don’t intend to use. Instead, you get everything, whether you want it or not, right out of the box. Some people may greatly prefer that.

But because FlightScope gives you that choice about whether or not you want to pay for advanced data, it all of the sudden opens up the option to get a world-class golf launch monitor for just $2,199. I think a lot of people may want all that this device can do but may not want the extra club data. Because of that customized option, I’m scoring the Mevo+ a point higher than the SkyTrak+ here.

First Impressions Upon Unboxing

SkyTrak+ = 5; FlightScope Mevo+ = 5

I think both of these products absolutely nail the balance between class and simplicity with their packaging. Upon opening each, you’re left with the impression that you’re holding a very serious piece of golf technology.

If this grading scale went to 6, I’d award that higher score to the FlightScope Mevo+. To me, it’s just a hair more impressive looking and feeling than the SkyTrak+. But I just couldn’t bring myself to give the SkyTrak anything but the highest point total for this category. The packaging and presentation, while maybe a smidge less impressive than the Mevo’s, is still deserving of the highest mark.

As I’ve always said, you don’t buy a golf launch monitor because of how nice the box looks or how cool the product is presented in its packaging. That said, first impressions do matter. Hey, these things aren’t cheap, and it’s nice when they look and feel worth the hard-earned money you just plunked down.

Ease of Setup

SkyTrak+ = 3; FlightScope Mevo+ = 3

Both of these best golf launch monitor candidates suffer a bit of a deduction in this category but for different reasons.

In the case of the SkyTrak+, I faced some initial frustrations with getting the device to pair to my computer. I ended up having to call tech support. The SkyTrak+ rep who helped me could not have been nicer and more committed to solving my problem. If we were awarding points for tech support, SkyTrak+ would easily get a 5. Also, once I got everything sorted out, it was smooth sailing for each subsequent session with my SkyTrak+. But the initial setup snafu was frustrating enough for me to deduct points here.

With the Mevo+, initial setup was as simple as could be. Everything paired and worked perfectly immediately. But where the Mevo+ suffers its deduction is with alignment once you’re ready to hit golf shots. This launch monitor is a lot more finicky in its alignment requirements. Everything has to be positioned just so in order for you to get reliable data. But don’t let that be too big of a turnoff. In reality, we’re talking about just a few extra minutes each time you set up the Mevo+ in a new location. And it’s worth the extra time. Accuracy, as we’ll get into below, is stunning if you have it set up correctly.

Launch Monitor Portability

SkyTrak+ = 3; FlightScope Mevo+ = 5

The SkyTrak+ is kind of like the Bushnell Launch Pro or Foresight Sports GC3 in that it’s just a bit too bulky to fit comfortably in most golf bags. But unlike the Launch Pro and GC3, the SkyTrak+ doesn’t include a built-in handle. That’s a bit of a bummer when it comes to taking the launch monitor back and forth from the driving range. 

The FlightScope Mevo+, on the other hand, is the most portable golf launch monitor I’ve ever used. Not only is it much smaller than the SkyTrak+ but it includes a very nice and functional carrying case. Even inside the case, the Mevo+ fits easily into the side pocket of my golf bag without straining the zipper at all.

I will say that it’s a bit disappointing that the SkyTrak+ doesn’t come with even a minimalist pouch or some kind of receptacle for transporting it. It’s one of the things (we’ll cover more below) that makes it apparent that this product is intended mostly for indoor use.

Golf Launch Monitor Data

SkyTrak+ = 5; FlightScope Mevo+ = 5

This is where things get really good. For less than $3,000, both of these golf launch monitors are capable of accurately delivering the kind of information that even top-level players and teaching professionals expect.

The SkyTrak+ combines photometric and dual-Doppler radar technology to deliver:

• Ball speed
• Clubhead speed
• Carry distance
• Total distance
• Distance offline
• Smash factor
• Backspin
• Side spin
• Club path
• Face to path
• Face to target
• Launch angle
• Angle of descent

With the Mevo+, right out of the box, you get:

• Ball speed
• Club head speed
• Smash factor
• Carry distance
• Total distance
• Launch angle
• Spin rate
• Spin loft
• Apex height
• Flight time
• Angle of attack
• Launch direction
• Spin axis
• Roll distance
• Lateral landing
• Shot dispersion
• Shot type

Then, for a one-time cost of $1,000, you can get the Mevo+ Pro Package, which adds on:

• Face to path
• Face to target
• Dynamic loft
• Club path
• Vertical swing plane
• Horizontal swing plane
• Low point
• Vertical descent angle
• Curve
• Club speed profile
• Club acceleration profile

And if that’s not enough, for another $499, you can get the Mevo+ Face Impact Package, which shows you exactly where on the clubface you’re making contact.

In other words, the FlightScope Mevo+ is capable of delivering as much data as even the most professional-grade golf launch monitors.

I tested both the SkyTrak+ and Mevo+ against the Foresight Sports GC3, which is pretty much universally agreed upon as dead-on accurate. And both the SkyTrak and Mevo performed exceptionally well.

I did note some discrepancies specifically with club path data in comparing the SkyTrak+ and GC3. It wasn’t on every shot, but there were times when the SkyTrak+ would report some wildly inaccurate path data.

But overall and for the money, the lineup of data metrics and the accuracy for both the SkyTrak+ and FlightScope Mevo+ are incredibly impressive and likely the biggest reason to consider buying one of them.

Outdoor Use

SkyTrak+ = 3; FlightScope Mevo+ = 4

The original SkyTrak launch monitor, which debuted in 2014, really wasn’t an option for outdoor use. That was one of its biggest limitations. And so when I got my hands on the new SkyTrak+, the very first thing I did was bring it out to the range to see if it would record data. I’ve got both good news and bad news.

The good news is that the photometric and dual-Doppler radar technology of the SkyTrak+ are perfectly capable of reliably reading golf shots outdoors, even in bright sunlight. I found distance, speed, and ball flight data to be just as accurate outdoors as indoors. That is, until I tried hitting off of natural grass.

That’s the bad news. The SkyTrak+ is still pretty much limited to use on hitting mats. Yes, it can read shots outdoors. But only shots hit off of artificial turf. When I tried to record shots hit off of natural grass, I was getting all kinds of suspect results. I got mostly a lot of missed shots, and when the device did pick the shot up, the data it spit out was highly questionable. SkyTrak recommends using a tee when hitting off of natural grass. And while that did improve shot recording, to me that’s just not a viable option. On the course, we only get to use tees on the tee box. Why would I want to practice with a launch monitor that limited me to only using tees?

So, while I was impressed with the SkyTrak+’s outdoor accuracy when hitting off mats, I don’t consider it a great outdoor option because of the natural turf limitations.

The Mevo+ recorded my shots, both off of turf and mats, with pinpoint accuracy. But I’ve stopped short of giving it the highest mark here because of its finicky setup. The issue for me is that when you hit off of natural grass, which I much prefer to mats, you take divots. If you practice long enough, you take enough divots that your ball position needs to change to the point that you eventually have to reposition your launch monitor. Because the Mevo+ is so particular with its placement, this process becomes more cumbersome than with other golf launch monitors.

Indoor Use

SkyTrak+ = 5; FlightScope Mevo+ = 4

Indoors is where the SkyTrak+ really shines and where I think most people will plan to use it most often. We’ve talked about all of the data it delivers and its impressive accuracy. But it’s also worth noting that the app experience with the SkyTrak+ is exceptional. It’s very fun and intuitive to review data and play different practice games, not to mention simulator golf, which we’ll get to in a minute.

Another big indoor advantage to the SkyTrak+ is that it sets up to the side of the golf ball, rather than from behind it. This means that you need much less room depth (at least 8 feet less) than you do with a device like the Mevo+. Just keep in mind that this is only an advantage if you’re planning to play with only righties or only lefties. Because if you need to switch between the two, having a unit that’s set up to one side of the ball actually becomes a disadvantage.

I love the FlightScope Mevo+ indoors just as much as I love it outdoors. It too has an awesome app experience. I especially love how you can customize how your data is arranged and presented.

But I can’t give it the highest indoor score simply because, as a launch monitor that sits behind the ball, it just requires so much space. You’ll need 8 feet from the Mevo+ to the golf ball and then another 13 feet from the ball to your impact screen or hitting net. FlightScope says that you can get away with a minimum of 8 feet from the ball to your screen or net, but I found the results to be more precise and consistent when I used the recommended 13 feet. Either way, that’s a lot of room depth, and that’s going to be a non-starter for a lot of people who don’t have quite that much space.

Golf Launch Monitor and Simulator Features

SkyTrak+ = 5; FlightScope Mevo+ = 4

The SkyTrak+ is just so much fun to use. It makes practicing a blast. And that’s really because of all the cool features that are included. There are all kinds of great options like challenge modes, skills assessment, shot optimizer, practice randomizer, bag mapping, and a wedge matrix. And the app puts it all together in a really clean, professional-looking way that just makes the whole experience enjoyable.

My favorite feature on the Mevo+ is the built-in camera and automatic swing video. You can view video footage of every shot you hit, and you can draw lines, angles, and circles on the screen to analyze what you’re doing right or wrong. You can even record and send or receive lessons. You can also connect up to three additional cameras so that you can get multiple video angles.

There’s also a series of challenges available in the FlightScope app so that you can play driving range games, try a long-drive competition, or see how your skills stack up against PGA and LPGA pros.

Both of these golf launch monitors are loaded with features. But because of the overall fun factor, I’m giving the slight nod to the SkyTrak+.

Golf Simulator Compatibility

SkyTrak+ = 5; FlightScope Mevo+ = 5

The bottom line here is that the SkyTrak+ and FlightScope Mevo+ are easily the two best golf launch monitors under $3,000 when it comes to simulator software compatibility. So giving them each the highest score here is a no-brainer.

With the SkyTrak+, you can play simulator golf with:

• TruGolf E6 Connect
• The Golf Club 2019
• Creative Golf 3D
• ProTee Play

We’ll get into the various SkyTrak+ subscription tiers and what comes with each below.

And with the FlightScope Mevo+, you’ve got software compatibility with:

• TruGolf E6 Connect
• The Golf Club 2019
• Awesome Golf
• Creative Golf 3D
• GSPro

With the purchase of the Mevo+ launch monitor, you get six E6 golf courses, 17 ranges and a mini game, but it’s limited to iOS-only use.

Yes, third-party software is going to cost extra. And, yes, the SkyTrak+ requires an additional subscription just to even be able to play simulator golf. But still, both of these launch monitors afford you nearly endless options when it comes to simulator golf courses. Let the fun begin!

Subscriptions Cost

SkyTrak+ = 3; FlightScope Mevo+ = 4

Technically, the FlightScope Mevo+ doesn’t have any subscriptions, which is of course very welcomed news by most golf simulator users. But it isn’t as if there aren’t additional costs. As noted above, to unlock all of the data, it’s going to cost you an additional $1,000 for the Mevo+ Pro Package. And then if you want to see where on the face you’re making contact, you need to pay $499 more for the Face Impact Package. But those are each one-time costs.

With the SkyTrak+, you’ve got three choices:

• Basic – FREE
  Good news! You don’t have to pay for a subscription to enjoy your SkyTrak+ (but you’re probably going to want to). Their Basic package gives you their simple driving range. You do get your shot data history as well. So, if all you want to do is use your SkyTrak+ to hit the regular driving range, fire away for free!
• SkyTrak Essential – $129.95/year
  This is where the good stuff starts. It costs $129.95 a year, but the Essential package, which replaces the old SkyTrak+ Game Improvement package, gives you the new driving range experiences, Skills Challenge, and Bag Mapping. You get a free 30-day trial of the Essential plan when you buy a SkyTrak+.
• Essentials Plus – $249.95/year
  Includes 15 E6 courses on top of the Essential Plan. BAM!
• SkyTrak Course Play – $349.95/year
  Remember all those sweet new simulator golf courses we were talking about, including Pebble Beach and a bunch of other biggies? Well, they are going to cost you $349.95 a year. However, that price does include the SkyTrak Essential plan, meaning you’ll get all of the other enhancements, including the new driving ranges and other game-improvement features.

I’m easily giving the nod here to the Mevo+ for the simple reason that all of its add-ons are one-time costs. I, for one, am getting tired of keeping track of and having to pay annual subscriptions for seemingly every piece of technology in my life.

Adding Up the Scores: Which of These Golf Launch Monitors Should You Buy?

Here’s how things shake out when we add up the scores for all 10 categories:

SkyTrak+: 40

FlightScope Mevo+ = 43

Other reviewers will have a different take, I’m sure, but this is how I honestly see it. I absolutely love each of these golf launch monitors. Seriously. I’m not overstating it in the slightest when I say love! But if I had to pick just one, it would be the FlightScope Mevo+. It delivers so much data and reads it all so accurately that I’m blown away. I also love that it can be used reliably both indoors and outdoors.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Mevo+ is the golf launch monitor I’d pick for you. I think the SkyTrak+ is superior to the Mevo+ when it comes to indoor use and features. It also requires a hell of a lot less room depth. So if you’re planning an indoor golf simulator setup and you’re not planning to use your golf launch monitor outdoors, buy the SkyTrak+ and do it with full confidence. You’re going to love it!

And if you’re still not sure which golf launch monitor to buy, or want further confirmation that you’re leaning in the right direction, take the PlayBetter Golf Launch Monitor and Simulator Quiz.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.