Garage Build - Advice Needed

[mitchbeerwatch]

Hey All - after some internal debate and testing out some space after getting my Skytrak, I decided on the garage as the location for the simulator. My garage is 22'6" Wide by 20'6 deep. I've currently got a MaxFli net setup giving me a useable depth of about 14' and have about 11' for width. I don't need to use this space for a car, so it will be dedicated to the simulator. Here is what I have planned and want some advice if I am over-spending or should be trying to maximize the space.

I bought a used Skytrak off eBay but possibly see myself upgrading to GC2 once the simulator is full up as the delay might get annoying playing rounds. I do like it for the net/iPad setup and practice, so hoping I can put this off.

I bought the NetReturn Simulator Series (8' x 9') setup with the projector mount last night and hopefully gets here within the week. This was pretty pricey but I like the fact that it is portable as it will allow me to bag it up and take it outside or to our second house on months-long trips. I also like the professional nature of it - I want my setup to look nice and assume I will end up spending a good amount of $ trying to recreate it with valences, etc.. Not to mention the time it will take to plan and build.

I also ordered a Optoma EH460ST, I wanted the brightest one possible given I will be in a garage with some lights and will want to use the setup for movie nights in our backyard possibly. Seems like a good pair with the NetReturn mount, will allow me to fill the screen width easily.

While I ordered a fully-setup simulator bay, I plan on hanging some blackout waterproof outdoor curtains from the ceiling to separate the simulator space from the rest of the garage. Plan on getting some ceiling track and having it open like a ER hospital bed area.

I am still in the market for a floor covering and hitting mat. I am just using some leftover turf from a putting green installation I did in my backyard with some soft floor tiles underneath.

I am curious on thoughts from the group, specifically on the NetReturn simulator series. I know its a good deal of $, but I like the fact it is all planned out and cut to length that I can just assemble/disassemble and take with me given the launch monitor, projector and bay are all basically portable. I doubt that I will move it much, but it helped me convince the boss (wife) to spend that amount of $ since we can take it in our backyard for parities and also watch movies on it. I assume I could recreate and build it for less $, but would probably be at least $1000-1500 to get it looking really nice and then still lacks portability built in. I am also looking for feedback on the size. I got the 8' wide bay, given that I have 11' of width in my space, my plan is to offset the bay to the far right of the 11' space so I can hit to the middle of the screen with my ball positions 7' from the side wall, essentially centering it into the NetReturn. Is that the best option given the width? Or should I get the 10' simulator bay and maximize my space?

I am most likely going to need to get rid of the garage door opener on top and get a LiftMaster 8500 to make room for the projector mount and more ceiling space.

Again, would love thoughts if I am going in the wrong direction given the space and if I am over-paying given the pro's/con's above - I have 30 days to return the NetReturn but would prefer to return it before setting it up or even shipping if I am headed down the wrong path. Picture attached of current setup.

Appreciate all the advice and knowledge!

[soupy]

I went with the 8500 and it is awesome. so much more room and so quiet.
I did go much more elaborate in a setup and went with stealth screens as I really could not have a permanent setup

[3on3putt]

As far as your screen size and being centered, it's really just personal preference. My space is about 12 feet wide so I did a 9 foot screen and moved it all the way over to the right side so I'm only off-centered by maybe 2 inches. That being said, some people don't mind being off-centered and the trade-off is that you can have a much bigger screen and image. I actually think that when it comes time for a new screen I'll get one that fills the entire width. That will put my offset at around 3 feet, which is a lot. But I'd have a much bigger image and could go 16:9 instead of 4:3. So I think it's a matter of personal preference ---- offset with bigger image or centered with a smaller image. Either way you sacrifice something but gain something. Probably no universal right or wrong answer here.

I am not real familiar with the Net Return screen, but $1,000 for a net and screen seems a bit much if you're worried about over-spending. A quality DIY enclosure and screen can be done for under $500 easily and is easy to do. Have you considered doing a permanent enclosure and screen at each house? That way you can just get them hung nice and tight and not have to mess with them anymore and the screens won't be getting folded up and wrinkled every time you transport it. Can do both for less than the cost of the net return setup and probably give you a better picture too. And a dedicated outdoor movie screen is not real pricey either.

[mjmtengu]

How is the net return impact screen working out?