Skytrak Protective Case

[happybob]

Now the Skytrak protective case has been out for a while on their website for $129, how many people actually bought it? Happy with it?

Someone else posted that it may actually affect the ball distance? Ball was going further with Skytrak outside of the case than in the case? Anyone else with similar experience?

Other issues? I'm thinking of getting one, and don't mind paying $129, but want to make sure that it doesn't make Skytrak less accurate.

[CSwinton]

I purchased one as well due to my son being a beginner. He has hit the thing several times. As state above I also think it is overpriced and the first day I had it my son hit the clamp to keep the unit shut and it busted off. Held in place by a rubber band now. It does make me a little nervous that the unit is not protected on the camera, but it is what it is.

My son did the same thing the first time he used it! I contacted Skytrak here on the forums and yesterday a new clamp showed up in the mail. After not hearing back from them I didn't expect anything but was pleasantly surprised.

[Moz]

Wonder if there is a way to retrofit a lexan cutout into the window area of the skytrak. Has anyone tried taking davrays design for the window opening and retrofit into the opening?

[ste1]

Just shanked a shot into the left lower corner. It's not registering any shots. Only had it a month.
Will have to send it back when I get a chance.
As far as I am concerned the protective case is not fit for purpose.
My credit card should insure it also I hope.
Hope I haven't knacked it
Ste1

[doublebogey]

Like I've mentioned to others before, this heavy duty steel protective cover from SkyTrak Japan (http://cart.sky-trak.com/products/SKYTRAK-PROTECT) can take massive shanks head-on and the SkyTrak will not be damaged at all (except if ball goes thru lens opening). I shanked it once and hit the steel and knock the unit down but zero damage whatsoever. I think Rakuten Global (http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/e...ommend_item_en) might be able to ship this thing globally?

[Ironstrokes]

Just shanked a shot into the left lower corner. It's not registering any shots. Only had it a month.
Will have to send it back when I get a chance.
As far as I am concerned the protective case is not fit for purpose.
My credit card should insure it also I hope.
Hope I haven't knacked it
Ste1

That super annoying. I knew I had to build some sort of protector as soon as possible when I got it, was terrified swing a club over 100mph right next to that little box. Luckily I haven't hit it myself but have had other do so. This was fortunately after I built a box around it and shield by davray's design.

When we got my dad his skytrak a few weeks ago I brought the extra piece of lexan I had, and immediately after giving it to him we spend the next hour or so cutting out the holes in the lexan sheet just right to see if we could make it shank proof with the official skytrak protective case (that came with the skytrak as part of the websites deal), and it works great. Didn't even have to screw it in or anything, just taped the lexan over the main window of the protective case and has been working like a charm for him. Ill tell him to send me a picture and ill post it here, definitely recommend doing this for anyone who has the official case and when you get your new skytrak back. Hope you get it back quickly

[doublebogey]

Yes Ironstrokes, would love to see pics of your father's lexan-modified ST protective case window.

[Dan McWhirter]

Did you notice any effect on SkyTrak readings?

[ste1]

What's annoying is I got the perspex (you call it Lexan) before it arrived but didn't have time to cut the shape out and as you have done tape it to the case.
Annoyed.
Thanks for the reply.

[GmanJeff]

I have switched to Almost Golf balls, after several shanks to the same part of the case, which fractures upon impact. The case may be fine for the better golfers here who use it mostly to level the ST rather than to actually protect it, but until I get to the point where I or anyone else using the unit 100% never shank the ball it just isn't going to long survive foreseeable mis-hits. Thankfully, the ST itself seems unfazed so far, but I'd prefer a protective case which isn't self-sacrificing in protecting the ST.

[Ironstrokes]

Did you notice any effect on SkyTrak readings?

Surprisingly not at all. I know I had issues when I made my box and lexan screen and had to adjust the hole size and all. But with the official protective case, the cutouts and everything worked perfectly first try (that never happens haha). Gonna post the pictures in a minute, he just sent them to my phone

[Ironstrokes]

Here are the pictures. Looks like he modified it with some Velcro pieces instead of the tape we were using to test it. So it looks much more nice and clean than when I last saw it. It's been working perfectly for him so far

[Ironstrokes]

Didn't see them pop up, so here they are. The little crack on the screen happened during the cutting process, but hasn't effected anything so didn't feel the need to re do it

[doublebogey]

Wow these look great! I'm definitely gonna do that w my protective cover.

[Dan McWhirter]

Curious, the placement and sizes of the rectangular cutouts...did someone dismantle a SkyTrak to look at the little lasers? I once found an old patent application but I lost the link.

[Ironstrokes]

Wow these look great! I'm definitely gonna do that w my protective cover.

Awesome, yea, even if you never hit it, it does amazing things for your peace of mind. And when your relaxed and completely taking even the slightest of thoughts out of you mind of exploding your skytrak haha, you swing that much more freely and usually better in my case at least

[Ironstrokes]

Curious, the placement and sizes of the rectangular cutouts...did someone dismantle a SkyTrak to look at the little lasers? I once found an old patent application but I lost the link.

davray666 was the one who gave everyone the blueprints for the cut outs. I believe he actually took a picture with an IR camera to be able to see though the skytrak's black screen to reverse engineer where the cut outs had to be, or he may have taken it apart, don't remember exactly. Not sure where he had been though too, used to post a bunch around here, it was always cool hearing his technical expertise.

[davray666]

The protection and front plate holes where designed based on a model I built in 3D of the lens FOV and camera placement etc ...
I had to disassemble the unit to get all the data required. E.g. once you know the image sensor placement, lens focal point and laser line lens angle. Then it's all about math.
As for my absence from GSF. I settled for GC2 + JNPG and therefore moved over to the appropriate forum for that combo under the name of "Tretee"

[Ironstrokes]

The protection and front plate holes where designed based on a model I built in 3D of the lens FOV and camera placement etc ...
I had to disassemble the unit to get all the data required. E.g. once you know the image sensor placement, lens focal point and laser line lens angle. Then it's all about math.
As for my absence from GSF. I settled for GC2 + JNPG and therefore moved over to the appropriate forum for that combo under the name of "Tretee"

Ah gotcha, makes sense why we haven't seen you much over here then. Still super cool that you put the time in to do that, it made my skytrak experience that much more comfortable and enjoyable

[ste1]

Didn't see them pop up, so here they are. The little crack on the screen happened during the cutting process, but hasn't effected anything so didn't feel the need to re do it

Hi Ironstrokes, is it possible to draw your screen and upload it as a template please?
Thanls
Ste

[cjjdavis2]

Hi Ironstrokes, is it possible to draw your screen and upload it as a template please?
Thanls
Ste

Hello all, just chiming in here...newly joined to ask this exact same question. I'm looking to buy the Skytrak, and waist deep in my research before I do (as I have a 8 year old son...so protection will be key it seems). Would love it if the template on the pictures Ironstrokes made for his father's case could be drawn up or measurements as I believe i've landed on making one to go with my case too.

Thank you in advance.