New Build Details

[BillG]

Hi everyone. I am sharing details of my new build. My only regret is that I did not know about this forum until after I had researched and made most of my purchases.
My goal was to make a home build for under $7k(CDN $) all in. I also wanted it to be easy to take down if needed for the non-winter months. Here is a breakdown of the components and a few pics.

Studio dimensions: 10 foot width, 14 feet deep, 9.5 feet height. Depth behind screen 18 inches
Base: Interlocking 2x2 feet mats, covered with indoor outdoor carpet (Home Depot)
Stance and hitting mat: FORB
https://www.forbgolf.com/hitting-mat...ving-range-mat
Frame: 1 inch PVC pipe and connectors (Lowe’s or Home Depot)
https://www.lowes.ca/product/pvc-pip...0-pipe-2887380
Shank curtains: from Amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07X361F6P?...480_E_301_dt_1
Launch Monitor: Skytrak, and protective case
https://www.jancoragencies.store/col...ee-off-package
Projector: Optoma GT1080HDR 1080P DLP Short Throw Home Theatre Gaming Projector (Costco)
https://www.costco.ca/optoma-gt1080h...100518353.html
Projector protective case: Ebay
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/284050709154
Hitting screen: Heavy duty tarps
https://www.heavydutytarps.ca/golf-simulator-screens
Metal poles to hang tarp top and bottom: Lowe’s

Happy to share any further detail, or answer any questions.

Bill

[Cheesesteak]

BiilG - how do you like the graphics with the iPad? Do you just use WGT?

[BillG]

Hi. I don't have a gaming PC yet. Yes I just use WGT for now. I would not say the graphics are hi res, but WGT is playable. I may upgrade once I get more competent playing sim golf courses.

[Treyc321]

Looks great! How is the mat?

[BillG]

The FORB mat is comfortable to stand and swing on. My only complaint is that it feels a little "grabby" compared to to others I have used at driving ranges. I am getting a little elbow soreness so have started using a short iron tee. It was about half the price of comparable US models in CDN$. I may buy a more forgiving mat insert to use with it at some point.

[wbond]

I may buy a more forgiving mat insert to use with it at some point.

I would suggest doing this sooner rather than later if you’re already feeling it in the elbow. No sense getting injured and not being able to enjoy the sim

[Wizard of Coz]

Yes what wbond said. I had 6 months off from the elbow and lost 2.5 months of outdoor golf in 2020.

[Scoopz]

How do those dimensions work out for you? I'm thinking about building a structure with similar depth. Looks like you are in the garage so you have more width at least to visually not feel cramped.

[nickfisher47]

Bill,

thanks for the great detail!
do you see any swaying or movement of the frame given it’s PVC and not metal piping? Does a driver swing rock the whole unit?

also, is your floor projector off center and you use keystone settings to get it centered? Floor projectors always make me nervous but this seems so far out of the way for swings and putting!

also did you just draw the floor line on the carpet?

[BillG]

Scoopz - The dimensions work fine for me. 10 feet is perfect width for the depth I am working with. Also a 4:3 projection covers over 80% of the screen without fiddling around. You only look at the top anyways. With my limited depth skytrak was the best choice for a LM.

[BillG]

Nickfisher47 - I have secured the frame to the garage door rails with a few bungees. The PVC frame bends and takes some of the force. Also the metal bar hanging at the bottom also helps to stabilize, esp for hard low shots. The projector is slightly off centre, but is not really noticeable on the screem. The lense is also on the far left of the box, so the image is nearly centred.

My projector has a vertical keystone setting which helps square the sides up. I went with the floor option as it is cleaner than wire drops from the ceiling. I can also use it as I did recently in another part of the house to watch sports in hi def.

The floor line is just a black alignment stick that is tucked under the floor mat. I also added a piece of tape with an arrow at the end of the mat as an intermediate aiming point, which helps my initial ball flight launch direction.

[Triniexr]

How do you like your heavy tarps screen? Can you post a review, video, or close up pics of it?

[BillG]

Hi Triniexr . Here are a few pics. They show how the tarp is hung from the ceiling on the metal rod using the custom sleeves, as well as how it drapes at the bottom. I also showed a closeup of the screen, which is not as dense as the high end ones, but has a lot of give to absorb the ball speeds. I need at least 16 inches of space behind the tarp for the stretch on higher speed shot impacts. I used tarp clips to attach to the shank curtains. I have used it for a few months and so far I am happy with it given the relatively low cost.

[Triniexr]

Hi Triniexr . Here are a few pics. They show how the tarp is hung from the ceiling on the metal rod using the custom sleeves, as well as how it drapes at the bottom. I also showed a closeup of the screen, which is not as dense as the high end ones, but has a lot of give to absorb the ball speeds. I need at least 16 inches of space behind the tarp for the stretch on higher speed shot impacts. I used tarp clips to attach to the shank curtains. I have used it for a few months and so far I am happy with it given the relatively low cost.

Thanks for those pics. Those holes are really big, I wonder how a projected image will display on that in real. Pics don't really give all the detail.

[BillG]

Triniexr - There are 2 pics in the first post at the top that show the projected image. The tarp co recommends putting a black background behind the screen to improve the pic quality, which I did with a king size comforter.

[Albie999]

What have you put on the top of the frame, to stop the wedge shots

[BillG]

Albie999. I used 2 ft by 2 ft interlocking floor mats. But they have too much rebound. I might try some 2 inch camping foam to see that deadens the rebound. Does anyone else have any ideas?