Skytrak Armour

[DirtyGarry24]

Ok, I'm starting this thread to see if protecting the Skytrak box is still a must for some people.

I have read countless posts on this subject and generally feel that this is a need for users. I have owned the Skytrak for a couple of months and agree for the most part. Honestly, it doesn't seem an issue for myself, however I couldn't possibly let my kids, favorite friends, or even a touring pro use it without completely freaking out!!!

My question is this. Is this a need for users that still exists for a reasonable enough amount of people?

I am a manufacturing engineer and have all the available information and software to develop a legit protective case that can make the Skytrak bulletproof. I can integrate leveling devices, locating devices, and alignment aids into the case. Basically whatever a user wants.

I can have these produced at a reasonable cost and shipped to a user. This is what I can do.

I have a desire to this, have started on a prototype for myself, but am really looking for more interest than personal use. Time is a huge motivator for me as I'd rather be hacking away on the TGC. LOL!

If you are interested, please PM me or just reply to this thread so I can get an idea of the need.

Disclaimer: yes I have the Davray sketch and will use some of that information in whatever design I come up with. My plan would be to optimize and improve overall function of whatever case I come up with. I see location, leveling, protection, and consistency of setup being the utmost importance.

[Eric Torng]

I am interested too. I do have a question. I read on the Play Better site that to get better driver readings, you should raise the height of the skytrak to the height of the tee. First, others found this to be true? How have others dealt with this while trying to keep the skytrak aligned, etc? Thanks from a newbie.

[DirtyGarry24]

I've added you to the list Eric Torng. I'm unaware of the pros and cons of having the SkyTrak above the hitting surface. All I can say is that I get fairly accurate driver readings with my ST at hitting height.

I want to say this again in hopes that somebody will chime in. It would make the leveling feet aspect of my design cheaper to have a lower limit of around 1". Meaning the bottom of the ST would be .75 - 1.00 from the floor at the lowest setting. I'd really appreciate if someone would chime in if this will not work for them.

[Genghis]

I have a 9 ft wide stance mat with a 1 foot strip of Fiberbuilt fairway panels in the middle since I'm right handed and my wife is a lefty. We will be using the ST on the mat. Will the leveling feet be removable so that I can have the case flush on the mat?

[DirtyGarry24]

Genghis - You can remove the leveling feet, but the actual Skytrak box would not be flush with the hitting surface. It would be .375 above.

[Eric Torng]

I have no problem with the ST at this height. Should not be a problem for most since mat is at least this thick I would think.

[gerem1]

I would be interested depending on price.

[DirtyGarry24]

gerem1, I've added you to the list.

[Vincent_Vega]

I am interested too. I do have a question. I read on the Play Better site that to get better driver readings, you should raise the height of the skytrak to the height of the tee. First, others found this to be true? How have others dealt with this while trying to keep the skytrak aligned, etc? Thanks from a newbie.

I read that too and couldn't believe that they have that statement on their website. Simply not true. I use the tallest tomahawk tee they make and the bottom of my Skytrak sits at the same height of my hitting surface. By their logic, you'd have to raise and then lower your Skytrak every time you hit a driver. I don't know anyone that does that. Just have the base of your unit sit the same height as your mat and you're good.

[Eric Torng]

Thanks for the confirmation. It has been a pain to try and change this all the time and maintain alignment. And I did not see much if any difference in driver performance. Guess I still need to get rid of indoor swing with my driver.

[DirtyGarry24]

Hey guys, I've found a possible solution for an additional laser alignment aid. This is called a Viper Dart Laser Line. Have a search and you can check them out. Couple things that I'm unsure of with this. 1) Like anything else, I'd have to make it adjustable so that each user can skew the angle to fit their misaligned ST box. This pisses me off more and more each day. 2) I'm unsure how long the projected line would be with such a short throw. Anyway, let me know what you guys think. I may buy one and test it out. I do love that the projection angle is adjustable so you could project it directly onto your ST laser dots, set it and forget it. Then you could toggle on/off whenever you like. I've mentioned a couple of guys off the top of my head that have been interested in this feature. Hopefully all others will find this post as well.

Thinman, wbond

[jjkoolman]

This looks like a great solution to the alignment problem! You could align the laser line up perfectly with the alignment dots and just leave it set at that point. I know I'm not the only guy that moves his Skytrak every session so that would make setup time a lot quicker! I may purchase one of these for my current setup either way. Thanks for all your hard work DirtyGarry24 can't wait to see the finished product.

[DirtyGarry24]

Thanks jjkoolman. I'm pretty stoked about the alignment aid. I'm really hoping that I can rotate the laser holder in order to correct the ST box misalignment that some of us have. I've ordered one of these to mess around with. I'm supposed to get it Thursday. I'll post my results to the thread.

[DoubleBarrelLefty]

DirtyGarry24 I am interested please add me to list. Are you projecting it will be cheaper, around the same, or more than the current ST case at $129?

Also your question above "I want to say this again in hopes that somebody will chime in. It would make the leveling feet aspect of my design cheaper to have a lower limit of around 1". Meaning the bottom of the ST would be .75 - 1.00 from the floor at the lowest setting. I'd really appreciate if someone would chime in if this will not work for them."

I just purchased the ST, but i picture putting it on my hitting mat, not next to it/below it. Are you saying the bottom, if i placed it on the same hitting mat i was hitting off of, would sit a minimum 3/4" higher? Just trying to understand thanks.

[DirtyGarry24]

I've got you down DoubleBarrelLefty.

I'm never very good at speculating cost/price. I need to wait and see what kind of quote I get first.

As far as putting the Skytrak in a case and putting it on top of your hitting mat, you will always be above the surface. I would say at best, you would be .500 above the surface. You may could take the leveling feet off and get to about .375. According to some, being as much as .500 above the surface isn't an issue, but I can't say either way.

[bulletbusiness]

I'm interested

[DirtyGarry24]

I've got ya down bulletbusiness.

[ROY]

I'm very interested!

[DirtyGarry24]

Got ya down ROY!

[Yeri]

Add me to the list too!

[DirtyGarry24]

Sure thing Yeri.

[ganders75]

Hi, I'm defo interested if there's a chance of shipping to the UK

[DirtyGarry24]

I've got ya down ganders75. I'll check into that when the time comes. Long way to go still.

[awisnia]

Gary - you've motivated a true crowd-sourced project!!....Since I'm onto my second unit after the first got hit by a shank (through the window in the protective case), and I own a manufacturing company with a lasers, brakes, etc. I finally got up the energy to pull a few ideas together to toss into the mix. I was thinking heavy sheet metal would be the way to go to get the mass-damping and lowest cost...also, I'm trying for minimum window space to reduce the chances of a ball hitting the IR pass lens. Going to burn a sample next week and see what I can get away with for the openings and still get good reads. Also thinking about an optional base for lifting the unit - everything screws to the bottom inserts of the SkyTrak.

Here's a rendering of the concept - thoughts??

[DirtyGarry24]

Nice case awisnia. Reminds me of a case that MikeAa made a while ago. He has manufactured my favorite to date.

If only you had that before The Big Break! Lol! Seriously, good luck with your project. I may steal your offset feet.

[doublebogey]

Great. Looks like the Japanese SkyTrak case except ball cannot go thru opening.

[wbond]

That looks great awisnia I like the idea of having the feet as a standoff to still get the unit even with the mat.

[awisnia]

I suppose you could flip the base for extra tall needs - also, I
could actually put a small lip-up on the front of the leveling base to form a slot to drop an alignment stick into.

[FaultyClubs]

Alignment sticks work pretty good. Easy to see if it is parallel to your hitting mat. The eye seems pretty good at detecting if two lines are parallel.

If in doubt one can always use a tape measure to verify the alignment rod is parallel to the hitting mat.

Also a holder that screws in or out will solve the inconsistent Skytrak case alignment problem. Keep the alignment rod showing parallel and dial one holder in or out until the Skytrak is in perfect alignment. After that ignore the case and just make sure the alignment rod looks parallel.

[DirtyGarry24]

The offset of the leveling feet is a good idea, however using 4 leveling feet is a bad idea. 3 is the way to go. I'm afraid awisnia's case will be similar to the 4 legged table at the coffee shop that nobody sits at because it rocks to and fro. Maybe you can shove some napkins under that one leg? Lol!

[FaultyClubs]

...I was thinking heavy sheet metal would be the way to go to get the mass-damping....

Mass-damping is a good idea. Especially if combined with mechanical decoupling. I did both with my GC2 shield.

I made my shield heavy and over-sized so I could line the inside with dense foam. I then slide the GC2 in from the back to fit snug as a bug in a rug...stays nicely aligned that way too. No need for hard mounting. A couple alignment rod holder tabs on the front and I was all set.

The GC2 is built a little differently but maybe something like that would work here too?

[DirtyGarry24]

awisnia and FaultyClubs would you guys mind taking your love affair to another thread please? It's obvious at this point that you guys are hijacking and trolling my thread out of spite. I've tried to be as cordial as possible, but that doesn't seem to work.

I mean, where has your ST case solution been for the past 2ish years? Why is there still a need? I'm only trying to provide a need for myself and others that have displayed a need. Why the need to heckle me?

I only hope that each of your grandchildren don't pick up on the need to heckle when they get to your age. You guys need a hug or what?

[awisnia]

Hijacking? trolling? Heckle? Spite? You've lost me. I realize that you only joined this board a week ago, but none of that is fair or accurate. Sorry, truly was just trying to help, not compete.

[DirtyGarry24]

It's possible awisnia that I was incorrect on some of those things. I've been wrong before. It's also true that I haven't been a member for very long.

However, there are a couple of things that can't be denied. The things that you have said on this thread, and the things that you have said on other threads within this forum. We must remember that these words are available to all people, whether a member or not.

With that in mind, you contradicted yourself on my thread (verifiable), you deliberately ignored questions that I asked you in that regard, and you further contradicted yourself with the case that you presented on my thread with a spiteful caption.

When you consider the timing of these events (unverifiable), you come to the conclusion that I did. I have no hard feelings, just moving on.

[awisnia]

? ? ? Really lost now. Good luck, glad i was able to add to the ideas.

[FaultyClubs]

Sorry Gary, just trying to help. No worries I won't post again.