Mevo+ Build and Journey

[Groot]

I've been lurking about for months reading through sim setups and Mevo+ reviews and issues. I thought I would share the journey a bit and hopefully lend some insight to the next person venturing down this path.

Options with serious consideration:
Mevo+
Skytrack
GC2 - Refurb

Deciding factors:
GC2 price and subscription fees discouraged me and probably more the recurring fees
Skytrack - Subscription fees vs Mevo+ and the reviews that said it wasn't usable outdoors put me off this unit. Also the delay between strike and display video was a contributing concern.
Both units needing a PC vs iPad to run also was deciding factor though I was buying a new device(laptop or iPad) for either option.

Ultimate decision came down to the Mevo+ due to the lack of subscriptions and the versatility to use indoors or outdoors. I use an iPad Mini with AppleTV connected to an Optoma short throw projector. I opted for the Carl’s Place Preferred Screen and a TrueStrike mat. I placed the order March 28 and didn’t receive it until July 14.

I have built the SIM in my garage and started simply with a screen and hitting mat. I have 20ft side to side and built out 1ft from the foundation giving me about 15 inches to the wall. I built out a storage space for my gear, then built the screen support using channel strut. I really liked using the channel strut as it is sturdy easy to use and made the bungee connection very simple. I secured the screen with bungee wrapped around the strut. From the first try the tension was great, minimal bounce back and no contact with the wall.

My garage has a fair slope to it and I quickly tired of chasing balls that rolled away. I added gym mats to two 4x8 sheets of OSB to deaden the bounce, but the balls continued to roll off to the side. So I decided to build a platform using 2x6s with the aforementioned OSB and mats. I opted for 2x6s for more structural support as the platform was then leveled with furniture levelers. At this point my unit still hadn’t arrived and since I wasn’t messing with it I had the time to decide on yet another enhancement. I ordered two putting cups and decided on Synlawn putting surface (Classic Putt).

I have had the unit now for about 4 months and have been tweaking my setup throughout. My overall impressions are favorable, but reliving why I am not usually an early adopter of new technologies. Like others, I had to return my unit because of power issues. Despite following the repeated warnings that you have to use Flightscope’s 6 inch cable - the battery started to fail to charge. I have had no issues with power since receiving my unit back (7 day turn around). I have to say the support I have received is mixed. I have emailed with their support team and will get a response but follow up is weak. Each time I have called, I have felt my service was attentive, but did not necessarily resolve the issue, just another suggestion to improve the environment. When Flightscope had my unit for the power fix, they tested the unit before sending it out and advised all was working fine. In my setup, all is not fine, but all is not lost. That has lead me to believe it is an issue with setup and the constant tweaking has helped but not eliminated all the issues. I was hard pressed to believe the issues are only with my setup after watching SHG youtube reviews - especially the test of using the unit in a tight space, but tried to remedy anything that may be affecting the unit.

Key concerns:

1. No reads or partial reads where I get some of the data but not all
   1. FS Golf app - a lot of partial reads and now estimated spin numbers (I am using the metallic dot). The no-reads probably occur 10-15% of the time. In these instances, I get a READY, strike the ball and another READY as if it did read but didn't push the information - not like it didn't even catch the swing. The most recent update has minimized the complete absence of acknowledgement that I even swung the club.
   2. E6 App - a lot of no-reads especially with driver and chipping. Driver speed around 108 on average.
      1. Sometimes the next swing is picked up and you chalk it up to damn it missed my good swing
      2. Two missed swings and I hit the E6 button, then recalibrate
      3. Sometimes it seems the unit just has disconnected, so I typically jump to practice mode hit a ball and jump back - quick fix that works....for awhile
      4. Another trick is to slightly adjust your target stake - not sure why but that causes it to register the next swing
      5. Eventually in a round with 2 people the unit just seemed to lose connection and requires a full reboot.
   3. FS Skills: for whatever reason my mis-reads and no reads are minimal on this app
2. Distances
   1. FS Golf NEEDS to add the ability to adjust your elevation. It is in the FS Skills app but not FS Golf. I am in Denver and I don’t like having to make the mental calculation to determine if I am hitting my usual distance
   2. Driver distance is inconsistent. The unit just seems to have issues being consistent as swing speeds exceed 100
3. Spin Rates – with or without the metal dots they seem to be low. Haven’t validated with a trackman or GC2 to date, but based on my swing speeds, launch, smash vs tour averages from trackman, they come in way low.
4. Startup Connection – after one of the software upgrades I started to experience the need to rescan the QR code even though I could connect to the Mevo+ wifi. Ultimately found I had to delete the app and reinstall it to get the connection to restore properly.

Troubleshooting

1. Setting the unit up on a separate platform with a gap to the hitting platform – Flightscope confirmed this can contribute to misreads. I originally just set the unit on some stacked scrap lumber before building anything else. I then temporarily addressed the gap with a door laid between the tee and the unit. This did help some, but mis-reads continued. I ultimately built a platform because it did seem to have an impact.
2. Metal interference - sent pics of the setup to Flightscope. They advised there was too much metal in the field of view for the radar. I disagreed from the get go based on what had seen in other setups but I cleared out most of the larger metal items and moved them to the other side of the garage. I did become concerned that perhaps the channel strut was the cause. My third session on the phone with FS they suggested wrapping the struts in mesh screen. Given an update came at the same time, I can’t tell if the marginal improvement was due to the wrapping or the update, but the issues were not eliminated
3. Unit to Tee to Screen distances – I have played with this in multiple iterations. I have settled on 8ft unit to tee and just over 10ft to screen. Really noticed no significant impact on moving to 7ft or flight as short as 8 ft except with the driver and down to 4 iron. A bit more flight time seems to have helped with picking up those longer clubs.
4. I had read about projector fans potentially interfering as well. I don’t find that to be an issue at all.
5. Credit to @VirtualAdam in this thread: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...ith-mevo/page2
   It seems there is something to this. I am using AppleTV as well. So I turned of the projector and mirroring and just used the screen on the iPad. Mis-reads basically went away (maybe 1 in 20 vs 40% of my swings). I then started playing with the projector being on and still not mirroring and experienced no fan interference. I turned mirroring back on and the mis-reads started immediately. Though there were less. I had moved the iPad to sitting on the hitting mat. This closed the distance between the 3 units and seemed to reduce the mis-reads. I am going to continue to mess with the distance relationship but I have ordered an HDMI connection. I liked the idea of wireless but it seems pretty clear Airplay and the Mevo+ wifi don’t play nice together. I will be informing support of this confirmation of Adam’s discovery as well.

Hope this helps someone else – it has been frustrating. I love the unit, on days when it is working well it is a great tool and have loved taking it to the range.

Launch Monitor	2,000
Screen 8.5x8.5	305
TrueStrike Mat	800
Projector EH412	1,265
Lumber, Strut and landing mat	500
Turf	400
Hoist	150
Total	5,420

Shameless pictures attached.

[Dax]

Great set-up!

One thing to consider is that I have read that the unit needs to be directly behind the ball and based on your setup it looks like it is between where you hit driver versus your irons (more towards your driver side). Have you tried playing around with this alignment a little

Also, are you using the tees that come with the Truestrike or your own tees? I find that using my own tees caused them to fly pretty hard into my impact screen and made me worry that it might over time wear out my screen. The orange tees that come with the mat only fly out when they break.

If the alignment is something that helps, then perhaps just use Birdie tees and hit off the Gel with your driver.

[Groot]

Thanks for the feedback, I just set the unit back there for the picture, it is normally more to the strike mat side. I have been considering the birdie tees though. The TrueStrike tees break frequently.

[Tcwoodrn]

I have a very similar experience to what you described. I have a small but noticeable number of no reads. Very often spin is estimated even though I always use the dots. My driver distances are inconsistent and always short. Short chips are very rarely picked up and you have to hit it too far to get it to register. I find misses increase dramatically with lower loft clubs like 3w and hybrids.

[Groot]

My mis-reads seem to increase with club speed, but the E6 app really does struggle with chipping as you mentioned.