Hitting Screen & Frame for Sim Indoor Golf

[Frank_Dux]

(Sorry if this has been covered, but couldn't find it doing a search) 

 

I'm trying to upgrade my hitting screen. The current setup works, but it could be nicer in the house. We have low ceilings in the garage, but the family room has a lot of space. When we use the hitting bay, we slide the furniture around. My goal is to:

 

1) Possibly change the frame of the hitting bay to metal and cover it with something like a black curtain for the back and sides.

2) Make the hitting screen flat / straight, but relaxed so the balls don't bounce back in our face.

 

I saw online where someone attaches a black tube foam at the bottom of the screen so it hangs flat, but still loose where it slows balls from bouncing back. I've seen the nice ones at professional fitters, but it seems like the screen is flush and stretched out, but the balls just drop. Any ideas on making this better for the screen and attaching the black cover? If you have pictures or where to get the material, that would help as well.

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays.

Edited December 13, 2021 by Frank_Dux

[Pnflan]

I had a similar set up in my garage. 
I used pvc and wrapped the pipe in HVAC foam tubing from hardware store. The kind you wrap your AC pipeline from outdoor unit to inside blower/furnace. 
 

I used short bungee cords down the sides of the screen tied to the grommets and zip ties for the corners to make ot stretch just enough so that it was flattened out.  The bungee down the side helped the ball drop right down. 
 

used heavy blackout curtains down the side and added thinner blackout theater sheets right taught to the back of screen to keep it dark. 
 

worked pretty well. Sadly sold it to free up garage space. 
 

[Frank_Dux]

2 hours ago, Pnflan said:

I had a similar set up in my garage. 
I used pvc and wrapped the pipe in HVAC foam tubing from hardware store. The kind you wrap your AC pipeline from outdoor unit to inside blower/furnace. 
 

I used short bungee cords down the sides of the screen tied to the grommets and zip ties for the corners to make ot stretch just enough so that it was flattened out.  The bungee down the side helped the ball drop right down. 
 

used heavy blackout curtains down the side and added thinner blackout theater sheets right taught to the back of screen to keep it dark. 
 

worked pretty well. Sadly sold it to free up garage space. 
 

 

This is great. Thanks for the quick response. I was debating to just get new metal pipes and redo the frame. On Amazon, they have a PU canopy cover with velcro that I can also use for the sides. I'll pick up some putting turf and make a hole. I have the same gym flooring as you did and can cut a hole. 

 

For your screen, did you bungee all sides or did you leave the bottom loose? I have a hitting screen with a quilt behind, but the balls bounce off and the bottom/sides are not mounted (only the top). We also have about 2 feet of spacing behind the screen. Thinking of getting a Carl's impact screen. Did you have an issue with balls bouncing back at you? Thanks!

[Pnflan]

I have a pvc pipe running across the bottom. I wrapped the screen underneath and bungeed the two grommets in the middle of the bottom in an x pattern crossing one another up the back and secured to either side pvc pipe. I also secured the two bottom corners that were wrapped underneath to the sides as well but with zip ties. Not sure if that is easy to visualize. 
I did try pipe across the bottom but no matter how much padding I used I got bounce backs so I went back to pvc. Every great once in a while I hit a worm burner and it cracked the pipe. Just simply replaced it with a new one for a couple bucks. 
 

Mine is a bit different because I secured the left side of the pvc frame to the wall on hinges so I could swing the entire frame and screen out of the way flat up agains the wall of ever needed.  While it was set up for hitting I secured the opposite corner to the ceiling with a hat latch to lock it back lace. 
 

never bounced back ever.  I think my screen was carls impact screen as well. It was awesome. I miss it   

[JAM01]

Have you seen this on Amazon? But the pipe locally then do the rest

[Frank_Dux]

4 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

Have you seen this on Amazon? But the pipe locally then do the rest

Wow. Perfect. Thanks so much! This is great!

[JAM01]

3 hours ago, Frank_Dux said:

Wow. Perfect. Thanks so much! This is great!

Excellent, that way you are able to pick the overall size based only the length steel pipe you buy. Then bungee your screen side and top panels on. Found a lower cost version too. 

[Frank_Dux]

2 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

Excellent, that way you are able to pick the overall size based only the length steel pipe you buy. Then bungee your screen side and top panels on. Found a lower cost version too. 

Owe you a beer for this! haha 🍻 Yes, have everything planned out now. Thanks again!

[Golf Pig]

I'm not sure if you'd save any money, but you can buy similar fittings from Global Industrial:

 

https://www.globalindustrial.com/g/storage/fittings-framing-rail/Kee-Klamp-Fittings/galvanized-kee-klamp-pipe-fittings

[Frank_Dux]

On 12/14/2021 at 9:50 AM, Golf Pig said:

I'm not sure if you'd save any money, but you can buy similar fittings from Global Industrial:

 

https://www.globalindustrial.com/g/storage/fittings-framing-rail/Kee-Klamp-Fittings/galvanized-kee-klamp-pipe-fittings

Thanks so much. I ended up getting the fitting on Amazon as it wasn’t a big difference. Can’t wait to put this together. 

[Krt22]

On 12/14/2021 at 9:50 AM, Golf Pig said:

I'm not sure if you'd save any money, but you can buy similar fittings from Global Industrial:

 

https://www.globalindustrial.com/g/storage/fittings-framing-rail/Kee-Klamp-Fittings/galvanized-kee-klamp-pipe-fittings

Key thing to note here is these fittings are for rigid conduit/structural pipe. The more common fittings for making frames for golf nets are designed to work with EMT conduit (cheaper, less sturdy, thinner wall). For the same 1" ID, the ODs are different. 1.315 vs 1.16"

[Golf Pig]

1 hour ago, Krt22 said:

Key thing to note here is these fittings are for rigid conduit/structural pipe. The more common fittings for making frames for golf nets are designed to work with EMT conduit (cheaper, less sturdy, thinner wall). For the same 1" ID, the ODs are different. 1.315 vs 1.16"

Good point. I would think the set screws should still be able to hold the EMT. I wanted something sturdier for my cage so I used the Global Industrial 1" fittings with 1-3/8" chain link fence rail that I got at Lowe's.

[Krt22]

6 minutes ago, Golf Pig said:

Good point. I would think the set screws should still be able to hold the EMT. I wanted something sturdier for my cage so I used the Global Industrial 1" fittings with 1-3/8" chain link fence rail that I got at Lowe's.

They hold it, but the structure is a bit wobbly since there is a decent amount of play between the fitting and pipe. I got a deal on similar fittings so built a cage thinking EMT would be fine, it was, it stood fine, but yeah, some wobble

[Frank_Dux]

3 minutes ago, Krt22 said:

They hold it, but the structure is a bit wobbly since there is a decent amount of play between the fitting and pipe. I got a deal on similar fittings so built a cage thinking EMT would be fine, it was, it stood fine, but yeah, some wobble

Super helpful. Yes, I'm doing EMT over the holidays. We currently have PVC, so I'm hoping this is less wobbly LOL

[Golf Pig]

Mine is very stable. A few pictures...

[Frank_Dux]

Just now, Golf Pig said:

Mine is very stable. A few pictures...

 

This is clean. How did you get the Pipes black?  Also, do you have a link for the turf you used? Thanks!

[Golf Pig]

Just now, Frank_Dux said:

 

This is clean. How did you get the Pipes black?  Also, do you have a link for the turf you used? Thanks!

Lowe's had black fence rail. I spray painted the fittings to match. The mat is a Fiberbuilt 9x4 studio mat. The putting turf is by Southwest Greens. Unfortunately I don't have a link. I found it at a local artificial turf supplier that had some left over.

[Krt22]

17 minutes ago, Golf Pig said:

Mine is very stable. A few pictures...

Looks great! Yeah if you found fence post to match the ID of those fittings, very solid option

[Frank_Dux]

7 minutes ago, Golf Pig said:

Lowe's had black fence rail. I spray painted the fittings to match. The mat is a Fiberbuilt 9x4 studio mat. The putting turf is by Southwest Greens. Unfortunately I don't have a link. I found it at a local artificial turf supplier that had some left over.

 

Great idea to spray. I will have black pool noodles on the pipes. I actually have Plastidip Spray that I'll put on the fittings. Great idea. Thanks for the turf info. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[Eeecc]

On 12/21/2021 at 2:01 PM, Golf Pig said:

Mine is very stable. A few pictures...

What is your ceiling height?

[Frank_Dux]

Almost done with the build out. Any DIY affordable suggestions for:

 

1) Canopy side and top walls - I got a tent canopy on Amazon but it was too thin. Thinking of doing black canvas

 

2) Corner Foam Wedges - Any ideas on this for added protection plus covering the side mounts?

 

3) Putting turf - looking for something with an 11.5-12 stimp

 

Thanks and Happy New Year 🎉

[Golf Pig]

On 12/31/2021 at 11:38 AM, Eeecc said:

What is your ceiling height?

 

The cage frame is 10 ft. high. It's in our dining room that has a vaulted ceiling which is around 11 ft. at the low point.

[Frank_Dux]

anyone know a place for foam wedges for the side corners? Thanks.

[barony19]

You could try foam gutter protection like this. Should be the right shape: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gutter-Pro-4-ft-5K-Style-Inserts-Black-Foam-Wedge-Gutter-Guard-8-Box-5K-Foam-Wedge/205328956

[Frank_Dux]

1 hour ago, barony19 said:

You could try foam gutter protection like this. Should be the right shape: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gutter-Pro-4-ft-5K-Style-Inserts-Black-Foam-Wedge-Gutter-Guard-8-Box-5K-Foam-Wedge/205328956

Thank you so much!