Skytrak alignment and misreads - BIG problem!! need help as close to giving up on it.

[David Williams 'Chips']

I've owed my skytrak for a few months and until this weekend only used it outdoors. I was getting a lot of shots not registering and most shots going 40-50 yards left. The only way I could get more sensible/expected results was to close my unit to the target by around 30 degrees. I contacted skytrak and arranged for the unit to be tested. It was tested indoors and I was told that there is no problem with the unit and it working perfectly. I was pleased with this and put my bad experience with it down to the fact I used it outdoors. Over the last 2 weeks,I have had a major structural change to my property, had an upstairs wall removed and ceiling raised so I now have plenty of space. I have a projector fixed to the ceiling, connected to a laptop and a big white hitting screen with surround. The setup is perfect but I'm so disappointed with my skytrak unit. I've spent hours on forums reading about ball placement etc and I've tried it all but in my new indoor setup, I'm still getting loads of misreads and those big ridiculous left shots. I've only tested it with 3 clubs so far, 52 degree, 6 iron and driver. 52 degree gives a lot of readings and realistic results with the unit setup properly, but the 6 iron, lots of misreads and all going way left, to fix this, I had to close the unit by around 30 degrees. Driver was picking up most shots way left unless I close unit to target. I have tested with light on and off with similar results. I'm close to giving up on this unit but still hoping I can get some more suggestions/help. I'm going to buy a proper heavy mat that doesn't move and maybe I need to do something with the lighting but I'd imagine that might help with the number of misreads but won't solve the problem with the unrealistic 50 yard left shot. I'm desperate for help as I'm close to accepting that the unit just isn't as good as the advert suggests.

[simmb]

I had six inches extra screen along the bottom. Total screen 12 x 9. I found a heavy pipe ten feet long and wrapped the extra screen around it and clamped...the weight also took out the hitting area dent for a better TV picture. Balls hit then drop straight down, contrary to expectations, but I figure the weight changed the screen response. Flying tees are a different story, they were shooting back like nails, scary and actually dangerous. I got some tee weights, little ceramic figurines with cord and a loop to attach the tee. They work great, but one figurine came apart and required glue. With a good cord and loop that looks strong to last, I'll replace the figurines with fishing weights.

Like the idea of getting rid of the dent with a weight but low worm burners would worry me coming back off the pipe. Is that an issue, or do they just stop? Not for me obviously I never hit one that low I am thinking about my guests safety, honest.

[Dan McWhirter]

My putting strip is elevated by its thicker foam backing at the hole, which deflects upward of the steel pipe. Right or left of that, however, and a shank or toe edge hit could hit the pipe. Thus far those always rocketed back along the floor. I intended to pad the pipe...will get there eventually.

[David Williams 'Chips']

The fella who sold me the screen is coming to take a look tomorrow. I will mention this idea Dan McWhirter as I also like the idea of losing the dents where the ball has impacted the screen and if it helps with bounce backs, it kills 2 birds with one stone. How heavy would you say the pipe is and how have you attached it to the bottom of the screen? What did you use to clamp it on? Cheers

[Dan McWhirter]

It's ugly looking, the bottom fold should be to the back. Pipe is 1 1/2 inch thick wall weighing about fifteen pounds, spring loaded clamps help stabilize, and where the grommets overlap is tied tight to the frame.

[David Williams 'Chips']

That's a pretty neat setup Dan McWhirter fair doos. Do you use the putting green when putting on the skytrak? How well does it work? Looks like you've cut out a hole in your turf and possibly the surface below? You've got me thinking now on how I can upgrade my setup. The fella that sold me the screen came around earlier and no matter what we tried, we couldn't stop the screen spitting the ball back at us. He thinks it's because I'm only 6 feet away from the screen, regardless, he's gonna send me a replacement screen, not so thick, more mesh type and it should absorb the ball better, hopefully get it Friday.

[Dan McWhirter]

For putting, everything is lined up (although I always place the ball for a chip or putt away from the red dot about 1 1/2 inches toward stance and 45 degrees back) and e6 sim is allowing a breaking putt to be correct by merely rolling the centerline (necessary so that you don't actually have to putt at some weird angle relative to SkyTrak). We play eight feet away, so what little shadow we cause on the screen picture (overhead long throw projector) is not noticeable when looking at your target. A really cheap "putting green" had to be cut shorter and on top of that I added the rather costly super cheap putting surface I paid extra for when I bought a stupid putting ball with a chip inside that connected to an app on the phone. We've had lots of laughs!

[a4chet]

I thought I would add my anecdotal experience to this thread so I just got a skytrak and I had a lot of miss hits to the left with a lot of side Spin. I read through a bunch of the threads and realigned the skytrak.

What I found out though I immediately did inside and not at the range was flip my hands over when I hit the ball instead of extending through the ball on the downswing. when I started swinging through the ball in the more Fuller swing I got a much more natural ball response and much less exaggerated left motion with the golf ball.

[silverado101980]

I know this is a bit off subject but still relevant to this issue. A long time ago I mentioned that there should be some sort of tool in the Skytrak software that will show like a stitched image file of what the unit sees either the when striking the ball or just nothing there so that you can address items that might be in the back round that could cause reflection or issues. I mean it's using cameras to track the ball what is stopping them from making a file that you can view in troubleshooting to see what the Skytrak is looking at ... Just a thought

[Morini]

A long time ago I mentioned that there should be some sort of tool in the Skytrak software that will show like a stitched image file

I agree that it would be great. However, I think that they would prefer to not let users see them in order to protect their intellectual property. Some time ago, somebody took their Skytrak apart, and posted photos of the internals. They were taken down fairly quickly.

I believe a good compromise would be the ability for the unit to send the photos to Rhapsodo in order to troubleshoot issues without having to send the unit it.

What would be very very helpful would be error message. The shot did not read because ... network issue, partial view of ball, too much sunlight, background clutter etc etc.