I just received mine today.
I installed the digicue into the larger rubber housing, slipped it onto the butt of my cue, turned it on and it vibrated.
Then I tried some really bad strokes and I can't feel any vibration.
It will vibrate if I strike the butt of the cue with the palm of my hand.
I tried all three modes and I can't get it to detect a bad stroke.
I discovered that you actually have to strike the cue ball before it detects a bad stroke.
I was hopping it would detect practice strokes without hitting a ball because I don't have a pool table at home.
So I practiced a few strokes on my bed with a cue ball and no chalk.
Using only center ball shooting the cue ball into a pillow.
My normal stroke did not set it off on levels 1 and 2.
On level 3 any time I stroked harder than soft, it vibrated.
I try it for real tomorrow.
Al, I'm glad you got your DigiCue so quickly.
The reason that the DigiCue doesn't detect practice strokes is just for that reason; we don't want it to start vibrating while a player is performing practice/warm-up strokes. Additionally, the DigiCue attempts to trigger only on forward-going axial impacts, and also has thresholds to help it determine if a cue ball was hit. This prevents false triggers if you chalk your tip, hit a ball with the cue to move it around, accidentally tap the cue stick, etc.
I find that once you introduce an object ball with a target pocket, and a location for the object ball to travel to on a real pool table, your brain really starts pulling your body away from the stroke execution much sooner than if you practice at home with just a cue ball. It is surprising. I am curious to hear what you think after trying it tonight.
V/r,
Nate