Version 1 (April 2018): Started my build in with a 32'x20'x11' detached garage, built specifically for my sim/home theater room. Added a Mitsubishi ductless mini split for HVAC. Framed a 18' deep x 20' wide platform so the golf/hitting area was defined and separate from the rest of the room, and so I could cut holes into the putting green and put actual cups in. The front 15' is putting green (np50), back 3' is chipping fringe. Country Club Elite 5'x5' hitting mat. Impact Screen is a Carl's 16.5' x10' Premium. Projector is BenQ HT2150ST. Onkyo receiver + speakers for surround sound and to connect PC / Xbox / Fire TV to projector screen. Black curtains (4 sets, 10' tall) from amazon/ warm home designs. Added some jewel-case LED spotlights to help illuminate the green. And a 55" TV above the computer monitor so I could have something on TV while playing. Launch monitor was a Skytrak. Sim software was The Golf Club, then updated to TGC 2019.
The Skytrak was a good unit that was reliable but had a few drawbacks and frustrations. Over its life, I bet it correctly read 95% of my swings. Misreads on irons were pretty rare, as well as on hybrids and woods. I'd say most misreads were on my 60* lob wedge, or short putts. Some days were worse than others. Can't say I ever played a full 18 without a single misread, I think 1 was my fewest, with most rounds only having 2-4.
When friends were over, it probably read 85% of the swings. Lots of little things like ball placement, or certain colored shoes or clubheads were suspected culprits of the higher # of misreads. That was somewhat frustrating. With my usual golf partner, it seemed like our only misreads were on the 60* wedges, short putts, or the purest shot either of us would hit all day.
As for the usefulness of the Skytrak, the ball data helped me immensely. I'm a numbers nerd so I learned about about how different swings shapes and feels would affect my spin numbers. Between swing speed training and a swing change, increased my swing speed from 83mph to 93mph and gained about 25 yards off the tee. It also helped me change my normal swing shape from a fade to a draw. On some days I can occasionally shape my shot.
Version 2 (Feb 2021) - Over the years, I had several project ideas and decided to check some off the list at the start of 2021. While I had a couple shelves to hold my liquor bottles since late 2018, I finally got around to putting in a bar top to finish off that area. And since I was going for more of a sports-bar viewing experience in the room, I added a pair of 58" TVs in the back corners. I wired them so they can either mirror the Sim screen, any of the other TVs, or be their own independent TV channel/Netflix/etc.
For the sim, I switched hitting mats to a SwingTurf about 3 weeks ago. I've been a very big fan of it. It doesn't feel as penalizing on fat shots as the CCE, otherwise seems pretty comparable. Just wish I could have got it in 5'x5', but I've made the 4x'5' work. Added a USB floor-controller so I can control the sim software from the hitting mat. I also replaced the Skytrak with a Uneekor QED. Installation was straight-forward. I had already ordered some Urethane Unicorns and have only hit them so far. Added some 3" thick foam, 8" tall, across the entire length of the bottom of the screen to prevent bouncebacks from line drive worm-burners.
While I've only had the Uneekor for the weekend, here's my first impressions - I absolutely love it. The first day, I had it in for about 8 hours before it had its first misread, and that was my buddy shanking it with a white driver. Today, I played a full round and it accurately picked up all 79 of my shots from the whites at TPC Scottsdale. Aside from the more consistent-reading, the trajectory of the ball has always matched how the ball came off the face and into the impact screen. With the skytrak, I felt there were quite a few times where the ball would hit the center target circle on the screen, but then I'd be 15* or more left of that target line on the sim. I haven't seen any of that with the Uneekor - and I'm sure that it is mounted parallel to the screen and doesn't move helps. Really happy with how everything has turned out. And my wife has even hit a few shots since she wasn't scared of nailing the Skytrak unit!
- Pictures from the original build: https://imgur.com/gallery/olhaxtH
The Skytrak was a good unit that was reliable but had a few drawbacks and frustrations. Over its life, I bet it correctly read 95% of my swings. Misreads on irons were pretty rare, as well as on hybrids and woods. I'd say most misreads were on my 60* lob wedge, or short putts. Some days were worse than others. Can't say I ever played a full 18 without a single misread, I think 1 was my fewest, with most rounds only having 2-4.
When friends were over, it probably read 85% of the swings. Lots of little things like ball placement, or certain colored shoes or clubheads were suspected culprits of the higher # of misreads. That was somewhat frustrating. With my usual golf partner, it seemed like our only misreads were on the 60* wedges, short putts, or the purest shot either of us would hit all day.
As for the usefulness of the Skytrak, the ball data helped me immensely. I'm a numbers nerd so I learned about about how different swings shapes and feels would affect my spin numbers. Between swing speed training and a swing change, increased my swing speed from 83mph to 93mph and gained about 25 yards off the tee. It also helped me change my normal swing shape from a fade to a draw. On some days I can occasionally shape my shot.
Version 2 (Feb 2021) - Over the years, I had several project ideas and decided to check some off the list at the start of 2021. While I had a couple shelves to hold my liquor bottles since late 2018, I finally got around to putting in a bar top to finish off that area. And since I was going for more of a sports-bar viewing experience in the room, I added a pair of 58" TVs in the back corners. I wired them so they can either mirror the Sim screen, any of the other TVs, or be their own independent TV channel/Netflix/etc.
For the sim, I switched hitting mats to a SwingTurf about 3 weeks ago. I've been a very big fan of it. It doesn't feel as penalizing on fat shots as the CCE, otherwise seems pretty comparable. Just wish I could have got it in 5'x5', but I've made the 4x'5' work. Added a USB floor-controller so I can control the sim software from the hitting mat. I also replaced the Skytrak with a Uneekor QED. Installation was straight-forward. I had already ordered some Urethane Unicorns and have only hit them so far. Added some 3" thick foam, 8" tall, across the entire length of the bottom of the screen to prevent bouncebacks from line drive worm-burners.
While I've only had the Uneekor for the weekend, here's my first impressions - I absolutely love it. The first day, I had it in for about 8 hours before it had its first misread, and that was my buddy shanking it with a white driver. Today, I played a full round and it accurately picked up all 79 of my shots from the whites at TPC Scottsdale. Aside from the more consistent-reading, the trajectory of the ball has always matched how the ball came off the face and into the impact screen. With the skytrak, I felt there were quite a few times where the ball would hit the center target circle on the screen, but then I'd be 15* or more left of that target line on the sim. I haven't seen any of that with the Uneekor - and I'm sure that it is mounted parallel to the screen and doesn't move helps. Really happy with how everything has turned out. And my wife has even hit a few shots since she wasn't scared of nailing the Skytrak unit!
- Pictures from the original build: https://imgur.com/gallery/olhaxtH
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