diff --git a/scripts/system/pal.js b/scripts/system/pal.js
index 20bd76f2ed..6af921155f 100644
--- a/scripts/system/pal.js
+++ b/scripts/system/pal.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function ExtendedOverlay(key, type, properties, selected, hasSphere) { // A wrap
     overlays[key] = this;
     if (hasSphere) {
         var sphereKey = key + "-s";
-        this.sphere = new ExtendedOverlay(sphereKey, "sphere", {drawInFront: true, solid: true, alpha: 0.6, color: color(selected)}, false, false);
+        this.sphere = new ExtendedOverlay(sphereKey, "sphere", {drawInFront: true, solid: true, alpha: 0.8, color: color(selected)}, false, false);
     } else {
         this.sphere = undefined;
     }
@@ -263,15 +263,22 @@ function updateOverlays() {
         var avatar = AvatarList.getAvatar(id);
         var target = avatar.position;
         var distance = Vec3.distance(target, eye);
+        var offset = 0.2;
         
+        // base offset on 1/2 distance from hips to head if we can
+        var headIndex = avatar.getJointIndex("Head");
+        if (headIndex > 0) {
+            offset = avatar.getAbsoluteJointTranslationInObjectFrame(headIndex).y / 2;
+        }
+
         // get diff between target and eye (a vector pointing to the eye from avatar position)
         var diff = Vec3.subtract(target, eye);
         
-        // now, add a small bit of that difference to target
-        target = Vec3.sum(target, Vec3.multiply(Vec3.normalize(diff), 0.2));
-
-        // now bump it up a bit (TODO: scale this to the avatar height)
-        target.y = target.y + 0.2;
+        // move a bit in front, towards the camera (TODO: scale this based on height?)
+        target = Vec3.sum(target, Vec3.multiply(Vec3.normalize(diff), offset));
+       
+        // now bump it up a bit
+        target.y = target.y + offset;
 
         overlay.ping = pingPong;
         overlay.editOverlay({