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I am an average golfer, my 8 year old daughter is somewhat of a rising star...maybe.
I wanted to build a simulator so we could play together in the evenings after work/ school when she was unable to get to the range.
So it was all a bit experimental, we didn't know if it would be used a lot, everyday of just be a quick fad. For this reason, I wanted to build on a budget, in case it was just a fad.
I was told I would have to spend 20,000 USD minimum to get started, I couldn't believe this, so broke down the process, worked out what I could do myself and what would have to be bought in. I looked at all the kits available in US, Uk, Aus and would have considered some of them, however shipping costs were more than the actual products, so was never going to be able to do it on a budget that way.
Worked out the different stages and set about getting started.
The space is 5 metres wide, 3 metres high and 4 metres deep.
The frame is simple 3/4 inch steel tube, angles are home cut and welded 1 inch steel tube. All locked together with bolts.
Safety netting is literally fishing net, bought in a local fishing town, Phuket, Thailand.
Impact screen order from ali express/ china. Seems good enough quality to me and was free shipping.
Same for the side curtains/ black out curtains.
Lights also bought inexpensively from ali express.
The projector was the biggest headache. realized quite soon that there is no way you can go cheap on this. All projectors in Asia are super expensive, double the price of US and Uk. So eventually found a US seller called border free that shipped inexpensively (just shows how much everyone is is ripping you off). 10 out of 10 for border free. In the end after hours/days/weeks of research, settled on the Optoma E460St. Very pleased so far.
Laptop was also more than planned, but I decided that I only wanted to buy it once, so buy better quality with decent spec that could be used for other software if ever needed. In the mean time, great gaming device for my daughter.
Matting was cheap stuff from a local DIY shop.
Hitting mat is from a sports shop, still cheap. Will be upgrading that very soon.
Tv repeater, cheap 50 inch from local shop.
Software: Well that's the biggest or smallest expense. On the grounds of the above, I opted for the R Motion. Being price sensitive, it seemed the best option for the budget. Seemed to get good reviews. I am pretty disappointed with it so far to be honest. Whilst the graphics are good, data seems close, selection of golf courses is good with the basic package.
It just keeps dropping out. I can be playing 9 holes with my daughter, we get to hole 5 and it just freezes, stops sensing the movement, impact or whatever it is and we have to abandon the game. This is not helping keep my daughter motivated.
I don't know why this keeps happening, I have read all the advice on here and checked and rechecked everything, it just keeps freezing for no apparent reason.
Maybe it's me, or the set up, I just don't know.
So enjoying the experience so far... it has already been lots of fun for us both.
It is outside under a car port, so the projector comes down easily on a quick release mount and the rest packs away.
The Mrs Still can't park her car in there, which hasn't made me too popular, but hey a man needs to have a few pleasures in life!!
I wanted to build a simulator so we could play together in the evenings after work/ school when she was unable to get to the range.
So it was all a bit experimental, we didn't know if it would be used a lot, everyday of just be a quick fad. For this reason, I wanted to build on a budget, in case it was just a fad.
I was told I would have to spend 20,000 USD minimum to get started, I couldn't believe this, so broke down the process, worked out what I could do myself and what would have to be bought in. I looked at all the kits available in US, Uk, Aus and would have considered some of them, however shipping costs were more than the actual products, so was never going to be able to do it on a budget that way.
Worked out the different stages and set about getting started.
The space is 5 metres wide, 3 metres high and 4 metres deep.
The frame is simple 3/4 inch steel tube, angles are home cut and welded 1 inch steel tube. All locked together with bolts.
Safety netting is literally fishing net, bought in a local fishing town, Phuket, Thailand.
Impact screen order from ali express/ china. Seems good enough quality to me and was free shipping.
Same for the side curtains/ black out curtains.
Lights also bought inexpensively from ali express.
The projector was the biggest headache. realized quite soon that there is no way you can go cheap on this. All projectors in Asia are super expensive, double the price of US and Uk. So eventually found a US seller called border free that shipped inexpensively (just shows how much everyone is is ripping you off). 10 out of 10 for border free. In the end after hours/days/weeks of research, settled on the Optoma E460St. Very pleased so far.
Laptop was also more than planned, but I decided that I only wanted to buy it once, so buy better quality with decent spec that could be used for other software if ever needed. In the mean time, great gaming device for my daughter.
Matting was cheap stuff from a local DIY shop.
Hitting mat is from a sports shop, still cheap. Will be upgrading that very soon.
Tv repeater, cheap 50 inch from local shop.
Software: Well that's the biggest or smallest expense. On the grounds of the above, I opted for the R Motion. Being price sensitive, it seemed the best option for the budget. Seemed to get good reviews. I am pretty disappointed with it so far to be honest. Whilst the graphics are good, data seems close, selection of golf courses is good with the basic package.
It just keeps dropping out. I can be playing 9 holes with my daughter, we get to hole 5 and it just freezes, stops sensing the movement, impact or whatever it is and we have to abandon the game. This is not helping keep my daughter motivated.
I don't know why this keeps happening, I have read all the advice on here and checked and rechecked everything, it just keeps freezing for no apparent reason.
Maybe it's me, or the set up, I just don't know.
So enjoying the experience so far... it has already been lots of fun for us both.
It is outside under a car port, so the projector comes down easily on a quick release mount and the rest packs away.
The Mrs Still can't park her car in there, which hasn't made me too popular, but hey a man needs to have a few pleasures in life!!
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