New Basement Simulator Help

[WinterGolfer]

I've loved being an avid reader of all the great topics on here, and now it is time for me to start my own golf simulator project.

I must preface all of this that I am not handy at all, so anything much further above hammering a nail, I will have to outsource, but that is ok.

I'm building a new house that will have an unfinished basement (pictures attached). My overall plan is either to fully finish out the basement, or partially do it with more of a lower budget solution to all the things I want to do down there (bar, workout room, movie room, simulator).

Dimensions:

• Ceiling Height: 9'
• Hitting Wall: 12'
• West Wall: 20'
• East Wall: 17'

Hitting Wall:

• Plan to do a 12'W x 9'H Hitting Wall.
• Would like to take side walls of hitting mat out to at least 5'
• Would like the screen to be quiet and good visual quality for movies, sports, etc
• I've looked at a lot of suggestions on here for materials, also have looked at
  • Hitting Screen: http://www.carlofet.com/golf-simulat...l#.WaSTapOGP6p
  • Enclosure: http://www.carlofet.com/fittings-onl...l#.WVukdBPys_U

Projector:

• Would like to go overhead
• Good quality, doesn't have to be overly bright as it is a very dark space
• What I've found so far: https://www.cnet.com/products/optoma-hd142x/review/

Simulator:

• Currently have SkyTrak, love it
• Use TGC for simulation, like it, intrigued by practice options on E6

Hitting Mat:

• Currently have hitting mat that works, but I plan to maybe make the entire room a putting green. I have been looking at ProPuttSystems, but pretty pricey. https://proputtsystems.com/golf-room...dict-man-cave/
• Also looked at the Real Strike hitting mat to embed into the ProPuttingGreen https://proputtsystems.com/true-strike-hitting-mats/

Sound:

• Haven't explored anything yet
• Currently have a Sonos system, could add to that. Not a sound freak, just want it to be quality.

Some Concerns I have:

• Need to see if I can center the hitting mat in the middle of the room, unsure if my followthrough will be too close to the East Wall
• Budget, all those things

I know that is a lot of info, I just could use any help I can get if I'm heading down a wrong direction.

Thanks for any feedback!

[WinterGolfer]

Side note, I use Home Design 3D for those renderings. Awesome app, and very affordable (~$30)!

[Kent]

A couple quick observations. Looks like you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. I think it will be tough be centered with a width of 12'. If you can get some extra width, I think you'll be much happier with the finished project. I have 14' and would ideally like at least 16'. The projector you have listed will need to be mounted almost 19' away. I would look at the Optoma GT1080Darbee or the BenQ2150ST, which are both short throw projectors and used by many people on the forum. I have speakers from HTD. They are very good for the cost. http://www.htd.com/HD-W80-in-wall-speakers

[WinterGolfer]

A couple quick observations. Looks like you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do. I think it will be tough be centered with a width of 12'. If you can get some extra width, I think you'll be much happier with the finished project. I have 14' and would ideally like at least 16'. The projector you have listed will need to be mounted almost 19' away. I would look at the Optoma GT1080Darbee or the BenQ2150ST, which are both short throw projectors and used by many people on the forum. I have speakers from HTD. They are very good for the cost. http://www.htd.com/HD-W80-in-wall-speakers

Thanks for the insight on the projector and the width. It does bump out a little, but I do agree that is a big concern. There might be some options to bump that out a bit.

Thanks again!

[wbond]

Can you lose the wall between the sim and workout room? That will give you some more room. You could do a heavy duty curtain on slide that is ceiling mounted for that side to catch on misses. Also, if you open it up, you could run the projector while working out or when playing poker. Could be nice to see the whole screen from the poker table/ping pong area.

[WinterGolfer]

Also really like your idea of opening up so the poker area could see the screen. Maybe the walls need to go away. Would save money also.

Thanks wbond!

[WinterGolfer]

Can you lose the wall between the sim and workout room? That will give you some more room. You could do a heavy duty curtain on slide that is ceiling mounted for that side to catch on misses. Also, if you open it up, you could run the projector while working out or when playing poker. Could be nice to see the whole screen from the poker table/ping pong area.

Kind of. There is a support post 10ft out from that hitting screen wall, as of now. There is also a support beam that runs across where that wall is currently drawn in, so I couldn't carry the hitting screen past where I have it now due to the drop of that support beam. I considered maybe bumping the wall in just past that support beam. Here is the imagery with that thought. Not sure if it helps me much. I still can't center the screen, but I may get a little more room for the swing. I'll take some pictures tonight of the actual basement, for reference. Thanks for the help. Hoping I can make this space work.

[WinterGolfer]

This is what the room looks like with nothing added. How it stands today.

[mikeingp]

Yep, wbond is right on the money. Lose the workout room walls if you can.

[WinterGolfer]

Yep, wbond is right on the money. Lose the workout room walls if you can.

Even if I can't extend the screen any further due to the support beam?

[mikeingp]

How much lower is the beam? With the beam drop and different flooring types, you can differentiate the space (sim area/workout area). Personally, I prefer exercising in a larger open area and eliminating the wall would make the simulator space seem much larger.

[WinterGolfer]

The beam is about 12 inches lower. I'm starting to think that maybe I go with a 10' screen, pushed towards the exercise room, then I can get close to centering. It seems like centering on a 10' screen is better than being offset on a 12'. I appreciate the input on the workout room, that may change some things.

[Kent]

You definitely don't want to lose width on the screen. If you have 8' of height for your screen (9' ceiling minus your beam), you could go a bit over 14' wide (16:9 ratio). If you lose the walls between the rooms, you could easily hit into the center of the screen (assuming you are right handed) without being near your post.

[WinterGolfer]

Here are some images with taking out that wall, moving the screen height to 8' tall and 14' wide to get under the support beam, and leaving the support posts. I don't love the posts being cut right into the room, but I agree with your thoughts of wider being better. I may try to get an architect out to see if I could do something with that support post. The openness is nice, I agree. My only negative to the openness, is it doesn't feel as deliberate of a room.

....I'm crazy .

[WinterGolfer]

Sorry for the delay, but I have finally pulled the trigger on a plan.

Here is what I went with:

• Simulator Enclosure/Screen & Projector Package: AllSportSystems http://www.allsportsystems.com/store...projectors.php
  • Simulator Enclosure: MINICOMBO-2 - MiniBay Golf Enclosure 9Hx10Wx5D with Projection Screen, BlackOut Wrapper, ShotDefender and Side Rite Tension Kit (no poles) $1426.83
  • Projector: ULTRASHORT-4.3-OC Offset Capable Hanging Projector 3500 Lumens, Mount, 25 HDMI Cable $834.99
  • Mount: SkyRailPLUS! Cage Attached Sliding Projector Track with Projector Mount $149.99
  • HD Screen UPGRADE: - Fabricate screen from HD material $200.00
  • Shipping: $130.70
  • Total Amount: $2,742.51
• Putting Green/Hitting Mat: My plan is to place the hitting mat on top of the putting green when using simulator and easily remove when putting.
  • Putting Green: https://tourlinks.net/8x14-money-maker/
    • 8x14 Money Maker Putting Green: $1,574
  • Hitting Mat: True Strike Hitting Mats: https://proputtsystems.com/true-strike-hitting-mats/
    • Tour Strike Single Model: $739
  • Total Amount: $2,313
• Computer/Simulator: (Already have)
  • SkyTrak Simulator: $1,700
  • TGC Software: $500/year
  • Game Improvement Plan: $99/year
  • Computer: Bytespeed NUC: $850
  • Total Amount: $3,149
• Total: $8,204

There are a few little things I'm missing (I'm sure) but I feel like I'm close to all in for $8,204. I've attached some renderings of this layout. I will send real pictures when completed. Let me know if you think I'm missing anything major.

Thanks!

[WinterGolfer]

In summary, you'll notice I went with a 10'Wx 9H bay. I had to stay inside the support beam, and also had to avoid some venting tubing on the left of that hitting wall. I would have loved to go wider, but, I had limitations.

[WinterGolfer]

Update on additional costs: The enclosure does not come with the metal poles needed, but the site does provide the exact measurements, which I'll be able to take to local hardware store and get cut for a nominal amount. I'll add to total cost, when I complete that process.