Store-bought net or DIY enclosure?

[elight]

Hi,

I'm about to pull the trigger on equipment for a mini-simulator that I'm going to put in my garage. Because we like parking our cars in our garage, I am trying to make this pretty low-key, with a hitting net that will be along the back wall that the front of my car will fit inside, and a tablet on an extension arm on the sidewall. When I want to use it, I back out the car, pull out the tablet arm, place the LM, and go. The primary purpose is practice, not sim play (I have free access elsewhere to a full-fledged simulator with GSPro if I want to do that - the real purpose of this is to have something convenient for practice at home).

I have settled on the MLM2Pro, with a 4x5' hitting mat that I can park my car over top. I was planning on getting the GoSports net from Costco (https://www.costco.com/gosports-elit...000191601.html), which seems to be the right size, and I really like the shank nets, which I can pull out with no hassle.

But I'm trying to figure out if an EMT enclosure might make more sense, either price-wise, in the ability to fit my space perfectly, or looking down the road to when I might want to put in a projector and an impact screen. Now, GoSports does make an impact screen attachment which could fit the bill. I'm fully capable of building an EMT enclosure, that's not the issue. But this is never going to be a man cave or full-fledge simulator, just something that is sort of squeezed into my crowded garage.

Curious what others think about whether to go the custom route with an EMT enclosure, or the easy route with something off the shelf.

[Stonebattle]

I went the EMT route because I could make it the exact size I needed for the space and screen I wanted. Was ease to cut and fit. The netting went on fairly easy also. Low cost overall.

[GullLakeMi]

Careful hitting into net on back wall only. Partially depends on how far away you are comfortable hitting and how wide/high the net is. I hit 11 feet back for simulator screen/shadow reasons. W/righty golfers, have needed right sidewall protection (especially for kids and their friends). For wedges, have occasionally needed ceiling protection. I planned on that and did custom EMT cage to address. With that being said, it permanently occupies a stall of my garage.

[elight]

Thanks for the responses. I pulled the trigger on the net, since it is from Costco and I know can be easily returned if it doesn't work out. I figure I can't really know how well it will fit the space until I get it and put it together. If it fits the bill, great. If not, can return it and look at a custom EMT solution.

If I do have to go down that route, I haven't seen much information on how to attach an impact screen. It is just order one custom sized to your cage from Carl's Place and attach with bungees, or are there other common options? What material do people use for the sides and top?

[elight]

I finally got everything set up. The good news is: 1) it works! and 2) my car fits inside the net frame! The bad news is that my car fits just barely (like maybe 3-4" to spare on both sides combined) and the front of the car is pressed up against the net.

I think that the depth of this net is sort of unnecessary, and that I'd be just as well served with an EMT frame and impact screen.with much less depth on the sides. I hit from pretty close - 7-8' from ball to net. This net supposedly helps to return the ball to me, but it just bounces on the ground and I end up chasing it anyway.

I'm good with building the frame. Questions you can help me with: 1) can a net be attached tightly to the back of the frame like an impact screen would, or does a net need to have some "give"? 2) if the frame is 8' wide with 2' deep sides/top, can I basically just get a net that is 12x10', and wrap it around the sides and top? 3) how much space you do think I need behind the netting to make sure the stuff behind it doesn't get hit?