Can't swing a driver on 9'? What to do?

[LEO MODE]

So I am 5'10 and my driver is a normal length, at 3.75' which will be like 9.5'. I was told that for a 9' ceiling I could swing everything else except for a driver. How sad is this as I won't be able to raise ceiling or lower the floor. I haven't tried swinging yet as the house is not built yet but I can't change the structure.

So is anyone like me where you won't be able to swing a driver? In that case how do people play simulator games at home?

[andygg1986]

If you have a fairly flat swing there is still a chance you can hit driver. For the first year I had my sim I couldn't get comfortable hitting a driver so I just used a 3 wood off the tee. You could also consider cutting down an old driver to 3 wood length and adding some lead tape to get the swing weight right.

In TGC, you can find plenty of shorter courses. Depending on your hardware, you can also boost the distance for your driver which could really be you hitting 3 wood, although the maximum you can do this for tournaments is 5%. TGC2 will have multiple tee boxes, so you can play from a forward set of tees too.

[p3eps]

I've got 2.85m (9ft 4") and am 6ft 2" tall and have loads of room above my driver - which is 1/2" longer than standard.
I'm standing on a mat which is about 3 and 1/2" to 4" tall, and have had several friends playing too - who have never come close either.

It it totally depends on your swing plane. Prior to my lessons, I had quite a steep swing - and still never hit the ceiling.

I can see there being a problem, but then I've never seen your swing. I also don't know what sort of mat you'll be standing on!

[codehead]

Umm... your math is if you stood the driver on your head while standing straight up. This is not even a reasonable approximation of a golf swing. You have front bend, side bend, wrist hinge, and swing plane. I think you should measure and you I believe you will be surprised. Record a swing of yourself in front of something you can gauge height off of and measure it. But also remember that if the camera is sitting low the angle will actually add height to the perspective so try to get it up in the air a bit. Or more simply go stand in a 9ft area and get to the top of your back swing, take note that you are not close to the ceiling. Get to the top of your follow through and note how crazy out of position you would have to be to get to 9 ft. Then take a few slow swings.

[peesh23]

My basement has 9' ceilings. I hit off a raised platform and have no issues hitting driver. I'm almost 6' but do have a pretty flat swing plane. I've probably had another 10 guys hit balls in the basement and none of them have hit the ceiling. I really doubt you would have any issues.

[LEO MODE]

Umm... your math is if you stood the driver on your head while standing straight up. This is not even a reasonable approximation of a golf swing. You have front bend, side bend, wrist hinge, and swing plane. I think you should measure and you I believe you will be surprised. Record a swing of yourself in front of something you can gauge height off of and measure it. But also remember that if the camera is sitting low the angle will actually add height to the perspective so try to get it up in the air a bit. Or more simply go stand in a 9ft area and get to the top of your back swing, take note that you are not close to the ceiling. Get to the top of your follow through and note how crazy out of position you would have to be to get to 9 ft. Then take a few slow swings.

Yeah it was an extreme math just standing with my club all the way up. A simulator setup expert did tell me though that I wouldn't be able to swing a driver since with padding on the ceiling as well as my hitting mat would add some elevation and height thus giving me about 8' or so. So are you certain that I should be ok (i have a normal swing like an average golfer, well people say I have a textbook swing)?

[inorkuo]

All you can do is try it and see if it works. if you end up limited to a 3w, the upside is that you'll get really good with that 3w.

[p3eps]

You're not going to put padding on the ceiling directly above you. The ball would never travel directly up, so why pad it?! Unless you're Phil Mickelson and flopping 64deg wedges, you have at least a couple of feet until you need to start the padding.

[LEO MODE]

You're not going to put padding on the ceiling directly above you. The ball would never travel directly up, so why pad it?! Unless you're Phil Mickelson and flopping 64deg wedges, you have at least a couple of feet until you need to start the padding.

Oh not directly above me. Originally I was gonnaput the padding up to 6' from the screen but I will also do some high flop wedge shots so I was thinking about putting the padding also. Also at the end of my swing my driver will still reach at least a feet or two from where I stand so I was thinking about installing the pad.

[Timdm3]

I have 8' ceilings and can only hit a choke down 3 wood off tee. Still a blast to play Sim but I do feel like I am missing that little extra something.

[LEO MODE]

I have 8' ceilings and can only hit a choke down 3 wood off tee. Still a blast to play Sim but I do feel like I am missing that little extra something.

So you just tee up with 3w? Even with 5% boost in tournament setting it still won't match up my true driver distance

[Timdm3]

Yeah it doesn't compare to driver but it has given me a really good feel for 3w and tourneys are too much fun not to play.

[codehead]

I am failing to see how it is possible you lose a foot? What are you padding with and what are you standing on? Even with a floor sensor I am failing to see how you use up that space. Maybe 3-4 inches... If you use a launch monitor probably more like 2-3 with thick padding. I am actually still working on building out a Sim in my house but I am 5'8" my basement ceiling is 8'10" and I have zero issue swinging. I would say I'm nearly a foot away from my ceiling at the nearest point during a real swing. That being said I'm not going to frame out a floor, everything will go directly on the concrete, and I'm not going to put more than 5/8" drywall on the floor joists above the hitting area. Think about it this way... Your ball isn't 44" below your feet or even your hands. The maximum extension in any reasonable swing is somewhere close to the target line at some angle toward the ground. Everywhere else your wrists are hinged and arms folded. Like I said just try it.... Anywhere.

[Jb50]

My ceiling is about 8' 6" (been awhile since I actually measured) from drywall to floor. I hit off a mat and have never hit the ceiling. I'm an inch or 2 shorter than you though. I originally had an Optishot for which I had to build a platform to hit from and never hit the ceiling then either. My swing is a little flat and I originally cut down an older driver about 1.5" for peace of mind but I no longer use it. I use my IRL driver now and have no problems. I agree with Codehead. The only way you're going to know for sure is to find a place to test your swing. I also agree with codehead about how you are taking a foot away? IMO you shouldn't have to put foam in the area where your driver is at its highest point. The foam should be for where the balls may hit. Unless you are worried about hitting the ceiling with a club and are wanting the foam to protect the club? I use a mesh net angled from from the ceiling in front of where I'm hitting down to the top of impact screen. I don't have a good picture of this but could take one if wanted. I have the mesh setup on hinges so I can pull it up flat to the ceiling when not using. Otherwise it's in the way of opening my garage door. Works great for me. Only actually hit it a few times with high launching balls.

[Hughesy]

I'm building a sim at the moment and my ceiling height is only 8ft. I'm only 5'8" which helps, but by keeping the flooring as thin as possible using EVA mats and leaving the joists exposed I am hoping to swing my driver. It may mean placing my strike point precisely to ensure that any overswing goes between the rafters but on the other hand I'm hoping that will improve my accuracy and swing path!
I'd kill to have 9' to play with...

[LEO MODE]

So I tried swinging on a model house that was 9' and thankfully I was able to swing my driver. The farthest of my swing had about 3-4 inches left from the ceiling which wasn't too far but unless I try to hit the ceiling I don't think I'll ever hit it, although it felt a bit close so my swing might get affected emotionally every time I swing indoors.

With that said I also tried swinging on a 10' foot house and boy did it make a ton of difference not having to worry about a swing. I hope I can raise a ceiling....(complicated because of HOA issues since it's on a third floor and it might alter the outside appearance, Southern California here) but not going to be easy).