Indoor Simulators

Briton G

2023 Grandaddy X
Albatross 2024 Club
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I'm curious if any THPer's own simulators at their house? Down the road I want to get one installed into my house or into a future house if my wife and I decide to build. We live in the country in very agriculture based area. So not much golf opportunities for the winter or rainy days.

If you have something for indoor what is it and would you recommend it? or something else?

I would love to know all different price points, Pros and cons of the different simulators. Any information really.
 
We've designed houses with simulators in them, and they all have gone with the simulator in the basement, with the slab lowered a couple of feet to get the ceiling height needed for it to work. Seems to be the most cost effective way if you are starting from scratch.
 
I have a SkyTrak unit, but no dedicated home simulator. I put up a net in the garage when I want to hit. For the price of the unit, I would say it can’t be beat, but I would be willing to upgrade if I could afford it.
 
A buddy and I built one in my shop actually I built it and he paid. Great friend. Skytrak currently being used 16x9 screen. Custom built divot mat in floor to hit off of. Gaming computer and tgc 2019. We have abused it and love every minute of it. If I were to mo e the new place would require the space for sim. Looking at upgrading of the new full swing launch monitor pans out.
 
Built a simulator in my pole barn, best investment I have ever made. I have spent hundreds of hours practicing and playing. During the winter I play 4 or 5 days a week. My game has improved dramatically. Skytrak and TGC 2019 with a CCE hitting mat inserted into a thick stance pad, Benq projector, gaming computer, and a Carl's preferred impact screen. Actually pretty simple to build, would go with a 10' ceiling minimum.

I agree with @bbutler, if I ever move a sim room will be a requirement.
 

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We've designed houses with simulators in them, and they all have gone with the simulator in the basement, with the slab lowered a couple of feet to get the ceiling height needed for it to work. Seems to be the most cost effective way if you are starting from scratch.
That is the one thing I wish I did when we built our addition. We made it into a movie room but 7 ft ceilings are not high enough
 
I'm curious if any THPer's own simulators at their house? Down the road I want to get one installed into my house or into a future house if my wife and I decide to build. We live in the country in very agriculture based area. So not much golf opportunities for the winter or rainy days.

If you have something for indoor what is it and would you recommend it? or something else?

I would love to know all different price points, Pros and cons of the different simulators. Any information really.

Good video of mine here.

 
Built a simulator in my pole barn, best investment I have ever made. I have spent hundreds of hours practicing and playing. During the winter I play 4 or 5 days a week. My game has improved dramatically. Skytrak and TGC 2019 with a CCE hitting mat inserted into a thick stance pad, Benq projector, gaming computer, and a Carl's preferred impact screen. Actually pretty simple to build, would go with a 10' ceiling minimum.

I agree with @bbutler, if I ever move a sim room will be a requirement.
That is so awesome! Do you mind sharing the approximate cost of everything in your setup?
 
I'm curious if any THPer's own simulators at their house? Down the road I want to get one installed into my house or into a future house if my wife and I decide to build. We live in the country in very agriculture based area. So not much golf opportunities for the winter or rainy days.

If you have something for indoor what is it and would you recommend it? or something else?

I would love to know all different price points, Pros and cons of the different simulators. Any information really.
I definitely don't have one, but have had the idea floating around for awhile now. I'm still in the research and review phase, (and fundraising!). Right now, I'm leaning towards the SkyTrak model, with a net to start. I think that I'd have enough room out in the barn, but I'd need to insulate, figure out a heating system and lay a concrete slab so I could use it during the winter.

Some amazing setups on THP, that's for sure! Plenty of inspiration!
 
Built a simulator in my pole barn, best investment I have ever made. I have spent hundreds of hours practicing and playing. During the winter I play 4 or 5 days a week. My game has improved dramatically. Skytrak and TGC 2019 with a CCE hitting mat inserted into a thick stance pad, Benq projector, gaming computer, and a Carl's preferred impact screen. Actually pretty simple to build, would go with a 10' ceiling minimum.

I agree with @bbutler, if I ever move a sim room will be a requirement.
That does look nice, I might be able to build one in one of the spare bedrooms upstairs. Would love to in the dettached garage but again short ceiling. What size room do you all believe is the minimum?

Thanks
 
That is so awesome! Do you mind sharing the approximate cost of everything in your setup?
Sktytrak-$2000
TGC 2019-$900?
Impact screen-$450ish
Benq-$700
CCE insert-Not sure, but I think around $100.
Stance pad- $400
Gaming PC- $1100
All in, studs, drywall, paint, carpet, etc. I think about $7K. That was about 4 years ago now, originally built it for an optishot2, then upgraded to the Skytrak. Of course lumber is now about 400% more than it was back then!
 
I hope to build a barn detached from the house that will look similar this with a regrip setup and other options to be able to work on my clubs on my own. Do you liek the foresight setup? or would you recommend something else? Are you able to take that foresight maching with you to the outdoor range?
Yes I wouldn’t choose anything else personally. And yes I can take it outdoors
 
I recently went with skytrak and a spornia net in the garage. It runs off an iPad, cheap projector and hit off a fiberbuilt mat. Easily sets up and breaks down so it can still be used as a garage. Definitely nice to have!
 
Yes I wouldn’t choose anything else personally. And yes I can take it outdoors
That is some useful information, I appreciate that.

Things I was looking into were Trackman simulator but wasn't sure if I could use it in and outdoors, Full swing simulator, Aboutgolf sim or foresight. so thank you for the input!
 
I have one in some space I own next to my office. Mevo Plus, Gaming PC, 10'x10' screen, hitting off of CCE real mat. I just have a used projector that a friend gave to me because it had been sitting unused for about 8 years.

You can get real bogged down real fast with all of the details. I went Mevo Plus because I have rightys and leftys playing on it. Didn't want to have to move the launch monitor back and forth. A radar behind fixes that. Overhead units (such as Uneekor) also fix this. Some launch monitors work with multiple sim software (the video game that gives you something to look at), others do not. For instance, last I knew, Foresight (GCQuad and GCHawk) only works with their own software. Flightscope (mevo plus), Uneekor, and Skytrak, all work with multiple software companies. I personally use E6 connect with a basic subscription. For $300/year, I get 27 courses permanently, and they rotate an additional 8-10 courses about every month. That means I have about 35-38 courses I can play each month. For $600/year, you get nearly 100 courses.

But, some also work with The Golf Club, which would give you tens of thousands of courses for a one time purchase. I use E6 because it is more user friendly, which I do rent out my simulator. TGC has better graphics and more courses, but isn't as user friendly for the older crowd that uses my sim. Also, E6 supports up to 8 players, TGC only has 4. I don't recall what modes (stableford, stroke, match, scramble) etc that each support. But E6 has several modes for playing with more than just one player.

Now, you may think that $2000 for a radar (the mevo plus) is a great deal. I'll tell you that it has drawbacks. The biggest drawback currently is that it absolutely sucks at reading bump and run chips, even with the latest firmware update. I don't want to bog this down too much, just know that its a limitation. That said, with the latest firmware updates, it's read every putt I've had 8 feet and longer, and chips are fine so long as you pop it up with a wedge. That's where an overhead unit, or camera unit (including skytrak) beats something like a radar that sits behind the ball.

Each has pros and cons. If you have any questions about a particular unit or setup, feel free to ask.

~Rock
 
I have a GC2, and it is very good. No lag after shots, and that paired with the TGC2019 software, I get 60,000 courses.
 
Flightscope x3, benq Mw632st projector , 10x 10 archy net for Screen, mat I can’t remember.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have one in some space I own next to my office. Mevo Plus, Gaming PC, 10'x10' screen, hitting off of CCE real mat. I just have a used projector that a friend gave to me because it had been sitting unused for about 8 years.

You can get real bogged down real fast with all of the details. I went Mevo Plus because I have rightys and leftys playing on it. Didn't want to have to move the launch monitor back and forth. A radar behind fixes that. Overhead units (such as Uneekor) also fix this. Some launch monitors work with multiple sim software (the video game that gives you something to look at), others do not. For instance, last I knew, Foresight (GCQuad and GCHawk) only works with their own software. Flightscope (mevo plus), Uneekor, and Skytrak, all work with multiple software companies. I personally use E6 connect with a basic subscription. For $300/year, I get 27 courses permanently, and they rotate an additional 8-10 courses about every month. That means I have about 35-38 courses I can play each month. For $600/year, you get nearly 100 courses.

But, some also work with The Golf Club, which would give you tens of thousands of courses for a one time purchase. I use E6 because it is more user friendly, which I do rent out my simulator. TGC has better graphics and more courses, but isn't as user friendly for the older crowd that uses my sim. Also, E6 supports up to 8 players, TGC only has 4. I don't recall what modes (stableford, stroke, match, scramble) etc that each support. But E6 has several modes for playing with more than just one player.

Now, you may think that $2000 for a radar (the mevo plus) is a great deal. I'll tell you that it has drawbacks. The biggest drawback currently is that it absolutely sucks at reading bump and run chips, even with the latest firmware update. I don't want to bog this down too much, just know that its a limitation. That said, with the latest firmware updates, it's read every putt I've had 8 feet and longer, and chips are fine so long as you pop it up with a wedge. That's where an overhead unit, or camera unit (including skytrak) beats something like a radar that sits behind the ball.

Each has pros and cons. If you have any questions about a particular unit or setup, feel free to ask.

~Rock
One thing that I have to say is that after chipping on my Skytrak all winter, my chipping has been phenomenal this spring. I'm talking uphill, short sided, over a bunker and nailing them. Couldn't be happier. No matter what you get, the ability to play all winter is a huge asset, pretty much priceless if your goal is to improve your game.
 
I don’t own one, but I have been told you can’t skimp on the screen as the can wear badly and need constant upkeep/replacement
 
One thing that I have to say is that after chipping on my Skytrak all winter, my chipping has been phenomenal this spring. I'm talking uphill, short sided, over a bunker and nailing them. Couldn't be happier. No matter what you get, the ability to play all winter is a huge asset, pretty much priceless if your goal is to improve your game.

Yep. Is it the same as real golf? No. Can it help you work on your swing and give you quality practice, yes. I rarely use the driving range feature on mine. Maybe once every 6 weeks just to work on a specific fix or drill. But you know how they always say you should treat your driving range like a round of golf? Vary your shots, just like you are playing holes on a golf course? Well guess what, I have 35+ courses I can play on the sim. I'm hitting off the same, flat, perfectly manicured surface every time, just like a range. But since I'm playing sim courses, I get to change what club I hit each shot.

I don’t own one, but I have been told you can’t skimp on the screen as the can wear badly and need constant upkeep/replacement

Easy way to resolve that is to simply search for a 'golf impact screen.' I can't speak to one brand or another, because I got mine used and have no idea what brand it is or anything.

I would also add that I wouldn't skimp on the turf. If you are going to use it quite a bit, I'd spend a bit extra on turf that has some cushion to it. No point in breaking your wrists.

~Rock
 
I should start a simulator business.
We have a couple about 30 minutes from me. One is very casual while the other one has leagues and does lessons. I’m glad to see them starting to pop up!
 
I should start a simulator business.

That was actually one of my first thoughts because you have to drive 30+ minutes to get to a simulator business where i am from and i thought it would be awesome to put one where i want to build my house right off a "main" highway but it would probably not get the business to be worth it for me. so i switched to just getting a personal one.
 
I built one in my garage late this winter. My only mistake was using an Optishot2 that I bought 3-4 years ago on a whim. It's been sitting around upstairs until I decided to do something with it this year. I built a cage that is 10' X 10' X 10' and bought a preferred screen from Carl's. I bought an Asus gaming computer to run it and a Viewsonic projector from The Projector People. I also got 2 pieces of artificial turf that were 8' X 13" each that I unroll onto the garage floor and pull the cage over it. I have a hitting mat that is 4' X 7' and is about 2" thick. It all looks great and provides a great picture on the screen. My ceiling is vaulted and is 28' wide and peaks out at a little over 14' at center. The only problem has been the Optishot 2 which has given some wildly erratic data. I was still trying to "work the bugs out of it" when I injured one of my shoulders, possibly tearing my rotator cuff.
I'm planning to try it again this coming winter with a probable upgrade to a Skytrak or Mevo+. I haven't decided which as yet. I'm still researching that move.
 
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