Bartop Trackball

[brock.sampson]

I'm planning on building a bartop for a friend of mine.  I'm in the very early planning stages.  I have a 15" lcd and p4 2.6ghz computer they were getting rid of from work.  I have a 1 player control panel hacked to a usb gamepad that I'm going to steal the controls out of.  Not sure if I'll keep that or use something else for the encoder.  Now for the real question.  I'm looking to play golden tee, bowling, centipede etc on this bartop as well.  Looking for some cheap, small, trackball ideas.  Just tried to play golden tee on a logitech optical trackball and it didn't work that well.  Wondering if anybody had some good alternatives on the cheap.  I saw the 1 1/2" track ball from happ but I can't see myself shelling out >$200 for a trackball.  I think a 2 1/4" might be a little large for this application but might be my best alternative at this point.

[leapinlew]

I think a bartop is too small to play those games the way they are meant to be played (big wild swings).

[Xam]

I think a bartop is too small to play those games the way they are meant to be played (big wild swings).

I agree here. Centipede would probably do okay, but GT and the likes seems like a busted hand venture.

May consider a stand alone trackball controller that hooks up via usb...or something along those lines.

Xam

[brock.sampson]

I was thinking I could just flick the trackball with my thumbs.  I've played regular golden tee like that and it works fine.  I can always crank up the sensitivity if necessary.  You are going to have to try harder than that to discourage me.   

[severdhed]

what about one of those Radica GoldenTee trackball units you plug into your TV?

http://www.radicagames.com/playtv-golden-tee-golf.php

 if I recall correctly several people of bought those for an easy mouse hack.  I haven't personally used one, but from what I have heard, the trackball works pretty well for the price.  you can pick one up at most major stores (walmart, target, etc...)  from there it is a simple mouse hack...you could integrate it into your panel, or leave it as a stand alone unit that you plug in when you want to play trackball games.  if you use a usb mouse, this would work pretty well.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I don't think you'll be real happy with one of the 1-1/2".

My suggestion, given that you are using an LCD would be to go with the 2-1/4", and make a scale version of the top of a GT Fore cab.
With the monitor laying back nearly horizontal, you solve all of your hand crashing problems.
Alternately, you could do something along the lines of the top of a Pacman cab.
Since you're not using a monitor with a neck, clearance shouldn't be a problem.