Keither5150 is building a new sim room.

[keither5150]

Here is the future space. 16.5x10x30. I am planning to have about 16 or 42 inches from the screen to the wall.
I have installed a couple of these frames and I really like the image quality and how smooth the screen stays.

I am planning to hit 12-13 feet away from the screen. As you can see, there is a beam at 17 feet from the wall. This would put the beam about 15.5 feet from the screen and about 3.5 feet behind the tee. Does anyone think that the beam will interfere with anyone's swing? The backswing is generally lower than the follow through.

Option 1. screen 16 inches from the wall. Hit from 12 feet away. Tall people may have to hit from 10 feet away. After testing my swing at 5'10" tall, I won't hit the beam.

Option 2. Screen is 36 inches away from the wall. Hit from 12 or 13 feet away. This puts the beam almost directly overhead. the highest part of my swing arc will be in front of the beam. With the screen this far away, I can safely have my home theatre speakers behind there without any added protection.

Both options give me plenty of room behind for two couches and my desk.

I am planning on using dricore for the sub floor. I use a FB mat and will be staying with them.

Anyone have experience with going around beams like this? Hitting from 10 feet away would not be the end of the world...... I would prefer 12 or 13 feet. Can the screen be 12 inches away from the wall?

[keither5150]

My mat is a custom built Fiberbuilt mat. 4x4 stance mat on each side with a 1x4 hitting strip and a 1x4 putting strip. The whole mat is 10x4

[keither5150]

I hooked up the projector last night....

[linkkingx]

Sorry if I missed it, but what projector are you using? I have a space being built with pretty much the exact dimensions as yours so I'm very interested to see how it turns out for you.

[keither5150]

I wanted to pick up the Optomo GT1090HDR but I got the GT 1080 HDR instead. Saves me about $1000 Cnd. We took a real beating selling our house this spring. So, I thought that I would save some money there. I may pick up a 4k in a few years once they come down in price a bit more.

[GrecoISU]

Are you securing the frame to the wall for stability? I'm going to use retractable curtains or sportscreens for sides and am curious the stability of that frame standing alone.

[keither5150]

Being that the frame is only 16 inches deep.....I had to secure it to the walls. If the frame was 36" deep or more, you could probably get away without securing it..... I like it secured regardless because otherwise the screen moves around too much during play. I kept my old tracks and curtains from the old sim room, so I will be installing those shortly. Padded ceiling will be a couple of days as I am waiting for fabric.

[keither5150]

Some of the latest photos... I have foam carpet tiles overtop of dricore. The Rymar Bermuda putting green was about $5.25 cnd. sqft. Fiberbuilt's putting green is way nicer but more than twice as much. With the carpet tiles underneath the putting green, it gives a nice cushion for walking and falling balls. Today I will be cleaning up the construction mess and starting on my ceiling panels. I should be hitting balls by this afternoon. Wall protection will consist of black curtains on tracks. Ceiling protection will be 38x48 inch panels. These panels will have 10 lb carpet underlay and will be wrapped in black fabric.

[linkkingx]

What are you using at the bottom of your screen? Looks like foam wedges. It looks nice and clean.

[keither5150]

I bought some foam wedges from Home depot..... they are actually meant for gutters. Glue them to a narrow piece of plywood. Then wrap in black fabric. I will have the same wedges on the ceiling where the screen meets the ceiling. I have my black curtains from my old room. I might redo the wedges with the same fabric from the ceiling. I will have about 7.5 feet of padded ceiling.

[Brettster]

keither5150 - looking real good! Can you please post a link to where you bought your 'dricore' material for your flooring, and the 'foam wedges' you describe? I had thought about baffles for my ceiling, but now am leaning toward a big draped curtain that will catch anything before it gets that high and touches the ceiling, and should drop it down straight to the floor, let's see a pic of how you're handling your ceiling with padding? And how it's working for your wedges?

[Bubba22]

Looking good keither.

[keither5150]

Thanks Bubba...... I am not making the same mistakes as I made on my first room......I am making all new mistakes.

[keither5150]

Ceiling panels completed today. 7/16 OSB with foam carpet underlay stapled to it. Then wrap it in black fabric and staple the backside. Make sure that your fabric has some stretch to it. You would be well served to choose a thicker durable fabric. Once the panels are complete... they can be installed with 18 or 16 gauge nails.... Panels like these can take plenty of balls without showing wear or damage. I would need to hit about 38-40 degrees LA in order to test the ceiling panels. I am starting on my side curtains now.. This foam underlay is more expensive than the traditional carpet underlay, but it is very easy to work with.

[Brettster]

Nice, let us know if you get any bounce off those ceiling tiles?

[keither5150]

The top and sides of the screen is complete. Foam wedges from Home depot, glued to plywood and then nailed to the padded ceiling. Curtains are on the sides. I need to complete the bottom and then I can clean up and hit some balls. I am probably going to borrow my wife's steamer to take some of the creases out. Those little handheld steamers are a must have for every sim room...... You could buy one for the wife and borrow it when needed.

[Brettster]

keither5150 - good idea, I wondered if I would need a steamer. Link please to the curtains you bought for the sides? I'm going to be in need of these exact items very soon, as I finish up my shed.

Thanks,
-Brett

[keither5150]

Brett, When you unfold the screen, it will take a long long time for all of the fold lines to come out..... the steamer helps things along magically. The steamer also takes out the small dents from the balls. This is handy if you are planning to watch the big game on the big screen. My wife made the curtains after I took her on a date to Fabricland..... Not exactly romantic but she was actually very helpful sewing the pieces together to make the large curtain. Mike@visgolf.com can help you with the curtains if you don't want to DIY.....

[Brettster]

thanks keither5150 - did you find out if you're getting any bounceback from the ceiling tiles?

[keither5150]

I just need to build some kind of protection for the bottom of the screen and then I am done........ I was thinking of making a padded wedge then cover it is putting green.

[Brettster]

That looks great, but I'm thinking I will attempt mine with side wall-mounted jujitsu panels, or something similar, and just mount my frame directly to the side walls, for attaching the screen/netting. I'm very tight on space 15'6" total, and once I start adding a screen with 8" of space (maybe 6" if I'm lucky), I'm really pushing my available length... which - with a ProTee sensor and Putting Sensor may limit my putting length before I hit the screen... will know sometime soon...

[keither5150]

Brettster Bounce back on the ceiling is a little more than I was hoping for..... On the bright side, I don't usually hit over 39 degrees ( at 39 degrees, I hit the ceiling) with any club. If I flop it, I can hit the ceiling....but that is not my favorite shot for indoors. My old sim room was 12 inches shorter....so I got used to hitting a 3/4 52 wedge rather than a full 60. I usually only use my 60 around the green. I just built a little wedge....(12x3x12.5) for in front of my screen to cover the bottom metal frame. I covered it with putting green that I had left over. It worked so well that I made the same wedges for the side walls. My curtains don't quite reach the floor, so a rolling ball may come in contact with the black baseboards.....which is not ideal.

Time will tell, if I want to add more ceiling protection..... I can maybe make a 2 foot deep panel that I can nail to the existing ceiling panels....use the same fabric....but maybe use memory foam instead of carpet underlay. I really don't think that I will be hitting my ceiling too much.... I think that I have only hit it once so far......on purpose. The ball came pretty quick off the ceiling and into the screen.

[Brettster]

Cool, I've been thinking about a ramp/wedge up front too. What material did you use, and do you have a pic? The one question I would have about it is that in putting the ball has to roll up the ramp when you're hitting the screen (farther than you are away from your sensor), which to me may make it seem like you're having to hit it harder, giving you a harder putt strike then needed, almost like training you to hit it harder... have you found that?

[keither5150]

I cut a piece of osb... about 9 inches wide....on the backside, I stapled a 1x3 and then a 1x1 to that. This creates the ramp. I then stapled putting green to the top.....The putting green needs to be wider than the ramp.....I chose 12 inches. Works pretty good....balls dropping from the screen are gently deflected back to the hitting area. As for putting. I have a Stereo GSA system which has incredible putting....and a Mevo + which putting is not quite at the same level. When putting on the sim, it is all about stroke and speed......forget about hitting the screen or ramp. I love my new putting green. I practice putting while using other balls as targets. For sims that don't have accurate putting.....they may as well go with 10 foot gimmes or auto putt. I have been kind of spoiled with how accurate the GSA system is for putting. I have done some videos on that..... Good luck with your Protee system....lots of fun ahead. I started with a PX5 system which is similar to your ProTee system....It was great for helping me learn how to shape my shots.

[Pickled]

Amazing build. I'm about to do my own build.

Couple questions:

1) How did you attach the putting surface to the carpet foam?
2) How did you attach the ceiling panels to the ceiling. You mentioned nails but I don't see any nail marks in the padding.
3) Fiberbuilt, did you ever consider using the 1x3 insert instead of the full mat? I'm looking at the full mat as well but I don't like the rubber boarder or log section.

Awesome work!

[keither5150]

1) Not attached..... a big piece of putting turf is pretty heavy.
2) 18 gauge brad nails....the nails go right through the fabric and hold the wood tight to the ceiling.... 3 nails in the corners and 3nails in the middle..... If I really need to take the panels down....I can with some pry bars.
3) I did but I like how sturdy the rubber base is.....that mat is heavy. I have a FB plant within 20 min from here.....so shipping weight was not a concern.

Thanks..... I will be adding another level of ceiling protection......Maybe for about 2 feet. While the balls don't dent the ceiling...they come off of there quite quickly. I am not sure what I will be going with at this time. Currently I can hit 38 degrees before hitting the ceiling.....so there is no rush.... the only shot that I can't do is a full LW. My full 52 wedge is about 36 degrees LA.

[Pickled]

Thanks for answering my questions. Good to know about the putting mat. I guess if your not hitting off it no need to secure it.

18ga Brad nails into the drywall? Awesome good to know. A sim building company around here uses 1” medium density foam for the wall and ceiling panels. I will likely try that route. Not concerned about the sides as much as I am the ceiling.

the FB is super sturdy, I like that for sure. It would also be easy to replace the stance mat instead of the entire putting surface. Hmm, maybe I will go that route.

thanks again for the response, I look forward to your ceiling solutions.

[keither5150]

Whoa..... no drywall on my ceiling....this was new construction. I made sure that I hit the floor joists. Brad nails will not hold forever into drywall. If you are going over drywall, you should mark where the joists are or strap the ceiling ahead of time with 1x4's