Using the Alignment Stick Indoors

[HLS2k6]

I have a custom GCQ simulator, built & installed by Foresight. The room config tool was setup by them, and the numbers look correct to my measurements. My problem is that the Quad thinks I'm swinging out to in and everything was going left of target. I used the alignment stick to aim at the center of the room and it fixed it, but when I called Foresight and mentioned this issue, they said "never use the alignment stick indoors" and suggested I'm just swinging OTT indoors for some reason. I'm no touring pro, so I figured that was it and worked on my path.

Yesterday, I went for an outdoor lesson and was told that I'm ridiculous under plane, like massively in-to-out. It sure seems like my indoor readings are off & I'm grooving a huge in-to-out move. Has anyone encountered this? I'd like some input before I call them & get told that the device is accurate & it must be me.

Thanks!

[Snipe]

For those blaming the rep, the instructions actually say there should almost never be a reason to use the alignment stick indoors:

https://help.foresightsports.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403056878995-Target-Alignment-via-Alignment-Stick#:~:text=To%20adjust%20alignment%2C%20place%20the,will%20give%20an%20audible%20tone

I'm not saying the advice was good - however it was probably someone not making a ton of money just repeating what they were taught.

I can't seem to get my GC Quad to recognize the alignment stick. Anyone else run into this?

Also - I'm not the rep fwiw. . I can already see the jokes coming due to my low post count - however I used to post quite a bit about my Skytrak - so not sure what happened there.

[Snipe]

For those blaming the rep, the instructions actually say there should almost never be a reason to use the alignment stick indoors:

https://help.foresightsports.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403056878995-Target-Alignment-via-Alignment-Stick#:~:text=To%20adjust%20alignment%2C%20place%20the,will%20give%20an%20audible%20tone

I'm not saying the advice was good - however it was probably someone not making a ton of money just repeating what they were taught.

I can't seem to get my GC Quad to recognize the alignment stick. Anyone else run into this?

So I've managed to get the unit to recognize the alignment stick. It seems like maybe the instructions left out that you have to click either the Left or Right button in the alignment mode.

Can anyone who uses this feature frequently confirm and/or the exact key sequence you use?

[Baller]

Just seeing this post. Your Quad should always be in either L or R mode and all you should need to do is put the stick down to set alignment HOWEVER, there cannot be a ball there or it will focus on the ball being there instead.

Hope the delayed help still helps.

[ALbatroz]

Thanks for the link to the GC Quad instructions Snipe.

Notes For Indoor Use

Most often customers do not need the alignment stick and are just going to hit straight ahead towards the screen or net due to the way the Room Configuration Tool places the driving range target line/flag directly in front of the golf ball.

The only time customers would use the alignment stick indoors is if they were trying to change the location where the impact was occurring on the projection screen, but this can get tricky if the Room Configuration Tool is not adjusted accordingly.

[SCDrJ]

If you have a rectangular mat or hitting strip and you line the quad parallel to the target line, there shouldn’t be much need for the alignment stick, but it works for me the times I have used it!

[Snipe]

The thing that I think is strange is that we focus so much on a single degree or two with regards to Path, AoA, Face Angle, Spin Axis, etc. - and then are like "meh - don't even trip about the alignment - it's probably fine".

I use the alignment stick often as I'm on a 5x5 Fiberbuilt mat, and it moves several degrees over just a few swings. I have some tape laid down to align with the corners so that I can put it back in position, but if I were using the unit for serious sim golf, I'd be using it pretty frequently. (Just writing this reminded me that I have some carpet padding that perhaps I'll put under the mat to reduce slippage and, yes, I'm very much a lower body swinger . ).

[GullLakeMi]

How accurate about people trying to get? I figure if I spend money on a Quad and club data, I should be as accurate as possible. I even have made attempts to level my garage floor under sim. Since its a portable device, I check mine nearly every use and square it to the target line. It could get bumped for a number of reasons including pulling power cord occasionally to let it run off battery.

I'm not sure how you would NOT use alignment stick indoors as eyeballing it doesn't seem that accurate when 1 degree is a big deal.

Regarding OP issue, I don't have any of those issues. I have a garage sim. I bring my Quad indoors frequently for storage. I take it outdoors to range. Calibrate when placing it in sim. No issues with alignment or path feedback.

[delaloi]

I also don't understand how you do not use the alignment stick. Just putting the Quad down so it's sitting parallel to the target line, you could very easily be off by a few degrees, which will be a complete mess. 2 or 3 degrees is a lot here.

[MongoOnlyPawn]

I've never had any issue with using the alignment stick. It does help to have the stick at the same height as the GCQ. I agree with delaloi & GullLakeMi, why would you not want the alignment to be true? 2 degrees at 200 yards is something like 21 feet, so while my accuracy isn't that good, meaning I might miss 3x that, or 21 yards right or left, I'd at least like the super-precise machine to start with a true zero.

[AshTechslax]

If you do have a solution for if the tracking is off, or how you had to change your stance please do give us an update, as I'm considering the same simulator and am now worried about my own stance. Bonus points if you can include a crappy ms paint drawing to help us understand

[MeeeTooooo]

I went through all this months ago with Foresight (there is another thread on the topic).
Anyway, Foresight doesn't seem to understand the issue and they don't seem to understand how to "tweak" the room config tool, as the room config tool does not function as it should. I too was told NOT to use the alignment stick indoors... this is garbage advice. The GC3 and the Quad are extremely accurate devices, but the accuracy is almost entirely dependent upon the alignment stick and its placement. That's been my experience, anyway.
First, get a handle on what the room config tool is supposed do and how its functioning is somewhat broken (as of June 29 2022, because someday they'll likely fix it...perhaps???). In my experience, you'll need to play around with the number you enter for the distance between the device (GC3 or Quad) and the centre of your screen. I have the flag/target-line centred with the hitting area. If this is what you want, you'll need to tweak the number in the room config tool to get there. And as a bonus issue, you'll need to tweak-out a different number for FSX2020 and FSXPlay.
I hope that helps.