Various Observations After a Week of Ownership. Do Sims Process Data Differently?

[mikejuly]

I ordered and received my Skytrak with the GIP last week. Initial impressions are that when it works right, it's a very impressive device.

In my limited time with the Skytrak, I've noticed a few patterns that are a little troubling. I'm hoping experienced users and perhaps even SkyTrak_Seth might be kind enough to chime in. At the moment, I like the device overall but I'm considering returning it. I still have a few weeks to decide but right now I'm probably 50/50. If I end up keeping it, I will be subscribing to JNPG - but I haven't made that commitment yet.

My experience so far is limited to the use with the Skytrak desktop app, and the E6 demo software. All of the following remarks are while using the device connected in 'network mode', running off of the battery. The device is to the best of my knowledge perfectly level and parallel to the hitting strip, and does not rest on the strip itself.

1) I've experienced significant connectivity issues with the device, especially after installing the FMJ.. Specifically, the device will go from LEDs reading GGG to RYG (solid) every minute or two. Moving the router/access point to within a few feet of the Skytrak has greatly improved the issue, but it hasn't alleviated it entirely.

2) It seems to take about 30 minutes before the connection reliably stabilizes. After that I've experienced the device functioning perfectly for 60+ minutes at a time.

3) The unit often, seemingly randomly jumps into right handed mode (I am left handed). Power cycling the unit or restarting my practice session is usually the only way to remedy this. This too, seems to stabilize after 30 minutes of use.

4) Shots seem to behave differently depending on the software in use. When using the E6 Demo:

• Low trajectory shots (especially driver, 3W and chips around the green) always go right (again I am left handed) despite attempts to deliberately hit the ball wide left. The Skytrak app does not have this problem and seems far more accurate;
• Connectivity issues (and the L/R switching thing) are much more prevalent with the E6 demo;
• Putting/chipping misreads around the green in E6 are incredibly frustrating.
• Launch angles in general seem lower on the E6 demo than the Skytrak app.
• The E6 often has an excessively long input lag - up to 10-15 seconds sometimes. The Skytrak app consistent processes the shot within 1-3 seconds.

So my question is are these discrepancies due to the fact that the different apps process the data differently? What can I expect from JNPG in terms of accuracy relative to the Skytrak app?

Any other advice you can dispense would be appreciated. I'm making every effort to get the device to work properly, but right now my confidence level is a little low.

[Jwheels9876]

The skytrak can be a finicky machine reading short shots and putts. I always put the ball in front of the laser dot for chips and under 100 yard shots. For some reason I didn't get as many wonky reads and had way less no reads.

for fairway woods and hybrids I put it a few inches behind the dot and it seemed to work most of the time.

putting I'd put it a couple inches behind also .

mid irons seemed fine on or just at the dot area.

as far as SIM software, I had JNPG and TGC for the skytrak and both worked fine reading my shots . Every SIM software has their own little algorithm or physics so they'll play slightly different but they should read your ball flight the same as the skytrak app does except when you play courses you gotta add up hill, down hill, side hill etc all will come into play for your carry and roll out while playing just like real life.

[Boerdoc]

Skytrak is a great device when used correctly. You seem to have a handle on most of the usual setup issues. There are some others that may be troubling you.

With respect to connections, you will get the best, most reliable connection if you get a cheap wifi adapter from amazon or bestbuy that you use to connect to your skytrak wifi. This means you may have 2 wifi networks at the same time.

The fmj should not make a difference with connectivity. It may be affecting the flight calculations if it raises the skytrak above the level of the hitting mat. Did you use the app without the FMJ and E6 with it?

What are the specs of your graphics card? A slow card will delay the shots in sim software to 15 seconds but not in the skytrak app. Nvidia 1060 or better is preferred. The sim software is very graphics intensive.

The left right jump happens occasionally but should be a quick fix. It might happen once or twice an hour, not a big deal to me.

Also, on my skytrak, The "level" in the app is off. When I use the bubble on top or a carpenter's level to level my skytrak I have much better readings. Btw, I am left-handed and my son is right and leveling the skytrak this way gave much better ball flight for both of us. For others, the app was better that the bubble for leveling and ball flight. Something to play with to see what is best for you.

With respect to other softwares, E6, TGC or JNPG, They all get their data from the skytrak and they should be consistently good at replicating ball flight correctly.

[mikejuly]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies.

The graphics card is onboard my laptop... it's the Intel HD 520. It didn't take long to figure out how inadequate that is going to be. Unfortunately, this can't be conventionally upgraded and I'm not interested in buying a dedicated machine for sim play at this time.

What options do I have? Does JNPG have lower quality/frame-rates for slower graphics cards? I don't mind dumbing it down - I'm more interested in realistic game play ala xgolf vs fancy graphics.

As to shot reading in general, I'm pretty satisfied with it's accuracy. I've experimented with it quite a bit with ball placement relative to the laser - the best practices I've identified so far are:

Teed up: Right on the dot;
Hi-lofted wedges - 6 hybrid: 1-inch behind the dot; 1-inch outside of the dot (closer to me);
Low-trajectory chips and putts: 3-6-inches behind the dot;
Fairway woods & hybrids: 1-inch behind the dot.

Thoughts?

[Morini]

I dont do sim, but thinking about it. I tried creative golf demo on a similar notebook to yours and it ran fine. If I build a pc, I will use AMDs latest apu. Cpu plus high quality integrated gpu for $100. Whole system should be under $500.

[James James]

No, e6 is less graphically demanding than jnpg. If you aren't too fussed about the experience and you have a desktop pc which can handle the game run it there and stream the desktop to an iPad using something like splashtop. It works ok as long as your ST can connect reliably to your pc.

[FaultyClubs]

What options do I have? Does JNPG have lower quality/frame-rates for slower graphics cards? I don't mind dumbing it down - I'm more interested in realistic game play ala xgolf vs fancy graphics.

Yes, both jnpg and tgc have lower quality settings for weaker cards. If you're willing to dumb it down then shouldn't be an issue. Jnpg has weaker graphics than tgc so is less demanding of the video card but is more demanding of the cpu. They both have steam versions if you want to test them out cheaply.

tgc, jnpg and e6 are all very accurate and provide realistic game play. Skytrak has some issues with putting and chipping. Tgc and jnpg both have custom code to help Skytrak issues but I don't believe e6 does.

[Dan McWhirter]

e6 with SkyTrak...if on the fringe, it requires a chip...it has to see some flight of the ball. Try e6 practice, the putting and chipping section...this got me much better at playing e6. Realize the e6 core program (excepting the courses) is 1.2 gigabytes compressed, so de-compressed and running there's a lot going on.
Ya gotta wonder why the SkyTrak app doesn't have putting practice.

[Tmorelock]

As others mentioned, you will see a lag like that in JNPG also if you use your laptop and don't turn down the settings. When i use my laptop the lag is much longer, and sometimes the ball will visually freeze in mid-air, though in the sim it is still traveling the right distance. you just don't get to see the flight. with my desktop i built to sim with (4GB 1050ti card) I can almost max out the settings and the lag is minimal. I hit a shot, grab my ball and look up and the shot is coming up on the green.

I actually like the lag with my desktop, because it gives me time to retrieve my ball before watching the shot. sometimes I get weird ball return bounces in my cage and if I was looking at the screen instead I might not see where my ball went in the garage.

Any issues with chipping I had initially in jnpg is resolved by selecting "lob" or "pitch" on the shot type instead of leaving it in full shot mode. I have zero issues with the putting accuracy, but do have some no-read issues occasionally.

Also a lefty, and in JNPG sometimes it will randomly switch to RH mode for me. All you have to do is alt-tab to the console and tell it to switch back to lefty. annoying, but no big deal since it's easy to fix.

[wbond]

Based off whats been posted, it's because it wasn't originally designed for putting and it's not good at reading putts. Accuracy increases with speed of putt.

e6 with SkyTrak...if on the fringe, it requires a chip...it has to see some flight of the ball. Try e6 practice, the putting and chipping section...this got me much better at playing e6. Realize the e6 core program (excepting the courses) is 1.2 gigabytes compressed, so de-compressed and running there's a lot going on.
Ya gotta wonder why the SkyTrak app doesn't have putting practice.

[mikejuly]

Thanks for all the information. I think I'll follow FaultyClubs suggestion of starting with the Steam version of JNPG and see how it performs.

[bob chung]

I will sell my skytrak with 9 month JNPG.
PM me please.