newbie here and new sim build starting

[derek]

Hi All from Ireland
great site full of information
I,m a 20 handicapper whose to lazy to go to the range

I'm about to build a 5 meter x 4 meter x 3 meter (H) man cave an the end of my garden. so it will be a blank canvas

if you where starting a build now what would you start with for a simulator

I know the basics and am limited on budget (I can upgrade each element as time goes on )

but for starters as a basic sett up

1 opti pro 2
2 mat
3 I have an old lap top
4 screen
5 Projector


any advise greatly received

i promise to do a build log for the benifit of others who come after me

Thanks
derek

[gene438]

Welcome derek, you are starting a journey that will probably take you to places you never thought.

First, in order to help/advise you and also to help you as you build, I think it is important to identify what your goals are for your simulator. Improve your golf game? Just have fun playing simulator golf? Are you a graphics guy or are the numbers more important to you?

Knowing your goals or intentions will help us to help you.

Yes, you can start low and upgrade later, but, that also means re-buying things which in the long run will make things more expensive.

Anyway, welcome and let us know what your goals are and what you hope to accomplish, I'm sure the guys here have the answer to just about any question and everyone is always willing to help.

[derek]

Thanks Gene

im looking for a good game improver but would also like to have the friends around for a few beers and a game. I haven't a clue what all the technical swing jargon is about (swing speed ,spin launch angle etc) but i would like to understand it more
I think the graphics would be more important until I get better understanding of the swing numbers

thanks for the quick reply

Derek

[Bubba22]

Welcome Derek. Consider getting a ST if you can. ST with TGC will allow accuracy, online events, practice etc to allow you to improve and enjoy your home setup.

[Binggy Lopez]

Hi Derek,

Your basic set up is a great way to start.

1 opti pro 2
2 mat
3 I have an old lap top
4 screen
5 Projector

The Optishot 2 is relatively cheap for what it can do and for me at least, I find it remarkably accurate. You and your buddies will get a kick out of that set up. It will also give you a chance to really determine how much you'll actually use a simulator and from there, decide how much you'll want to invest in the hobby.

The Skytrak is a great next option. Just remember that you'll need a good gaming rig to play TGC in respectable detail and resolution so add that to the cost of the Skytrak if you go that route.

It sucks that i've been very busy lately and don't have time to use the simulator. I should be free to play in 3 weeks. Hope to see you in the tournaments

[derek]

thanks Lads

difference in price on the optishot and he skytrack is big. I recon I can com back to this later

Derek

[goatbarn]

I'd start with the Optishot.

I went Optishot, then Zelocity Pureflight, then Vector Pro, then PX2 (? I think that's the name, GSA brand), then Protee 2.0, then Flightscope Xi, and now the GC2.

Everything bought I sold to help purchase the upgrade.

I'd say I probably lost about 10% of the purchase price when I sold each time, but I was also playing indoor golf during the whole time. Some things I actually sold for more than I bought.

All the other things: PC, netting, mats, screen...etc. have been piece-meal upgraded when I thought it was necessary...again selling the pieces being upgraded to help purchase the upgrade.

Anything I could buy used I did, including my GC2. I now have a 1080p projector, HQ2 screen, netting, CCE 5'x5' mat, PC, GC2, TGC...for about $4.5k.

You don't need to spend $12k right now to get in the "game". Just my thoughts...

[Binggy Lopez]

goatbarn, if you were to do it all over again, would you just save up and wait to go directly to your current set up or would all the upgrading processes be ok just to have a simulator in the meantime?

[goatbarn]

I'd do it again in a second. Personally, my wife would've crapped her pants if I told her hey I'm gonna drop almost $5k on a hobby, ok? lol

So, not only did it let me get to this point without her soiling herself, but I also learned what I wanted/needed out of a sim/LM, without diving in 100% from the get-go.

Of those 2 points, I'm not sure which one is more important.

A third pro of going that route is that, if you're going to build it DIY, you'll figure out what works and what doesn't.

But honestly, if you really think you have it figured out, yes, you will save some $ buying it all right now. You won't have to worry about re-sale value, depreciation...etc. But then again, I did make $ on some bought-used and then sold items.

[derek]

Hi
The wall i will be hitting against will be 4 m across and 3 meters wide would the screen have to be that big or is suitable to go smaller I know the tee placement has to be 2.5 meter from the screen

derek

[goatbarn]

You don't have to be a certain distance from anything with the optishot. Just need room for your driver swing without hitting anything.

[wbond]

I also went the route of upgrading, started with opti, then P3 and then skytrak. I initially started with a cheap used projector and used mat, which both have been upgraded. Because i bought used, i actually ended up being ahead by a few $$ in the end on those items. I also bought my skytrak at the pre-order discount which helped.

The bigger the screen the better, but you can get away with any size you are limited to. My first screen was about 7.5' square.

[Jasonstanley]

I've nearly finished my sim room (shed) all I can say is make it big as possible, I ordered the wrong size shed and had to knock half of it down and order more materials to make it acceptable . Also had to dig down as we are on allowed 2.5 meters high from the outside in the uk before getting plans. Ordered my Skytrak today, got the mat and screen from a uk company. Bought a benq th61 for 500 quid. Waiting for the new graphics cards that will be coming out in a couple of weeks time, they're more powerful for less money, so will just play wgt until my desktop is ready to order.

[Scottfer]

I've nearly finished my sim room (shed) all I can say is make it big as possible, I ordered the wrong size shed and had to knock half of it down and order more materials to make it acceptable . Also had to dig down as we are on allowed 2.5 meters high from the outside in the uk before getting plans. Ordered my Skytrak today, got the mat and screen from a uk company. Bought a benq th61 for 500 quid. Waiting for the new graphics cards that will be coming out in a couple of weeks time, they're more powerful for less money, so will just play wgt until my desktop is ready to order.

Hi

I'm from uk also battling the height rule. Just built mine as neighbours trees are higher than the build. How deep did you dig down? no worries of flooding?

Built mine already but I just wondered

Cheers

[Jasonstanley]

Hi

I'm from uk also battling the height rule. Just built mine as neighbours trees are higher than the build. How deep did you dig down? no worries of flooding?

Built mine already but I just wondered

Cheers

i think it was a metre down i dug (or the polish guys dug), I've got an apex roof, just over 9ft height now, tested it with long driver, no problems although 10ft is the suggested min.
as for flooding, sore point, the polish guys didn't put down a membrane and there is some seepage, but no flood, I've black jacked it and seems to have solved the problem, but my advice to anyone is to not just put a membrane down below the floor but around the block work( the retaining wall that the building sits on) black jack the walls anyway for extra protection. ill post pics soon.

[Scottfer]

Thanks

I'll post pics of mine soon also