Would GREATLY appreciate input on my sim layout...

[shellman19]

Quick Background

I have wanted a golf sim for many many years. I lived in a house that had no means of making a sim. Then lived in apartment while my house was being built for another year and half. Finally moved into my "forever" house almost a year ago and am finally ready to really sink my teeth into my sim build. I have been reading and reading and reading this forum. It has been quite the learning experience to say the least. I feel I have decided on a good deal of my sim room but really need some help from people on this site that have "been there, done that" already so as to limit time consuming and potentially costly mistakes. I thank anyone that takes the time to try and help me finalize my build out!

Info on my build out
1) I am going to get a Foresight GC2
2) I am on dbgolf72's direct from mill sim screen list
3) I have not decided on a projector yet
4) I will have a gaming computer with a 1060 or better graphics card
5) I have not decided on a hitting mat yet due to that fact that I have not finalized my room layout yet.

Info about me as a golfer
I am in my mid 40's and am a 7-8hcp. I love playing the game and want to get better. I am NOT a natural ball striker and know that I need to practice more to be a better player and reach my goal of being a low single handicapper. I want my sim to be more for practice than for fun but fun is great too and I look forward to playing online sim golf with some of the very cool people on this site!

How can you help me?
Well, there are a million fine details that I could use help with of course BUT the main thing at this point that I need to do is finalize the layout so I can start getting bids for all the work that will need to be done to finish the space. To help those that would like to give their opinions I have put together several videos and hand drawn the dimensions and 2 separate layout options. I'd love to say that I had enough room in my basement to have a single dedicated space for my golf sim but I need to make the space in videos/drawings work for not just the golf sim but also my office/desk and an overall "mancave"/bar area. So, I THINK I have narrowed down the space to 2 layouts that should work but perhaps there are other layouts that I am not seeing? So, I would love to get inputs from all the experience that you guys have to help me figure out the small details of the 2 layouts I have drawn out.

Room Dimensions Video: https://youtu.be/Ua5XJ2ssBf4
Sim Room- Option # 1 Video: https://youtu.be/2BOS0lEixBw
Sim Room- Option # 2 Video: https://youtu.be/824BuKieLeQ

*Please see the attached PDF's of the hand drawn layout and dimension drawings.

Thanks in advance to everyone for your invaluable input!

*PLEASE NOTE* The video & diagram for option # 2 indicated the distance to be 17' from ball strike point to the wall where the screen will be. I remeasured the distance and it is actually 16'.

[shellman19]

One other thing to add to my list of questions above is:
If I did option 1.... my floor to ceiling height is 8' 9.5", What width would my screen need to be to be able to do a 16x9?

[Kent]

I am assuming you are right handed. I am also assuming that your 8' 9.5" height is an unfinished measurement. Once you account for drywall, minimal flooring and room to attach the top of the screen you are probably left with a maximum of 8'3" which would correspond to 14'8" of screen width in a 16:9 ratio. You also need to account for any possible vertical offset that the projector may require.

Layout #1 thoughts:

It would work, but you would be hitting about 2' offset from the center.You also aren't getting the maximum screen width possible, which I think is important.

Layout #2 thoughts:

I don't think hitting 17' away with your limited height would work very well. If you use a short throw projector it would definitely be a target and your beam is most likely in the way of more regular throw projector. You could project from the ground.

I'll look at your videos and see if I see anything else.

[shellman19]

Kent Thanks Kent for your input. A couple things based on your thoughts:

1) I should have mentioned that I do NOT plan on finishing the ceiling with drywall. I am going to use a product called: "Roxul Safe 'n' Sound"

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Roxul-Safe-n-Sound-3-in-x-15-1-4-in-x-47-in-Soundproofing-Stone-Wool-Insulation-1-Bag-RXSS31525/202531875

I will put this product between the ceiling joists to decrease the sound penetration into the floors above as well as planning on having the entire ceiling spray painted a dark color to create a uniform look.

It will look something like this but with the bats of safe 'n' sound b/w the joists: https://www.houzz.com/photo/7477701-...ement-new-york

Bottom line, the ceiling height will not come down. The only thing that will take away from the overall height is flooring. My thought on that is to carpet the entire space and have the installer leave a cut out in the carpet the exact dimension of the hitting mat and then just lay the hitting mat inside the cut out. This would only reduce the ceiling height by about 1-2" according to what mat I get (input on mat selection is welcome!).

2) Regarding Option # 2, I remeasured the distance from where a finished wall will be to where the ball will be struck on the hitting mat and the distance is more like 16' as opposed to 17'. Not sure this makes much of a difference but wanted to let you all know that. I have corrected the distance in the original post.

3) If my screen were to be in the range of 16'-17' wide how far away from the screen would be ideal?

[mthunt]

IMO, the most important things are height and length. You don't want less than 9.5' of ceiling space. It's danger. Second is length. 23 foot is amazing. I'd want rather 23x12 than 20x16. BTW, my room is as high end as it gets and it's 20x16. Nice and wide but I'd love for 3 more feet. My 2 cents

[Kent]

My room is about 14' wide and 24' long and I would like a couple of extra feet of width. I guess we all want what we don't have.

[mthunt]

The real question is would you trade 4 feet of length for 2 more feet of width?

[Kent]

I think your hitting distance from the screen is a personal preference, but should be in the range of 7-12 ft. I prefer between 9 and 10 ft. With your ceiling height being lower than most, I would say closer is better. One idea for option #2 would be to attach the screen about 6-7 ft from the wall. You could use the space behind it for a desk or storage. Your hitting distance would then be in the 10' range.

I have a CCE mat that I cut into my carpet. I like it, but I don't really know anything else. It does penalize fat shots. The only other complaint I hear about it is that it can be hard on your wrists, but I haven't experienced that at all. In your case, I would use a hitting strip and surround it with putting green.

[shellman19]

IMO, the most important things are height and length. You don't want less than 9.5' of ceiling space. It's danger. Second is length. 23 foot is amazing. I'd want rather 23x12 than 20x16. BTW, my room is as high end as it gets and it's 20x16. Nice and wide but I'd love for 3 more feet. My 2 cents

Sorry, I am sure I am being a little slow on the uptake here but I have 2 questions for you:
1) "23 foot is amazing" are you referring to option 1 or option 2 layout?
2) Not questioning what you are saying just trying to understand... if the normal distance to a screen is in the 7-12 foot range what benefit would having all that extra length give me?

[mthunt]

Sorry, I am sure I am being a little slow on the uptake here but I have 2 questions for you:
1) "23 foot is amazing" are you referring to option 1 or option 2 layout?
2) Not questioning what you are saying just trying to understand... if the normal distance to a screen is in the 7-12 foot range what benefit would having all that extra length give me?

Sorry. The drawings weren’t clear to me. Ideal is screen to ball of 10’ and ball to clear behind being 7’. Anything beyond 17 feet is leisure area.

[cobig13]

One other thing to add to my list of questions above is:
If I did option 1.... my floor to ceiling height is 8' 9.5", What width would my screen need to be to be able to do a 16x9?

If you account for 6" of lost space for mats, angle iron, etc, math tells me 14'9"
That's pushing not enough ceiling height for a screen, ESPECIALLY if you are going to be 16' away. You're going to be firing balls into your ceiling more than you will your screen.
Will your swinging area have more height than 8'9.5" ?

[DirtyGarry24]

Just something to think about for the commenters. On option 2, if you bring the screen out from the wall 6/7 feet, doesn't that really open things up? Could do some storage behind the screen or something.