How to get exact alignment

[Shardak]

I picked up one of these tonight:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-Self-Leveling-Cross-Line-Laser-Level-with-Clamping-Mount-GLL-2/205387264

Was a very good feeling to get the skytrak red dots, my net, and the lens of my projector all 100% inline.

If you have even the slightest bit of OCD, this thing rocks

[pcascio]

Here's a cheaper one:

https://www.amazon.com/Tacklife-SC-L01-50-Self-Leveling-Horizontal-Cross-Line/dp/B01N33JJ3R/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540229944&sr=8-3&keywords=self-level+laser

[Gresh12]

SkyTrak_Seth

i seem to recall in a thread somewhere that someone had suggested an alignment mode in the hardware/software whereby you lay something down the target line (like an alignment stick) and the Skytrak could photo it, determine the angle and report back like the other alignment features so you could adjust until zero (I may have expanded on the concept further in my head). My recollection was you didn’t rule it out and said you would look in to what was possible. Any update?

I use my device in 2 locations at home and occasionally take it to the range so it’s getting setup before each session and none of my spots have ability to permanently mark the spot. So a feature to get alignment accurate reasonably quickly would be appreciated.

For my unit the laser alignment is at least 15* off and probably more which has been the case since I got it (it’s so far off I simply laughed the first time I turned it on). The alignment approach in this thread would work for all but the range if my alignment dots were accurate. Also between my FMJ and the Skytrak body it doesn’t sit exactly square either so I end up hitting balls at centre of net and manually fiddling with it until I get a couple straight reading I think were straight but between my lack of perfect centre hits each time and the error on the unit I’m never super confident I’ve got it perfect.

[calebm1001]

I have to fight my FMJ case as well. It messes with my eyes and I get damn near disoriented trying to swing square with the unit, but at an angle to the actual FMJ stick holder.

Have you figured out how to better align yours?

[G4zzel]

Gresh12 so you mean that I cant use the dots from Skytrak for alignment? I thought they were perfectly parallell to the unit???

SkyTrak_Seth please shed some light on this as Ineed to setup the bay for both left and right hand play and need the unit aligned perfectly

[Gresh12]

Answered below but it’s been acknowledged dots aren’t right on all units. Mine are so far out it’s obvious not to rely on them for me.

[AndyF]

G4zzel,
There was a thread a while ago now where SkyTrak_Seth mentioned that the laser alignment dots were not necessarily the best thing to use which is why it got removed from the software. A number of people then complained about it's removal and it was put back in but 'hidden' in the level screen.

Some people say that the laser alignment works, others say that it doesn't and they align with the unit square so there is variability within the units.

The only real way I've found is to hit some gentle straight chip shots to start with and align your unit until it shows the chips going straight.

You also have to remember that the Skytrak accuracy itself is only +/- 2 degrees on horizontal launch angle therefore if you spend hours getting it perfectly aligned then the shot can still show as incorrect due to the accuracy limitations.

Andy

[G4zzel]

AndyF thanks for the info, i’ll double check next time

[SkyTrak_Seth]

G4zzel,
There was a thread a while ago now where SkyTrak_Seth mentioned that the laser alignment dots were not necessarily the best thing to use which is why it got removed from the software. A number of people then complained about it's removal and it was put back in but 'hidden' in the level screen.

Some people say that the laser alignment works, others say that it doesn't and they align with the unit square so there is variability within the units.

The only real way I've found is to hit some gentle straight chip shots to start with and align your unit until it shows the chips going straight.

You also have to remember that the Skytrak accuracy itself is only +/- 2 degrees on horizontal launch angle therefore if you spend hours getting it perfectly aligned then the shot can still show as incorrect due to the accuracy limitations.

Andy

Yeah, as previously discussed, the lasers weren't really intended for alignment. In a perfect world it should work, but the tolerance for the left and right handed lasers is set to allow for consistent image capture and there is some wiggle room there. With alignment, there isn't so much wiggle room, so there are units that fall within this tolerance but don't necessarily meet exact alignment down range. That's why I "hid it". It's kind of a YMMV kind of thing. The best way to ensure you are hitting perfectly parallel to the unit is to use alignment sticks. I even like to lay some tape (or similar) down the target line and also mark a line that the unit should be flush against.

[G4zzel]

ok, thanks SkyTrak_Seth your input is great value, as always.