This is the very beginning of my first simulator build. Quick background, I was a single digit handicap in high school, then a bunch of college plus now having two young kids has eroded my skills as I just do not have not had time to play more than a few rounds a year. Just can't be gone for 5+hrs at a time! So I want to have somewhere to hit a few balls regularly, maybe play 9 holes in the evening after the kids go to bed or nap time. I don't expect a simulator to help with my short game much, but if I could just get some more practice and especially dial in my distances, that would help a lot as I often am overshooting greens or coming up short on wedges, just don't play enough to know what I'm hitting it.
As for the simulator, my goal is to be pretty budget conscious as we are likely moving in a couple of years and would likely build a basement, real nice one then if this is useful like I think it will be. All-in I definitely want to be $5k or under. Tinkering and doing some things myself is kind of fun and I'm not in a huge rush. Would like to have this functional by my birthday in July.
So far, with my father-in-law's help, we put in a 2x4 frame which can accommodate a 10x10 screen. I've attached a picture! We have 1 ft of space between frame and wall, and will attach to top and sides and probably leave bottom alone or weighted. My plan is to buy the screen next. I've gone through a lot of ideas but leaning towards doing the Carl's screen with the flaps for easy covering of frame. Don't want to go premium due to cost but on the fence between standard and preferred. Not sure if it's worth it or not? In general, I'm not too worried about picture quality, but don't want it terrible.
I will be hitting from 7.5' from the screen. I can go further back but then both cars would need to be out so this way only one would need to be out. The car will still be parked but I have just enough space where the tires would sit just up against the edge of the floor so my flooring shouldn't get overly ruined!
Other thoughts are to use some of those amazon foam tiles for behind the screen, on that right wall and the ceiling for looks, sound and to control ricochets. Only righties will be playing so the plan is to not have an enclosure to the left, though I could do some sort of net that goes up when we play. Can't have that permanent due to car. Also, trying to decide if its better to use eye screw things into the wood or like D-hooks?
Sorry this is already long. Once I figure out the screen, then I still need to settle on a projector and flooring. Planning on holy grail hitting strip with some black automarine carpet, but just have not figured out exactly what my layers would be to get the hitting strip flush with the rest. Also leaning towards SkyTrak plus but waiting to see some more reviews if the plus is worth the extra $1000. Have a decent gaming laptop to use but curious on ideas for maybe mounting that to the right wall. Any ideas on any of this would be excellent, thank you!!!
As for the simulator, my goal is to be pretty budget conscious as we are likely moving in a couple of years and would likely build a basement, real nice one then if this is useful like I think it will be. All-in I definitely want to be $5k or under. Tinkering and doing some things myself is kind of fun and I'm not in a huge rush. Would like to have this functional by my birthday in July.
So far, with my father-in-law's help, we put in a 2x4 frame which can accommodate a 10x10 screen. I've attached a picture! We have 1 ft of space between frame and wall, and will attach to top and sides and probably leave bottom alone or weighted. My plan is to buy the screen next. I've gone through a lot of ideas but leaning towards doing the Carl's screen with the flaps for easy covering of frame. Don't want to go premium due to cost but on the fence between standard and preferred. Not sure if it's worth it or not? In general, I'm not too worried about picture quality, but don't want it terrible.
I will be hitting from 7.5' from the screen. I can go further back but then both cars would need to be out so this way only one would need to be out. The car will still be parked but I have just enough space where the tires would sit just up against the edge of the floor so my flooring shouldn't get overly ruined!
Other thoughts are to use some of those amazon foam tiles for behind the screen, on that right wall and the ceiling for looks, sound and to control ricochets. Only righties will be playing so the plan is to not have an enclosure to the left, though I could do some sort of net that goes up when we play. Can't have that permanent due to car. Also, trying to decide if its better to use eye screw things into the wood or like D-hooks?
Sorry this is already long. Once I figure out the screen, then I still need to settle on a projector and flooring. Planning on holy grail hitting strip with some black automarine carpet, but just have not figured out exactly what my layers would be to get the hitting strip flush with the rest. Also leaning towards SkyTrak plus but waiting to see some more reviews if the plus is worth the extra $1000. Have a decent gaming laptop to use but curious on ideas for maybe mounting that to the right wall. Any ideas on any of this would be excellent, thank you!!!
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