A recording medium can include multiple helicoid patterns arranged in multiple helicoid groups, e.g., first and second helicoid groups. Operating a disk drive can include switching between helicoid groups to maintain the alignment of the head with respect to a target track of the rotating recording medium. Enabling a switch can include receiving a waveform produced by a head operated with respect to a rotating recording medium, generating first information from one or more portions of the waveform corresponding to the helicoid patterns of the first helicoid group; generating second information from one or more portions of the waveform corresponding to the helicoid patterns of the second helicoid group; and analyzing the second information with respect to the first information to generate calibration information. The calibration information can compensate for operational differences between using the helicoid patterns of the first helicoid group and the helicoid patterns of the second helicoid group.