FMJ issues

[skytrakali]

I just got my FMJ (for safety) but having tried it out I have lots of issues, which is very disappointing. I had things set up perfectly when it was in its plastic case, but now I am getting some very strange results. These include (NB I am using a direct USB connection to a windows laptop)

(1) Loads more no reads. Sometimes 4 in a row. I've played with different ball positions but this does not seem to help. The problem is noticeably FAR worse than it was before. 1-3 per 60 balls has now become 30 per 60 balls.

(2) Left left left. EVERYTHING is starting left. Even when I see that it hits the screen on the right side of the driving range centreline mark, I still get big angles left. We're talking 60 yards total for a gap wedge here! Not indoor swing I don't think - I got over that a while ago.

Anybody had similar issues? Or any general thoughts?

[doublebogey]

skytrakali , I have very similar issues w my FMJ. Do you have the original non-SkyTrak FMJ or the SkyTrak metal case? They are actually slightly different in terms of the openings to the camera. See this old thread w some discussions on this matter - https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...ing-left/page3.

[skytrakali]

Thanks doublebogey - I have the official one (I think) which was purchased at Golf Swing Systems (pretty much the only place to get an FMJ here in the UK I think). I looked at the thread that you mentioned but the problem in this thread seems only to afflict high short shots. It was also happening to me with a 4H. Did you find a solution?

[doublebogey]

I sometimes also witness extreme left shots w driver, 3W or 4H and lots more no-reads w FMJ jacket on vs off. But it seems like the extreme left and misreads were more frequent and pronounced w short flop shots. Just guessing that maybe the smaller window of the FMJ blocks view of balls that have either very high LA or very low LA??? If this is true, then maybe raising the SkyTrak will help w reading high LA shots and lowering it will help w low LA shots?

[frankiepap39]

i have the armour version and i am seeing the same... even to the point where the red dot just flashes constantly... take it out of the case and it works perfectly.

[skytrakali]

Yes. Shot after shot the red dot just shines - but no hits are recorded.

I'm going to do some more testing in a minute with a few 9 o'clock pitching wedge pitches. Let's see how that goes. Otherwise I may have to go back to the plastic/foam casing.................

[jut111]

Man I'd ditch the case in a second if I was seeing that. I have the old plastic case, and honestly the only reason I keep it on is cause of the bubble level and adjustable legs. I've hit thousands of balls on the thing and have never even come close to hitting the skytrak. I'm not very good, and I've hit some truly heinous shanks. I honestly don't know how you could hit the dang thing honestly unless totally goofing around.

[Dan McWhirter]

Try slipping in a two tees, front and back, to make sure it is centered. Then just make sure it's snug to the face of the FMJ. Mine is a prototype with the metal posts running between the cameras. I have no trouble as long as it is centered. I never actually fastened the SkyTrak to the case.

[doublebogey]

Yes. Shot after shot the red dot just shines - but no hits are recorded.

I get what's quoted above as well w the FMJ. But like Dan McWhirter says above, make sure unit is centered and snug to the face (which I had issues with w the FMJ designer before as it makes it easier for hits to the FMJ cover to impact the unit itself).

An alternative is the Japan SkyTrak case (which I had bought while in Japan) - see pics. It has much thicker and stronger steel and allows for much greater gap between unit and cover - but the negative is it will let the ball get thru like the original US SkyTrak plastic case.

[frankiepap39]

unfortunately my case at this point in time is useless... i don't know what i can do at this point. I've tried everything

[skytrakali]

I did some testing with 9 o'clock pitching wedge pitches (~ 60 yds for me) and I got more misreads than with my old plastic case, though not many more. There still seemed to be a bit of a left bias (though not as much as before). I did three things to get to this improvement:

(1) I did as doublebogey suggested and raised the ST a bit (it's a bit above the level of my mat now)

(2) I screwed the case to the ST with the 3 screws provided so that it's centred and misalignment cannot be coming from this

(3) I made sure that the logo on the ball faced the ST each time and put the ball about 2 cm BEHIND the laser dot (i.e. further away from the hitting screen)

Hope to do some more investigations tonight, but I now have some hopes that my FMJ will not be a complete failure. I agree with jut111 that I never come close to hitting the unit, but "visitors" often want a go and you can never believe their assurances that "oh yes - I'm quite a good golfer actually"..............

[wbond]

I don't think it's going to be a shank that hits it, more likely with a ball coming off the toe edge of the club. Hitting inside can create some crazy swings. I've used both the FMJ and armour cases without issue. If it's not going to work, maybe request a refund or see if you can try another. Maybe the openings weren't cut correctly.

[dagratest816]

i would suggest reaching out to skytrak...some of the cameras on the inside of the unit may not be aligned properyl or the case itself may be off...(those would just be my guesses) I have had my skytrak and FMJ since purchased together last yr on the fathers day sale. Havent used them separately at all (not that great at golf yet haha) but outside of the firmware issue (forgot which one it was that came and caused tons of misreads) i literally have had probably less than 20 total misreads. Logging in to skygolf right now and seeing total shots 2885 on 59 sessions (missed about 2.5 months from nov december and some of january - pretty cold winter here in missouri and havent insulated garage doors yet) but 20 misreads possibly out of 2800+ shots is a less than 1 percent shot of misreads and i have FMJ. So i say all that to say if you are still under warranty i would certainly get with skytrak support and have them fix your unit because it definitely seems like you are having way more misreads than what should be seen even with FMJ. Somehow the alignment of the FMJ and the cameras are somehow off if you dont see any/high amounts of misreads without it.

[Mandragora]

Yes. Shot after shot the red dot just shines - but no hits are recorded.

I'm going to do some more testing in a minute with a few 9 o'clock pitching wedge pitches. Let's see how that goes. Otherwise I may have to go back to the plastic/foam casing.................

I was having the exact same problem yesterday. I would hit the shot, the red light would go off, then back on. No shot recorded. I found that I was having a WIFI problem of some type. The computer kept losing connection as well. Sometime going to a yellow light. I switched to USB connection and everything was worked properly.

I think I may have problems when someone else in the house is streaming but I have not yet confirmed it.