The short answer: most golfers should start with a portable launch monitor: the Garmin Approach R10 ($499.99) or the Rapsodo MLM2PRO ($599.98). If you’re building a dedicated simulator room, the SkyTrak ST MAX ($1,695) is the step up, and SkyTrak’s ST MAX Standard Studio Package ($4,195) puts the whole simulator in one box.
Updated October 2026 · Prices checked on Amazon and Global Golf, October 2026
What Changed for 2026
SkyTrak replaced the SkyTrak+ with the ST MAX, which went on pre-order in October 2025. It pairs dual Doppler radar with a photometric camera to read club and ball data, adds a speed-training mode built with GOLFTEC, and works with a SkyTrak membership for 70+ courses. Meanwhile the two portable favorites, the Garmin R10 and Rapsodo MLM2PRO, now sell for $100 less than their original list prices.
SkyTrak ST MAX Standard Studio Package
$4,195.00The simplest way to a full home simulator: SkyTrak sells the ST MAX launch monitor, enclosure, impact screen, steel frame, 5x5 hitting mat and ZW350ST short-throw projector together, with trial software. The Amazon listing is the 10-foot studio, so measure your room first.
Check price on Amazon →SkyTrak ST MAX Launch Monitor
$1,695.00The launch monitor on its own, with a year of software included in this listing. Radar plus camera tracking and a side-of-the-ball position make it a natural fit for a dedicated sim room you build yourself.
Check price on Amazon →Rapsodo MLM2PRO
$599.98A dual-camera portable launch monitor that tracks 15 metrics and works indoors or at the range. The Amazon listing is sold by Rapsodo and includes three Titleist Pro V1 RPT balls.
Check price on Amazon →Garmin Approach R10
$499.99A pocket-sized radar unit that sits behind the ball, runs up to 10 hours on a charge, and pairs with the Garmin Golf app. The cheapest way into real launch monitor data.
Check price on Amazon →Shop at Global Golf| Model | Type | Tracking | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkyTrak ST MAX Studio Package | Full simulator | Radar + camera | $4,195 |
| SkyTrak ST MAX | Launch monitor | Radar + camera | $1,695 |
| Rapsodo MLM2PRO | Portable launch monitor | Dual camera | $599.98 |
| Garmin Approach R10 | Portable launch monitor | Radar | $499.99 |
Prices from Amazon listings sold by SkyTrak, Rapsodo and Amazon.com, and Global Golf (R10), October 2026. Most units need a paid software membership to unlock full courses.
Portable Monitor or Full Simulator?
If you mainly want numbers at the range or into a net, a portable monitor is enough. If you want to play full rounds in the winter, you need the rest of the simulator: an enclosure, impact screen, hitting mat and projector, plus a room with roughly a 9-foot ceiling. Our step-by-step guide to building a home golf simulator covers room sizes and real costs, from about $1,600 to $4,195.
Already have a launch monitor? The Divot Depot store carries GolfBays enclosures, impact screens and hitting mats, shipped direct from the brand.
Is a full simulator worth it?
If you have the space and want to play full rounds indoors, yes. If you only want practice data, a portable launch monitor and a net cost a fraction as much.
What replaced the SkyTrak+?
The SkyTrak ST MAX, which opened for pre-orders in October 2025. It uses dual Doppler radar plus a photometric camera and adds a speed-training mode built with GOLFTEC.
Do I need a subscription for a launch monitor?
To play full simulated courses, usually yes. Practice data and basic range modes are often free, but plans change, so check the maker’s current membership price before you buy.
Divot Depot · Updated Oct. 2026
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