Thinking of making my own Screen, could use some feedback...

[Lou3824]

I did a bunch of google searches on this before I decided to start a thread. Unfortunately, Google only seems interested in selling you a screen already made.

I just built my enclosure in my back yard. I built the whole thing out of EMT and fabric. I took the time to learn how to sew while building it. So, I'm thinking of using those new skills to make my own screen. The one I have now gives me a pretty lousy image. Looking at the cost of high quality screens is what is motivating me. I can sew my own for about $100.

Here's what I'm thinking... My screen is 142"x107"... I can get neoprene scuba (1.5 MM thick) and 110" wide poplin at a very reasonable price. Both are polyester, but the neoprene has 10% spandex in it too. My thought is to use the neoprene as a backing. Its really thick and should be a good backing for the poplin. It will help make the screen more quiet too. The 110" wide poplin is really nice stuff. Think of a fancy tablecloth at a very high end place, its like that. It should give me the image quality I'm looking for, but I have no clue how well it will handle balls being hit into it. I used black poplin to make the interior sides of my enclosure. The main reason was to absorb light for the projector, but they also double as a shank net. Not the the same as an impact screen, I know, but they are holding up great after taking a bunch of shanks. I tend to shank the ball a lot when I get tired, its my body's way of saying put the darn club down.

If I do this, I'm going to sew them together around the perimeter and then install grommets every 12 inches in the 2 sides. The top and bottom will get a loop to fit a pipe through.

Anyone ever try either of these materials. I learned how to sew out of necessity, but I know little to nothing about fabrics, so I'd appreciate any input.

[Stetson]

That neoprene has me curious … is it really going to be more effective then something like a mattress topper though? It is very thin

[Lou3824]

Well, I don't want it to be too heavy, just enough to stop a ball. My thought process with the neoprene is that the spandex in it should make it flexible. I should have also mentioned that I plan on making my enclosure a 4 season enclosure even though its in my back yard. I'm planning on heating it in the winter. The neoprene supposedly has very good insulating characteristics. If the impact screen works out, I'm going to use the neoprene to enclose the whole thing.

[golfsimulatorsite]

the only way to truely know if the material will take a golf ball is to actually hit balls into it. If you are going to go to all the trouble and effort to build a golf screen, use material that is designed for a golf screen. You would hate to go to all the trouble and then put a golf ball thru it .

[Lou3824]

And if Columbus had taken that approach, he wouldn't have discovered the new world...

Kidding. I get your point, but a $100 and a couple hours of my time won't kill me. I just spent thousands of dollars to play golf in my back yard (my neighbors think I'm insane), what's another $100 at this point?

[golfsimulatorsite]

I looked at the poplin. Based on the description and price, I dont think it will stop golf ball. Its a decorative fabric designed for table cloths.

[Lou3824]

Just a follow up if anyone is interested. I went ahead and gave making the screen a shot. I used two layers of the poplin and backed it up with a 3mm thick neoprene scuba. I'm far from done with it as I have to figure out how I'm going to secure the sides and bottom yet. I don't want to use grommets at all. So far, I made a header out of unistrut wrapped with 1x4's that spans the whole top. The unistrut completely eliminates any sag. I glued 2 inch velcro to the top and face of the header. In the top of the screen (on the back), I sewed on 2 pieces of 2 inch wide velcro the whole length. So the screen attaches to the face velcro on the header and then I fold the top over and then secure the top velcro to the top of the header. Gives me 4 inches of hold but only 2 are exposed to downward forces. It holds extremely well. I'm 225 pounds and I can literally hang from it without it moving at all. I plan on making foam cushions for the top and the sides that will cover up any of the hard structure.

I hit some balls into it and the material is awesome. Stops the ball without any problem at all and it doesn't leave a mark. The poplin has the perfect texture to allow for a great image from the projector. I think the neoprene backing is the key ingredient. It has a ton of stretch and at 3mm in thickness, it really cushions the impact.

I'll follow up with this and post a whole bunch of pictures as I progress with the rest of it. I'm scratching my head right now to come up with the best method for securing the sides and bottom. I'm thinking about unistrut for the 2 sides. I made the screen long enough that I'd be able to wrap the screen around the unistrut. If I position 2 pieces of velcro correctly (probably about 5 inches apart) on the back, I should be able to pull the screen tight around the unistrut and just let the two pieces of velcro grab. For the bottom, I made the screen long enough that I will probably fold the bottom under and make a pocket for a pipe (1 inch gas pipe is what I have on hand). That's what I'm thinking for now anyway. I'll probably change my mind 15 times between now and when I'm done though.

So far so good though. The poplin is excellent.

[Fastt21]

I've found thar the scuba material I've used behind screen started breaking down after a while and started staining the white screen in front

[Lou3824]

That's unfortunate. I'll just have to keep an eye out for that. What material was your outer layer made out of? How many layers of it did you have? I'm hoping that 2 layers of the poplin will work to prevent issues like yours from popping up. I've been using the poplin quite a bit for the rest of the enclosure and haven't had any issues with staining, so I guess I'll found out how it holds up as the actual hitting screen. Since I'm securing the whole thing with velcro, it will be easy to take it down and make any changes to it that are needed. I have no idea how this is going to hold up. I've hit about 100 balls into it so far and no issues yet. Small sample size, I know.

[Lou3824]

Here's a couple of photos. One is just the screen hanging with a few pins in it. I need to secure the perimeter yet and steam out any wrinkles in it. The second is just the header with the velcro I used to hang the screen.