Trackball Surrounding Space

[Hippo]

Hi there!

I'm another arcade newb who is going to build his first cab soon. I have most of it worked out from reading this site and the links to peoples cabs.

I have one question though, how much space is required around the trackball for what I would call 'hand recoil'?

My control panel will be 8" deep and with an ultimarc trackball in the center. With the mounting plate fitted this will leave about 1"- 1 1/2" around it. Is this enough to get a good spin on it for such games as golden tee?

I have never spun an large arcade trackball and so I don't know how much space is needed.

Thanks for your help.

[diabolic]

If you want to get really good spin for a game like golden tee, make sure you don't have joysticks above the trackball that your hand can bump into.

[Hippo]

The trouble is I only have about 1 1/2" between the top of the mounting plate and the monitor glass, Im just a little worried that the space will be too small 

If its no good I would rather keep my design and save money not buying a trackball.

[Hoopz]

It may depend on the games you are going to use the trackball for.  There is clearly a difference between how people play Golden Tee compared to Centipede.

1 1/2 inches is pretty tight and does not leave any room to spin a trackball forward like is needed for Golden Tee.  However for side to side action like Centipede, it could work.

Figure out what games you would be playing with it and make a cardboard mock up to see where your hand goes while "playing".  That may be your best answer.

[zaphod]

You'll kill yourself with only 1.5" of clearance.

[whammoed]

You don't *have* to play a trackball game like golden tee by sliding your hand over the ball.  You can anchor your fingers above the trackball and using both hands slide your thumbs over the ball.  May not be the way you are used to playing but it does work.  I play this way on a cocktail with a third panel except I anchor my fingers on the table top.

see pic:

[Hoopz]

You don't *have* to play a trackball game like golden tee by sliding your hand over the ball. You can anchor your fingers above the trackball and using both hands slide your thumbs over the ball. May not be the way you are used to playing but it does work. I play this way on a cocktail with a third panel except I anchor my fingers on the table top.

see pic:

He may still have trouble playing like that because he only has 1 1/2" around the trackball, not just in front.  Depending on the design, he may not have room to lay his hands there without resting on buttons. 

[zaphod]

Upon re-reading, he has about 1.5" from the edge of the mounting plate so he will likely have room if he uses the "thumb" method. 

[Hoopz]

Upon re-reading, he has about 1.5" from the edge of the mounting plate so he will likely have room if he uses the "thumb" method.

Yep, my bad.  I was thinking 1 1/2 inches around the trackball itself. 

I would still suggest using cardboard to see how it would look/feel. 

[GGKoul]

Using the thumb method sucks.  Because we all know the the hard you whack the ball the further it goes... 

[Hippo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have decided to drop the trackball from my control panel. I want the cab to look a certain way and I would have had to change it for a couple of games.

The one plus is it allows me to spend a little more money on something else on the cab now I dont have to buy a trackball and optipac.

I can always get a ball mouse out if Im really itching to play golden tee!