Garage to Golf Sim/Home Cinema - Finished!

[Hacker1]

Hi all

I've finished building my golf sim which was a conversion from a car port to a garage to a golf sim!

The original car port was 3.5m x 5m and only 2m high. So I had to raise a section of the roof and put an electric roller door on the front. That was the first job. I raised a section to 3m so I could use a driver.

I then ran in all the electrics which included downlighters, spot track lights and plug sockets, and a heating unit. Then I fed all the data cables through. The PC is located in my house so drilled a core to feed all the cables through. Cables included Fibre Optic HDMI's, DPs, and 2.0 USBs - two of each to give options and spares.

After this the walls and ceiling was clad in ply sheeting.

As the garage adjoins the house I wanted to give it some soundproofing which would also double up as ball protection. I used rockwool sound insulation behind the ply and then I soundproofed the side walls and ceiling using acoustic foam 50 and 40mm. I haven't done the back wall yet but probably will.

A 10ft par2pro stealth retractable electric screen was then installed which fits perfectly but was tricky to install.

A benq TK700sti 4k projector was then mounted on a long mount approx 4m back from the screen

Dell P2418HTTouchscreen Monitor wall mounted

Flooring is combination of two different artificial turf piles (putting and normal for edging) and then a Truestrike hitting mat.

Summary of installation

• Par2Pro 10ft retractable stealth screen
• HP Omen 30L 32gb RAM NVIDIA 3080RTX graphics card
• BENQ TK700sti 4K projector
• Skytrak Launch Monitor
• Dell P2418HT Touchscreen monitor
• TrueStrike Single Hitting mat
• E6 Connect Software
• Sonos ARC soundbar for audio
• eFoam Acoustic 40/50mm soundproof tiles
• 7 x downlights
• 2 x track spotlights

Display and Resolution

My main display is 4:3 aspect and dell monitor is 16:9 and projector is 16:9 native.

It was a challenge to get the monitor and main screen to duplicate/clone in the correct resolution but I managed to do it after a few hours of messing around. Firstly if you just change the projector to 4:3 is squashes the image, so you have to keep it at 16:9 but adjust the settings in the computer to display in a true 4:3 resolution i.e. 1920x1440. The dell monitor comes in pre-set resolutions and so each time i tried to clone both screens they would only clone to the highest common preset resolution - i.e. the dell monitor at 1920x1080 which meant a squashed 4:3 resolution on main screen. So I had to go into custom resolution on the Nvidia graphics card and change the dell monitor to 1920x1440 which is a true 4:3 resolution. Then restart everything and clone from the main display at 1920x1440 which then displayed correctly on the main display and on the dell monitor (punched air celebrating), albeit with black side bars which is fine. I then went into the main display and changed the display aspect to full screen and it fitted perfectly. Then I realised the touchscreen calibration was out as I was in a custom 4:3 res so I had to go in and re-calibrate the touchscreen. After about 5 hours of experimenting I finally go them both set up. I can now use the touchscreen to control everything on the software.

Any questions please ask as happy to help anyone doing a similar build

[COgolfengineer]

Looks awesome, nice work!

I bet getting the resolutions and ratios set on your projector and monitor was frustrating! I have a couple questions, as I will be upgrading my projector soon and need to use a 4:3 or even square ratio.

1. When you set your 4k projector to display in 4:3 ratio, are there any higher resolutions you can get so you can utilize more of the pixels in your projector? Vertically, you're using 1440 but the projector has 2160, so are there any other higher resolution 4:3 ratios, such as 2800x2100 or whatever?
2. When I look in the manual of your projector, I don't see 1920x1440 as a supported resolution, so just curious how you got it to work? Did you have to do a custom resolution in the Nvidia settings? It's possible the manufacturer doesn't list every possible resolution under the sun, so maybe it's limited more by the graphics card? Hard to guage when researching projectors and even graphics cards if they don't tell the whole story. I can't even find the spec for my graphics card that lists all the supported resolutions.
3. I just received the 10ft Stealth screen from par2pro. How do you like it so far?
4. How far back is your projector from the screen? From the pics, it looks like it's behind the hitting area. Any shadows?

Looks awesome and thanks for the good post!

[Hacker1]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll try and answer your questions but i'm no expert just trial and error!

1. The projector will manage higher true 4:3 resolutions i.e. 2880x2160. If you just use a 16:9 res and change 4:3 aspect on projector it will appear slightly squashed as it is not native - i.e the projector is just putting the 16.9 res into a 4:3 image. I could have gone higher if I wasn't duplicating display but I couldnt get the dell monitor to accept a higher resolution so it was the highest common resolution I could use. To be honest on the screen size i have you cant really see much difference in image quality between 1920x1440 and say 2880x2160.
2. The 1920x1440 was on the list of resolutions in the windows display setting so didn't have to use a custom setting in graphics card.
3. The screen is great - a few pointers - make sure you have a helper putting up as although not massively heavy it is awkward to install alone getting the brackets lined up etc. Only use srixon balls as these don't wear the screen as much as others. The custom top and bottom setting can be a little fiddly to get right and if you overdo it (lots of ups and downs) the motor has a failsafe (clicks but wont work) and stops working until its rested. You will get a very small bow in the middle due to weight but that's normal and doesn't affect screen. Overall a great screen though.
4. My hitting position is about 2.8m from screen and projector 4m from screen with no shadows only very slight top of head if I move forward for pitch shots.

Hope this helps

[huntsaver]

How do you like the TK700STI projector? I have been waiting for a review from someone on this unit since it is brand new.

[Hacker1]

huntsaver its hard to make comparison as its my first projector but i'm very happy with it. Picture is excellent, especially in 4k resolution and the zoom and keystone options make it quite versatile in terms of positioning. The android tv is also quite handy for watching tv/movies. The projector is about 1m behind me with no shadows. There are some reviews posted online so worth reading them - all pretty good. I think the main compromise is 60hz v screen lag and so better for gamers. Brightness is good at 3000 lumens but I have mine in a pitch black room so it will be good. All in all very pleased with it. It is 16.9 native so if you have 4:3 screen then some fiddling around to get right resolution and screen size

[EVH5150]

Looks amazing! Where did you get the turf under the TrueStrike? and do you have anything under it?

[Hacker1]

Cheers. I’m in the uk and purchased it from and artificial turf company. It’s 16mm putting green turf. Nothing underneath it as the pile is thick enough

[adilgolf]

Looks great ! well done.
Where did you get the wall panels ? they look very neat.
I would suggest a ceiling baffle or something similar to protect the screen roller and prevent ricochets.
Cheers

[Hacker1]

Cheers. It’s a uk based company called eFoam. They are foam acoustic tiles. Thanks for tip on ceiling baffle, yes looking it to best way to do it.

[Wysocjt]

Hi - thanks for the post. Curious about your Sonos Arc. I was thinking of installing one on my golf sim too but wondering about positioning it. did you put it behind your screen? how is it working?

[Hacker1]

I have put the soundbar in the ceiling almost above men so it it doesnt get hit by balls. The sound is fine. Ideally for movies it would be better near the screen at the front but that's not possible. I have paired up with a couple of sonos ones as surround sound.

[Rugrat2312]

Hi,

great set up - looks superb! this is pretty much the same dimensions as a garden sim room I’m having built right now so your list of components is really helpful as in line with what I want to have. My room is 3.5m wide, 3m high and 6.5m long. Questions I have are….

1. How did you get pc to link into Sonos arc
2. Would your projector fill a 3.5m wide by 3m high screen as this is my size
3. Where did you get your keyboard shelf
4. how do you find the trustrike mat?

Thanks.

[Hacker1]

Hi

1. The Sonos arc is connected to projector via hdmi arc port
2. Yes but you may need to look at placement of the projector. Check the projector calculator. I had to customise the screen size in the graphics card settings.
3. The shelf is made by vonhaus
4. The truestrike mat is brilliant. I suffered carpal tunnel syndrome and this really helps avoid wrist/elbow injury due to the gel layer.

[RustyT]

Hi Hacker,

love what youve done, looks very professional! How easy was it to raise the ceiling joists? i need to do the same to my garage.

ive watched a few youtube videos and they all do it slighlty different. Most were based in the US which get alot more snow thsn we get here in the UK so i dont think it needs to be crazy over engineered.

Tom

[Hacker1]

Hi

Thanks for your comments. we only lifted the joists by about a metre so structurally it wasn't an issue. To be honest I got someone in to do it but it was fairly straightforward to install the new joists and then cut out the old ones.

[Alex.Morgan]

Look superb!

Can post a link to the foam tiles please as they look great, I'm also based in the UK

Cheers, Alex

[Alex.Morgan]

Sorry just read further up the post again and found them!

[Rlefig]

that looks great hacker1 and I might need to ask for your expertise on my build. I am going to attempt to rework my 1940's detached garage again and try and get something in there. The garage is only 19 feet in length by 12 feet wide and 7 feet high under rafter shelves. But above the rafter shelves i have another 3 feet or so, so enough room to swing. I want to be able to swing inside during the New England Winter.

Here are the problems

The garage serves as the pool cabana with Fridge and shelving for towels, dinnerware etc. it also holds bikes, lawn mower, cornhole boards, shovels, table saw, golf clubs and other tools and a workbench. So I will need to move some of that stuff out of there. I have a 6x8 area behind garage that is bricked that I am going to build a lean-to or extension of back of garage to hold a bunch of the stuff. Like the bikes etc.I will be ditching the workbench for something collapsible to again gain more room.

I will need to move some of the ceiling rafters that attach to the top sill of side walls so I can have a swing path. I don't want to fully eliminate these as I know they hold the walls from bowing out and the 1940's garage already has some bowing.

I have done lots of work on the house already so am kinda familiar with construction. I built a movie room in the basement (wish ceilings were higher than 80" but it is what it is) which included framing, sheetrock and electricity, along with other projects on the 1870 house.

I am most concerned with moving the ceiling rafters, but in the long run might be adding one or two at the front part of garage where the garage door is.

Hacker1 let me know your thoughts if you would be so kind.

[Hacker1]

Sorry I couldn’t advise as my garage was a new build and moving beams was quite straightforward but you might need a qualified tradesmen to look at yours.

[Apex74]

Congrats on the finished build. looks great!!
Question about your touchscreen monitor: Is the size/resolution/expense trade off of these monitors offset by their better useability? Thanks in advance

[Hacker1]

Hi, I actually don’t use the touchscreen as it wasn’t worth the trade off between loosing resolution on main screen. Using a mouse is just as easy and I use the monitor to display other programs ie HackMotion analysis. So use it it in extended mode rather than duplicate

[mattvandyk]

Can you provide some more specifics on the acoustic tiles? A link maybe? I want that exact same thing and am having trouble finding it.

[Hacker1]

Hi, I bought them from eFoam in the uk

[platodw]

Hi - I read through your post and I have a question related to the Stealth Retractable screen. I also ordered the 10-foot version and I'm not following how you got the display to fill the full screen. If I use a 16x9 or 16x10 aspect ratio I leave space at the top and bottom of my screen. It seems you are suggesting that you used a 4:3 aspect on your projector then a higher resolution on your computer to address the problem? I will play around with those ideas but just wanted to better understand your approach. Glad to hear you like the screen - very encouraging!

[Hacker1]

Hi

I used the native 16:9 ratio on the projector and the adjusted the resolution on nvidia graphics card to display in 4:3 and adjusted the screen size to fill the screen

[platodw]

Thanks for the response, that makes sense to me. At what height did you mount the screen? I understand 127" would be the highest you could go, and 107.5" is the full projectable height. Based on your images it looks like you are only showing the white portion of the screen so did you mount at the 107.5" height? Or did you mount at a height lower than that based on the aspect ratio you were trying to achieve? For example, did you mount at closer to 90" because that is what would fill a 4:3 aspect ratio? Hope that question makes sense, thanks for your help!