Let's See Those Home Simulators!

[Chris Fecko]

Converted my media room to a home sim during the pandemic.  The room is smaller than I would like at 16'x12' with 9' ceilings but it works for me.  I am 5'9" which allows me to swing a driver at full speed but those that are taller may have issues depending on their swing plane.  I have a 8.5'x11.5" projection screen/hitting bay that I purchased from Carls Place.  The mat is a SwingTurf from Rain or Shine Golf which is 9'x4' and is fantastic.  No wrist pain and you can use real tees!  The launch monitor is a SkyTrak and using The Golf Club 2019 for playing rounds (SkyTrak for the range and game improvement).  My projector is an Optoma GT1080 short throw.  All of this is powered by a PowerSpec G358 pc.  Throw in some fake grass from Costco and you have an incredible golf practice facility for about $7k.  I posted a couple of links below to help any would be future sim builders.  Let me know if you have any questions on how to DIY.

If you want to see a recent minor disaster (a driver head through the screen and into the drywall) let me know lol.  Just finished fixing that .

 

 

https://www.carlofet.com/

https://rainorshinegolf.com/products/swingturf-golf-mat

 

[thechrisgibbs]

Wow, that looks incredible! I actually did a home sim set up page when I first joined. I have a few pics there, but mine is not quite as polished as yours. If I had space in a room in my house to swing (vertical limits), I'd definitely put it in my basement. Tried convincing my wife to let me dig out the ground down there, but she nixed that idea when we got a bid for $5K haha.

 

[RollingGreens]

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy_TCG said:

Wow, that looks incredible! I actually did a home sim set up page when I first joined. I have a few pics there, but mine is not quite as polished as yours. If I had space in a room in my house to swing (vertical limits), I'd definitely put it in my basement. Tried convincing my wife to let me dig out the ground down there, but she nixed that idea when we got a bid for $5K haha.

 

Did you see the video where he got out of line with the ceiling price he cut out and broke the head of his driver? It was definitely not the surprise he was looking for

[thechrisgibbs]

3 minutes ago, RollingGreens said:

Did you see the video where he got out of line with the ceiling price he cut out and broke the head of his driver? It was definitely not the surprise he was looking for

We talking Rick Shiels? Yeah, but by the looks of his club selection, he really didn't have to worry about getting a different driver. Looks like Cobra sent him 4!

[RollingGreens]

Just now, GolfSpy_TCG said:

We talking Rick Shiels? Yeah, but by the looks of his club selection, he really didn't have to worry about getting a different driver. Looks like Cobra sent him 4!

For him no big deal! I think my wife would kill me lol I’m sure I would have to buy something to smooth things over with her

[thechrisgibbs]

8 minutes ago, RollingGreens said:

For him no big deal! I think my wife would kill me lol I’m sure I would have to buy something to smooth things over with her

Not to derail the topic, but I 100% time my club purchases on when I see a Madewell or Nordstrom bag on the kitchen table.

[Chris Fecko]

15 hours ago, GolfSpy_TCG said:

Not to derail the topic, but I 100% time my club purchases on when I see a Madewell or Nordstrom bag on the kitchen table.

LOL.  Smart!

[Hobert]

Yeah, that's an awesome setup.

[Chris Fecko]

16 hours ago, RollingGreens said:

Did you see the video where he got out of line with the ceiling price he cut out and broke the head of his driver? It was definitely not the surprise he was looking for

I just snapped my driver head off last week.  The adapter broke in half on impact.  I'm thinking the PGA Tour Store did not install the adapter correctly due to the gouging on the shaft.  Of course they are saying no, blaming it on manufacturer defect.  The driver head made a small hole in the impact screen then hit the wall causing a driver head size hole in the drywall.  On the glass is half full side, I did pipe that drive right down the middle landing in the fairway .

[Keeper905]

On 5/31/2021 at 9:24 AM, Chris Fecko said:

Converted my media room to a home sim during the pandemic.  The room is smaller than I would like at 16'x12' with 9' ceilings but it works for me.  I am 5'9" which allows me to swing a driver at full speed but those that are taller may have issues depending on their swing plane.  I have a 8.5'x11.5" projection screen/hitting bay that I purchased from Carls Place.  The mat is a SwingTurf from Rain or Shine Golf which is 9'x4' and is fantastic.  No wrist pain and you can use real tees!  The launch monitor is a SkyTrak and using The Golf Club 2019 for playing rounds (SkyTrak for the range and game improvement).  My projector is an Optoma GT1080 short throw.  All of this is powered by a PowerSpec G358 pc.  Throw in some fake grass from Costco and you have an incredible golf practice facility for about $7k.  I posted a couple of links below to help any would be future sim builders.  Let me know if you have any questions on how to DIY.

If you want to see a recent minor disaster (a driver head through the screen and into the drywall) let me know lol.  Just finished fixing that .

 

 

https://www.carlofet.com/

https://rainorshinegolf.com/products/swingturf-golf-mat

 

 

 

 

 

Oh man.  So jealous.  I've been looking into this, but I have no where to be able to put a simulator.  One day maybe when the kids are gone I will have enough room in the garage.

[RollingGreens]

4 hours ago, Chris Fecko said:

I just snapped my driver head off last week.  The adapter broke in half on impact.  I'm thinking the PGA Tour Store did not install the adapter correctly due to the gouging on the shaft.  Of course they are saying no, blaming it on manufacturer defect.  The driver head made a small hole in the impact screen then hit the wall causing a driver head size hole in the drywall.  On the glass is half full side, I did pipe that drive right down the middle landing in the fairway .

That looks like a pretty clean split between the tip and adpater. No sharp edges there. I’m taking your side of this story!

[vandyland]

A couple of questions:

(1) How often do you use your simulator? 

(2) Do you think it has helped you improve?

(3) Does the skytrak mimic what you see out on the course?

[thechrisgibbs]

22 minutes ago, vandyland said:

A couple of questions:

(1) How often do you use your simulator? 

(2) Do you think it has helped you improve?

(3) Does the skytrak mimic what you see out on the course?

What's up, Vandyland! I use my simulator every day. My wife takes a bath at night and I go to the sim in the garage and get in at least 50 swings. My handicap has dropped from 11.4 to 6.2 this year, but I've been doing a lot outside of just the sim sessions in the garage. The skytrak is exactly what I felt on the clubhead 9 out of 10 strikes. The occasional no spin shot that goes 10-20 yards long is fine. I just delete the shot which is easy and understandable as I don't mark my balls. I love the the sim setup though. My wife thought it was absurd spending $4K on my setup, but it gets my friends over to our house more, gives me something to get my golf itch out, and really is fun for her to try out too!