Ramp at the Bottom of Screen

[TheDon07]

With my current setup, I do not have the screen connected at the bottom and balls constantly go under the screen. I was thinking about adding a 2x4 at the bottom to connect the screen and also create a ramp for the balls to roll back. I was wondering how you guys have created a ramp for your sim. I feel that I need to put something underneath the upslope so it wont collapse if someone were to step on that area. I would love to hear how you guys integrated this.

[jpotas]

See the attached pics. I built a ramp out of 2 x 6's cut on an angle and 3/4" plywood. The 2 x 6's are centered every 16". It is extremely strong and works very well. I only use 1 ball when I play and most of the time it rolls straight back to within a foot or two of the laser mark for my Skytrak. FYI, I pulled the small 2'x2' board out that you see pictured in front of the ramp. I had that to protect a ball from hitting the front edge of the ramp when I had my stance matt farther away from the screen. My current setup has the screen about 7'6" from the red laser dot.

[azbball11]

I put a ramp at the base of my screen as well and am very pleased with it. I do think you need a long ramp instead of a short incline. The gradual incline helps with low worm burners hitting the steep ramp and flying up at the screen with some crazy spin. I made mine with 2x6 cut at an angle with OSB over the top. I used 5/8" OSB and then 1/2" OSB over that. The reason for the additional 1/2" OSB is that I inlayed a piece of 1/2" Neoprene rubber where the ball would most likely land after hitting the screen. The 1/2" then went around the neoprene to make the floor all one height. This helps with the bounce and the noise of the ball hitting a hard surface. I then had carpet installed over the entire floor. On the end facing the screen of each 2x6, I installed an eye hook and then attached a bungee to the bottom of the screen. This bungee is rather loose, but keeps the screen from rolling up on top of the ramp/floor. If I need to undo the screen, I can slide my hand down between the screen and ramp and unhook.

[Mahoooner]

Here is how I did it in my garage. The EMT sits 1" above the floor so I used a 2x4 running the width of the screen and sandwiched a 1/8" MDF board with another 2x4. I used wood screws to hold down a trimmed foam wedge to the top of the 2x4 as well as through the bottom of the MDF into the foam (with some added construction adhesive to hold it down firmly). I then wrapped it in curtain fabric and stapled on the undersides. I can provide a picture if you would like but just don't have one on my phone. Hope this helps!

[TheDon07]

I like this idea as I also need to add a 2x4 and eye hooks so I can attach the bottom of my screen (currently I have no bottom bar). If you could provide additional pictures that would be great! Also where did you get the foam wedge?

[golf4fun]

I was planning on building something with this RoboCup. It returns the ball. So you would just have to create a slope by the screen to have the ball find the cup then it will throw it back to you. Pretty neat. I have not gotten around to building something yet. I was planning on using 10x10 foam wrestling mats I had laying around and just slope them to create a low spot for the cup.

[phyronixx]

amazing idea, how did it turn out? can you send some pics - would love to pick that up for my setup

[Mahoooner]

Unfortunately, it looks like I stapled the fabric on the sides as well so I can't get any more side profile pictures. But the foam is not a wedge, it is simply a piece of martial arts 1" thick puzzle floor mat that I cut into long strips. It is the same foam that I have on the floor under my mat. Basically,

Cut a strip of 1/8" or thicker mdf or plywood to the length of the ramp that you want plus 3.5" (which is between the 2x4s). Screw it into a 2x4 and place another 2x4 on top as a sandwich and put some 2.5" wood screws through the 2x4 to hold the sandwich together. Measure the distance from the back of the 2x4 to the front of the mdf and cut a strip of foam to that width. Put some construction adhesive on the top of the 2x4 and bottom of the mdf and push on your foam. Hold the foam in place with a couple wood screws into the 2x4 from the top and into the foam from the bottom of the mdf. Let it dry and staple on some black fabric to the underside of the mdf on the front and into the bottom of the 2x4 on the back. Here's one picture of the completed ramp. Message me if you have more questions!

[Brettster]

Mahoooner - great job! I really like this idea, especially if it would be portable and I could pick it up when I wanted to practice longer putts… is yours movable?

[Mahoooner]

Yes - it is all one piece so it is 10ft long but it can pick up and move out of the way at any time and easily goes back in place behind the conduit.

[Brettster]

Great Mahoooner - I may end up using that idea for my own, but I know for sure, I will make it less than 10' wide as I want to have putting cups on sides for longer putts, and I don't want a ramp there getting in the way. Have to see how I can finish it out... Thanks.