Bounce back - please help me

[GolfLikeItsaPandemic]

Edit, Solved: I thought I could use a tarp as a temporary impact screen while I wait a few months to get a top quality one from Par2Pro BUT my tarp is too rigid and acts more like a solid surface even under only self-weight tension. I'll be exploring other options (like a drop cloth etc) to tide me over while I wait for my eventual impact screen.


Original post:
I'm at my wits end trying to reduce bounce-back. I thought I'd be able to take care of bounce back with a properly tensioned screen, a couple moving blankets hung behind it and a 4" mattress topper. I've tried everything I can think of with these three things and while I'm able to make bounce back WORSE by increasing tension on the screen and putting the firm foam directly behind the screen, nothing makes the bounce back good enough to play.

I'm going to do a deeper dive through this forum to try and come up with the missing information or tip that will save me from ripping my hair out. If you can chime in with advice I'd really appreciate it.

I'll update this original post as things develop (for me and as a result of users' feedback).

I am 8' from my screen. Can't hit a light 7 iron at it without the ball bouncing fast off my screen either back at me or spinning off to the side etc. I have tried such little tension in my screen that the creases at the folds have such an angle to them that they push the ball off to the side of my room.

My screen is a 10x12 foot "super heavy duty 14x14 weave tarp". I have the top folded over so its about 8' tall and 10' wide.

I have tried reducing the tension in my bungees to the point that the only attachment points on the tarp are 4 ball bungees along the top and nothing on the sides while the bottom hangs freely off the ground. The 4 bungees hang nearly vertical so the only tension in the tarp is from its own weight (about 6 lbs).

Here's the tarp: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/c...5116p.html#srp

I've got two moving blankets that are 6'x7' and a 4" thick piece of foam thats 4'x6'. I'm open to trying ANYTHING with them and purchasing anything I need that will help me.

[14MPH]

Could it be that the Tarp is a denser material compared to other impact screens and therefore acts more like a solid surface than fabric, and hence the high degree of bounce back? I.e your shots are not having effect of tarp absorbing some of the energy. Perhaps try with a bed-sheet instead of tarp as a test and see how the bounce back varies with the moving blankets etc in place as is.

[GolfLikeItsaPandemic]

Thank you, I'll give this a shot this evening.

[GolfLikeItsaPandemic]

Yes, this is definitely happening, thanks for troubleshooting advice. Tarp is too rigid. I'll try something else while I wait for my par2pro screen.

[impliciter]

What kind of foam did you use? I had some mattress topper foam used temporarily and it was causing quite a bit of bounce back.

I finally got around to replacing it with a heavy synthetic down comforter and the bounce back is greatly reduced.

[GolfLikeItsaPandemic]

Got a link to the synthetic down comforter you used?

[impliciter]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0835BV6FB

[impliciter]

@GolfLikeItsaPandemic

Not sure if my link is going to work but search 'Amazon Basics Down Alternative Bed Comforter - King, White, Warm' on Amazon. The king size I ordered doesn't look like its available now but it's nice and heavy/thick.

[3on3putt]

Why are you using a tarp instead of an actual golf impact screen? It's probably not performing the way you want because you're asking it to do something it's not designed to do. Invest in an actual golf impact screen. You don't need to break the bank. You should be able to buy a new supertex screen for your size space for under $200.

[Fhacker]

I second this comment.

[GolfLikeItsaPandemic]

I'm planning to get some raw screen material from Par2Pro when its available again. I thought a tarp with a nice weave would work well enough for the time being (the image quality is actually damn fine) based on other people using tarps but its starting to seem like their tarps are more of a mesh vs mine that is acting more like a solid surface even without tension. I'm off to test the rest of my materials by temporarily substituting a sheet for the tarp like 14MPH suggested for troubleshooting.

[Fhacker]

I just installed my Par2pro rawSQ remnant screen about a months ago. Wow I was amazed. First installation. Hardly any bounce back just enough to roll the ball back to me. Similar to my net return which I had before. Low noise also. It’s worth every penny.

[Fhacker]

GungHoGolf Ron now sells impact screens, check his site out

[StalefishFS3]

Fhacker,

On your Par2Pro SQ screen, do you have anything installed behind the screen to help with bounce back? Or is the SQ screen on its own sufficient? Thanks.

[WoodlandHills]

I setup a temporary room for testing a setup and while I had my impact screen, I didn't want to use it in that temporary space (as it was dirty). I used a painter canvas for $15 from Harbor Freight along with several freight blankets behind it. I let both the canvas and freight blank just hang and very little bounce back. Other than the color not being pure white, it worked great. It's a cheap temporary solution:

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-ft-x-12-ft-canvas-dropcloth-38109.html

I am setting up my permanent simulator room now with my impact screen and I'm using the canvas a couple of inches behind the impact screen to assist with absorbing the short without bounce. I'll know in 24 hours if that worked.

[WoodlandHills]

To update you further, I now have my golf impact screen in front (obviously). I then placed one of the Harbor Freight canvases 2 inches behind that. I then have another 1.5" space where there is another canvas (they are cheap so I can afford them). There's another 1.5" space and behind that, attached to the wall (via staples from the top edge only) is a very plush carpet I was able to pickup cheap as it was a remnant. I know the spacing because I hang everything by sandwiching the material between pieces of 3/4X1.5" wood. With the wood is hung on the ends only, I can adjust it in or out a bit without a problem. Anyway, the bounce back seems reasonable without using too much of my cherished room debt.