SkyTrak not registering lob shots, and driver shots are coming up short

[BogeyMonster]

In addition to the SkyTrak PC app not letting me log in (posted in another thread: https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...nternet-access), the following issues are happening when using the SkyTrak driving range app that comes with the Game improvement plan:

1) Has anyone ever had a lob shot (~70 degrees, ~30yd distance) register on a SkyTrak, or is the unit simply not capable of understanding a properly hit lob shot? I have tried moving the ball an inch or two in front of the laser, tried different brands of balls, made sure the ball's logo is facing the SkyTrak unit, but not a single lob shot has ever registered.

2) Shots hit with my driver are coming up ~25 yards short. My irons, hybrids, and 3-wood seem to be fairly accurate, but my driver's distance has never once registered accurately. The Skytrak correctly claims that my 3-hybrid goes 225, my 3-wood off the ground goes 250, but then my driver only registers between 230-250. In reality my driver goes 270+. I have tried moving the ball an inch or two behind the laser, tried different brands of balls, but it made no difference.

Any ideas?

[cr8vnrg]

How are Driver shots supposed to setup with Skytrak? Tee behind the laser and no adjustment to the unit?

[BogeyMonster]

How are Driver shots supposed to setup with Skytrak? Tee behind the laser and no adjustment to the unit?

The documentation from Skytrak claims that the laser should be pointed at the base of the tee, but most users on the internet seem to agree that it is better to have the tee 1-2 inches behind the laser (to the right of the laser for a right-handed player.) In my case, neither approach is working accurately. I'm currently left to assume that the SkyTrak does not work properly for shots hit more than 250 yards.

[calebm1001]

There is an issue with the ball speed reading for any balls traveling faster than 150mph. They are working on an update for this issue at the moment.

[Mandragora]

For Lob wedge, I place the ball an inch to 1.5 inches in front of the laser. It is still not perfect though. I believe the loft gets the ball up before it enters the camera's field..

[BogeyMonster]

After hours of testing and research yesterday I can say two things:

1) The Skytrak cannot reliably register any shot over 50 degrees, regardless of distance, and regardless of ball/laser position. This may be a bug, but it has been present in their software for several years, and there is no reason to think it will ever be fixed.

2) The SkyTrak cannot understand the physics of a shot with a ball speed approaching 150mph, regardless of ball/laser position. This may be a bug, but it has been present in their software for over 6 months and there is no reason to think it will be fixed any time soon.

3) Putting is not supported by the SkyTrak App.

So, what exactly is this thing good for if it can't register long shots, high shots, or rolling shots correctly?

[calebm1001]

I think for an additional $15,000 you can get all those things.

In all seriousness, that sucks you're experiencing what seems like a bad device.

1)I haven't had any problems with lob/flop shots. I'm also not trying to hit over imaginary trees where a 70* shot with 30 yards of carry is needed. I will try to hit some bigger flops tonight that don't go into my ceiling and see what happens.
2) They are actively working on it. Although you are right... We haven't heard from Skytrak since March about their current robot testing in California.
3) Putting works fine with the HLA patch on all 3rd party apps. But you're right, don't have anything for putting in the native app.

-- I agree on the rollout. A 30 yard pitch from a pitching wedge shouldn't stop after 10 feet. Not sure the idea behind the coding on that.

Hopefully you don't give up and Skytrak support figures out some of the fixable things for us i.e. flops/lobs and high ball speed.

[FaultyClubs]

For most people a ball launching over 50 degrees is a mishit and a ball faster than 150 mph is a fluke. The skytrak seems to cover off the needs of most golfers. If the skytrak doesn't do what you need then buy something that does. There are other options.

[BogeyMonster]

Please don't hurt your ceiling for my benefit. My hitting cage has ceiling protection, so I can hit flops without worrying about damage.

[BogeyMonster]

For others reading this thread: My driving distance accuracy was helped by raising the SkyTrak unit off the ground the same amount that the tee raised the ball off the ground. I was using a 1.25" tee, so I raised the SkyTrak up 1.25", aimed the laser at the top of the tee (where the ball sits) and the readings were better. Still short, but better. A few drives registered 275+, most around 265, and that isn't too far off. At least the SkyTrak is usable with those numbers.

No luck on flop shots though, not a single one has registered. Full AW, SW, and LW shots only register about 20% of the time. But I can always hit half shots from inside of 115yards if that's all the SkyTrak can understand. It's disappointing, but not a complete deal-breaker.

[ganders75]

I used to have a 60 deg wedge which it would never read (still do somewhere I guess) but I changed to a new Cleveland and problem went away. I think it’s caused by the club moving faster than the ball, breaking the laser curtain and setting off the cameras. Sorry if I’m wasting your time and you’ve tried all this: Moving ball pos fwd should help, a good couple of inches at least. Play around with it, an inch closer to the unit or maybe inch further away, etc.

Good luck mate.

[Lombo]

So by leveling the skytrak with the ball, the driver numbers improved? That's interesting. How did it affect (if any) the launch angle?

[BogeyMonster]

I didn't compare the launch angle numbers, but I'll experiment with it the next time I use the SkyTrak and post if I find anything interesting.