Bare Minimum Height for Screen and Enclosure?

[Brettster]

I still have questions on Enclosure and Screen Height. Here's why, I'm planning to install in a new addition/great room in my house which will have cathedral ceilings - rafter built. What this means is that at the outside wall where I plan on installing the screen/enclosure, that wall starts at 8' and slopes UP to 12' (1 foot of rise for every 3 feet of length to the room).

Can someone chime in on the enclosure height(s) required, and what they have - as a minimum? Can I get away with 8'6", or 9' as a maximum height (if I chose 9' - that means I would have to install my screen/enclosure 3' away from the outside wall. Will that be a problem?

I'm asking because I've signed up for unlimited golf at a local Sim/Bar. I hit there again last night - and noticed that with sand wedges/wedges the ball can fly pretty high up the screen/enclosure - so I wonder how others are trapping the ball when lofted clubs are used - and what the bare minimum height would be?

Thanks,
-Brett

[Brettster]

Ok, I've scribbled on this drawing so you can see what I have...

The room is the large room in the drawing, the tray ceilings (indicated by the shaded blue lines) would come in as 8' ceilings, and stay at that height for the first 2 feet of the outside walls of the room, then the ceilings go to 10', I've roughed in where I think the hitting mat/sensor would go, the screen/enclosure and the hitting direction.

You can see along the right where I'm considering widening the room (from 11'3" to 12'6") by moving that wall if I had to.

The back of what I consider the sim area is at 14', but you can see the room goes all the way back to 24'4", so there is room behind that area, though that will likely be kids/play area, so not something I can use.

Thoughts on the ceiling height/with sand wedges (will baffles work with that screen coming to 8'), and the width? Am I good with 11'3 wide here, or should I push closer to 12'?

Thanks,
-Brett

[JV17]

Brett, you should be ok with 11'3" width. This is a personal preference in the end, so chalk it out and make sure you're ok with 11'3... That it doesn't cause you to alter your swing because you're uncomfortable. I've seen much less work just fine. Screen height of 8 ft is a little low for good flop shots. I have a 9ft height to work with, and having ceiling nets works fine for me. Good luck!

[Ronsc1985]

The thing that is important is the distance from where you hit to the screen. Depending on what your launch angle is with the various clubs a little simple trig will tell you how high you have to be. The reason hitting the projection screen is important is if you don't balls will be bouncing all over the place unless you have a lot of impact absorbing material on the floor. Be aware that everyone, be they plus handicaps or hackers, hits hosel rockets and pop ups every now and then. For this reason you really need both top and side netting to catch these types of shots. They will bounce around when bouncing off the netting but hopefully these type shots will be at a minimum.

The distance from the screen to the hitting area is 8 feet in my case. With a 13x9 cage, 12x9 projection screen, I can play any shot besides a 56 or 60 wedge flop shot and still hit the projection screen thereby ensuring that the ball drops gently onto the floor.

[Mazenblue]

Ronsc1985, I agree! I went down to a 10 wide area from 12' and I feel that it cramps my swing. I know that there is enough room there to swing but "it feels" too close. and the hosel rockets hurt. They do happen. I put two holes in the ceiling just in front of my projector, with a driver? I was trying some different swing planes. I also took one in the middle of the chest this week. Probably something you don't want to say on a simulator forum. But you do need room to swing, protection of your home, equipment and guests.