Garage simulator build

[domino]

Starting my garage sim upgrade. I've been using this setup for the past 4 years with optishot and net return pro. Works great but lacks useable ball data. Purchased a gc2 without the hmt, new desktop, fsx software, benQ projector, supertex screen 8x14 and a sportscreen motorized drop down screen that I am planning to attach the supertex with Velcro on top of the existing sportScreen. I can't see that anyone has tried this but I'm hopeful it will work. All suggestions are welcome, thanks to all the members who have posted their experiences.

[John Loschiavo]

This is my set up finished last week. I have a 9x9 screen from Carl's. The frame is made totally from PVC and I use black photography cloth for the sides and top. The hitting mat is 1.5 x1.5metres and was $150 from China and includes a sand trap, rough, tee area and regular fairway. I'm currently testing with the r-motion and also use a couple of broom holder modules $10 each against the wall to mount the clubs. Cheap and nasty but works - the entire set up cost me $1000 including TGC licence.

[domino]

The roller bar is wrapped with the screens, it is nicely padded. Although, there is no chance of a ball hitting it directly due to the baffle hanging down from the top netting. I had a single baffle made to hang down from my top netting around the sides and front, covering the roller. I will rarely spin a lob wedge up the screen between the top netting gap but it just stays on the top netting. You could easily Velcro the top netting to the screen if you wanted to completely close up the gap. I have grown to prefer the simplest setup possible with no attachments of the screen to the surrounding netting. This allows quick and brainless screen rollup by my wife and two teenage boys when they want access to the garage. After 6 months of use, my conclusions are that the side netting is rarely useful and probably not necessary. I am hitting into a 16 foot wide screen from 9 feet away. Even my shanks find the edge of the screen. My son's friends that are beginners will occasionally find the side netting with a shot off the toe of the club. Unless you have left handed golfers, you could probably get away with side netting on one side. I started by using the weighted rod designed to stabilize the center of the sportscreen to weigh down the bottom of my hitting screen. Subsequent to installing the heavy screen ordered on this site from dbgolf72, I no longer use any weight at the bottom of the screen. It is now quiet with no bounce back. Hope this helps.

[Captargo]

Thanks for the feedback and the picture
From the picture, looks like your netting drops down behind the screen?
if it does, do you have it attached to anything at the back or does it just hang loose?

[domino]

This picture is rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees. You can see the screen on the bottom, the top netting with baffle hanging freely in front of the screen and the side netting on the top right of the picture. They are all hanging freely and not attached to the screen. I bought tarp clips from home depot to attach the side netting to the front screen if needed and you could velcro the top netting to the screen if you wanted to close up the gaps. As I said above, I rarely attach the netting to allow the screen to be rolled up by my wife and kids without recognizing that the netting is attached. I rarely squeeze a ball between the front baffle and screen with a lob wedge. It simply settles on top of the netting and doesn't even hit the ceiling.

[Captargo]

Thanks for the additional info and picture, I have a better understanding now
absolutely agree with you in trying to keep it simple to raise and lower the screen. Doing the same re: having clips to attach side netting to front of screen if needed and looking to avoid having to velcro the top netting to the screen.
think we found a solution today to pad the bar, trying it out tomorrow
thanks again for all the info on your setup

[domino]

I think I should clarify my setup. My top netting hangs below the level of the roller. A ball can't hit it. When I open the garage door, it goes above the level of top netting.

[Mattrix09]

Hey domino,
I have been lurking on this thread, as I think I would like to do a similar setup in my new home. A couple questions if you don't mind:

1. What kind of carpet tiles did you use on your garage floor? From my research it looks like raised tiles or padded tiles seem to work the best. Does what you used work well with both bouncing golf balls around and pulling cars in/out on a daily basis?
2. In regards to your top net, did you attach that to the 80/20 bracket you mounted or straight to the garage door rails?
3. Did the baffle that hangs down over the sides and screen come with your top netting, or is that something you put together yourself?

Thanks for your help!
Matt

[John Loschiavo]

Someone asked me to post more detail on my build in a private message so here goes:

- The frame 8.6 x 8.6 feet is made entirely out of plumbing PVC. It is the high pressure kind which ensures it does not bend or warp.
- Each pipe length is about 1 metre with connector joints in between. This part of the build only took about 45 minutes after I had all the pieces cut to size.
- The only special order connectors were those that connects horizontal and vertical corner joints which are not plumbing standard.
- The screen is from Carl's place (8.5x8.5). It is mounted with ball bungees and after tightening it fits perfectly to the edge of the screen with no warps or creases.
- The frame also has two front to back connectors on each side for stability. The result is a very stable and durable light weight frame that can be easily picked up and shifted by two people if required
- The flooring is artificial grass. Since this photo I have added rubber backed hitting flooring above the artificial turf to level off the hitting mat with the rest of the floor so I have an even surface all round.
- I purchased a couple of broom holders which you can see hanging on the wall. This holds all the clubs I use for the simulator. I'm currently testing the r-motion with clips on each club.
- The sides and roof are photography cloth. It has some stretch so once tightened acts as a great barrier without too much bounce back.
- I have also placed artificial grass strips along the based on the frame and on the sides to avoid risk of bounce back in the event of a bad shot.
- I had difficulty with the projector. Roof mounting was not viable and my place and rather than spending a fortune or short throw I purchased an Epson with fantastic keystone correction that is placed on the floor to the rear of the room and in line with the right hand side of the frame. There are no shadows when playing.

The rubber backed flooring (which covers my entire floor now and hitting mat are from China. The whole thing only cost $200 which is way cheaper than regular golf hitting floors.

Hope this helps but let me know of you have any questions.

[Meatmiller]

Why not start your own thread John? Not trying to be rude just saying is all...

[Meatmiller]

domino do you have problems with the ball running up the screen and hitting your ceiling between the gap of your net and screen on say high wedge shots?

[domino]

Meatmiller,
I will rarely hit a lob wedge that sneaks between the top netting and screen. It simply sits on top of the screen and strangely doesn't hit the ceiling. You could easily velcro the top netting to the screen if you wanted. I keep it unattached so my kids and wife can roll it up without having to detach anything.
Ken

[domino]

Matt,
Sorry for the late reply. Haven't checked the site in awhile.

10-16-2017, 08:22 PM
Hey domino,
I have been lurking on this thread, as I think I would like to do a similar setup in my new home. A couple questions if you don't mind:

1. What kind of carpet tiles did you use on your garage floor? From my research it looks like raised tiles or padded tiles seem to work the best. Does what you used work well with both bouncing golf balls around and pulling cars in/out on a daily basis? 5/8 inch soft carpet tiles from rubberflooringinc.com $2.59 a square foot retail. Sales all the time if you’re patient. Minimal bounce. Great to walk on. No sure how it would hold up to regular car parking. If I were parking everyday, I would checkout the garage floor tiles and match it with some carpet tiles between the hitting mat and the screen.
2. In regards to your top net, did you attach that to the 80/20 bracket you mounted or straight to the garage door rails?
I hung the top net to the 80/20 with a simple bolt in the t-slot frame. Very simple, adjustable and effective.
3. Did the baffle that hangs down over the sides and screen come with your top netting, or is that something you put together yourself?
I ordered it from West Coast Netting. Custom made. Very reasonable. I had them fold the edges over to create a 6 inch baffle on three sides. I had grommets placed in the corners to suspend it below the garage door tracks. Simple and effective.
Ken

[rich]

Would it be possible to get a closer in picture of how you mounted your projector?
Also do you have a parts list on the 80/20 items you used? For example, is that black bracket that connected to the retractable sportscreen an 80/20 part or did that come from sportscreen?

Thx!

[aeroburner]

looks good

[rich]

Is the velcro on the sportscreen hook or loop. Need to know before I order the custom impact screen.

thx