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.

[midpoint221]

As I was thinking about what should go behind my impact screen I started looking at others builds and home theater set ups. I realized my wall should be painted black for the best look then I thought why not paint the whole side of the garage. I had some drywall work to do anyways. We got the projector in and I installed it pretty close (I hope) to where it should be. I have some adjustment left but I might have to move it back a few inches. It's right up against the outlet for the garage door opener so if I do need to move it back I'll either have to move or cover the outlet.

Got my drywall work done and decided on a touch lighter shade than black to go with which I'm glad because this shade is plenty dark. It's going to look way better this way I'm glad I had a few days to think on it. I'm not going to put anything behind my screen that'll show up so I'll see how that works out. Screen arrives Tuesday. Then I'll build the track system for the skytrak to slide on and after that it's really just the skytrak we are waiting on. Still seriously thinking about GC2 my question would be how easy is it to play TGC or other software on their platform?

One of the coolest things is how much my son is already pumped on golf. It'll be a great way to introduce him to the game, he wants to hit balls all the time it's cool. Fired up a youtube give from GSV to get a "simulated" feel on playing golf in a simulator lmfao. Good times already.

[midpoint221]

Carls preferred screen came today. As I was waiting for it I was kind of kicking myself I didn't go premium, spending this much you might as well get the best. But when I got it up the thing is beautiful. My enclosure turned out pretty much spot on. Now the long wait for the skytrak continues and all I can do is play along with Golf Simulator videos lol. Kid is pretty excited too.

[midpoint221]

Another update because I don't have anywhere else to share this haha. Ended up tightening up the screen quite a bit. Ordered a GC2 that was supposed to ship 4/14, then 4/21. Skytrak came in the other day and I sold it within 1 day cause the GC2 was only a couple more days out at most right? Well no shipping on the 21st I called them yesterday and they are having a delay with one of their suppliers. They told me it'll be another 2 week delay at least if not closer to a month more out. I would have used the skytrak for a month if I knew that but I had already been paid so I shipped it out. Now I'm sitting in my garage golf simulator potentially waiting another month to hit some real shots. Oh well nothing I can do now, and to their credit foresight is giving me some stuff to make up for it, and I already got some $ off the price beforehand so it isn't exactly the end of the world. Here's a pic of the screen with the wrinkles pretty much out of it. Also bought these slide rails off Amazon to make a sliding base for the GC2 to sit on. That was I can slide it around my hitting mat and not wear out the same spot. Also for my setup my 2hybrid and up I will have to hit closer to the screen because of the beam that is just behind the golfer.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082D1HKSZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[GullLakeMi]

Great to see your project coming together.

You may have seen my write-up for GC2 on slide rails. I really like that setup to allow permanent tee in my quattro mat. The metal protective case I bought had holes that allowed easy mount to the bearing sliders.

What projector did you go with (short-throw, ceiling mount)? Hopefully no issue with golfer causing shadow on screen.

Are those putting cups on the floor in the image? Bought or made? Look interesting.

[midpoint221]

Yeah I got that slider idea from here I bet it was probably from your thread which was super helpful. If not I'm gonna go check it out to see how you did yours. So many good ideas on the board.

Projector is BenQ710 no issues with shadows. Mounted on the ceiling

Those are some cheap cups I bought from a local golf store that just sit on top of the turf, I can put them anywhere and with the insert in the cup size is reduced to sharpen your aim points. 7 bucks a piece.

[midpoint221]

Launch monitor finally came after about a month delay. My knee was really bothering me which I'm rehabbing now and then before I got the launch monitor I hurt my elbow on the golf course. Once I got launch monitor I couldn't really swing for another month and when I did I had to take at least 7 days off before hitting again.

Built out the platform for the slide rail system. Got 1/4 plywood and 1/2 x 2 piece of wood. 1/4 plywood base, the slider sit on top of the 1/2 piece and then the gc2 sits on another piece of 1/3 plywood. Also used scrap 1/2x2 for stops. Put longer screws into the base so the screws go into the gym matting making so it pretty much can't move. Never have to square up the GC2 again things works really freaking awesome.


I've finally back up to every other day with little pain, knee is also getting better. I just played 36 holes and I can't say enough about this purchase. So much fun, and I've probably progressed 6 months in the last 2 weeks. My carry distance is damn near back to where it was before I quit golf 5 years ago. Here is a link to my youtube I do a walk through of the build. Ended up putting in an AC unit in the garage. The projector puts out quite a bit of heat itself and it gets real hot in here if you're swinging a lot. Today was the first real day I could use it and man am I happy. Yes I do hit the ceiling on like 1 out of every 100 swings but it's nothing that would have stopped me from building this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dl8234t5co