Material to surround screen. Options and opinions

[Boerdoc]

I am in the middle of design and build of my simulator. My screen is 14 feet wide and the room is 15 feet wide. This leaves the sides exposed for the occasional mis-hit to pass behind or bang into the angle iron and bounce back. Also it will not be esthetically pleasing. What material, fabric and padding are you using to surround your screen? I am thinking about using black carpet that has a bound edge. Will I need any padding if there is only carpet against the bungees and angle iron?

Any pictures of a good setup would be great. Thanks

Kent

[Joko]

I too am interested in ideas here. I was thinking of just cutting black fabric to frame the screen, and adhering it in some way.

[aja]

It's all here: http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...rotee-sim-room

Look at the post showing the carpet "rolls" protecting the steel channels at the sides that support the impact screen and net.

If interested, I can post more details, but this system is similar to that used on a big name manufacturer's sim enclosure.

[Joko]

Thats right, I remember seeing those. I think I'll try creating some of those wall panels this fall. Looks like I'll need some Polyethylene Expanded Foam. What density is recommended? 1" or more?

[mthunt]

I took black rubber carpet runners and cut them into strips and attached over the bungees. Simple, cheap and easy.

[Boerdoc]

It's all here: http://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/...rotee-sim-room

Look at the post showing the carpet "rolls" protecting the steel channels at the sides that support the impact screen and net.

If interested, I can post more details, but this system is similar to that used on a big name manufacturer's sim enclosure.

I saw that before but I did not know what was inside the carpet. Your baffles for the ceiling are square. The sides are rounded?? Also, how did you attach the carpet to the walls.

[Boerdoc]

I took black rubber carpet runners and cut them into strips and attached over the bungees. Simple, cheap and easy.

I thought about that also. Seems like a direct hit would drop dead. Correct?? Also, how did you attach them to the walls.

[mthunt]

I've never hit one. The screen is 16' wide so from 10' away, it'd be pretty tough to fit. I bolted the strips to the angle iron the bungees are on using small bolts with black plastic caps from Home Depot. IMHO, it's pretty slick.

[aja]

Thats right, I remember seeing those. I think I'll try creating some of those wall panels this fall. Looks like I'll need some Polyethylene Expanded Foam. What density is recommended? 1" or more?

1" thick would be enough. In fact, the PEF might be overkill. Carpet stapled to plywood could serve just as well, for the walls at least.

[aja]

The carpet that forms the rolls is a very stiff high grade commercial carpet. In order to create the roll I needed to have a support surface that allowed me to form the carpet into a 90 degree bend.
I took a piece of 1 x 6 and fastened a 2 x 2 along one edge. This resembles something like a "L". The leg of the "L" is closest to the impact screen, the 1 x 6 is flat on the wall.
The roll is formed by the carpet being screwed to the 2 x 2 at a 90 degree angle to the wall. The roll is formed by bending the carpet back toward the wall and fastening it to the 1 x 6, again with screws.
This drawing may help: carpet roll.pdf The carpet is represented by the thick line.

[mthunt]

From 10 feet away, you will need an extreme flop to hit a 10 foot ceiling. Just crown staple carpet to it.

[Boverton]

Does the thickness of the plywood matter? Does it have to be 3/4 inch or can an under layment work or MDF? Thinking about wall and ceiling.

[aja]

1/2 inch plywood would be fine. Not sure that OSB or waferboard would be up to the task of taking repeated impacts. MDF is quite heavy.

[mthunt]

Plywood isn't necessay. I used 1/2 inch osb and it more than enough. It's 12 inch on center, it's fine. People often over kill. Golf balls aren't going to hurt the osb unless you hit drivers straight on but that's where your screen is.

I'm curious. I hit one flop that hit the ceiling then bounced into the screen and one kid poped up a driver and hit the ceiling. No one else has ever even missed my screen. One friend shanked 4 in a row and they all hit the screen. My kid and his buddies are 12. They hit the screen no matter how bad. It's a huge screen but how is it possible that your walls are taking so much abuse of "repeated impacts"?

[JV17]

I am in the middle of design and build of my simulator. My screen is 14 feet wide and the room is 15 feet wide. This leaves the sides exposed for the occasional mis-hit to pass behind or bang into the angle iron and bounce back. Also it will not be esthetically pleasing. What material, fabric and padding are you using to surround your screen? I am thinking about using black carpet that has a bound edge. Will I need any padding if there is only carpet against the bungees and angle iron?

Any pictures of a good setup would be great. Thanks

Kent

Kent, I have a net behind the screen, which is the full length of the cage, but you can use to protect your gaps as well. The net will take care of that as well as strengthen your screen. For aesthetic purposes you can do what I did on the sides of my cage... I hung wall to ceiling curtains. They'll help with knocking down mishits as well.

[aja]

Plywood isn't necessay. I used 1/2 inch osb and it more than enough. It's 12 inch on center, it's fine. People often over kill. Golf balls aren't going to hurt the osb unless you hit drivers straight on but that's where your screen is.

I'm curious. I hit one flop that hit the ceiling then bounced into the screen and one kid poped up a driver and hit the ceiling. No one else has ever even missed my screen. One friend shanked 4 in a row and they all hit the screen. My kid and his buddies are 12. They hit the screen no matter how bad. It's a huge screen but how is it possible that your walls are taking so much abuse of "repeated impacts"?

How big is your screen and how far away do you hit from?

I hit flop shots all the time that hit my ceiling. I'm wondering how our set-ups differ.