What is in the ideal perfect golf simulator room??

[WoodlandHills]

We are building an addition to our home so that I can have a golf simulator room to both work on my swing and play a round with friends. So, my question to everyone is: What should I put in the room or how should I set it up to make it ideal??

For example, I was thinking about sloping the floor from the impact screen back to the hitting mat and from left to right to bring the balls back to single spot. Perhaps carpet works best on the walls to absorb any shanks (g_d forbid). I think I need a refrigerator to keep beer cold and a rack for hold golf bags. I'd like to receive suggestions on anything big or small to make this into a great room.

For the launch monitor, I was planning on dumping my current one and getting the new Uneekor EyeXO which is out of the way in the ceiling and allows me to use any golf ball (without special markings or orientation). I'd setup high speed cameras to record my swing from down the line and facing me. Please comment on anything.

[Stetson]

What size is the space?

[WoodlandHills]

The room is on the smaller size of ideal at 13 ft wide and 17 feet deep and a very high ceiling.

[BGCurtis2nd]

I did a golf bag rack and that is nice, we like using it. I have also thought it would be nice to have a half bath off the golf room, with a laundry sink in it for a few friends to clean up their clubs. I myself have thought if I ever build a new room I would slant the floor too the screen, and have the area under the screen slant to one wall and do a ball return, haven't made up my mind 100% on that yet but it is a thought. I have also decided that I would do a putting area separate of the simulator hitting area for practicing putting. Having the holes up next to the screen and a flat floor just didn't work out as well as I had hoped it would have. Refrigerator is a good idea, and a sitting area helps. I have the Uneekor QED but am wanting the Uneekor EYE XO, and hope to be able to get one, The Swing cameras are a very good setup, I have them and can get the club capture down to no blur at all. Takes a lot of lighting but to me if I am working on my swing it is not going to be in the middle of a game.

[Stetson]

If you do a SkyTrak it will make lefty and right tricky. 13’ is probably too narrow to do a fixed unit of any kind. Although an overhead mounted to a track would work (threads and YouTube videos exist). You may want to consider the GSA VisTrak Stereo and putting the extra $7k into the room itself. You could place a bar top with wall mounted stools at the back of the room, it would be a tight fit but if you work on getting the screen super close to the wall it would help. There is also a thread showing a set of chairs wall mounted in a garage. Something similar would be cool for your space.

A tv or two that can have golf, football, etc on it is a plus.

You may want a touch screen monitor to mount on the wall to help minimize space of your setup. You’ll need a cabinet for the PC. There was a great metal case that someone recently did, search the word fabricator.

I personally plan on putting a putting cup (hole) directly in front of the hitting strip so I can putt a ball 8/10’ towards a cup, which should result in better results in game play.

May want to get a sound bar or install speakers as everyone seems to think the sound brings a lot to the experience.

I am sure there are more ideas but at 13x17 it is important to keep things by the edges and use space efficiently.

[WoodlandHills]

Thanks Stetson for the feedback. I don't know any left handed golfers at the moment so I wasn't planning on 2 sided hitting. When setting up to hit, you are facing the wall with the door so that back wall is open for (tight) seating.

[Stetson]

Ahhh, read to fast. Saw left to right and it registered as swinging from both sides.

[BGCurtis2nd]

I have yet to test the Uneekor EYE XO and would not recommend counting on using a slide with it til it is tested, but from what I know it should work that same as the QED on a slide which can be used to narrow down right and left handed play to an 8 foot width.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7ahVG8ams

[WoodlandHills]

I was at the Golf Merchandise show in January in Orlando. I asked the Uneekor people about using a slide for the EYE XO. I was told that it wouldn't work due to the calibration requirements. I didn't press the response for any further details.

[BGCurtis2nd]

WoodlandHills, I was told the same thing about the Uneekor QED but I was able to show them it worked with only a single calibration. I am waiting on them to send me the measurements for the mounting plate for the Uneekor EYE XO so I can build a slide to be tested on it. If the calibration is only for the camera's fine tuning, then as long as the hitting areas are the same distance in front of and below the camera it should work the same as the Uneekor QED.

[Solstice72]

Should definitely have a hot tub

[mikemcd22]

Wall racks for your clubs. Will save you some space and works well if you have winter months where you don't need the bag all the time (though I suspect by your user name that may not be the case?).

[azbball11]

I put in a slopped ramp to return the golf ball back to the hitting area - works great. I would not put much incline on the ramp as you do not want it to interfere with a low shot. I put a neoprene foam pad directly under the landing area and then carpet over the entire floor. The pad is nice for deadening the bounce and it is much quieter than hitting the OSB sub floor.

I use the Uneekor QED and so far nothing but great things to say. Another nice feature to have is a nice PC cabinet with some storage. I custom built mine and love that the PC is out of view and I have plenty of room for storage - plus a spot to set your beverage of choice when hitting. As for PC - get one or build one that has plenty of "power" to handle the graphics.

*** Photo attached shows the ramp and the PC cabinet (plus touch screen - nice feature as well)

Best of luck

[Stetson]

That’s the PC cabinet I was attempting to reference above.