Start of the garage build, with low ceilings (8'4")

[midpoint221]

So I've been doing a lot of research as I'm starting this build in my garage. The area I'm working with is about 18' wide x 22' long and 8' 4" tall.

I've seen people run into issues with height at around the 9' mark. I'm 5'8" and a decent player. I don't see how it would be possible for me to hit the ceiling with my driver in here unless I pretty much went directly vertical with my follow through. I have the area clear now and can swing all my clubs with zero issues. I went and got some cheap turf from home depot and some work out matting to go under and laid out the area the simulator bay will be. I do have other things in my garage some some cleaning and re organizing is needed. I still need to figure out how to change where my computer is and everything, eventually I will move the computer I think and I'll have a flat screen on that will. Have to build a new computer when the time comes as well.

I'm essentially just going to document what I'm doing in case anyone else has low ceilings like me. I've seen lots of comments about not being able to swing driver with a 9' ceiling and while that surely has to be true for some I think I could swing my driver easily in here even with a 8' even ceiling. Regardless, just swing a lot to figure out if you have the room. I'm going to be hitting from the middle of the room about 10' off the impact screen

So I'm looking at impact screens and projectors to try to see what I'm going to get. I'm thinking either 8.5 x 15, 8 x 14 or 7.7 x 13 staying in 16:9 Any thoughts on which one would be best for my space? Projectors is where my head started spinning a bit. I need to figure out which projector I'm looking for that will work best with the screen I'd like. I plan on mounting it to the ceiling but am not sure if that will work being as the screen is essentially going to take up the entire height of the wall. Any thoughts on this?

I think I have the hitting mat figured out, so that and the impact screen are the next things on my list to buy. This is going to take a bit to finish as I save up for the launch monitor. I was heavily looking into the uneekor's but my ceiling will not let that happen. My joists run in the wrong director to cut into the drywall so I'm pretty certain I'm going to get a GC2 or a Quad. But that's down the road, I'd like to be able to get the point where I can just hit some shot and warm up in the garage and probably finish out my build come winter time or whenever I got enough saved for the quad.

This forum is a great resource and looking through all the builds helped me a ton.

[3on3putt]

I'd say the 8x14 screen size would be good. That gives you a 16:9 ratio (close to it anyway) and gives you a few inches up top to work with. You might consider hanging the screen rom the ceiling instead of doing an enclosure roof.

For a projector, this BenQ would serve you well =

https://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-GT750ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

It will mount 10.5 feet away and because it has a vertical offset of only 2 inches you could mount it flush to the ceiling and it will work perfect for your screen size. Mount it right over the ball and you won't have any problems.

If you have to spend a long time saving up for a GC2 or Quad or whatever, you might consider just getting a Skytrak or Mevo+ now to at least have something in the meantime. Once you get about $2000 away from your savings goal, just sell it. You'll have no problems unloading it.

[Kbrucato]

My ceiling is 8’10” in the garage and I’ve never had an issue with my driver. I too read the reviews here and was concerned since I’m 5’11”.

Be careful with your projector decision and pay closer attention to the vertical offset. I started with a Optoma 1090 and it gave me so much grief trying to place
it perfectly that I ended up switching to the BenQ 761. The zoom makes all the difference as well as the minimal v offset. My screen is a retractable 14 x 8 from Par2Pro and I love it! I’m also a big fan of the Skytrak

[midpoint221]

Found someone local selling a hitting mat. Looks like the quatro which was the one I was thinking of buying anyways so that'll save me a couple hundred bucks. Great advice on the hanging of the screen which is exactly what I was planning. Did some more cleanup today and opened that area up. Going to be getting the impact screen soon. I guess I could buy a skytrak right now I haven't considered that. My biggest thing with that is I've seen a lot of people moving on from them and I didn't want to buy one to replace it really quick. The delay is really the thing I dislike the most. If it didn't have that I probably would really look that way.

I'll be picking up an impact screen next week I think that way I can start hitting some real shots, I've hit some full ones into that mattress haha. As far as projector goes I would like a full hd but what I'm seeing is I can find something that will work with and 8x14 screen.

[3on3putt]

Full HD that will fill an 8x14 screen are a dime a dozen. You'll have plenty of good options.

[EazyE]

My garage ceiling is 8.5 ft. I am 5’10 and can driver full swing. I have a BenQ TH671ST mounted almost right above me; no interference issues.

[interpathway]

I have shorter ceilings as well (8'4" after carpet, pad, and mat) and stand 5'10". I only hit 4i and up (but have hit my hybrid without issue while testing).





I think too many people cite their ceiling as a reason they can't have a simulator. Most would be surprised how much fun they would have and how much improvement they would see just swinging their short irons and wedges. With TGC2019 having multiple tee boxes it's possible to immerse yourself in the simulation even if you have to tee off with 6i or 7i. One thing I'll note as a shortcoming is that hitting strong fades is nearly impossible because of how high most player's hands finish. Not the worst compromise in the world though.

People worry about ISS but honestly so what (unless you're professional or competitive scratch)? When you're hitting 50x more golf balls because you have a sim that's the swing you should want to bring to the course anyway. Good luck!

[midpoint221]

100% even if I couldn't hit a full driver the sim would be an amazing idea. My wife doesn't really get it though haha

[jasonreg]

I agree completely. I am about 8'10" in my swing area. I do not swing driver but I do swing 3 wood on occasion. If I get steep I will kiss the ceiling. Hybrid no problems so this is generally the longest club I hit indoors. But, to compensate I just use a more advanced tee Red/Yellow as opposed to Blue/White. Works for us. I do have a Net Return Pro in the garage to swing 3 wood and driver for practice - I can bring the GCQ into the Garage when required to get he stats as well but this is admittedly a bit of an exaggeration (my wife has a different term). The sim get much more of a workout then does the Garage set-up.

[Brownie]

How tall are you?

[jasonreg]

I am 6'2". Fairly consistent swing. I should add though that while the low ceiling has not really impacted my swing, it has impacted others in the house, specifically the follow through. We are considering a permanent shift the the garage.

[midpoint221]

Picked up that mat today. He had two left so he threw the other one if a deal I couldn't pass up. Pretty stoked on that. Went out also and picked up a gaming pc to run the software. My PC was really old and it was time for a new one. Got a really good deal on that as well, just went on craigstlist and found one with great specs. Also got a way bigger monitor to go with it. Been thinking a lot about everyones comments on skytrak. I'm pretty sure I'm going to pick one up in the short term while I wait for one of my motorcycles to sell and I'll pick up a GC2 or GCQ then. Last week my garage was a mess and this week I can hit full shots into a mattress if I want. Here's some updated pictures.


Edit: The very first club I tried to swing, my 3 wood I hit the ceiling just behind me when I have a beam that drops down about 1'. I had to move my hitting zone about 1' close to the screen than I planned in order to miss this drop down. So now I'll be 9' away from the screen. Ripped some drivers after that and I'm clearing fine. There is a difference between swinging the club and hitting an actual shot. Make sure you keep that in mind.

[midpoint221]

I'd say the 8x14 screen size would be good. That gives you a 16:9 ratio (close to it anyway) and gives you a few inches up top to work with. You might consider hanging the screen rom the ceiling instead of doing an enclosure roof.

For a projector, this BenQ would serve you well =

https://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-GT750ST-projection-calculator-pro.htm

It will mount 10.5 feet away and because it has a vertical offset of only 2 inches you could mount it flush to the ceiling and it will work perfect for your screen size. Mount it right over the ball and you won't have any problems.

If you have to spend a long time saving up for a GC2 or Quad or whatever, you might consider just getting a Skytrak or Mevo+ now to at least have something in the meantime. Once you get about $2000 away from your savings goal, just sell it. You'll have no problems unloading it.

Ended up ordering the skytrak. The wait is so long so I might as well get in line. Maybe I'll change down the road or maybe I won't.

Thanks for the recommendation on projector. I'm looking at picking one up pretty quick here. I'm looking at the BenQ TH671ST which is a popular choice. Wondering what else is out there around 1k in price that would be other options. I've looked at the HT2150 and the HT1085ST and the only benefit I can see to those would be 3D which isn't a priority. I need the lowest vertical offset I can get so I'm sure that limits my options. Impact screen should be here in a few weeks. Want to get this projector in and mounted and maybe a TV hung on the wall by then.

[Jc737]

So my ceiling height is also 8’4”. I just finished setting up my Carl’s DIY w/ preferred screen. I am 5’11” and was able to swing away with my 3 wood without contacting my ceiling. Today after a few slow practice swings I tee’d up a ball and swung away with my driver. I did cringe on the first one expecting to contact the ceiling but I didn’t. I hit 10 full driver swings and have not contacted the ceiling ....yet lol.

[midpoint221]

That's the screen I got coming. How do you like it? what size did you go with?

[Jc737]

I like it! I went with the 7’7”x10’. I only used every other bungee on the sides and get about 18” of bounce back.

[Wild-turkey]

Thanks for starting this thread as I am doing a garage sim with 8’6” ceilings. I’m 5’7” and doesn’t seem like I will have an issue with driver, either. Practice full swings seem clear, but as you said, it may be different hitting shots. I converted my conventional garage door opener to a Jackshaft so that I would have 1 less thing overhead.

I’ve been using my skytrak in the backyard since 5/20 with a net return and iPad mirrored to an outdoor TV. Pretty good setup, but time for an upgrade to:

Launch Monitor: Skytrak
Screen: 10’wx8.5”h retractable from Par2Pro
Projector: Optoma GT1080HDR short throw
Mat: 5 star perfect ReACTION 5’x5’
Simulation: TGC2019

Just waiting on the screen at this point.

Good luck!

[Panzman]

Can you provide any details on the Jackshaft conversion? I'm interested in the doing the same.
Thanks

[preludesam]

https://youtu.be/PXfi7ZZxrnU

[midpoint221]

Alright spent today completing the enclosure. I went 2x4's on ceiling and 2x2 square for the sides. Pretty simple construction, using the floor joists to mount the 2x4's on the roof and then brackets to support the 2x2s after I wedged them in. Really cheap way to build it, picked up some 1" piping insulation to go around the 2x2's. Also got some gym mats to attach to the ceiling for those pitch and flop shots. Used some dry wall anchors to attach both those and the bracing into the wall and ceiling which worked out well. Ended up using some staples to further secure it to the ceiling for easy removal. Put up an old comforter and can hit shots right into that no problem.

Ended up going 4" each side wider so I can put some tension on my screen. Should be able to adjust that with the bungee's. Will connect the top with eye hooks.

[jasonreg]

To insert your eye hooks try inserting a larger allen-key in a cordless drill (longer end into the drill). Start the eye hook in the 2x4, then insert the short end in the eyelet and use low speed controlled bursts to drill the eyelet in. Works like a champ and will save your fingers!

[Alex.Morgan]

looks great! coming along nicely.

I agree with all the comments above around having a sim even if you can't hit 3 wood/driver. I go up to 3 wood but struggle to hit my driver in the space i have and do worry it will cause problems with my swing when i then go back out on the course. I'm more than happy hitting 3 wood or hybrid as its great practice. I go to the range to hit driver and work on my game that way.

The other upside of not hitting driver is the noise! When i have hit my driver its sounds like a gun has gone off lol

[interpathway]

As I've stepped out onto the golf course early this spring after an irons-only sim winter I have noticed that my driver and (4) wood game has improved without specific practice with those clubs. Don't underestimate how much value there is in swings of any kind (tempo, loading, releasing). I'm convinced my late night wedge practicing (inside 75 yards to keep things quiet in townhouse) has improved all clubs in my bag.

Repetition is everything because confidence is key