Sim Basement Build on $3k budget (with photos)

[SweetTeeGolf]

Hello, like many of you I have gotten all of my ideas and inspiration from this post. Last year we moved into a new house that had the perfect unfinished basement for a golf sim. My initial dream was to do a full Uneekor EyeXO setup, but when I did a budget it all pretty quickly ended up north of $20k. This did not receive Wife Approval so I parked the idea.
Then this summer I saw the Garmin R10 come out, and thought that could be a solution, and redid a more modest budget and thought I could still quality results within an approved budget of $3k.
So a few months ago I purchased the R10 and started to test whether this would work for my space and be something I also enjoy playing on. I have purchased all parts so plan on keeping you updated here on the progress.

[Bob Ferguson]

Thanx,my curiosity is satisfied ! Was thinking a stucco finish would make the masonry walls work. The angles make sense now seeing it from the outside. My 1st thought was that you were in prison, maybe bribed the guards!

[SweetTeeGolf]

Yes I figured pictures would help explain. I still use the room to store garden tools etc but with the curtains there is a good space behind them to put leaf blower, mower, shovels etc and keep everything tidy.

[SweetTeeGolf]

Update: Projector mounted. I installed it exactly as per projector centrals calculations using a 3ft mount from amazon. Was lucky I realised when mounting projector to take measurements from the lens (which for the Optoma projector is slightly offset to the right. Lucky there was a beam above exactly at the right distance 6’7” from the screen to use. I still need to figure out the best lighting but for now using a lamp which does the job of giving enough light for the hitting area. Impressed with the image quality and brightness from the GT1080HDR, now I know why most people use them for their sim!

[larsdog]

I'm at about the same point. I have the "cage" built and I've been hitting driver into the back netting.
I was planning to do the cameras first, then the launch monitor, then the projector - one project at a time. I have a gaming PC I can use for the cameras and launch monitor.
I will be interested to see what you decide on cameras.

[larsdog]

After more reading I see the Garmin has a camera, too!
I will be interested to see if you add a face on camera to the mix.
This looks perfect for me. I thought I was going to have to spend a lot more. Thanks for posting!
I have enough room to fit this with 16'6" from back wall to screen, so I think I just changed plans!
How are you getting the image from the Garmin to the projector?

[SweetTeeGolf]

Hey Iarsadog, you’re welcome. Happy to help others. The Garmin R10 doesn’t have a camera. It is just a launch monitor. It connects to an iOS device (in my case I am using an iPad) via Bluetooth, then I am using a Roku streaming device just to screen mirror my iPad to the projector. The software I am using is E6 connect which doesn’t have an option for swing cameras. So I just use iPhone video for now…. If you have higher budget these are available with other systems such as Uneekor.

[larsdog]

SweetTeeGolf:
No, I'm on a limited budget, too, but the room I am using has my son's gaming computer so I was thinking about adding a couple of cameras and kinovea for swing video.
If I hit a nice shot, I don't need the swing video. If it's a bad shot, I don't need the launch monitor. I will probably know which screen to look at as soon as I hit it!
So with an iPad and E6 connect and Roku I can get the video/data from the Garmin to a projector and I can do a single swing camera with my iPhone, right?
I really like this so far. Thanks again for sharing!

[SweetTeeGolf]

HI larsdog Agree as soon as you make impact you know if the ball is going left/right from how the swing felt…. Don’t need the launch monitor haha. And yes - the Garmin comes with a licence for E6 connect that lets you practice and play 5 courses on E6. That is what I have been using for now.. courses are good but I’m sure ill eventually want to play more, but next step up is the $299 for the full licence - I’m not there yet.
I don’t have much experience with swing cameras but agree - using an iPhone on slo/mo is as good as anything for a budget solution.
I don’t have a gaming computer, so my future plans would be go get a gaming computer and more realistic software.

[SweetTeeGolf]

Sharing an update on progress over the past year. Eventually upgraded to a gaming PC Got a decent PC with GeForce 4080 graphics card from Best Buy on Black Friday sale. it is a huge game changer and probably everyone on this forum knows already. Added additional monitors above the screen on an old TC stand I had so it’s nice and close to the hitting area to use. Still using the Garmin R10 that works good enough but still gives in the occasional questionable reading and misses about 1 in every 20 chip shots.

[SweetTeeGolf]

I also splurged about $100 on some cheap grizzly grass as flooring, I was going to get the more expensive putting turf but since my size is 15ft x 16ft it was going to end up costing around $1500 delivered. This still makes a huge difference to the area - and what is nice is most iron shots bounce twice on the floor and come back to rest on the hitting mat….. which makes practice nice its like an auto ball return.

[Simgolf503]

Nice setup. something to consider is putting 1" exercise puzzle mats under the entire carpet area and recess the hitting mat flush. Keeps the mat from moving and makes for smooth putting. also allows option to cut in a couple practice cups on the sides.

[SweetTeeGolf]

Yes i thought about this… I stuck the hitting mat to the concrete with some double sided tape so it doesn’t move but yes eventually I will upgrade the floor and get it level but for now it does the job! I also use it for webcam putting and it is fine