$2600 garage simulator build (and updates on using it for my game)

[dornstar]

[quote name='march11934' timestamp='1444586082' post='12442162']
This is one of the best threads I have found on this forum. Thanks so much for all the time spent posting your progress. I used to just hit into a net and judge the feel of impact. I would tune up at the range. It did help a bit but I can't imagine the progress someone could make with a setup like yours. Thanks again!
[/quote]
Yeah, the progress I've made in like 2 months is astronomical. I have so much more command over my shots.

[dornstar]

[quote name='spider' timestamp='1444518182' post='12439192']
I'm having a bit of trouble with the skytrak and yardages. It seems ok on 54* wedge. However the other clubs seems to be under reporting distance. Carry only I am not worried about total. 7 iron seemed about 20 yards short. I am not over estimating my length either. 150-160 normal 7 iron not even close on skytrak. Not sure if it is not level enough or that the demo machine might have some issues. Any leveling or set up suggestions please anyone chime in. I have surfed golfsimulator.com as sell.

thanks

Dstar
[/quote]
A lot of people including myself have trouble swinging at full speed at inside. We think we're swinging hard, but don't really reach top speeds. I don't know if we're just being guarded because of the walls, but I had the same issue. My normal 7 iron is like 178 and I was getting 148-155 distances constantly, so I took the SkyTrak out to the range and it was indeed reading correctly, so I knew it was me and not the unit. As I've become more comfortably in my simulator, my distances have picked up substantially.

[dornstar]

[quote name='Golfbeat' timestamp='1444570838' post='12441446']
Fabulous set up Dornstar! Are you now focusing totally on the ball flight results or do you still also work on golf swing mechanics?
[/quote]
This is a tough question to answer... I guess the easy way to answer it is both, but my ball flight dictates my mechanics.

There's a certain shape that I want the ball to fly on and I know the ball will start 2* to the right and will have 400-700 side spin. This will curve the ball back to the target line with a nice little 5 yard draw. For me, the curvature is easy as my path is usually a few degrees inside out and doesn't really change a whole lot. It's the face angle which is the hard part and most of my work on mechanics is simply to ensure that my clubface isn't closing down. I need it slightly open at impact. I work on the mechanics so that I can consistently hit that number which over time I am starting to do at a very, very, very high rate.

[ofortuna]

I'm surprised and excited that your yardages from the simulator are so close to the course. Doesn't going from the mat to grass make a dramatic difference? Also, do you have to practice shots from first cut and rough?

[Mula]

[quote name='dornstar' timestamp='1444608019' post='12443290']
[quote name='spider' timestamp='1444518182' post='12439192']
I'm having a bit of trouble with the skytrak and yardages. It seems ok on 54* wedge. However the other clubs seems to be under reporting distance. Carry only I am not worried about total. 7 iron seemed about 20 yards short. I am not over estimating my length either. 150-160 normal 7 iron not even close on skytrak. Not sure if it is not level enough or that the demo machine might have some issues. Any leveling or set up suggestions please anyone chime in. I have surfed golfsimulator.com as sell.

thanks

Dstar
[/quote]
A lot of people including myself have trouble swinging at full speed at inside. We think we're swinging hard, but don't really reach top speeds. I don't know if we're just being guarded because of the walls, but I had the same issue. My normal 7 iron is like 178 and I was getting 148-155 distances constantly, so I took the SkyTrak out to the range and it was indeed reading correctly, so I knew it was me and not the unit. As I've become more comfortably in my simulator, my distances have picked up substantially.
[/quote]

I have this issue, the store I usually go to is pretty small and the hitting bay is pretty enclosed with a net on one side and the other a wall. Takes me at least ten swings to get over the claustrophobia

[dornstar]

[quote name='ofortuna' timestamp='1444626734' post='12444318']
I'm surprised and excited that your yardages from the simulator are so close to the course. Doesn't going from the mat to grass make a dramatic difference? Also, do you have to practice shots from first cut and rough?
[/quote]To be honest, I was really nervous about how my game would be impacted hitting so many balls off the mat, but I haven't had any issues with the full swing. I have though had some issues with pitches, but that could be because I have neglected my short game recently trying to get my full swing dialed in.

[Illest]

That looks fantastic dornstar! Living in an apartment, I am very jealous!

[Gamble Gamble]

I just measured out my garage to make this happen. I think I figured out a way to get an 4'x18' putting green in there too.

I haven't been this excited about home improvement since Mrs. Gamble Gamble wanted to install a ceiling swing.

[i*windows]

[quote]I haven't been this excited about home improvement since Mrs. Gamble Gamble wanted to install a ceiling swing. [/quote]

love it! We've just taken ours down :-(

[Gamble Gamble]

Dorn, have you noticed any weird numbers by the Skytrak or has it been living up to the initial opinion?

[beretta5spd]

my neighbour just ordered the skytrak. i can't wait to get into the lab this off season

[Gamble Gamble]

Do you think running a cable from one side of a garage to another via an eye-hook (in a wall stud) would be sufficient to hold a net and a screen somewhat like a shower curtain?

Do you see any potential issues with that?

[goatbarn]

Search for steel cable with tension'd turnbuckle.

That's what Foresight (GC2) uses in their commercial builds and is in their manual for residential users. Piece of cake.

Just obviously make sure you find studs, and if not, scab a piece that'll bridge 2 studs.

[_Hawk3y3_]

Great build, dorn. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!

[games]

[quote name='goatbarn' timestamp='1446140440' post='12524266']
Search for steel cable with tension'd turnbuckle.

That's what Foresight (GC2) uses in their commercial builds and is in their manual for residential users. Piece of cake.

Just obviously make sure you find studs, and if not, scab a piece that'll bridge 2 studs.
[/quote]

goatbarn, just wanted to throw you a +1. You got this shizzle down cold! My apologies if you already posted it, but what kind of setup do you have?

[QB74]

I'm looking into skytrak now and see that they offer a yearly subscription package on top. Do you have that Dornstar? Couldn't see in your initial post that you budgeted for that. If so, is it an absolute must?

[wbond]

Depends on your definition of "absolute must" If you want to use any sim play when they offer them, then yes, it's required. If you only plan to use as a LM with a basic range then No, but you don't get any of the benefits of the app. You don't get ball tracers, camera angles, session history, cloud storage, etc. Unfortunately, you really lose out if you don't get the GIP package.
[quote name='QB74' timestamp='1446313166' post='12533212']
I'm looking into skytrak now and see that they offer a yearly subscription package on top. Do you have that Dornstar? Couldn't see in your initial post that you budgeted for that. If so, is it an absolute must?
[/quote]

[QB74]

Thanks, that's how I understood it from the skytrak website but then Dornstar never mentioned the yearly subscription costs of his setup and digging a bit deeper into skytrak on golf simulators.com I understand that some people received the GIP free of charge!? Is that maybe with the refurbished ones?

[spider]

Nope I have a demo and it was $99 for GIP. Just purchased in sept.

[Gamble Gamble]

Do you think the 64 GB ipad Air 2 would be sufficient for the skytrak? does it need a significant amount of memory?

[wbond]

Memory makes no difference. Also, the people who got the GIP were from the initial orders last year up until very recently. They supposedly gave people who paid for the GIP initially a break or discount or something. You now have to pay a yearly fee if you want more than just a very basic range.

[teamacacia]

Fantastic thread Dorn!!! I have been telling the wife that I want to do something like this for over the winter here in OK and then a week later I happen onto this thread. I look forward to your updates.

I like the modularity of your set up in that I only have a two car garage and it would have to be stowed away so that both vehicles could be inside during inclement weather. Here are a couple concerns that you or others may help me figure out results to....

1. Your hitting mat is velcro'd to the floor. This would be something I'd like to do to keep some setup consistency, but what kind of solution to keep rain/snow/ice off of it the rest of the year?

2. My ceilings are a good 10'. Can you do a ceiling mounted short throw projector from there?

3. Is the whole system, including the WGT stuff, running over wifi? If so, I will need to figure out how to strengthen the signal in my garage as I routinely get spotty reception there for some reason.

[avinash]

I recently got Skytrak and I have been using it a little. One thing I noticed is the distance seems to be a little off and it's showing crazy spin numbers. Skytrak driving range distances are off 10-15 yards with irons.

i only have 5-6 feet between the mat and the net. would that cause any problems? attached are the numbers I got for 7 iron and I usually hit the 7 iron about 160.

[Gamble Gamble]

[quote name='teamacacia' timestamp='1446596300' post='12548602']
Fantastic thread Dorn!!! I have been telling the wife that I want to do something like this for over the winter here in OK and then a week later I happen onto this thread. I look forward to your updates.

I like the modularity of your set up in that I only have a two car garage and it would have to be stowed away so that both vehicles could be inside during inclement weather. Here are a couple concerns that you or others may help me figure out results to....

1. Your hitting mat is velcro'd to the floor. This would be something I'd like to do to keep some setup consistency, but what kind of solution to keep rain/snow/ice off of it the rest of the year?

2. My ceilings are a good 10'. Can you do a ceiling mounted short throw projector from there?

3. Is the whole system, including the WGT stuff, running over wifi? If so, I will need to figure out how to strengthen the signal in my garage as I routinely get spotty reception there for some reason.
[/quote]

It sounds like we are working on very similar setups.

1. I am keeping the "modularity" by building a frame for the hitting mat that will be able to be stowed away yet grip the ground so it does not move when in place.

2. My ceiling is the same height and I am currently figuring out what projector to use from approximately 8 feet back and 1 foot from the ceiling

3. Verizon has a signal booster you can order if you use them but I am sure there are other companies that have the same type of setup

[Gamble Gamble]

[quote name='avinash' timestamp='1446601217' post='12549098']
I recently got Skytrak and I have been using it a little. One thing I noticed is the distance seems to be a little off and it's showing crazy spin numbers. Skytrak driving range distances are off 10-15 yards with irons.

i only have 5-6 feet between the mat and the net. would that cause any problems? attached are the numbers I got for 7 iron and I usually hit the 7 iron about 160.
[/quote]

Have you updated the firmware? I read on golfsimforum that the updates help correct these issues.

[teamacacia]

[quote name='Gamble Gamble' timestamp='1446602500' post='12549214']
It sounds like we are working on very similar setups.

1. I am keeping the "modularity" by building a frame for the hitting mat that will be able to be stowed away yet grip the ground so it does not move when in place.

2. My ceiling is the same height and I am currently figuring out what projector to use from approximately 8 feet back and 1 foot from the ceiling

3. Verizon has a signal booster you can order if you use them but I am sure there are other companies that have the same type of setup
[/quote]

Please keep us (me!!) updated with points 1 & 2 for sure. I have Cox for internet service and use Apple products for router and extenders so I may have to look into that as I believe I have max'd out all of my direct wiring ports on my router (xbox over garage, apple tv over garage, upstairs extender).

[teamacacia]

[quote name='Gamble Gamble' timestamp='1446602827' post='12549236']
[quote name='avinash' timestamp='1446601217' post='12549098']
I recently got Skytrak and I have been using it a little. One thing I noticed is the distance seems to be a little off and it's showing crazy spin numbers. Skytrak driving range distances are off 10-15 yards with irons.

i only have 5-6 feet between the mat and the net. would that cause any problems? attached are the numbers I got for 7 iron and I usually hit the 7 iron about 160.
[/quote]

Have you updated the firmware? I read on golfsimforum that the updates help correct these issues.
[/quote]

I also read earlier in the thread that having it set up a bit misaligned gave Dorn some wonky numbers. Be sure to check the alignment as well.

[playoffbeard23]

That thing is so kick a**! I'm in south Florida and am absolutely on board this is part of my dream man cave for sure. Rain can be frustrating in the summer, and snow birds in the winter aren't much better this would be awesome!!!! Congrats on the simulator and good luck with the game!

[avinash]

The firmware is up to date and I checked the alignment multiple times. Also WGT is more off than the SkyTrak but that's supposedly off by 4% according to SkyTrak and they are working on it to fix it.

Maybe I have to try it next to TrackMan or FlightScope.

[apprenti23]

Epic thread!

For those of you thinking of doing this, be sure you have MORE than enough room before purchasing. I have a Net Return Pro that I bought for my basement, but 9 foot ceilings meant it had to go up in the 2nd bedroom where there are 15 foot cathedral ceilings. Only problem is now I can only hit 8 iron down through sand wedge. Better than nothing I guess!