Protecting Skytrak

[Csarran]

So I received my ST today and love the accuracy/ease of use. However, it makes me nervous having it so close and slightly in front. Anyone have any protection ideas until the protective case is released? I was planning on using it with our First Tee kids but I am holding off until the unit can be protected.

[rbarthle17]

Just an update here - due to overwhelming request for a leveling feature, we sent the designs back to incorporate that. Unfortunately, that took a ready-to-go product and sent it back to square one. However, finalizing designs again and I have to say, it's much better than the first iteration. It will be worth the wait!!

Any idea what kind of ETA we are looking at for this? Weeks? Months?

[TWiG]

Not sure if I can post links here to eBay but they have a set of caravan levels that wbond shows on top of his unit and also the round 1 bubble version for £1.79 and you can get 1 x A5 piece of Perspex for less than £3

[Ironstrokes]

I saw recent posts (in a different thread) mentioning a protector for the skytrak and figured I'd throw up a few pictures of my set up. My old man isn't too bad with the tools and ideas when I brought the skytrak over and he came up with this.

I do have a leveling platform as well with 4 screws in each corner as others have made and this fits on it pretty well actually (forgot to get a picture of that). And having a small cheap level sit on top of the skytrak works quite well.

Some were saying in the other thread that they didn't feel like a protector was necessary. They are pretty much right (yet to have a shanked shot myself come close to hitting it) but gotta tell you...having this definitely eases the mind a ton and don't really ever think about a freak shot happening around it anymore from anyone I let play on it. Still looking for some sort of clear plastic screen for the front but nothing yet has been good enough that I think it would work through it.

Frankly, I've actually had someone hit the protector with a golf ball after a swing a few weeks ago and it held up perfectly (still don't know how they managed to hit it though haha). It ultimately has the same fault of no protection on main opening in the front as most others have but the laser is not blocked off and have yet to have a shot not register as I feared might happen with this much wood around it and some part of it possibly blocking the camera.

Just my 2 cents and hope it helps someone out if they want another idea how to protect it

[Ironstrokes]

And a coupe more pictures....and obligatory tiny dog for scale haha

[Hoosierdaddy]

Has anyone tested to see if the camera's will infact read through different clear plastics? Lexan? Lexan can be put in a metal break and a box could be made easily. I used to fabricate all kinds of spoilers/wings on my stock car from lexan. And I made some pretty cool looking interior mud defectors in the cockpit also. And you can get Lexan at most any glass shop.

but I must say the wood frame /box is a very good idea. it will be heavy enough to withstand a good blow and could be easily moved from right to left if needed. Speaking of that has anyone used this going from right handed to left handed? I am curious, if this unit has to be level, how is that done from one player to the next? I have seen the GC2 in use on a video and it did not look like much of a hassle at all.

Ironstrokes.... Tell your old man "nice job" on the box. Best I have seen.

[Mazenblue]

I saw a post somewhere, maybe Ottawa Golf that a guy used a piece of Lexan over a box without issue. I'm trying to find the post, it was a simple design.

[Ironstrokes]

Didn't realize the lexan might work, I'll have to try that and let you guys know my results.

And I haven't had to try using the skytrak from right to left handed but I'm gonna try myself to build some kind of sliding platform out of the sliders that are on that bottom of drawers so I can move it forwards and backwards quickly to play from the fairway turf to the rough turf once the simulator software comes out. And while the people I will have using my skytrak are all right handed I could see the possibility of building some sort of U shaped track that you could pre level each side and then slide the skytrak all the way from one side of the mat to the other and not have to pick it up each time. This may be overkill but just something that may be possible for more future convenience. Not exactly sure what to build a curved track out of though off the to of my head.

[Mazenblue]

Found the post it was Agolfman, "Starting my garage build out." Lexan, wood box and Velcro. It looks very simple and effective. I have asked him to comment here about using Lexan.

[jon.summy@aol.com]

We just put an impact bag in front of ours works perfect.....we like to keep it simple.

[Csarran]

I am a little bit paranoid, but I wipe this thing with a damp cloth as recommended and i have these streaks that will not come off. Is this going to affect my unit? You can only really see them in the light. This thing seems to be supersensitive and I am trying to be super careful. What the heck?

[Ironstrokes]

I don't think it will effect it. Mine had a little scuff on the glass part as well that I attempted to clean up the same way and now have similar streaks on it and have had zero issue at all, 99/100 of my shots continue to register perfectly and are very accurate.

[HTTR]

I'm curious did anyone who didn't buy warranty still want to, I bought mine a while ago without warranty so I don't think I'm eligible to, I'm not afraid of hitting my SkyTrak with a ball and have not yet, but in case it just stopped working i regret not buying warranty for a $2K product

[driverdivots]

I'm curious did anyone who didn't buy warranty still want to, I bought mine a while ago without warranty so I don't think I'm eligible to, I'm not afraid of hitting my SkyTrak with a ball and have not yet, but in case it just stopped working i regret not buying warranty for a $2K product

Around the time I returned my unit, I was looking around on the skytrak site, and it looks like they have an option for you to send it back for repairs, and you just pay for the repair, not an entire new unit.

[TWiG]

Can anyone comment on the Lexan, be nice to protect the full front if I can otherwise gonna build a mdf case and opening for camera and laser, thanks.

[Hoosierdaddy]

I seen someplace that the lexan did not affect the readings. But I have not tried it. I am going to get busy on that soon.