Trackball overspinning?

[Cfour]

I just recently got my CP hooked up, and when I play Golden Tee and I give the trackball a hard spin forward, the ball does not go far at all.  If I give ita  moderate spin, it seems to go the distance that you want it to.  I do have a Happ's 3" trackball and I mean on golden tee cabs u can spin it as hard as u want and get the desired result.  I have it grounded to one of the joystick bolts if that matters at all.  For trackball, I set it to mouse in the game options.  Do I have this setup right?  Are there special drivers for my trackball?  Any tips appreciated.

[Kremmit]

You are experiencing "backspin".  The cure is to adjust the sensitivity lower in MAME's tab menu.

[Cfour]

Is this the in-game tab menu?  I am using Mame32 as my interface, so I am having a little bit of trouble finding the setting you are referring to.

edit:  I went to in-game tab menu when my trackball wasn't enabled so naturally that option wasn't there.  I found the settings you are referring to.  What is the typical setup that people use for the sensitivity?  I'm not really sure where to start!

Tony

[scotthh]

Yes it's in-game. After the game has loaded hit the tab button, select "analog controls"

[Cfour]

Thanks, I did edit the post above to mention that I found the settings.  However, if some peopel could post their settings so I know what to change the ditial speed and sensitivity to that would be great!

[Kremmit]

I don't play GoldenTee, so I can't give you a number.  Just try cranking it way down, then bring it up by 10% and test to see if you get any backspin.  Keep bringing it up 10% at a time until you do, and then back it down again.

Or, if you have access to a real GT machine, pump some "testing" quarters in.  Try to find a part of the game where you can make an accurate measurement of trackball performance.  Again, I don't play GT, so I don't know if theyre's any part of the game where you can do it, you'll have to look.  On a game like Centipede, you can place your finger on the leftmost edge of the ball, roll it stright across to the right until your finger hits the other side, and measure how far the shooter moves. 

[scotthh]

Speed 32
Sensitivity 25%

I think these were the default settings, as I don't remember messing with them.

[shorthair]

I never messed with mine and they worked fine...so, whatever the default was.

[Cfour]

Well I'm still having problems...

I've tried to change the mouse speed up, unchecked enable precise pointing in the mouse options under the control panel. 

Then, I tried moving the sensitivity and digital speed up and down, nothing seems to work.  When I give it a good spin, I get that "backspin" effect and the ball hardly goes anywhere.  I mean I can still get a good swing but your spin almost has to be perfect.  For me it's not so much an issue, but guests that like to play that are used to the arcade version can't seem to grasp the "soft spin" technique.  And from what it sounds like, you guys don't have that problem either.

If others could post if they have had similar problems and/or their settings that would be greatly appreciated.

[Kremmit]

The "correct" settings will vary based on each individual's hardware- somebody running a 3" trackball with GGG upgraded encoder wheels through an Opti-Wiz under Windows XP on a 3ghz Core2Duo will not use the same settings as somebody with a 2.5" trackball with standard encoder wheels through a hacked mouse under Windows 98 on a Celeron 800.  So you're really not likely to get a magic answer from somebody else's settings. 

However, if you really can't get rid of the problem even if you turn the sensetivity way down (you did try it way, way down, right?), then maybe you're having trouble with your hardware?  What are you using; trackball, encoder, operating system, MAME version, PC specs...

[Cfour]

I do believe the problem is in my window settings or hardware itself.  Even on the desktop and I give it a hard spin, it "lags" before taking off, much like it is doing in the game.

I am using an Athlon XP 3000+ w/ Windows XP.  My trackball is a Happ's 3" USB translucent blue.

I am using windows default drivers, but I am wondering if there is a better driver out there for use with a Happ's trackball.  Thanks for the help guys and any more tips are always welcome.

[boodroe]

I had the same problem, it was the trackball. Here is my post http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=48113.0

[Kremmit]

I remember that thread.  Looks like the final diagnosis showed Boodroe with two separate problems, both were with the interface he was running the trackballs through:  One bad OptiPac, and one bad Happ USB Trackball Interface.

Cfour, we still haven't heard what interface you're using.

[Cfour]

Kremmit, if you're referring to how I have it connected to my PC I think I said a couple of times that I'm using a USB interface.  Happ's USB trackball straight to the USB port in the computer.

[Kremmit]

Kremmit, if you're referring to how I have it connected to my PC I think I said a couple of times that I'm using a USB interface.  Happ's USB trackball straight to the USB port in the computer.

You said it was USB, but the Happ USB interface is not the only USB interface out there.  I kind of suspected that's what you had, but it doesn't pay to assume anything when you're trying to troubleshoot long-distance. 

At any rate, that is one of the interfaces Boodroe had go south on him, and it sounds like you've got the same symptoms he had.  Easiest way to see if it's your culprit is to hook the trackball up through another, known good interface.  Got one? ..or maybe there's somebody local to you that can help out..