Golf simulator enclosure with a black fabric surround and an impact screen showing a projected golf hole with a bunker

DIY Golf Simulator: What to Build Yourself and What to Buy

For a DIY golf simulator, build the frame and the floor yourself and buy the parts that stop or measure a golf ball. Cutting pipe, laying a subfloor and assembling a kit are jobs most people can do with basic tools. The impact screen, the enclosure fabric around it and the launch monitor are engineered products, and improvised versions are where DIY builds fail. This guide goes part by part through what is reasonable to build, what to buy, and where a kit sits between the two.

Quick Answer

  • Build: the pipe frame, the floor and subfloor, room darkening, cable runs and projector mounting.
  • Buy: the impact screen, purpose-made enclosure material, the launch monitor, the projector and the hitting mat.
  • Middle route: a DIY enclosure kit. You assemble it, but the screen, fabric and fittings are designed to work together.
  • Do not compromise on: distance from the screen and clearance behind it. Those are safety figures set by the manufacturer.

Three Kinds of DIY Golf Simulator

Carl's Place, which makes enclosure kits and screens, separates DIY into three levels. The names below are ours, the definitions are theirs.

  • Full DIY: you build the enclosure from raw parts. In Carl's words, every measurement, material choice and decision on how it all attaches is on you.
  • Hybrid: you buy the major components separately and make them work together. Many parts are purpose-built, but not necessarily for each other.
  • Kit: you still assemble everything, but the enclosure and screen are designed to work together from the start.

An enclosure, at any level, is a frame, a screen and enclosure material. It is not a complete simulator. You still need a launch monitor, projector, mat and computer, which our home golf simulator guide covers component by component.

Build or Buy: Part by Part

Part Build or buy Why
Frame Build Standard 1-inch EMT conduit from a hardware store, cut to a supplied list. Steel or aluminium tube with fittings is the simplest route, according to The Indoor Golf Shop.
Impact screen Buy It has to stop a full shot and show a projected image. Carl's Place rates its screens for shots up to 250 mph.
Enclosure fabric and screen attachment Buy The surround catches shots that miss or bounce off the screen. Carl's Place says improvised screen mounting sometimes ends with a screen that tears, sags or sends the ball back.
Frame padding and baffles Buy Foam inserts keep the ball off the pipe frame. They are small costs against a ricochet.
Floor and subfloor Build Foam tiles or a framed wood floor are ordinary carpentry.
Hitting mat Buy It is the only surface made for full swings.
Launch monitor and projector Buy Measurement and image equipment. Follow each maker's placement rules.
Projector mount and protection Build the mount, buy protection if floor-mounted Carl's Place calls a protective enclosure basically a must for floor-mounted projectors.

What a DIY Enclosure Kit Leaves You to Do

The Carl's Place DIY Golf Simulator Enclosure Kit is the clearest example of the middle route. According to Carl's Place, the kit includes the impact screen, the enclosure material and the corner fittings, plus the fasteners to secure them. Pipes are sold separately. Unless you add the Pipe Framing Kit, you buy the conduit locally. Know these points before ordering:

  • Pipe type: 1-inch EMT is required. Carl's Place states that rigid conduit and PVC are not compatible with its kits.
  • Pipe size: "1-inch EMT" is a trade name. Carl's Place gives the true outer diameter as 1.163 inches, or 27 mm.
  • Cutting: EMT is typically sold in 10-foot tubes and cuts with a reciprocating saw or chop saw. Carl's Place notes that most big-box stores no longer cut it for you.
  • Cut list: the lengths and quantities are supplied with the kit.

If you would rather not cut pipe at all, enclosures that ship with their frame are in the golf enclosures collection, and complete systems are in golf simulator bundles.

The Screen: Buy It, Then Hang It Correctly

You can buy a screen without an enclosure. Carl's Place sells golf impact screens that attach to your own frame, and it is direct about the trade-off: hanging a screen on its own requires precision mounting and wall protection. Its three material grades differ mainly in surface smoothness, which affects the image, and in durability. Premium is a three-layer material with a centre layer intended to reduce noise and bounce-back.

Whichever screen you choose, hang it slightly loose. Carl's Place describes the target as smooth and slightly loose, not drum tight, and says reducing tension is the first fix for bounce-back. For the alternative to a screen, see impact screen vs net return.

Safety Figures You Should Not Improvise

These come from Carl's Place for its own screens and enclosures. If you use another maker's screen, use that maker's figures.

  • Distance to the screen: stand a minimum of 10 to 12 feet away, and never closer than 10 feet. Carl's Place says golfers who stand closer will experience bounce-back and increase the risk of injury.
  • Behind the screen: keep the screen 12 to 16 inches in front of any surface, and do not let it touch a wall.
  • Behind the DIY kit: 12 inches at the rear is recommended, and a minimum of 8.25 inches is required to fit the rear fittings.
  • Sides and top: allow 2 to 3 inches of buffer on each side and above.
  • Everything else in the room: protect ceilings, walls and windows, and keep children, pets and spectators out of swing range.

Where the Projector Goes

Projector placement is a build decision with a safety side. Carl's Place prefers a ceiling-mounted projector directly behind the golfer, high enough that the swing never comes near it. A floor-mounted projector behind the golfer almost always casts shadows, so floor setups usually sit in front of the golfer and need a protective enclosure. Decide this before you fix the frame position, because it sets how far the screen can be from the tee. Our projector comparison explains throw distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build my own golf simulator?

Yes. Building the frame and floor and buying the screen, enclosure material and electronics is a common approach. A DIY enclosure kit supplies the matched parts and leaves the assembly to you.

Can I use PVC pipe for a golf simulator frame?

Not with a Carl's Place kit. Carl's Place states that 1-inch EMT is required and that rigid conduit and PVC are not compatible with its kits. For other frames, follow the fitting maker's specification.

Is it cheaper to build a golf simulator than to buy a package?

It depends on what you already own and how you value your time. We have not published a figure here because parts prices change. See our home golf simulator cost guide for budgets.

How far should I stand from a golf impact screen?

Carl's Place recommends a minimum of 10 to 12 feet for its screens and says not to stand closer than 10 feet. Check the figure for the screen you buy.

Decide What You Will Build

List the parts, mark each one build or buy, and check the clearances against your room before ordering anything.

Shop Golf Enclosures Shop Mats and Turf

Sources

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