Skylark new user

[Harbor17]

Hey Guys,

I have just purchased a pre owned skytrak and am looking forward to delivery. I have a practice area in my basement but wanted to get a LM to enhance my sessions, I am mostly interested in range. I had considered GC2 but ended up deciding on skytrak based on cost and am planning to hook it up to my windows based laptop.

My question is there anything I should be aware of or invest in before I get the unit? I have read on this site that a wifi extender can reduce shot delay, would anyone recommend that I get on now? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Bryan

[Lgnir]

Hi there! I am pretty new to SkyTrak myself, so I will give you my experience from someone that has had their unit less than a month. There is a WEALTH of information in this forum, you just have to take the time to search specific topics, and sometimes read through some very long threads, but there is some very valuable information to be found in them!

Here's some of the information I've taken from this forum, and what has worked best for me so far. You are hitting indoors like me (you in your basement, me in my garage), so my first recommendation would to get a high quality mat. I have a DuraPro mat currently, but just purchase one of those 5 star mats you see advertised my Martin Hall on the Golf Channel, mainly because I want to use wooden tees. If you do not have a net yet, I highly recommend the Net Return line of nets as they are extremely high quality and have the side benefit of returning the ball to you so you can use just one ball.

In setting up my SkyTrak, I used what I believe is the easiest method of connecting it to my laptop with a USB cable. From what I've read, this is the best method to reduce the delay. Mine is consistently 2-3 seconds...I can live with that. A side benefit of this, is you never have to worry about draining the battery on the SkyTrak.

Most users here agree that it is best to keep the SkyTrak off of the surface you are hitting on, especially if you are using a mat. This supposedly reduces read errors. I have a few "non reads" now and again, but I noticed they are normally on shots I know I topped bad, or hit really fat.

Another issue is alignment of the unit. I have the plastic case with the level bubble on it, and there is the level indicator in the software itself. I have heard some people say that theirs is 2 degrees this way or that way, but I have no idea how they know that, as I have not figured out were to find that in the software, or I just don't know how to read what I am seeing. I just see a little green bar that I assume means the unit is level, but I have been trusting the bubble more.

When setting up for a session, I set the unit to where I need it to be, ensure it is level with the surface I am hitting off of, and then ensure it is level with the bubble while ensuring the little bar in the software is green. Once you start your practice session, under "Session Settings" is the alignment function. I turn this function on, and then place an alignment rod across the two laser dots. I then adjust the unit and alignment rod, until it is aimed at the point I am aiming at in the net. Once I have it adjusted (and ensure it is still level) I take another alignment rod and place it parallel to the rod I have laying across the dots, towards the unit. I then take another alignment rod, and place it parallel to the one across the dots, a few inches above where my toes are when I take my stance. I then remove the one laying across the laser dots, and turn off the alignment tool. This give me a distinct path of my target line, so I ensure I am not hitting left/right of the SkyTrak's target line.

Lastly, use a high quality ball. I use one of the two brands that I play with, as I want the data I get to be from the actual ball type I use on the course. Place your ball on the laser dot, and make sure the ball's logo is pointing at the cameras and you are ready to go!

I'm sure you are really going to like what the SkyTrak can do for you. It is so nice to actually see your ball flight while hitting into a net! In the short time I've had it, I have seen improvement in my on course game! Of course, I actually practice more now, because the SkyTrak makes it more fun to do. The Game Improvement Package does add some pretty cool features like the skills assessment, where you can set all these targets, and then work through your bag. I really like that feature as it is really helping me with knowing exactly how far I am hitting each iron and where my average miss is.

I hope you enjoy your SkyTrak as well as I am, and I hope these experiences for a fellow "newbie" helps!

[StanMI]

Post deleted.... Can't spell worth a ..........

[StanMI]

Learn something new every time I come on here. I had no idea that was there. I'll check it next session. THANKS !!

[Lgnir]

Wow! Thanks Bennyg211! I did not know about that! Awesome! You think they would put that in the user manual!

[JJ62]

I advise taking it easy on hitting balls. It's so much fun, I can't stop. I have messed up my ribs and have read where others have lost track of time and wound up having to take some time off to recover. Hopefully I'll be healed in the next week or so. You are going to have a lot of fun!

[Lgnir]

I advise taking it easy on hitting balls. It's so much fun, I can't stop. I have messed up my ribs and have read where others have lost track of time and wound up having to take some time off to recover. Hopefully I'll be healed in the next week or so. You are going to have a lot of fun!

HAHA! Thanks for that tip! You are absolutely correct, I have spent WAY more time hitting into my net in one session, than I have ever done on a driving range. I sure felt it the next morning! This is also a reason to ensure you have a high quality mat that reduces bounce and reacts more like real grass.

[ghopper8]

Get the full metal jacket case made by awisnia, alas the last thing you want to do is shank a ball into the camera

[Harbor17]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys, much appreciated. I ended up getting a pre-owned unit so I hope it will function as well as a new model, anyone have any experience with pre-owned? I have a pretty nice mat that I bought from DW Quail golf and a nice net as well, my practice studio has been set up in my basement for a few years and I spend a lot of time down there hitting balls so I am excited about the upgrade.

One question, did you guys have to sign for the package when it was delivered? I am trying to slide this one under my wife radar so hopefully they will just leave the package, otherwise I will have some explaining to do.

[penrose]

Fed ex just left mine - that is the normal practice in my neighborhood and I suspect most of us.

[penrose]

why not just have it delivered to your office or a friend? my married friends leave all kinds of crap at my house - I should really charge for this service.

[YonexMan]

If it is pre-owned. Make sure the original owner has de-registered the skytrak unit from their name with Skygolf. You can then registered it in your own name with Skygolf. If you don't d this, then your subscriptions to the game improvement pack or any golf simulator games you buy will not work properly.

[Harbor17]

The unit is pre owned bought from Skytrak, I assume it was a return.

[jut111]

I bought mine pre-owned through Skytrak. No issues with performance, but I did have to online chat with customer service to get registered the first time. It didn't want to register itself to my user ID. Easy fix through chat, pretty painless.