Simulator Wall Padding

[JV17]

I am currently using a cage and nets, but am now looking to enlarge the hitting area by utilizing the full room my setup is in. Has anyone had experience with professional looking wall pads? I'm not sure where to find what seems to be common at commercial or professionally installed simulators. Any help would be appreciated. I don't want to take a chance on something. I want something proven to take the abuse from golf balls. Thanks!

[aja]

Hi!
Have a look at my posts under "ProTee Sim Room", in Enclosures and Screens. The wall protection I built and installed works quite well. I can't say that it has been subject to many impacts, but there has been the odd stray shot that has found its way to the walls. Unless you are designing this wall protection for use in areas to be used by complete novices where the impacts and abuses could be many, in my experience, the impacts from the odd "duff" are not very significant - as in they don't travel at full speed, and in any case they are glancing impacts.

[JV17]

I thought I had looked at everything on this site already! Ha. Unfortunately I do have a couple of very novice players come in now and then. They occasionally hit some pretty solid mishits. I'll take a look at your setup. Thanks aja!

[Ronsc1985]

Don't assume decent players will not hit a popup and a really fast hosel rocket every now and then. I have had plus handicap players do this in my cage. Hackers, like some of my grand kids, even manage to miss the cage. I bought the armored protector for my GC2 after one hit it twice within two minutes. Luckily it wasn't damaged because he didn't hit either the cameras or the display.

[JV17]

Ok Aja, in looking at your sim room, I can tell you that you and I are at two different levels of DIY skills. I don't think I'm talented enough to put together the wall pads like you did. The PEF I'm sure would be suffice against the solidly hit errant shots, but if the carpet isn't sturdy enough it could give way after a few shots in the same area. Tougher carpet would do the trick I'm sure, but I'm being honest with myself... I'm not willing to work quite that hard. I also want my padding to look professional (like yours) so it would be best if I bought them. Ha! Thanks for sharing!

Ron, you are correct. I have seen every level of golfer hit amazingly bad shots in a sim. I also have a few complete newbies as well as kids hitting around in the sim too, so I need to be prepared for the worst. I see some padded wall panels out there, but nothing marketed for golf, mostly sound dampening. I need something well tested if not made specifically for golf.

[Mpags]

JV17 I'm looking into something simpler but safe also for wall coverings. I've ordered some samples of Tatami tile (karate flooring) and Eco-carpet tile from foamtiles.com. My plan would be to mount luan or thin ply wood to garage studs and glue the tiles in place over the wood. Will let you know if they seem capable.

[Brettster]

I'm playing in a sim/bar this summer - I've noticed they are using a heavy black curtains on the side walls, if you pull it back there is nothing but bare plywood...

The curtains seem to do pretty good job of stopping anything going their way!


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[JV17]

Mpags, those sound like good options. Keep me posted on your progress. Thanks for sharing!

[JV17]

Hey Brett, I'm using heavy black curtains in front of netting for the sides of my cage today. The curtains pretty much knock any errant balls down themselves. I like the look of nice panels, and feel they'll give me a little more room than the curtains and nets would should I move them to the walls. If I don't feel good about going the panel route, I'll just mount the nets and curtains to the wall. They're definitely a viable backup. Thanks!

[mthunt]

I put plywood on the walls and ceiling from the screen to 8 feet back and stapled carpet tile to it. Looks amazing and any miss hit will end up bouncing off the carpet into the screen. It's not like you can hit it backwards. Imo,it's perfect.

[JV17]

mt, I never thought of carpet tiles. That could be a good option. I'll have to do some research. It's still some diy, but not as much as fabricating entire panels. Thanks!

[mthunt]

It was super easy to do but carpet tiles ain't cheap. I actually tried to glue at first. What a disaster trying to glue tiles to the ceiling was. With crown staples, you cant find a single staple. I did all tiles in under 2 hours. I think I spent 800 bucks on tiles to cover 6 feet or so. Looks amassing. One day I post pics. Lol

[JV17]

Glad you told me that about the glue! I was thinking of that as an option! Ha! Hope you get a chance to post pics. I have yet to post any of mine, so I can't talk! Ha!

[Mazenblue]

I just started building 4X8 panels with OSB, carpet and glue. What a mess and they are heavy. Walls are 8x9.6 and ceiling is 8X12.

[JV17]

Maze, thanks for the input. You guys really talked me out of using glue should I put boards together myself! About how heavy do you think your panels are?