Kenny B's Hitting Bay

[Kenny B]

Well, the floor for the hitting bay is in except for the turf.  I ordered that yesterday from Big Moss; same putting turf used at Titleist and by Michael Breed.  I must give a shout-out to the guys at Big Moss... Kellen and Tony.  They were very friendly and helpful.  Here is the room waiting for the turf to get here...

The floor is concrete that I covered with interlocking 1/2" foam gym tiles 2'x2' and then 1" foam tiles 2'x2'.  The section where the screen is located is 12'x10'.  Then there is a 3' wide section (that's missing in this photo) that has the 1/2" tiles.  Hitting mats go there; I'm using the Real Feel mats because that's what I've been using for the last 2 years.  The tiles in the foreground cover an area 6'x12' and will be a putting surface in addition to the area in front of the screen.  Area could be usable in a week of so, but still thinking about launch monitors.  SkyTrack is the frontrunner.  

[Caddie1966]

Lookin good Kenny.  I am more envious now than when you first mentioned this project.  Keep us posted.

[Bang60]

This is just what I'd like, now I'd add a Billiards table as well as I was quite good back in the day. Except I don't think the body would cope with that much practice anymore, but nice job...

[Kenny B]

On 12/2/2022 at 11:35 AM, Kenny B said:

Area could be usable in a week of so, but still thinking about launch monitors.  SkyTrack is the frontrunner.  

SkyTrak is on sale $200 off!!  

[cksurfdude]

4 hours ago, Kenny B said:

SkyTrak is on sale $200 off!!  

If you do get it, recommend looking at the extra metal case. It has leveling legs which you may not need, but the cover is nice to have .. just in case...

[Kenny B]

Just now, cksurfdude said:

If you do get it, recommend looking at the extra metal case. It has leveling legs which you may not need, but the cover is nice to have .. just in case...

Yeah, they have the package deal with case and Game Improvement software.  That software is really necessary IMO and costs $100/year.  I hate subscription services, but I guess it's the cost of business.  

[sirchunksalot]

5 hours ago, Kenny B said:

SkyTrak is on sale $200 off!!  

That's a pretty sweet discount on the SkyTrak! 

[cksurfdude]

3 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Game Improvement software

Definitely try it for a year; you can always drop it and add it back as you want. Or .. of course .. you can spend even more to get more features and sim play capability.

This is one thing I've cheaped out on; just using the basic range to primarily see ball flight and work on wedge distances.

[Golf2Much]

Looks great!  Cant' wait to see the finished product.

[Kenny B]

1 hour ago, cksurfdude said:

Definitely try it for a year; you can always drop it and add it back as you want. Or .. of course .. you can spend even more to get more features and sim play capability.

This is one thing I've cheaped out on; just using the basic range to primarily see ball flight and work on wedge distances.

I will definitely get it for a year; but looking at the plans, the basic only has the practice range and I don't know what that gives me.  It seems like the GI plan has a lot of features that I would like.  Of course now I also have to get an iPad.  Doesn't work with my MacBook and Martha's iPad is too old.  Seems like I just hold my wallet open and say take whatever credit card you want!!  

[Bang60]

5 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Of course now I also have to get an iPad.  Doesn't work with my MacBook and Martha's iPad is too old.  Seems like I just hold my wallet open and say take whatever credit card you want!!  

Wow I've not had a credit card for 30 years, debit for me I don't trust myself lol...

[Kenny B]

8 hours ago, Bang60 said:

Wow I've not had a credit card for 30 years, debit for me I don't trust myself lol...

My rule... ALL credit cards are paid off in full at the end of each month.  No exceptions!!!   Plus I get free nights at Marriott and cash back at Costco, in addition to Costco being the cheapest gas in town by 5-10 cents per gallon.

[cksurfdude]

14 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Of course now I also have to get an iPad.

FYI there's an app for my Android so it'll work on Chrome OS/Chromebooks, and also PCs/laptops, which you may find more cheaply vs ipads .. unless you're comfortable with the iOS and prefer it over the others.

[Kenny B]

8 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

FYI there's an app for my Android so it'll work on Chrome OS/Chromebooks, and also PCs/laptops, which you may find more cheaply vs ipads .. unless you're comfortable with the iOS and prefer it over the others.

Have only used Macs and iOS for 20 years!!  Not going back to the dark side!

[Rickp]

2 hours ago, Kenny B said:

My rule... ALL credit cards are paid off in full at the end of each month.  No exceptions!!!   Plus I get free nights at Marriott and cash back at Costco, in addition to Costco being the cheapest gas in town by 5-10 cents per gallon.

Yup, OUR rule also.  No carrying debt especially at my age.

[EasyPutter]

19 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Have only used Macs and iOS for 20 years!!  Not going back to the dark side!

I cut my computer teeth on my dad's 8080 processor using NOVEL DOS and Windows 3.1, all command prompts and keyed code.  I couldn't comprehend sending something to Apple to have them do the coding to do whatever was wanted on their iOS because of their proprietary requirements.  I also could not understand how to use their logic that was obvious to Mac users just as the IBM coding was beyond most Mac users, and IBM was open source then and the playing field was wide open with Microsoft a minor player.  Loved OS/2 as the most capable operating system, CompuServe as the best online community, Describe for everything document creation, Magix for everything music and photo/video, SCSI "scuzzy" drives to link peripherals, and the 14.4 kbps modem squawk (that was an improvement on the telephone acoustic coupler).  To this day, despite the move to make iPhone/iPad/iWhatever user friendly and intuitive, I still have problems using them and it's the only kind of phone and computer wife can use   

Funny how we would both look at the other's side as the dark one LOL 

[Bang60]

58 minutes ago, EasyPutter said:

I cut my computer teeth on my dad's 8080 processor using NOVEL DOS and Windows 3.1, all command prompts and keyed code.  I couldn't comprehend sending something to Apple to have them do the coding to do whatever was wanted on their iOS because of their proprietary requirements.  I also could not understand how to use their logic that was obvious to Mac users just as the IBM coding was beyond most Mac users, and IBM was open source then and the playing field was wide open with Microsoft a minor player.  Loved OS/2 as the most capable operating system, CompuServe as the best online community, Describe for everything document creation, Magix for everything music and photo/video, SCSI "scuzzy" drives to link peripherals, and the 14.4 kbps modem squawk (that was an improvement on the telephone acoustic coupler).  To this day, despite the move to make iPhone/iPad/iWhatever user friendly and intuitive, I still have problems using them and it's the only kind of phone and computer wife can use   

Funny how we would both look at the other's side as the dark one LOL 

Goodness me what memories you've set off for me, windows 3.1 was amazing technology back in the day. Scuzzy drives and 16gigs of ram and that was top of the range lol, unbelievable that I use to build a desk top and sell it for double what it cost me. Oh man thanks for that, cheers Colin..

[Bang60]

5 hours ago, Kenny B said:

My rule... ALL credit cards are paid off in full at the end of each month.  No exceptions!!!   Plus I get free nights at Marriott and cash back at Costco, in addition to Costco being the cheapest gas in town by 5-10 cents per gallon.

I had Hotels cards in Sydney to book dinner and accommodation at the Hyatt Marriott and another that gave great rewards, had free dinners and rooms also loved the theme dinners ahhh those were the days. Another fabulous memory..

[Kenny B]

4 hours ago, EasyPutter said:

I cut my computer teeth on my dad's 8080 processor using NOVEL DOS and Windows 3.1, all command prompts and keyed code.  I couldn't comprehend sending something to Apple to have them do the coding to do whatever was wanted on their iOS because of their proprietary requirements.  I also could not understand how to use their logic that was obvious to Mac users just as the IBM coding was beyond most Mac users, and IBM was open source then and the playing field was wide open with Microsoft a minor player.  Loved OS/2 as the most capable operating system, CompuServe as the best online community, Describe for everything document creation, Magix for everything music and photo/video, SCSI "scuzzy" drives to link peripherals, and the 14.4 kbps modem squawk (that was an improvement on the telephone acoustic coupler).  To this day, despite the move to make iPhone/iPad/iWhatever user friendly and intuitive, I still have problems using them and it's the only kind of phone and computer wife can use   

Funny how we would both look at the other's side as the dark one LOL 

Ahhh, my favorite 3-finger salute... CTRL-ALT-DELETE   

[cksurfdude]

19 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Ahhh, my favorite 3-finger salute... CTRL-ALT-DELETE   

FYI for the younger crowd - Kenny is referring to the notorious BSOD = Blue Screen Of Death

..yes it was a thing way back when...

[MattF]

10 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

..yes it was a thing way back when...

Still is very occasionally.

[Rickp]

14 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Ahhh, my favorite 3-finger salute... CTRL-ALT-DELETE   

Haven’t used that in a loonnng time!

[Rickp]

On 11/14/2022 at 8:36 PM, Kenny B said:

Yes, it's concrete and no I'm not putting anything between it and the foam.  The foam has little nubbins on one side that should provide some airflow, but it shouldn't be an issue anyway.  Remember I live in a desert... it's dry here.  The foam tiles are 24"x24" and interlocking; they are not airtight connections.  I've had these tiles on the old concrete floor (old patio) for a couple of years and no issues.  I can lay these tiles in less than an hour, and remove them just as quickly.  I'm not attaching the fake grass carpet unless it moves when swinging.  This was done in a YT video and the guy had no problems.

The unit is a Daikin; based on the recommendation of a good friend and retired contractor. Remote control, Auto, cool, dry, fan, and heat pump.  It is whisper quiet!!  

 

And YES!... there are 2 windows in my hitting bay; an outside window next to the exterior man-door, and an existing window into the master bath that was on the exterior of the house originally.  I don't anticipate any issues hitting them; didn't for two years hitting into a net.  I suspect that my wife will want to change that window one of these days, because remodeling the master bath is on her list!!

 

Like the mini split setup.  The Daikin is a nice unit.  
We went with the Mitsubishi because needed a little bigger unit.  

[Bang60]

21 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Ahhh, my favorite 3-finger salute... CTRL-ALT-DELETE   

Yeah loved it...

[Bang60]

Just wanted to thank the mods allowing a little IT chat on a golf blog, cheers...

[Kenny B]

Turf from Big Moss came just before Christmas.  Tony and Kellen from Big Moss were great guys to work with.  Easy install and it looks great.  I have 4 cups on the 10'x12' green between the mats and the screen and 2 cups on 6'x12' green behind the mats.

After the greens were laid, my wife and I finished the 8'x10.5' enclosure from Carl's Place.  Still working on getting the tension adjusted to minimize bounceback.  No projector yet; my wife has one, but hasn't seen it since we bought the house 3 years ago; probably in a box somewhere.  So until we find it or buy one, I'm running the SkyTrak app from my phone to the Samsung TV I bought dad when we moved him here in 2021.  It's been in storage since he passed away.

[Caddie1966]

Looks awesome.  I am envious.  This will make you drop at least 4 pts off that index!!!!

[Kenny B]

16 minutes ago, Caddie1966 said:

Looks awesome.  I am envious.  This will make you drop at least 4 pts off that index!!!!

Thanks!  But I doubt it.  To do that I need way more swing speed, and at my age I'm not going to be gaining much; just hoping not to lose any more!!  But at least I have a place now to keep swinging when the weather is such that I don't want to drive to the course.

[Nolan220]

6 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Still working on getting the tension adjusted to minimize bounceback

Do you have the sand/weighted bags on the bottom of the screen to pull it down and make it tighter?

[Kenny B]

4 hours ago, Nolan220 said:

Do you have the sand/weighted bags on the bottom of the screen to pull it down and make it tighter?

Screen comes with weighted tube of sand to extend the bottom flap.  The weight is not enough to pull screen down.  The flaps on all sides cover foam padding which is optional, but I have it. 

The screen with all bungees attached is much too tight.  I had an 8i with my slow swing speed bouncing back past me... 10 feet from screen.  I've removed 3 bungees from each side... ball now comes back to mat.  Still too far, but very convenient!  I will be removing a few more and adjusting it to get the wrinkles out.