New build on my mind but worried about sound

[Eldobo]

Hi Everyone,

Another Canadian here and I've been lurking on this site for a few weeks. I've learned so much about the golf sim world form all of you and love the community you have here. Since I discovered this site I've been obsessed with building a sim in my living room of my condo/apartment. The main purpose for the sim is game improvement and to keep golfing throughout the winter. I have a lot of room with 14 ft ceilings, 20 ft length and 15 width. So far my dream setup idea includes :

1. GC quad
2. TrueStrike single matt
3. Netreturn Mini
4. New PC tower
5. Swing catalyst

I would use my main tv for the sim and install a second tv for the swing catalyst.

I'm very close to pulling the trigger on this setup except I hit 1 major snag - I've read on these forms how loud it can be to hit driver and now I am second guessing it all.

I live in an apartment, I am on the top floor, there is someone living under me and beside me. The building is brand new so it has pretty good insulation but still I can hear my neighbours once in a while so you would have to think they are going to hear me, especially hitting bombs all day. I swing the driver 125mph so it's going to be loud. I wouldn't be playing at night or early in the morning.

The last thing I want to do is get noise complaints, which would shut me down.

What do you guys think? Am I asking for trouble? Will irons make a loud sound as well? Maybe I just hit irons? No fun?

Using almost golf balls in an option but not really ideal when your spending this much money and using a gcquad. I want the gcquuad for the accurate numbers so I can improve my game and hitting almost golf balls it might be a waste.

This is a 30k investment for me so I need to be sure this is going to work before purchasing the gear.

Should I go for it or wait till I can afford my own house where I can do whatever I want. Any other apartment builds out there? I appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

Thanks,
Elliot

[Sixmudd]

I’d wait, but that’s just me. No point in getting a quad and only hitting irons

maybe just get a cheap mat and net to start. And see if you get noise complaints. If you don’t, then you can go all in and get the quad and everything else

[Eldobo]

Sixmudd that’s a smart idea thank you

[Anansi]

You really need to talk to your neighbors. I’d be concerned about the impact sound of metalwoods, and you’ll need to consider the impact sound of your May/turf, since someone lives below you. Better to have a conversation up front. Who knows, they may be willing to tolerate the occasional driver if they know you won’t be practicing late into the evening.

[Hacker1]

As you are using a net as opposed to screen that will help as you wont have the low frequency reverberations (thud) off a screen , however unless you have good soundproofing you wont dampen the shot impact of either irons or driver. Actually the irons may cause you more problems as you hit the mat which will reverberate through the floor. The driver impact will be mid-frequency and can be dampened with the good soundproofing but low frequency will be difficult contain unfortunately. Even with good insulation underneath it wont stop the impact noise. Best to trial with a cheap set up first and talk to your neighbours. You can also test the sound with a decibel meter app. Typically good insulated walls/floors will contain 30-40 decibels

[Eldobo]

Anansi thats exactly what I did. Bought a cheap Matt and net on Amazon, going to do some extensive testing.

[Eldobo]

Hacker1 I will be using a net so I think the impact sound will be minimal. My building is brand new and concrete floors so my hope is there is minimal sound reaching the unit below me. I am on the end of the building so there is no one to 1 side of me and there is a bedroom between the hitting room and the next unit. Also I Was thinking about cutting a big piece of foam to absorb the sound exiting the front door. I just purchase a cheap net and mat on Amazon and will be able to test next week. Do you think extra padding below the matt could help dampen the sound or is the sound going to be more from the impact of club on ball reverberating? My living room has 14 ft ceilings and lots of glass so unfortunately the reverb will be strong. On the plus side the building I live in is on a university campus and most the tenants are students who don’t complain about noise as much as your average home owner.

[bubbtubbs]

For what it's worth, when we lived in downtown Toronto during residency, I used to crank up a JCM800 2203 and still didn't receive any noise complaints.

I'd imagine you'll be fine in a recently constructed concrete structure.

[Hacker1]

So I would imagine the iron impact as you hit down on the mat will be the problem. It will reverberate through the floor and you wont be able to dampen that easily. Extra padding wont make much difference as low frequency is very difficult to dampen. A lot will depend on the construction of the floor too. Best just to test it really and chat to the neighbours.