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December 30 11:15 am

V 10.0.3.2

New Ball Spin detection using the ball logo

for overhead SCX and Eagle systems

You can now select the option "Spin line / Logo on ball" to measure ball spin for overhead camera systems (i.e. SCX and Eagle).

As the logo will not always be visible in the frames, the system now automatically scans for 2 adjacent fames showing the ball logo in all the 16 ball speed frames.

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December 29 1:23 pm

Coming up:

VisTrak ball spin detection testing using Callaway® RPT™ Chrome Soft X® Golf Balls

These QED balls are still avaiable at Carl' Place

December 29 4:38 pm

V 10.0.3.1

Update for GC2 comparison testers

Improved ball spin detection.

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December 25 1:42 pm

New Ball Spin Setup page

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December 24 2:07 pm

SCX Ball Spin

While measuring ball spin from a side mounted camera like the LX and EV (GC2, GC3 etc) is comparatively easy

( as side mounted cameras see a complete 360 degree of rotation ),

measuring ball spin from overhead mounted cameras that can only see a small 17 degree of rotation is a whole new ball game.

As such, most work on the SCX system in the next few weeks will be aimed at increasing the SCX's ball spin and side spin detection accuracy.

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December 23 12:49 pm

V 10.0.2.6

New 1: Z perspective correction for rear mounted SCX cameras

Currently all values set to zero though as it not yet clear what - if any - correction is required

New 2: Ball co-ordinate export now made after every shot (stored in C:GSAgolf \ ballCoords folder)

New EVi Vcam and LX1 casings featuring green LED strip "ball detected" and "ready for swing" indicator

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Click above images to read more about EVi and LX1 systems

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December 22 11:25 am

V 10.0.2.5

Fix: Error in Z perspective correction for forward mounted SCX cameras

Ball co-ordinate CSV export feature in camera panel (Top-Right corner)

Numerous other smaller updates

SCX vs GC2

While the data calculations of the LX and EV systems vs GC2 worked out just fine,

we still have a bit of work with matching SCX data with the shot results of the GC2.

The above image shows a good match with the SCX cameras mounted 2 to 3ft behind the player - and thus not requiring perspective correction -

However, we are still working on tweaking the setup to get the results of the SCX data to match the GC2's results when the cameras are mounted forward.

Getting close though.

SCX rear mounting

You now have the option to mount the SCX cameras and lights ahead or behind the ball.

Pros for rear mounted cameras (like the Uneekor):

1. Little to no perspective correction required (thus possibly more accurate).

2. Unit can be mounted outside the enclosure.

3. Lighting not causing glare in the players eyes.

4. Cameras not going to be hit by very high lofted ball strikes

Cons: Less likely to view the front of the club face.

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December 19 8:14 am

New SCX stereo camera ball speed and calibration

V 10.0.2.1

The new SCX ball speed calculation method is now implemented.

Switch the new stereo cam ball speed calculation and/or perspective correction OFF / ON in the Video panel

Note that perspective correction is only used if the SCX cameras are mounted 3ft ahead of the ball launch position

and not if mounted 3 ft behind.

New easier SCX calibration instructions are now on the SCX Installation page

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December 17 2:20 pm

New SCX stereo camera calibration aims

The fundamental aim of the new SCX speed calculation methods and calibration is to ensure the SCX is as accurate as any other launch monitor on the market.

Independent tester Phil in the UK already proved that the EV/LX systems are almost spot on in comparison with his GC2.

We now need to do these comparison tests with the SCX.

While I don't expect the results will be quite as good as with the EV/LX, but they should be within a +/- 1 or 2 mph range

December 17 10:15 am

V 10.0.1.8

New SCX stereo camera calibration

New 1: Ball height off the ground is displayed

Users can use this to verify calibration.

i.e. when elevating a ball on the floor (e.g. placing the ball on a dark box of a known height)

a comparison can be made between the measured ball height and the actual height of the ball on the box.

New 2: When loading a shot video in an SCX system and the current camera offset is zero, then it will be assumed it is 125.

Coming up:

We're still testing the new SCX ball speed calculation methods and calibration. Expect many more updates regarding this over the next few days.

Current unknown: calculation accuracy when the system is in 1500 FPS mode.

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December 16 2:24 pm

V 10.0.1.7

New SCX stereo camera calibration

The new SCX data calculation methods and calibration is still being tested but this version of the CP is optionally using the first version of the calibration.

Switch on / off in the Video panel.

Until further notice, stereo SCX cameras should be aimed so that the ball appears as close as possible to the center line when in Full Frame mode.

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December 12 4:00 pm

V 10.0.1.5

New : Vcam speed Auto scaling for Ev LX Vcam systems.

i.e. every-time the ball on the mat is detected - no matter what distance the ball is from the camera - the scaling is automatically recalculated.

Switch off/on in the setup panel

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December 11 3:30 pm

VisTrak vs GC2 comparison results

Just in from independent tester Phil in the UK that has a GC2 and is running comparison tests with his VisTrak system

Putting

Vistrak 12.99 mph, GC2 13.0 2 mph

Vistrak 6.36 mph, GC2 6.0 3 mph

Vistrak 16.5 mph, GC2 17.3 mph

Chipping

Vistrak 49.73 mph, GC2 49.2

Full shots

Vistrak 80.37 mph , GC2 78.9 2 mph

Vistrak 78.63 mph , GC2 79.8 3 mph

Vistrak 87.22 mph, GC2 88.0 mph

December 11 2:00 pm

V 10.0.1.4

Fix 1 : Error in Vcam ball speed calculations for EV or LX systems

New : Pressing the C key switches Chipping Mode ON/Off and recalculates the shot data

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V 10.0.1.1

New 1 : Carry factors and other speed adjustments now activated for Vcam speed mode

New 2 : You can now switch Vcam speed mode off and on in the Video panel

Ball data results are instantly calculated so that a quick comparison can be made

December 10 3:39 pm

Improved LX installation instructions

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December 8 11:08 am

V 10.0.0.7

New 1 : Improved Vcam ball speed detection

New 2 : Improved Spin line or Dot detection

New 3: Default Ball Line/Dot GS (Grey Scale) now 80

i.e. in order to find lines or dots on the ball, the GS of the line or dot has to be less than this value

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December 7 11:03 am

V 10.0.0.6

New : System now auto re-calculates shot data when making any adjustments to scale or club type

Fix : When opting to have the Vcam measure the ball speed instead of the Hcam, system wasn't changing frame rate when putting or chipping

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December 6 11:56 am

V 10.0.0.5

New 1: When using a Vcam (as in an EV or LX system) you can now opt to have the Vcam measure the ball speed instead of the Hcam.

Switch On/Off in the Vcam camera panel (i.e. camera 2) or in the Setup Panel

New 2: Club data validation.

If the club cannot be detected (due either to a lack of reflective strips on the club or lighting) then club data will be calculated from ball data

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December 5 12:21 pm

V 10.0.0.4

New 1: Max and Min ball size values now automatically set when setting the Scaling factor in the camera panel

New 2: Perspective correction table is now stored in an editable file "PerspectiveCorrection.csv"

Fix 1: Additional frames after ball strike being skipped when in Putting or Chipping mode

Fix 2: SCX incorrect VLA issue resolved

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December 3 12:03 pm

V 10.0.0.1

New1: Improved ball detection when ball features large spin dots or bold lines

New 2: Improved spin axis detection for SCX and Eagle systems.

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December 2 2:03 pm

V 10.0.0.0

New1: New customer camera registrations

New 2: Calibrated camera perspective correction.

Exponential (calibrated) overhead camera perspective correction and Linear correction can now be switched.

Switch in the Video panel. Default is Exp. ON

A percentage of Exp. correction can now be user adjusted. Default is 100%.

LX2 updates

Stronger casing and camera mounts. Carry handle and ON/OFF switch added.

Laser is now externally mounted for easier user direction adjustment.

Many new LX2 software updates.

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November 27 10:51 am

Overhead camera perspective correction when mounting the camera behind and not in front of the ball launch position

Coming in next update: Side Spin rotation shown

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November 26 2:10 pm

V 9.9.9.6

New 1: Improved ball spin detection with SCX and Eagle ceiling mounted camera systems

Note that only well defined and spaced spin dot balls can be used ( as hown above).

A maximum of 4 dots should only be visible within the center area of the ball.

Also note that camera exposure time (i.e. shutter speed) has to be set at or below 150 micro seconds and frame set to 1500 fps.

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November 25 2:10 pm

V 9.9.9.5

New 1: Many smaller features and cosmetic updates

Fix 1: Shot video playback overlay not working when putting or chipping

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November 24 11:48 am

V 9.9.9.4

New 1: Overhead camera perspective correction

The perspective correction is currently user definable in the Video panel.

Set the slider bar to zero for no correction.

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November 20 3:42 pm

V 9.9.8.8

New 1: Update for customers using 2 color cameras

New 2: Auto color shot video detection when cameras not plugged in

Note: Frame rate will be around 260 fps lower if using 2 color cameras instead of 1 color and 1 mono.

When using 2 color cameras in 800 fps mode, frame rate is reduced to 540 fps

When using 2 color cameras in 1500 fps mode, frame rate is reduced to 1000 fps

New 3: Max shot video files

Currently the max number of shot files that are saved before looping back to 1, is 512

If using 2 color cameras with all the color frames, you will eat up over 200 gigabyte of disc space.

This new option will allow you to limit the video file count down to 8 video files

New 4: Measured frame rate now used in speed calculations

All speed calculations are now based on the real captured camera FPS and not just the hard coded 800 and 1500 fps

While the difference is minimal when not using color cameras, it can be substantial when using color cameras or the users PC can't handle the regular frame rate

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November 5 1:26 pm

New 1. New Improved step by step installation instructions for SCX, LX2, Eagle and EVi systems on this website.

Also coming this next week:

Ball spin methods explained (with real ball spin photos) and user ball spin verification instructions.

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October 29 3:15 pm

Measured ball spin

Intensive bench testing of the new measured ball spin detection methods using spin dot balls are currently underway.

Free measured ball spin software update release for EV and LX systems are due later this week

Free measured ball spin software update release for SCX systems due a couple of weeks later.

Note that using the ball logo as ball markings in side mounted camera systems (as in the LX and EV systems ) has 2 major number of disadvantages:

1. the user is required to bend down and place the ball on the mat with the logo facing the camera for every shot. (i.e. most will soon get tired of doing that for every shot)

2. Most ball logos are too small and faint to be detected with high speed cameras without additional Xenon flash lighting.

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October 26 4:40 pm

V 9.9.7.2

New 1: Factory preset camera function assignments

This has been an issue for new users for some time now.

i.e. which camera in an SCX stereo system is the left camera and which is the right camera

or in an EV or LX system, which camera is the vertical camera and which is the horizontal camera.

This issue is now fixed. New users thus don't have to now test which is which and have to manually re-assign the cameras

New 2: Double frame capture

This feature is primarily only required when bench testing ball spin with a stationary spinning ball on a variable speed motor.

When selected, and a soft trigger is made, 2 frames will be captured (instead of one) at the real frame rate (i.e. either 800 or 1520 fps).

Testers can then see and measure the amount of rotation between frames and compare the spin rate results with those derived from tachometer readings

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October 22 11:34 am

V 9.9.6.9

If using GSpro, TGC or E6 Connect, then an automatic connection to the game software will be made 8 seconds after the intial start of the CP (i.e. after all camera checks are made).

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October 21 12:03 pm

V 9.9.6.8

New 1. Vastly improved camera ROI (Ball centering and positioning) methods

New 2. Error messages being shown if connection to game software (E6, GSPro, TGC etc) is not established

This has been done because some customers are not aware that the system won't function if the connection to the selected game software is not established

and thus unnecessary time consuming support is being provided.

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October 19 4:14 pm

V 9.9.6.7

Auto camera FPS speed checks

New: Camera FPS speed checks are now performed when starting the CP.

If camera frame rate is below the minimum of 700 fps (regular fps is 800 to 1500 fps) then a large error message is displayed indicating a major error and that the system will not function correctly.

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October 15 1:45 pm

V 9.9.6.4

Switching camera frame rate from 800 fps to 1500 fps

You can now switch the camera frame from 800 fps to 1500 fps in each camera for a combined frame rate of over 3000 fps !

Benefits: You'll see double the number of frames of the ball in flight in the shot video playback and ball spin can be measured.

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