Starting out and need some help!

[Bgreko]

I have a ~9 ft x ~9ft wall the I want to put a golf sim screen against. The room seems large enough to accommodate a golf sim at about 20 ft deep by 25 ft wide with 9 ft ceiling. My questions are really around what size and type of screen to put in and what aspect ratio to project.

With it being a square space, I assume projecting a 4:3 ratio would be better for the golf sim so it fills up more of the screen space, but I want to use this for a movie screen as well, which I understand would be better using a16:9 ratio? Can you watch a movie and HDTV on a 4:3 ratio? My wife wants a movie space and agreed to also be used as a golf sim as long as we can use it for movies and TV as a first priority.

If we use a 16:9 ratio at ~ 100” wide, it looks like that will project an image ~56” high. I am fine using the sim with that projected area, but don’t like the idea of having blocks of white space on the screen above and below the projected image (I am thinking of having the bottom of the image 12-18” off the ground). Is there something you can adhere to the screen to “black out” the portion of screen that would not have a projected image on the top and bottom that would also withstand a golf ball strike? Seems like having a black area would look nicer than the empty white space?

Sorry for the long post and appreciate any help as I would really like to have an indoor golf sim but also need to make sure we can watch movies and TV on it.

Thanks

[FirGir]

I might not be understanding, I believe most projectors allow you to toggle between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios in the settings. I know mine does. Depending on whether it's sim or movie night, is that not an option?

[Bgreko]

That would be an option, but then wouldn’t I have a white blank space on the top and bottom when in 16:9 ratio? If using a 4:3 ratio at 100” width, the projected image height would be around 75”, which would fill up a 9’ x 9’ screen nicely. However, if I then toggled to 16:9 ratio, then the projected image would be 134” wide, which I don’t have. Maybe I am not understanding how the ratio aspects work? I was thinking I need to start with the 16:9 ratio at 100” to accommodate any movies and then could toggle to 4:3 ratio for sim, but that doesn’t pick up any additiona projected image height?

Maybe my real overall question is I am hoping to avoid having any blank white space on the screen unless it doesn’t look as bad as I think it might? I am putting the sim in a finished basement, so would like it to look as nice as possible? If the impact screen is roughly 9 ft by 9 ft, is there a way to avoid having blank white spaces?

[Bgreko]

That would be an option, but then wouldn’t I have a white blank space on the top and bottom when in 16:9 ratio? If using a 4:3 ratio at 100” width, the projected image height would be around 75”, which would fill up a 9’ x 9’ screen nicely. However, if I then toggled to 16:9 ratio, then the projected image would be 134” wide, which I don’t have. Maybe I am not understanding how the ratio aspects work? I was thinking I need to start with the 16:9 ratio at 100” to accommodate any movies and then could toggle to 4:3 ratio for sim, but that doesn’t pick up any additiona projected image height?

Maybe my real overall question is I am hoping to avoid having any blank white space on the screen unless it doesn’t look as bad as I think it might? I am putting the sim in a finished basement, so would like it to look as nice as possible? If the impact screen is roughly 9 ft by 9 ft, is there a way to avoid having blank white spaces?

[FirGir]

I think you're going to end up with some blank white space (to possibly cover) but others have more experience with this sim/theater combo.

[Bgreko]

I am thinking that I will end up with some blank white spaces as well... not sure if your set up has these blank spaces, but any input on how it looks? Trying to get as clean a look as possible, but might be what I’m left with if I want to put a sim in.

Do you happen to know now if it’s even possible to watch HDTV/movies on a 4:3 ratio ( ie could I just leave it in 4:3 ratio all the time, even when watching TV/movies... or will that distort the image since that content is native 16:9?

[wbond]

Yes you can watch in 4:3 but you do notice the image looks skewed. You say you have quite a wide room any reason for sticking to 9’ width? Why not just go 16 x 9 screen?

[Bgreko]

Thanks.... With how the basement is setup with windows and door openings, there is only one 9’x9’ wall to put the impzce screen.

I have been going over lots of posts in this forum and have not come across any that talk about blacking out the blank sections of screen when getting a smaller projected image than screen size, so thinking that isn’t going away. Maybe that doesn’t look as bad as I am thinking it will.

My other option is to use the projector and screen just for the sim in 4:3 ratio and then put a big screen TV for movies and TV on another wall. That way the projected image would be ~100” wide by 75” tall, which covers most of the screen area.

Anyone have this set up and does it look ok or does it overwhelm a room with a big projector screens and a regular big screen TV (I know that might depend on room size but thought I would ask).

[DannyMRICS]

Have you thought about having a separate projector screen for movies in 16:9? There’s a few examples on here. This would have black edges, would give you a good quality picture, could be sized for your viewing distance, and would mean you could maybe have a cheaper impact screen.

You’d have to play around with throw distances, zoom, and / or a rail to move the projector back and forth.

Dan.

[Bgreko]

I was just at my neighbors house and he has a retractable movie screen and was contemplating that exact thing! The only downside is I would love to be able to watch something (ie sports) while hitting into the sim.

I am thinking the path of least resistance is to put a dedicated golf sim up against the 9 ft by 9 ft wall using a 4:3 ratio and then a big screen TV on a different wall. That way I don’t have to worry about changing back and forth between ratios and don’t have to move the projector.

Any suggestions on what type and size screen would work well for a 9 ft x 9 ft impact screen area? I have read a bunch of treads in screen on here and seems like Carl’s and Par2Pro are the two best resources? Also saw Rain or Shine website has some options?

[sonman]

I use Carl’s premium screen. It’s expensive but works best for movie screen because the material is so dense. It also does a good job of baffling the sound. You will be glad you bought it. I bought the preferred first then bought the premium. I just looks much better in the sim and watching Movies or your sport game of choice.

[sonman]

[sonman]

The first picture shows you the quality of the projection compared to 4K TV on the side. I use the Denton receiver so I can display 2 different sources at the same time or play 1 source on both the 4K tv and the screen. I am using an Epson 4K simulated projector. I will attach a picture of that next.

[sonman]

[sonman]

My Garage is approximately 24’ x 26’ with 11’ plus ceiling. I used 3/4 inch piping with 3 way and 4 way canopy corner fittings. YOu can find these on eBay and amazon.

[sonman]

I built a frame on the impact side with approximately 12” gap so that there would be room for the ball impact. The 4 way canopy fittings go towards the front of the frame so that you can run the long piping forward to connect a net or another impact screen for the wedge shots the go up towards the ceiling.