1st garage sim build, how much space behind screen if just hanging it from ceiling?

[Typos]

Hi all, I am interested in doing my first simple simulator build and Im very excited but also unsure about quite a few things after reading quite a bit on this forum.

I have a 10 ft high garage, and would like to know if it is feasible to just hang a golf screen to my ceiling, using just a 1 inch EMT pipe on the top of the screen, and hanging it using rope and a couple hooks on the ceiling. Curious if I do this, what the back space required behind the screen should be? I generally see 12 inches, but those are from people that are tying all sides of the screen to a 3D frame on the floor so the screen would be tighter.

Another alternative would be to create a 4 sided 2D frame out of the EMT, attach the screen to it and hang it from the ceiling; if I did that would I need less space from the back of the screen to the wall?

[Tom Howarth]

12" behind the screen is usually recommended because the screen "gives" when the ball hits it. If the ball hits the wall behind the screen, it can bounce back at you. I actually hung some archery netting behind my screen which (If I chose to) would enable me to move my screen a little closer to the wall. I have seen others on the site that use mattress toppers, etc., behind their screen when they don't have enough room for 12".

[Typos]

Hi, just curious on what screen you use, how you hang it (is it in an enclosure), and if you had any close encounters from 12 inches without the archery netting?

[Tom Howarth]

I am using a Carl's Place enclosure. 8'6 x 10'0 (wide) x 5'0 deep with a Premium screen. I had some close calls initially because I had all of the bungees attached to the enclosure. When I would hit a low driver (ball speed in the 155 mph range) they would come back a bit quickly on the ground. They call that "bounce back." They told me to remove some bungees around the screen proportionally to loosen the tension and maintain the nice flat look of the screen. It worked. That does not protect you if you shank one off the side of the enclosure. Fortunately, I have only done that one or two times.

[tkvaughn999]

I have a 9x12 screen in my garage. The screen is hung on a cable anchored in wall studs. Provides maximum width, easy to install, less for the ball to hit. I have one cable vertically in center to apply small amount if tension to prevent any sag. If I were to attach to ceiling I’d consider just framing the screen by attaching slotted angle iron to the studs, that what my sides are. Just a thought.