Indoor golf cage

[The Dansome]

Since we have a golf client @ our agency I'm trying to convince work to put up an indoor cage. Any good tutorials online, guys here who've built em etc? Would love to here your suggestions and thoughts.

 

Thanks

[hckymeyer]

I used to have a real make shift one a long time ago. The local ice rink changed out the big nets that go above the glass behind the goals. I worked there at the time so I got one of the old ones and just hung it up in the garage from the garage door guide rails. Then took an old piece of carpet and hit irons into it. It actually worked really well now that I think about it.

 

I've been looking at doing something in my basement in my current house. It's unfinished and has 8'10" ceilings, so I think I could swing most clubs down there. I also have a nice projector and plenty of spare computers. I was looking at setting up a P3 Pro Swing, but the screens to hit into are pretty pricey and I have other stuff that is a higher priority to buy.

 

I'd love to hear what others have done, especially on the cheap

[MattF]

manbear,

 

check out The net return Looking at the design, I figured I could make one, with impact netting, for about half or so the cost of the real thing.

 

I am actually just going to hang impact netting in my garage, build a stance platform with a 10" x 30" mat in it, that you can hit down and through with...total cost about $100.

[Kanoito]

LOL I bet you I can shank the ball beyond that net

[hckymeyer]

I've spent the afternoon looking into this more in depth. I'm thinking about building a setup that is 8'h x 10.5'w. The big question is whether to go with an impact screen that I can show a projector on, or a net and then just use an external monitor or TV for simulator viewing.

 

I think I could just use 2x4's for the frame and save some money. Probably cost about $20-$40 bucks in lumber for the frame setup. Then I found some netting that would work on ebay. 9'x3' for each side at $15 a piece and 11'x3.5' for the top at $17. If I went with netting for the impact area it would be pretty cheap, maybe $50 or so for the size I would need. Let's be generous and call it $150 for the whole cage setup. I think that's doable.

 

If I went the impact screen route then costs increase dramatically. Found a place that sells the impact screen material in custom lengths. The role is 10.5' high and then get any length you want at $29.99/ft. So an 8'x10.5' screen is about $240. This also is without any grommits installed to hang it by. The company can install all the grommits, but then cost increases again.

 

Either way I think I could build a whole setup including the actual screen for somewhere in the $400-$500 range.

 

I'm still just in the informational gathering stage at this point. Plus this is just for the cage part, adding in the actual Sim adds many more dollars. I was looking at the optishot ($400) or the P3ProSwing ($600) for the actual simulator portion. Then also need to add in materials to build the hitting mat itself.

 

I'm guessing around $1000-$1500 for a full DIY setup with an actual simulator. Not sure if my wife is going to go for that, but I figure it'll be at least 5 years before we finish the basement in our house, so might be worth it.

 

I'd love to hear from anyone else that has actually tried to build a sim on the cheap before.

[MattF]

hckymeyer,

 

If you really want to do your head in these guys: ottawa golf have pretty much all you'll ever want to know about DIY sims.

 

Matt

[RookieBlue7]

If you're wanting to save cash, shrimp netting works GREAT.

[The Dansome]

I've spent the afternoon looking into this more in depth. I'm thinking about building a setup that is 8'h x 10.5'w. The big question is whether to go with an impact screen that I can show a projector on, or a net and then just use an external monitor or TV for simulator viewing.

 

I think I could just use 2x4's for the frame and save some money. Probably cost about $20-$40 bucks in lumber for the frame setup. Then I found some netting that would work on ebay. 9'x3' for each side at $15 a piece and 11'x3.5' for the top at $17. If I went with netting for the impact area it would be pretty cheap, maybe $50 or so for the size I would need. Let's be generous and call it $150 for the whole cage setup. I think that's doable.

 

If I went the impact screen route then costs increase dramatically. Found a place that sells the impact screen material in custom lengths. The role is 10.5' high and then get any length you want at $29.99/ft. So an 8'x10.5' screen is about $240. This also is without any grommits installed to hang it by. The company can install all the grommits, but then cost increases again.

 

Either way I think I could build a whole setup including the actual screen for somewhere in the $400-$500 range.

 

I'm still just in the informational gathering stage at this point. Plus this is just for the cage part, adding in the actual Sim adds many more dollars. I was looking at the optishot ($400) or the P3ProSwing ($600) for the actual simulator portion. Then also need to add in materials to build the hitting mat itself.

 

I'm guessing around $1000-$1500 for a full DIY setup with an actual simulator. Not sure if my wife is going to go for that, but I figure it'll be at least 5 years before we finish the basement in our house, so might be worth it.

 

I'd love to hear from anyone else that has actually tried to build a sim on the cheap before.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Keep us updated please.

[Blade]

Here's some pics of mine. I have a room in my house with an 11 foot ceiling that's 15'X20'. It was built for a hot tub which is no longer there. A sauna takes up one corner of it. But it leaves enough room for my golf cage. I set it up with an Optishot which I occasionally use with my 8 year old son. Don't use it much anymore because it doesn't tell the truth. But anyway, I got a 12'X12'X12' net on ebay that was supposed to have a baffle net already attached. When it showed up, no baffle. I let them know and they sent me a 10'X10' baffle with 3/8 netting for free since their listing was inaccurate. I think the whole net was $100 or $150, can't remember. I screwed those hooks into the trusses you use in the garage to hang bicycles or whatever. I got some 1/2" conduit to lay across the hooks and that gave me a quick cheap "frame" to hang the netting on. I had a good 3'X5' thick mat that you can hit into somewhat I got for $50 on ebay as well. When I got the Optishot, I built the platform you see with plywood. My baffle has a hole in it now from where I always hit it with 3 iron shots. (My favorite club ) I would like to tell you exactly where to get the same netting because it was a really good deal. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything on ebay nearly as good to replace it. The only baffle I've found has 1" netting instead of the 3/8" I have now. I'll turn the net around and get more use out of it. But sure wish I could find the same stuff. If anyone knows a good place to get it, let me know.

[The Dansome]

Wow solid set up. Thanks so much for sharing.

[MattF]

Wow solid set up. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

I agree! What I'm planning is tame in comparison, but I like the idea of using the conduit on the hooks. I was just going to use the hooks but I think I'll be getting some conduit now.

[wbealsd]

hckymeyer,

 

If you really want to do your head in these guys: ottawa golf have pretty much all you'll ever want to know about DIY sims.

 

Matt

 

I just got my indoor golf setup functional about 1/2 hour ago - lol I'm glad to see the Ottawa Golf Forum mentioned here, as that's where I've been gathering information for the past year and is the ONLY forum I know of that has a dedicated section for simulators. I got a "steal of a deal" on a Foresight GC2 setup when an indoor simulator business folded. My screen, netting, stance mat and turf I purchased from Cory at Par2Pro who is a frequent contributor there.

 

As I said, my setup is functional but still unfinished, but here's a few pics we took this afternoon while working on it.

[GolfSpy WD]

I'm so very very jealous. That's a sweet setup wbealsd. I can't imaging having that kind of free space here in MA, but I still dream of creating something like this.

[Blade]

I sooo wish I had the cash to put up for a GC2. I've been checking them out for a year and a half. Just don't have the free money I used to. I know you're not done yet and you might be planning it already, but I would put netting on the sides and not leave any gaps. If you have someone hit a shank or off the toe into the corner it could come right back at you or your computer. It's amazing how a ball can find the weak spot in the defenses.

Thanks for putting up the pictures. You're going to love having your man cave set up. Mine is set up great except I'm still missing a quality simulator.

[wbealsd]

I'm so very very jealous. That's a sweet setup wbealsd. I can't imaging having that kind of free space here in MA, but I still dream of creating something like this.

 

"Free Space is definitely easier (and cheaper) to come by in South Dakota - lol My grandsons are in Braintree, so maybe we can get a round in sometime when I'm in the area visiting =|;0-)

[wbealsd]

I sooo wish I had the cash to put up for a GC2. I've been checking them out for a year and a half. Just don't have the free money I used to. I know you're not done yet and you might be planning it already, but I would put netting on the sides and not leave any gaps. If you have someone hit a shank or off the toe into the corner it could come right back at you or your computer. It's amazing how a ball can find the weak spot in the defenses.

Thanks for putting up the pictures. You're going to love having your man cave set up. Mine is set up great except I'm still missing a quality simulator.

 

You're definitely right about adding some protection on the sides and between the gap for the net and the screen. That's part of the plan, but since I couldn't wait to starting hitting balls, and it's just me hitting for now, I couldn't resist checking out the range software. Until today, I'd only been able to use the GC2 outside and it's been a few weeks since I've been able to play! I did find out my lob wedge pretty consistently finds that gap and bounces into the overhead netting - lol

 

I was extremely fortunate to get my GC2 used. Had it not been for the fact an indoor simulator business closed down and I was able to get a package deal from the owner that included the GC2 unit, the range & fitting software + 5 courses, protective case, PC & projector for less than the cost of just the GC2 new, I never would have been able to afford it. I was pretty stretched for it, even at that, but figured it was too good a deal to pass up.

[Blade]

You're definitely right about adding some protection on the sides and between the gap for the net and the screen. That's part of the plan, but since I couldn't wait to starting hitting balls, and it's just me hitting for now, I couldn't resist checking out the range software. Until today, I'd only been able to use the GC2 outside and it's been a few weeks since I've been able to play! I did find out my lob wedge pretty consistently finds that gap and bounces into the overhead netting - lol

 

I was extremely fortunate to get my GC2 used. Had it not been for the fact an indoor simulator business closed down and I was able to get a package deal from the owner that included the GC2 unit, the range & fitting software + 5 courses, protective case, PC & projector for less than the cost of just the GC2 new, I never would have been able to afford it. I was pretty stretched for it, even at that, but figured it was too good a deal to pass up.

That is a good deal. For what you get with a GC2, I think it's the most bang for the buck. Enjoy.

[GolfSpy WD]

"Free Space is definitely easier (and cheaper) to come by in South Dakota - lol My grandsons are in Braintree, so maybe we can get a round in sometime when I'm in the area visiting =|;0-)

 

Sounds good, feel free to bring the GC2!

[MattF]

I finally got it together and got my net, turf and platform for my garage driving range.

 

 

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[Cheese]

Don't know if I'll get a response but do your wedges go above the screen?

[MattF]

Don't know if I'll get a response but do your wedges go above the screen?

 

Of course you will!

 

No they don't now,  because I'm not that far away from the net and it's 12 feet high.

 

Having said that, I do have 2 holes in the ceiling from being too far back and somehow skying the shot.

[Cheese]

I never got notified of your response but I went ahead with my build, I've only got 8 foot ceilings but I can still swing driver just fine. My optishot is on the way as I write this and got the projector setup last week, everything came together nicely. I do have issues with wedges from a distance but I'm going to add a horizontal net to catch what I hit up that high.