Sota Reflex Clamp Loses Contact with Record

I have used the SOTA clamp with a number of different tts, starting with a SOTA Star Sapphire. A few years ago, I noticed the very same problem to which you refer. As others mentioned, I found that by applying some downward pressure while activating the clamp mechanism, the device SEEMS to be making good contact with the LP label. It still bothers me a bit, because the thing is useless if it is suspended in air over the LP. As a result, I very often just place the clamp over the spindle without clamping it down, particularly with my idler-drive tt, where clamping to the spindle could have a down side (transmission of vibration directly to the LP).

I just hold the suspension with my fingers forming a clamp with my thumb below table and my fingers holding the top so the springs dont really move when I push the clamp down onto album, I never placed anything under it and never bottomed anything out.
My friend has the Nova table and will only use his clamp with warped albums because his Clearaudio cart hits the clamp before the run out groove on most albums.

Take a look at a Bren1 record clamp sold here on Agon, Amazon and Ebay.
I manufacture them and have sold to many happy Sota users.