Hello! Another SportScreen Simulator.

[Pat S.]

Hello all,
I've been reading and learning here for several years as I built out my simulator. Finally thought I would join in the discussions here and there as I might have a thing or two to add that could help some others out.

I decided to build my sim when I moved into a new house about 2 years ago. It's been a very slow process. My sim is another one based on a roll down SportScreen in my garage. I started doing some testing on size, location, etc about a year and a half ago. Work, kids, life slowed me down along the way, but I finally got my simulator version 1.0 up and running this past summer. I wasn't super thrilled with it at first, but I've been making a number of minor modifications and additions since and now I have a simulator I really love. I call it something like version 8.2! I tested some different hitting mats, tees, turf, etc along the way.

I wish I had a permanent sim that was set up all the time, but I'm very happy and lucky to have what I've got. Sometimes my sim is setup for just a few hours and sometimes for a few days. Basically, I have a version of it I can roll down and be hitting balls in about 5 minutes. When I have friends over or plan on leaving it set up for several days, I can set it up in about 15 minutes with side curtains, pads to cover the metal roller, etc.

I don't have a ton of pictures of my build, but I will plan to put together a long post some time soon with all of the details. Some people here seem to be interested in that sort of thing. My setup might be a little different from others with a SportScreen and might offer some ideas/solutions.

In the mean time I will chime in here or there when I can and maybe ask a few questions.

I have a Skytrak with the FMJ case. I spend a lot of time just using the Skytrak range. I play JNPG mostly when I want to play on the course.

Peace,
Pat

[banjopete]

Heyo, post up some pictures when you get a chance. I'm contemplating a garage setup myself and a convertible one too so would love to see all the ideas.

[jdgould]

Pat S. hey Pat, I am also using the Sportscreen and have been tweaking a few things to get the screen to look tight at the top and bottom. I'm curious to know what you use to block the top metal roller when you're simulator is setup for friends etc... It sounds like you're using some pads, but I'd love to see some pics. Thanks!

[Pat S.]

Pat S. hey Pat, I am also using the Sportscreen and have been tweaking a few things to get the screen to look tight at the top and bottom. I'm curious to know what you use to block the top metal roller when you're simulator is setup for friends etc... It sounds like you're using some pads, but I'd love to see some pics. Thanks!

I am not sure if this is going to be permanent, but so far it works really well for covering the metal roller...I ran into this product by accident at Menard's one day. They are essentially triangle foam pieces that are each 4 feet long which are designed to go into gutters and keep leaves and debris out while letting the water go through. They are not closed cell foam, but are pretty porous.

https://www.menards.com/main/buildin...6099211&ipos=4

I am working on a long detailed post with pictures of my complete set up, but basically I use 3 of them attached with industrial strength velcro strips at the top of my 12' wide screen to cover over the roller. The velcro strips are attached directly on the black sports screen over the roller but I would guess you could velcro to the impact screen, as well. Velcro did not want to stay stuck to the foam pieces, but I added a little superglue and that did the trick. I just get out my step ladder and it takes 30 seconds to velcro them in place. There's still some bounce back if you hit the roller but not like a direct hit.

Since the shape is a triangle, it can be attached so that one side is angled toward the floor.

I also am using three of them along the floor in front of the bottom of my screen. I like how it looks as it frames the bottom of the screen nicely, but more importantly it protects the padded pipe on the bottom that keeps the screen tight in case of a worm burner. A happy accident is that they also serve as a sort of ball return if a ball spins back into the screen. The ball falls into the foam wedge and comes slowly back to my feet. So far so good, been using them at least 6 months.

If I'm just rolling the screen down to hit balls with plans to put it back up the same day, I don't always add these pieces. But it looks better and works better when I do.

Hope that helps a little. Pics and a detailed post coming soon!

Peace,

Pat

[jdgould]

Thanks Pat S. BTW, I took the metal pole out of the Sportscreen and replaced it with the fiberglass stick provided in the Sportscreen. It really helped with the bounce back and I can now keep the screen much tighter as I mentioned in your other post. I also don't need to worry about a miss hit at the bottom as the screen is really loose at the bottom and the stick doesn't have any bounce back.