Golf Sim / Cinema Room - help needed!

[jharrison85]

Hi All,

I've got sign off from the wife to convert a new room in a basement to a golf simulator as long as it can double up as a cinema room!

i need some help if possible as to where speakers / projector need to be located.

Room measurements (roughly as internal walls not up yet) 3.5m (width) x 6m (length). Ceiling height 2.85m

Screen to be located where the tv / plug sockets are shown on the attached plan. Will be using a Skytrak to save room, but mainly after recommendations for distance away for speakers and if anyone has speakers behind the screen.

Look forward to hearing from you.

[vrpunk]

Your choice of projector is good because you have the room length (but be careful of shadow casting).
But you need to decide what your projector budget you have and what size your screen will be.
Then go to projectorcentral.com and look at models and use their calculator it will tell you where that particular model needs to be placed.

[fortner28]

There are a lot of things to consider in making this room dual use. Is it more for movies or more for golf? Its hard to place surround sound speakers in optimal positions without having things easily changed. In ceiling and in wall speakers can be a good option. The screen is a big factor as well. Impact screens aren't that great for high definition images. I would suggest using a cinema screen with a net that can be placed in front of it for golf if you care about getting great image resolution.

[Dax]

Another option that I have suggested in the past is to have a projector with a memory function that with the hit of a button can change zoom and focus settings so as to fill the image on two different screens. Once this is done you could either have a projection screen for movies drop from the ceiling as one user posted here last week, or you could have the sim screen lower from the ceiling (possibly a cheaper option). I think the tough part will be to find the projector that will serve both purposes and you may end up needing two projectors. Also depending on the room behind the sim screen you may be able to place your front surround speakers on the floor, on the wall or go with in wall speakers.

[KSU2002]

I am finalizing construction of my combo sim/theater room. I ended up deciding to go with a retractable screen for the golf sim using Somfy motors and parts/custom tubing which will drop down in front of the theater screen. I’m installing a KEF THX in wall speaker system for an 11 channel Atmos setup. My preference is for the space to look more like a home theater that converts to a golf simulator.

I built an offset box in a drop down ceiling towards the back of the room for the projector to sit in. The Epson 5050ub is one of the few projectors capable of the nessesary lens shift I needed to produce a great picture for movies and be able to easily shift screen size for the golf sim. My room is about 24 feet deep, 15 feet wide in the hitting area and then narrows to 13 feet where the screens are located. I’m using a Soft Strike mat from HD Golf which Jay Lasco recommended and will be surrounding it with either dark gray marine carpet or another similar carpet/stint reading. I’m using a Well Putt matt for putting so I don’t need putting turf which keeps the look of the home theater and helps keep light reflections minimized which is important for image quality on a projected screen. I’ll post some pictures up when completed, hopefully in a month or two

[Trailman]

I’m currently building out a home theater / golf sim in our basement. Our room is roughly 15x24’. I want it to look like a theater that transforms into a golf sim rather than the other way around which helped with getting approval from my wife as well!

I’m using KEF in wall/ceiling speakers for an 11 channel Dolby Atmos setup. For the projector I’m using an Epson 5050ub mounted in an offset box above the theater seating to avoid shadows. The 5050ub has one
of the most versatile lens shift options to allow changing aspect ratio’s for the dual screens I will be using and offsetting the projector to avoid shadows. It’s pretty bright at 2600 lumens but not as bright as some of the laser projector options out there. It gives a fantastic image for movies though with excellent black levels.

For my golf screen I’m custom building a retractable screen out of the direct from mill fabric posted in these forums attached to a 12 ft wide aluminum tube with a Somfy motor inside. The motor can be controlled via wall plate/remote/app and voice control if you know how to setup home automation. Behind the screen I’m planning a 2.4:1 aspect ratio constant image height theater screen that will be around 155”. I’m using the soft strike mat from HD golf and currently debating on black turf/carpet for the flooring surrounding the mat (better for theater room use since you want a dark room for movies) The mat will be flush for putting.

Knowing the dimensions of our room and where the theater seating is going, that could be an issue in the size of your space unless you are able to easily move the seating. The reason is you need space for someone to swing a club and enough room for the ball to travel to the screen. I’m not sure you can do this with theater type seating at the back of your room. If the walls are not up and you can lengthen the room another 4-6 feet, that would help tremendously and open up more versatility in the future. I would also run electrical outlets and pvc tubing in the ceiling above where you are hitting for future proofing. Uneekor becomes an option and with the increased length you open up the option for radar units from Trackman/Flightscope.

Hope this helps!