New Sim Build - Two Key Requests For Help (Minimum Width & Best Sim for TGC 2019)

[tatwacht]

I am planning a simulator build for my basement and I am med-high on the tech savvy scale. I have two good spots for my simulator, the best spot is 11' wide and 25' long. The backup spot is 16' wide and 20' long. Basement ceiling is plenty high as I hit balls into a net now.

My Key MIRs are:
1) Ability to play a lot of courses
2) Ability to invite both righty and lefty friends to play without too much hassle
3) A system that once set up that has some longevity without having to upgrade/change
4) Total system price under $20K
5) Ability to track swing/ball speed, launch information, etc. to do some game improvement efforts

System will never be taken outside and I do not require an overhead system.

Question #1 - Can I squeeze my simulator into an 11' side spot and get away with it. I plan to do a custom sized screen and have unfinished drywall on the walls so I don't think I even really need a net since I am hitting down a walled tunnel similar to a local golf simulator place I frequent. Looking for feedback if 11' will work as I see almost all recommendations are 12' wide.

Question #2 - My preferred simulator was the newly released Foresight GC3, but I just found it it won't interface with the TGC 2019 golf simulator S/W and only comes with 10 courses. You can expand to a few hundred courses but at a significant expense. Being able to play a lot of courses is my most important requirement, so I am now looking for the best option for a simulator that fits my needs as I really believe the TGC 2019 is a must have.

Any words of wisdom from experienced forum members on my two questions and any other you would offer is appreciated.

[jhmeg2]

I went with an EYE XO, and e6. Plenty of courses. As for space I am 12' wide and would like more. I am limited to right handed only, but could do both. If you have the space to do left and right, The EYE XO is great. I was looking t trackman, and GCQ, but the ball and club data, and additional cameras is great for instruction, improvemnt, play, and fittings.

[aussiebenny]

I've watched probably every single review of LMs on youtube and web past 4 months, and my conclusion is that, Uneekor LM is best for indoor sim play & game improvement while being much cheaper than GC Quad. I currentlt own a Mevo+ but am preparing to buy the EYEXO.

1. I think 11' is fine but you may not be able to orient the ball right in the center of the screen as that would mean you would only have 5.5' from the ball to the back wall where you may not have enough room for longer clubs. But if so, it's fine to have it a bit offset so should be fine. (I used to hit within a 10.5' cube net cage just fine) But yeah, if you need both righty and lefty, it's not enough imo unless you are okay with changing the location of the LM every time, and using different offset location for each, which is obviously not ideal.

2. Yes, I also agree that TGC 2019 is a must have. Its flight model isn't the most accurate but it having endless amount of course cannot be beat. I've tried both E6, and Creative Golf 3D but both do not compare to TGC 2019 imo. On another note, GC3 may still have access to TGC 2019. We don't know yet until someone try the same GC Quad trick with it. If it can, it would the best sub-10k portable photometric system. But if you are going to mainly use it indoors, and want a guaranteed LM that can do it all, then I also second the EYEXO. (or QED if you don't mind needing marked balls) Both Uneekor systems provide more data than the GC3 (EYEXO rivals the GC Quad) and due to its top orientation, it is more accurate for horizontal launch angle (which imo is more important than vertical launch angle). As a result, both Uneekor LMs have supreme putting/chipping capability to any other. (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3j9KdOAy8I) Also, Uneekor LMs have the best optix capability by far, with ball, club face, impact videos, as well as support for another 2 cameras that display with every shot, and you can have that displaying on another TV/monitor even while playing TCG 2019 on your main screen! They also supports nearly all sim software such as E6, TGC 2019, and another direct rival to TGC 2019 that cannot be named in this forum. But yeah, GC3 may also work with them if it works the same as GC Quad.

So either wait a bit more until we find out if GC3 will work the same for TGC 2019 or go with Uneekor for a permanent indoor solution, and then maybe also get a Mevo+ if you need something for outdoors.... or.... just go with Mevo+ for both for now and save yourself a lot of money while enjoying TGC 2019 and improving your game now. Your 25 feet long room is superb for Mevo+, and you wouldn't even need the silver dot to measure accurate ball spin. (as you'll have much more than 14 feet of ball flight) or it's still perfectly fine with your other backup location as you'll still have >11 feet of flight which is a lot with short indoor mode. (and soon, they are going to release Fusion Tracking for the Mevo+ which up until now was only used with Flightscope's flagship X3, and should significantly improve accuracy and response of shorter shots)... but yeah, GC3 would be best (in combination of accuracy, convenience, inclusions) for $7k, if it does indeed work with TGC 2019. just my 2 cents...

[tatwacht]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Any idea when the GC3 interface to TGC 2019 will get confirmed using the GC Quad "trick". Sounds like EYEXO would be a solid system for my needs.

[aussiebenny]

tatwacht I'm sure it's in Foresight's (and Bushnell's) best interest to make sure the GC3 doesn't work with TGC 2019 (or similar) so I wouldn't keep any hopes up tbh. And so far, it seems people are having no luck with the GC3. (though I wouldn't write it off yet as it's still early days) https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum...51-gc3-and-tgc

Yeah. If you want something that is guaranteed to work with all major / trending golf sim softwares right now (and most likely beyond), and if your budget allows, then Uneekor EYEXO is definitely the best for a seamless indoor solution IMO. (QED is cheaper and just as accurate btw. Just that it needs marked balls...)

[Gresh12]

I don’t have an ideal space anywhere in my house unfortunately and I live in an area it rains all winter so I’ve tried a bunch of spaces.

I’ve been hitting balls on my deck which is 8’ wide and my ball position is then 6’ from the wall behind me (which leaves me very off centered in to my net but I don’t have other better options.

I’ve only been using this setup for a few weeks but I can hit full speed hybrids very comfortably. I hit the wall with my slow driver swings (they may be slightly exaggerated to get a feel for the space but even still I’d not be comfortable hitting driver).

So 11’ is fine but you’ll need to be off center in my opinion and having lefty and righty playing together off center will be challenging as you may have to move the launch monitor as I’m not sure any have a wide enough hitting area to be off centre 2’ each way as an example.

[Travrav40]

I think if you want R & L handed golfers wider is better and may even be necessary. I have 12’+ width and the lefty position in my setup wouldn’t be able to use driver.

[StalefishFS3]

Eleven feet wide is really tight. If I had those two options, I'd choose the 16' wide option and the 20' length.

If I was never going outside with it, I'd go with the Uneekor Eye XO because you need L/R ability.

[aussiebenny]

I agree with EYEXO. Also, 16 feet wide option will allow for a much wider and taller screen, which would increase the sense of immersion and wow factor.

[Treyc321]

I have 11 ft and it’s fine, but I would LOVE wider so go that route if it’s not too much of a hassle. I am 39” from ball to center of hitting mat and that feels comfy even for flatter swings. I have an EyeXO and it is amazing. The main issue is no LH, the rest is awesome tho (except when I am too busy to play cause then life isn’t as fun…)

[AgileMike]

Either of your spaces will have a small trade off.
11' wide - will be tight to swing a driver, especially if you play with right and left handed hitters. I had a garage sim in the exact same width and I wasn't comfortable swinging a driver, so I just hit a 3W off the tee. People that weren't used to playing in the sim had trouble hitting a 3W because they felt like they would hit the walls, even though they wouldn't. The 25' depth is great to allow a couch or stools for people to sit while you are playing.
16' wide - this is great for swing width, but the 20' depth could be a problem for having a place for people to sit comfortably. My garage sim was about that depth and it was a little awkward sitting and moving around if more than two people were playing.

[tatwacht]

If I was to go with a righty only setup, do you think 11' is still too tight for most people? I hit in the space today into a net and I don't worry about hitting driver as I know I won't hit the walls but I'm used to it. I'm worried my friends would adjust to the tight space. Curious about your thoughts given your experience.

[AgileMike]

If you are playing right hand only, I think you could make 11' wide work, you just wouldn't be hitting from the center. It would be offset from center 18" or so.