Advice Welcomed

[Frozen Rope]

Hi Folks, Long time reader, first time poster. We recently moved into a new home (to us) and am in the process of gathering info and in short order rebuilding the basement to put in a sim. The basement is now gutted, and I am at the point where I need to start to finalize the sim game plan. I thought it would make sense to get the forums advice before I try and reinvent the wheel. I just purchased a new Skytrak, so at least have that figured out. I have the following room size 15' wide x (up to) 25' deep. Unfortunately my ceiling height is 7'11". I am 5'10" and have a very compact, connected swing so this will pose no issue for me (I swung the driver 50 times without an issue). I plan to build the sim to look finished and first rate. My main question/concern is how to finish/protect the ceiling (and walls) to be able to take the odd hit from my friends long clubs as well as stray golf balls. I am not overly concerned with damage to clubs as I plan to have old woods for people to use. I have a few thoughts but would like your input. One idea is to do the ceiling in wood. It would either be a rustic stained oak, or plywood covered with shiplap paneling and pained white (this is my present choice). I figure I could repair/replace wood panels on any really bad ceiling hits. I also plan to do the walls in wood in case of sh**ks.
I toyed with the idea of purchasing rubber gym floor rolls and using that as my ceiling. It would be more affective but I don't think it would be as aesthetically pleasing.
I could also go with a hybrid of rubber in the swing area and wood beyond it.
I would really appreciate any input or out of the box ideas as I'm sure that some of you have had to address these issues as well.
Thanks so much.

[FaultyClubs]

...Unfortunately my ceiling height is 7'11". I am 5'10".....

I couldn't get past this...less than 8 feet even...that just seems unworkably low.

I know you say you have tested it but are you sure you aren't subconciously shortening or flattening your swing? You may find that you are and it will show up as much shorter distances when you actually get your sim going and try to hit real balls.

It would be interesting to hear if ANYONE is hitting with a ceiling height under 8 feet (and if so what is their physical height and what is their maximum usable club).

Can you do anything at all to increase this? Even if just in the follow through area. Remember you'll have friends over too so it won't be just you hitting.

[Jimsol]

I have a 8 foot ceiling and am only 5'5" and also have shortened my driver. I can not even use my 3 wood without hitting my ceiling. I only use irons until I can get into my Garage which has a 9'11" ceiling

[fhann]

You will also lose clearance height hitting off a mat plus thickness of materials that you are using to finish the ceiling.

[Frozen Rope]

Hi Faulty,
I took a driver that I don't care about and could only hit the ceiling when I disconnected my arms from my swing. My swing plane is more around my body than up and down. It stays connected like Hogan's but shorter. I looked at digging the basement down, but we live on the lake and the water table is very high right now so that isn't an option.

[FaultyClubs]

Can you open up the ceiling at all in the follow-through area? Change some beams or rafters around?

Obviously you've thought about it. But since you have the Skytrak then perhaps it is worth having your friends over and hitting long ball competitions into a net, blankets or something cheap. See if it really is workable under more realistic conditions before going to all the expense of making the room.

I suspect you will be the first guy ever to make a full sim with a ceiling under 8 feet (one that might be only 7' 9"" when it is fully finished due to the extra items fhann mentioned etc).

[SwingHarder]

Has anyone successfully altered joists/raftors? I'm in a similar situation with 8'9 inch ceilings but 10inch joists in the overhead. Even modifying just 1 for a few feet could get me 5-6 inches in the follow through area.

[aja]

Consult a local builder. Probably can be done by doubling up shallower joists in place of the 10 inch joists.

[onehandicap]

My ceiling is exactly 8ft...but I am only 5'5". I can swing a driver and have hundreds of times...more on that later. I have a buddy who is 6'2" and he can't even swing a wedge.

I have been been in the house almost 3 years and have probably hit 20k balls. I have nicked the ceiling probably 50 times with driver and a couple times with a 3 wood. No club damage...minimal to the ceiling. This only happens when I make a really bad swing...come out of it (lose spine angle), pivot stall, and the club goes more up than around.

I'd love to have another foot, but busting out the concrete floor ain't happening.

Scratch

[wilson]

I'm 5' 11" and have a full projector screen setup with turf mat in the basement. 7' 8" after mat height.
I have 1/4 OSB With foam workout mats as padding on ceiling ( for swings and balls off the wedge)
I have 9ft from the screen, and the Jerry rigged cage is 8ft wide.
I can swing up to my hybrid 40.5" and rarely hit the roof (once a week maybe?)
Everything else is gold.
I have no issues with distance, the Skytrak shows 225-235 carry with the hybrid and 7i is the requisite 165-170.
I can get around the 6900 yard E6 demo without a problem and without boost.
My swing is a one plane so it works in a rotary fashion and is suited to such compact dimensions.
I think it's doable if you are ok with only yourself and children hitting. Friends do not have the same swing or abilities as I do so its not possible to be inclusive.

[SwingHarder]

What is your ceiling height?

[wilson]

Oh, that was the important bit!
Mine are 7' 8" after mat height. Seriously low.

[aja]

Ever been hit by a golf ball?

I'd be cautious about your plan to do the walls in wood to take the odd shank. Hitting golf balls indoors can be very dangerous. They will go everywhich way and if there is something to ricochet off of, they will, unpredictably.

[mthunt]

If you shank a ball it will still be going in the direction of the screen thus off of the wood wall into the screen.

[Frozen Rope]

Thanks for all of the great input folks. As it is a games room I want friends to be able to enjoy it as well so I have decided that I am going to do a small excavation which will gain me approx. 10 to 12 more inches. I am also going to look at what can be done in the floor joists above. Even if I can gain 2 or 3 inches there it would be worth it. What is a reasonable distance to set up the Skytrak from the screen. I ask this as I need to figure out where the pit should be excavated. Thanks

[wbond]

Distance from screen can be as close or as far as you want it. The farther away you get the high lofted shots may become an issue. You will need to consider what you are going to be doing for a projector so you don't get any shadows.

[mthunt]

10 feet is ideal.

[Frozen Rope]

Thanks so much.

[SwingHarder]

Good to hear. Keep us updated on the joist modification. I'm really curious as to how viable that is (floor excavation is out of my budget)

[Frozen Rope]

Will do SH.

[Frozen Rope]

I was told by my contractor not to even go there when it came to joist modification. He said floor excavation was still cheaper and safer then messing with joists.

[Frozen Rope]

One other thought. Is there a way to dig out and engineer the sim pit to a level lower than the water table and still keep it dry ?

[keither5150]

Yes, Since your lowered basement pad will be below your weeping tile you will need to add a sump pump to keep water from seeping in. A qualified contractor will be able to help you. This is not a DIY project. The sump needs to be done first. Otherwise your excavation could fill with water quite quickly. If you plan to go to the expense of lowering the basement floor. You may as well go deeper. 10 foot ceiling height would be better than 9. I work for a new home builder and we have done a few deep basements in the past. You have to have a system in place to get the water up to the sewer drain level. Different states and provinces will have different building codes. Some will require that the water be expelled to the exterior surface rather than the sewer drain.

[aja]

Consult a builder. Probably could require a sump pit and some plumbing.

Also, plan on making your excavated / lowered area at least big enough so the that entire footprint (or size) of your sim area is lowered. You have to be hitting in an area where your back swing won't be interefered with and also where the entire path to the impact screen is free of obstructions.

[mthunt]

Someone on the Ottawa forum did it and documented the whole thing.

[Frozen Rope]

Thanks for the info. I took a look and found it informative.