New build for a family of awful golfers

[rossross]

I have been lurking for a while, reading tons of threads but I would love input on my scenario. I have an unfinished room in my basement that I would like to turn into a simulator room.

Details:
I’m not a good golfer, I’m doing this to improve my game and get my kids (12 and 13) who are young into the game.
Floors are concrete right now.
I’m not trying to break the bank, but I want to do this right. Thinking $6k-$8k
The room is 21ft x 17.5ft, 8.8 ceiling

Questions for the group:

• I'm guessing I want the screen on the 17ft wall so I can take advantage of the length and get a 16x9 screen on that wall.
• Flooring. Part of my thinks I should just leave it concreate and maybe just stain it, but not sure that’s a great idea for a simulator room. What would you guys do for flooring in a room like this? I would say turf the entire room, but I’m also thinking resale and something should be underneath.
• Is any software better at fun things and not just courses?. Thinking putt putt, golf games, for the kids.
• Knowing that we are bad golfers, what things do you recommended to protect the walls and ceilings. I was thinking wall padding the entire space like this guy did (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWXE316klaA) or maybe I just do a deeper enclosure material, so it covers the golfer and sides.
• What depth am I looking at to cover the golfer and protect walls and ceilings, where are they hitting from?
• Knowing that this room is being finished (drywall, electric, lighting, etc), is there anything you wish you did. (Ethernet drops, HDMI runs, etc)
• Is sound important, I wouldn’t think it would be, but you tell me.

I would love any input or recommendations after reading the above.

[gobble]

How did you raise the ceiling? I’m curious to see if anyone else will do steel.

[rossross]

Reinforced the joists and trimmed them an inch in that area.

[rossross]

Reinforced the joist and trimmed them and inch in that area.

[rossross]

Final photos. I'm happy with the results; I would have done a couple of things differently.

1. Wait to buy your hardware until you're ready for it.
2. I would have made the room a little bigger for sitting behind. I was just a little short; I underestimated the backswing distance.
3. I focused a lot on the padding, it prob cost me WAY more in time and money than buying something already made. But I do like the end result, I just feel I could have done this better.
4. Not sure I would have gone with SkyTrak again; it works with a GSPro hack, but I'm worried that it won't work forever.
5. Don't do it.... lol

[gobble]

It looks great. Why were the wall pads so expensive? More than store bought? I’m about to start that part of my build.

[rossross]

I didn't do the math... but I screwed up a bunch. I went with expensive foam:

https://a.co/d/gynt7hZ

I love how it turned out, but I struggled with the ceiling mounting and had to bring in someone I had to pay. It just took me a lot longer than I thought, but mostly because on me i'm sure. I also wanted them removable, which they probably didn't need to be. I think I over complicated it and spent more on supplies than I wanted.

It's hard to say how store-bought would have turned out. Prob thinner, cheaper looking.