Help with Garage setup

[WAGS]

Hello, Looking for some help to put together a setup so my Son and I can hit in the garage. This will be mainly indoors. I dont care about playing courses, I mainly want a driving range feature to work on swing.


Budget would like to stay under 4k, but would like to hear options/recommendations .




Net:


-It seems like NetReturn is highly recommended for net. Home use model?


-Anything else I should look at?




Mat:


I- see fiberbuilt mat recommended alot but looks that is 1k for just the mat. Any other options?




Launch montior:

1. Skytrak? I remember when these first came out I thought numbers werent as accurate? But have seen them recommended so maybe I was wrong?

2. Bushnell Pro. Seems good but 4k for just the device

3. Mevo products. Seems to require precise setup for indoor use?




Any help is appreciated!

[Stetson]

Are you handy? Do you feel comfortable building some elements of the space? Such as enclosure and hitting platform? Do you have any space concerns?

[WAGS]

Are you handy? Do you feel comfortable building some elements of the space? Such as enclosure and hitting platform? Do you have any space concerns?

Yes I am handy and have alot of tools. Ive built decks, etc

Space concerns. Ceiling is 9'6" There is some storage in garage but can rearrange.

[Ronsc1985]

Your desire to have a range would indicate you need a launch monitor, a computer, a projector and a screen. Even if you buy used items your 4K budget is probably unrealistic.

For a LM I'd go with a used Foresight GC2.

If you can find a FR1 dongle, FR1 range software will more then fulfill you requirement. A few people on this board will give you the FR1 software. It's not state of the art graphics but is certainly sufficient for any range work and data collection. It's also stand alone so you don't need an internet connection.

For a stance mat there are many available.Be careful about the hitting surface as a hard mat will cause wrist injuries if you practice a lot. You can buy something like a Fiberbuilt hitting strip and pair it with some kind of stance mat.

For a projector a relatively inexpensive unit will do since you will not require HD graphics ability. Same goes for the computer graphics requirements. I ran my FR1 setup and projector with a old win 7 HP computer with integrated graphics with no performance problems.

As to space you obviously need enough to swing a club without hitting anything. With a camera LM ball flight distance is not a variable since they pick up the necessary data within less then 1 ft of ball travel so the depth in front of the hitting area depends on what projector you acquire. With a short throw projector the distance to screen can be as little as 7 or 8 feet

[Stetson]

In that case I would say you are good to go. Here is my advice... all links are just examples from a quick google search

- Build an enclosure with lumber or EMT, up to you. Pick your size, lets just say 10 (w) x 9 (h)
- Use archery net instead of net return LINK
- Build a small platform that is 1" thick. You can use OSB/Plywood, Foam tiles, etc, whatever you want to get 1" off the ground. Cover with thin carpet such as this LINK
- Insert a hitting strip, such as this from Gung Ho LINK
- Mevo+ is on sale right now, or you can get a used one Benefits to the Mevo+ in this situation are:

• On sale
• Future upgrade for additional data measurements
• Includes driving ranges and courses
• No annual fee
• Connects to iPad/Tablet, no gaming PC mandatory

Cost:
Enclosure - $100
Net - $250
Platform - $100
Hitting Strip - $ 150
Mevo+ - $1800
Total: $2,400 (if you own a compatible tablet)

[Stetson]

Your desire to have a range would indicate you need a launch monitor, a computer, a projector and a screen. Even if you buy used items your 4K budget is probably unrealistic.

For a LM I'd go with a used Foresight GC2.

If you can find a FR1 dongle, FR1 range software will more then fulfill you requirement. A few people on this board will give you the FR1 software. It's not state of the art graphics but is certainly sufficient for any range work and data collection. It's also stand alone so you don't need an internet connection.

For a stance mat there are many available.Be careful about the hitting surface as a hard mat will cause wrist injuries if you practice a lot. You can buy something like a Fiberbuilt hitting strip and pair it with some kind of stance mat.

For a projector a relatively inexpensive unit will do since you will not require HD graphics ability. Same goes for the computer graphics requirements. I ran my FR1 setup and projector with a old win 7 HP computer with integrated graphics with no performance problems.

As to space you obviously need enough to swing a club without hitting anything. With a camera LM ball flight distance is not a variable since they pick up the necessary data within less then 1 ft of ball travel so the depth in front of the hitting area depends on what projector you acquire. With a short throw projector the distance to screen can be as little as 7 or 8 feet

I do not think he was looking for a full simulator. I think an iPad that he mirrors onto a spare tv off to the side is all he needs. Once he gets hooked he will be buying the rest ha

[rdeyer]

Budget is probably going to dictate a lot of your decision on LM. I used a Skytrak for the last 1.5yrs and it was really nice imo. I'm selling mine this week actually and making a jump to a QED. There are draw backs in terms of putting a ball on a specific laser point and the 2 second delay on ball read, but its what fit in the budget at the time. There's no doubt a GC2 or GC3 (which is essentially what the Bushnell is) are nicer units, they just come at high price tags. If you're able to spend a little bit more I think it's a good idea to try it buy the nicer units, but you can also take the route I did and get in the door with something like a Skytrak and then upgrade down the road as budget allows. No right or wrong way, just whatever works for you.

[Ronsc1985]

I do not think he was looking for a full simulator. I think an iPad that he mirrors onto a spare tv off to the side is all he needs. Once he gets hooked he will be buying the rest ha

I initially went that route. It wasn't really any better then just looking at the GC2 display. Seeing the ball flight right in front of you provides a lot more feedback and is kind of like hitting at an actual range only with a lot more data collection.

[Stetson]

I initially went that route. It wasn't really any better then just looking at the GC2 display. Seeing the ball flight right in front of you provides a lot more feedback and is kind of like hitting at an actual range only with a lot more data collection.

I get it and agree it makes a difference, but I was trying to answer the question I thought he was asking regardless of the fact I would want a screen and projector personally. Heck, I am building an entire building for my simulator as we speak (foundation walls were poured yesterday), so I would love to say get a 3090Ti GPU in a computer, a 16:10 4k projector, synlawn putting, etc ... but let's get the guy hitting balls with his son so they can enjoy time together. Then we can convert him to the immersive experience.

[WAGS]

In that case I would say you are good to go. Here is my advice... all links are just examples from a quick google search

- Build an enclosure with lumber or EMT, up to you. Pick your size, lets just say 10 (w) x 9 (h)
- Use archery net instead of net return LINK
- Build a small platform that is 1" thick. You can use OSB/Plywood, Foam tiles, etc, whatever you want to get 1" off the ground. Cover with thin carpet such as this LINK
- Insert a hitting strip, such as this from Gung Ho LINK
- Mevo+ is on sale right now, or you can get a used one Benefits to the Mevo+ in this situation are:

• On sale
• Future upgrade for additional data measurements
• Includes driving ranges and courses
• No annual fee
• Connects to iPad/Tablet, no gaming PC mandatory

Cost:
Enclosure - $100
Net - $250
Platform - $100
Hitting Strip - $ 150
Mevo+ - $1800
Total: $2,400 (if you own a compatible tablet)

Thanks for the links, any other mat options as I dont have Menards close?

[WAGS]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I was looking at just using the iPad/TV route for now because of budget concerns

[Stetson]

Thanks for the links, any other mat options as I dont have Menards close?

Any marine carpet from a big box hardware store will work, Home Depot has it for $.59/ft. The main thing is to source it cheaply to cover up your platform material. Your feet will be on it while you swing so it needs to be tough and marine carpet is pretty good if you aren’t wearing spikes.

[Ronsc1985]

I get it and agree it makes a difference, but I was trying to answer the question I thought he was asking regardless of the fact I would want a screen and projector personally. Heck, I am building an entire building for my simulator as we speak (foundation walls were poured yesterday), so I would love to say get a 3090Ti GPU in a computer, a 16:10 4k projector, synlawn putting, etc ... but let's get the guy hitting balls with his son so they can enjoy time together. Then we can convert him to the immersive experience.

The idea was to get something that easily fits in a garage. A Mevo+ requires at least 20 feet plus metallic dots on the ball to get decent readings.

On this board currently is a fairly new GC2 for 3K. A used Hp Pavilion gaming computer can be acquired for less then $500. At that point with a FR1 dongle you have a display, an accurate LM with no metallic dots on a ball for indoors and the ability to run FR1 software and courses which me and a few others will provide for free. Now with a hitting platform, hitting strip and net you have a usable highly accurate system which you can expand to screen and projector if desired in the future. Granted it costs a bit more but for the functionality if seems to be worth it.

As to immersive experience, since my brain knows I'm still in a garage, 4k resolution, better graphics etc, are not really much of an improvement. I live in an area where IRL golf is available for 10 or 11 moths a year. If I lived in a colder climate I'd probably have a different perspective about immersive.

Different strokes for different folks seems to apply here.

[casper100]

I built a simulator in my garage that I think works well and stays within your budget.

The Sportscreen 16 ft manual crank roller, cut down to 13 ft ($329), with a 13 x 10 ft preferred impact screen from The Indoor Golf shop ($449)
The Sportscreen 10 ft manual crank screen and roller for side screen ($259 minus $29 with discount coupon)
The Sportscreen 16 ft bracket assembly to mount all on walls and ceiling ($170).

So a complete roll away enclosure for $1200 that rolls up in less than 5 minutes (You can buy motorized versions of the 16 ft and 10 ft for an extra $250 each).

Optima short throw projector $799

Garmin R10 $599

[ShooterMcGav]

Hey, what do you use for corner, ceiling protection?