$2000 Golf simulator

[A_Thor]

Dump your ideas here. Looking to put something to get her that’s reads ball not bottom of club.

Edited August 6, 2021 by A_Thor

[cnosil]

How are you defining si,ulator?   Are you including projector, net, mat, launch monitor, etc in your budget?   How much space do you have?   How lifelike do,you want the simulation?  Is recurring subscription for courses an issue?    Current best options are skytrack and mevo+.   Potential good options are R10 and the new Bushnell,  but since they haven’t been released they are a bit of an unknown.  

[mikewohlwend]

Did this idea die?

[rsmallenberg]

Two month old thread, but, I'll take a stab at it just because I've been thinking of a similar project.  

Garmin Approach r10	599.00
Carls Place 8' x 8' x 5' DIY enclosure w/preferred screen	675.00
1" EMT for above	180.00
BenQ TH671ST projector	699.00
Perfect Reaction 4' x 5' hitting mat	235.00
	2,388.00

8' x 8' might seem strange but this would occupy 1/2 of a two car garage.  Ceilings are about 11' but there's some shelves above where the enclosure would sit that would limit it's max height.

Any thoughts?

Edited January 13, 2022 by rsmallenberg
Thoughts about size weren't clear in original.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Since the OP only had one post joined in August and hasn't visited since later in the same month I'm sure this is dead. At least from his stand point. However still a good topic to discuss.

I'm a bargain hunter. I look for ebay auctions to end at off hours. So even though the OP wanted to see the ball data not the bottom of the club I have a fix for that with my system. First consider how much time you are going to spend on the simulator versus actual playing out on a course. For me it is only about 1-1/2 to 2 months. So why would I invest thousands? Remember all this was ebay auction new closing at off hours unless noted. I just set an alarm.

Optishot 2 is my sim system $250

Projector $200 off brand but specs were same as BenQ. 

Projector ceiling mount $15.00

Cage frame PVC pieces from Lowes. $25

Netting from a commercial fish net manufacturer $60

Bungie cords $7.00 Walmart camping section.

Canvas painters drop cloth $15 from Lowes  This hangs against the net and inside the cage (Deadens impact and bounce back)

King size white sheet from Walmart. $10.00  (my simulator screen)

Black out material to go on the outside of the cage. $10.00 Lowes weed block fabric. 

Mevo This is where I can see ball data. I got this for free in a golf tournament.  (Value $500)

Computer to run the sim. I got this for free as well. My company gives away their old engineering computers when we change out every four years. Just had to purchase a hard drive. $25.00 I currently have a small line going across the screen from I think the graphics card because movies play fine. Who knows but I already have another free computer ready to take it's place. 

Stance platform, wood frame free. I had a bunch of 2x4's and plywood laying around. Indoor outdoor carpet from Lowes $20.00

Foam gym floor mat for under the carpet on the hitting mat. $15.00

So I was all in at under $750.00 and since I am handy it just took a little time to build the frame and platform. 

 

[fixyurdivot]

22 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Since the OP only had one post joined in August and hasn't visited since later in the same month I'm sure this is dead. At least from his stand point. However still a good topic to discuss.

I'm a bargain hunter. I look for ebay auctions to end at off hours. So even though the OP wanted to see the ball data not the bottom of the club I have a fix for that with my system. First consider how much time you are going to spend on the simulator versus actual playing out on a course. For me it is only about 1-1/2 to 2 months. So why would I invest thousands? Remember all this was ebay auction new closing at off hours unless noted. I just set an alarm.

Optishot 2 is my sim system $250

Projector $200 off brand but specs were same as BenQ. 

Projector ceiling mount $15.00

Cage frame PVC pieces from Lowes. $25

Netting from a commercial fish net manufacturer $60

Bungie cords $7.00 Walmart camping section.

Canvas painters drop cloth $15 from Lowes  This hangs against the net and inside the cage (Deadens impact and bounce back)

King size white sheet from Walmart. $10.00  (my simulator screen)

Black out material to go on the outside of the cage. $10.00 Lowes weed block fabric. 

Mevo This is where I can see ball data. I got this for free in a golf tournament.  (Value $500)

Computer to run the sim. I got this for free as well. My company gives away their old engineering computers when we change out every four years. Just had to purchase a hard drive. $25.00 I currently have a small line going across the screen from I think the graphics card because movies play fine. Who knows but I already have another free computer ready to take it's place. 

Stance platform, wood frame free. I had a bunch of 2x4's and plywood laying around. Indoor outdoor carpet from Lowes $20.00

Foam gym floor mat for under the carpet on the hitting mat. $15.00

So I was all in at under $750.00 and since I am handy it just took a little time to build the frame and platform. 

 

Now this is a DIY LM studio that Red Green himself would applaud; nicely done Tom and thanks for the details .

[Shapotomous]

@Tom the Golf Nut So you have the net then then the sheet then the canvas drop cloth, or a different order? 

That PVC will cost a bit more these days....been shopping for plumbing supplies for the garage apartment and OMG - 10' stick of 3" is $29   ....  fittings are just as crazy !!!

[Tom the Golf Nut]

9 hours ago, Shapotomous said:

@Tom the Golf Nut So you have the net then then the sheet then the canvas drop cloth, or a different order? 

That PVC will cost a bit more these days....been shopping for plumbing supplies for the garage apartment and OMG - 10' stick of 3" is $29   ....  fittings are just as crazy !!!

I have the net, then the canvas drop cloth, then the sheet for the projector to send a good image to. The canvas drop cloth is an off white so the image was dull against it. I have a garage door with windows about a foot behind the net. So the net is tight and I would get to much bounce back. The drop cloth fixed it. Best part is if the sheet gets dirty,  just toss it in the wash.

I used 1" PVC with fittings. I had some of the PVC connectors laying around the work shop. I think I only needed to purchase 3 sticks because I had a couple.

[geralndionio]

2,000 sounds cheap to me. If you want to make a good golf room

[pinskeer2]

I have done quite a bit of research regarding golf sims and if you do find a good set up for $2,000.00, Let me know! There seems to be a huge gap from an OptiShot 2 to the next level sim. I would love a good sim in that price range. We are happy with our Opti for under $500

 

 

[JonMUSC08]

Interested in following this as well. 

 

My goal is to get a Mevo+ one day... Also having the extra room/space to do it is a dream too i guess. Being a Lefty, we have limited options for hitting and not changing the settings like on a Skytrak

[Tom the Golf Nut]

5 hours ago, pinskeer2 said:

I have done quite a bit of research regarding golf sims and if you do find a good set up for $2,000.00, Let me know! There seems to be a huge gap from an OptiShot 2 to the next level sim. I would love a good sim in that price range. We are happy with our Opti for under $500

 

 

If you get the original Mevo and place it behind your swing area on the OptiShot you now get all the data you need. Still way under the $2000 number. I was fortunate enough to be given a MEVO for free from someone who won it in a golf tournament and didn't care about golf enough to use it. Win win for me!

[fixyurdivot]

On 2/3/2022 at 1:19 PM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

If you get the original Mevo and place it behind your swing area on the OptiShot you now get all the data you need. Still way under the $2000 number. I was fortunate enough to be given a MEVO for free from someone who won it in a golf tournament and didn't care about golf enough to use it. Win win for me!

The OptiShot video stated that it has issues with drivers (presumably due to height off mat?).  Is this the case?  If so, that would be a big con for me. The fore and aft floor cameras are and interesting approach but I'd be concerned about letting a non-golfer (or really bad golfer) hit .  Have any of you that use this system compared its accuracy to other systems?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

3 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

The OptiShot video stated that it has issues with drivers (presumably due to height off mat?).  Is this the case?  If so, that would be a big con for me. The fore and aft floor cameras are and interesting approach but I'd be concerned about letting a non-golfer (or really bad golfer) hit .  Have any of you that use this system compared its accuracy to other systems?

The optishot2  has issues with dark club bottoms. It won't pick them up on the light sensors. I keep a roll of white electrical tape by the sim. I put a length on the sole of the driver along the length of the club face. Ihave no issues at all with the driver. I even replaced the hitting pad with a thicker one and don't have issues.

Saying this, lighting is important. I mounted a can light in the celing right over the hitting pad. Then I put a length of drainage pipe on it the make a smaller spot light. This way it didn't interfere with the projector lighting.

Give me a minute and I'll go down and take a picture or two.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I just keep this driver taped all the time as it doesn't make it out on the course anymore. 

The replacment turf is 1 inch thick and can take real tees. Easier on the hands. The original is 1/4 inch thick and hitting down into the ball kinda hurt. It forced you to be a picker which I didn’t want. Building the Optishot into the platform put everything at the same height.

Tube attached to the light to give a spot light effect. You must use a florescent bulb according to Optishot. This way it won't mess with the sensors. I haven't tried an LED Bulb to see what that may do. I know incandescent messes up the data.

[Golfism]

The golf simulator software wasn't 2k, but the putting green setup saved $2000! Material used is camry trunk carpet(rolls pure!), and Sound Solutions LV multipurpose underlayment on a 4" subfloor so I could get the satisfying sound of the balls dropping(best feature, lol). 

[fixyurdivot]

3 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I just keep this driver taped all the time as it doesn't make it out on the course anymore. 

The replacment turf is 1 inch thick and can take real tees. Easier on the hands. The original is 1/4 inch thick and hitting down into the ball kinda hurt. It forced you to be a picker which I didn’t want. Building the Optishot into the platform put everything at the same height.

Tube attached to the light to give a spot light effect. You must use a florescent bulb according to Optishot. This way it won't mess with the sensors. I haven't tried an LED Bulb to see what that may do. I know incandescent messes up the data.

Awesome Tom, thanks for the added details.  The one advantage I see with the OptiShot system, besides price, is that like GCQuad, GC3 it does not require the rather lengthy position behind the ball so the needed overall hitting bay length can be shorter.  Of course, the downside is that it is not portable for range use. The other system that has my attention is the Garmin R10.  Lot's of options out there and some pretty good H2H video reviews on YouTube.

[Bossfan]

I took my backup driver covered the bottom with blue painters tape. I then took about a 4 inch strip of the aluminum tape they use on ductwork and put it on the edge of the driver. My driver readings improved significantly on my Optishot. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

Awesome Tom, thanks for the added details.  The one advantage I see with the OptiShot system, besides price, is that like GCQuad, GC3 it does not require the rather lengthy position behind the ball so the needed overall hitting bay length can be shorter.  Of course, the downside is that it is not portable for range use. The other system that has my attention is the Garmin R10.  Lot's of options out there and some pretty good H2H video reviews on YouTube.

Just be sure to take into consideration how often your going to use any system. For me Optishot2 is only used in the end of January and February as its to cold to play. Then the ocassional rainy day or wanting to work on something.  So justifying spending a lot more on a better system didn't make sense. Add the fact that I have a Mevo for more ball info or range use and I have what I need. 

My course is only 2 miles up the road and I rather play and practice for real whenI can.

[WR3]

Can you share the name/brand of the projector that you are using?  I know you said it's off brand.