Best Complete Golf Simulator Packages: DIY Bay™ Enclosures

The SkyTrak is a true lanch monitor that will observe the ball in flight giving very accurate results in terms of the shot shape and distance along with ball spin. Very realistic multiplayer golf courses are available as a seperate purchase. SkyTrak charges an annual fee for use of Golf Simulator software on their device. If accuracy and more realistic golf course graphics is at the top of your list then SkyTrak is the clear way to go.

The OptiShot2 is a great bargin. It includes multiple player full course play and you can switch between left and right hitters easily It can be great fun and even help improve your game. It provides club path and face angle which SkyTrak does not, but it does not provide spin rate and is less accurate in terms of overall ball flight compared with the SkyTrak. If price is the main consideration then OptiShot2 is perhaps the best choice to get started with a Home Golf Simulator on a tight budget.

Overview: The OptiShot2, uses upward facing infrared light emitters, along with infrared light sensors to observe the bottom edge of the club head as it travels through the strike zone. It gives accurate shot shapes in terms of hooking and fading and can measure the speed of the club, the path, and face angle relative to the path. It works easily with both left and right-handed players. The OptiShot2 does not read the ball, and therefore the sensors only will sense club movement, thus it cannot know if you top the ball and will still read the swing as a hit. Also some clubs may not easily be registered by the sensors. This is particularly the case with drivers. To address this problem, you may need to add reflective tape to the bottom of some clubs to help the OptiShot2 read the leading edge as it crosses over the sensors.

What’s included: Comes standard with Driving Range and available now for $1995. Additional add-ons such as Game Improvement Plan ($99.95/yr), and Play & Improve Package ($199.95/yr) can be purchased separately. It is also compatible for use with third-party software (sold separately) for Full Course Golf Simulation, such as the Creative Golf 3D 2.5 Basic Golf Simulation with Game Improvement for $694.95 and The Golf Club Simulation 2019 with Game Improvement for $994.95.

Overview: The SkyTrak uses high-speed cameras to observe the golf ball in flight after the strike. Because it is observing the golf ball it can very accurately measure the launch angle, spin rate, and direction of travel, producing very accurate results. The SkyTrak is very close to the same kind of accuracy you only find in systems costing 10 times as much. A red laser marks a spot on the stance mat where you place the ball. The SkyTrak supports mixing of left-handers with right-handed players by physically turning the unit around to face the golf ball on either side.

This article discusses the SkyTrak and OptiShot2 to help you make an informed decision on which of these two systems will best meet your needs and budget.

Where can I get 1″ EMT Poles?

1″ EMT Poles and Unistrut are common building materials available at all major hardware stores. The shipping costs for these items can be expensive, so we try to save cost by not including them automatically. For convenience sake, precut 1″ EMT Poles are available for purchase from us.

1″ EMT Poles and Unistrut are common building materials available at all major hardware stores. The shipping costs for these items can be expensive, so we try to save cost by not including them automatically. For convenience sake, precut 1″ EMT Poles are available for purchase from us.

I purchased the SkyRailPLUS / SkyBridge Brackets. Do I need to buy strut locally?

SkyRailPLUS and SkyBridge Bracket purchases include precut strut and all needed connection hardware.

SkyRailPLUS and SkyBridge Bracket purchases include precut strut and all needed connection hardware.

How many 1″ EMT Poles will I need to purchase?

Please see the

Please see the setup guide for your enclosure to determine the number of 1″ EMT poles needed, what lengths they need to be, etc.

How long should my Screen last?

Since golf hitting screens are fabric products, they will naturally wear over time. Factors such as swing speed, ball type, hitting position, and frequency of use will each affect the life of the screen. Many customers are able to get years of service out of their screens, while some may need to replace their screen sooner.

To extend the life of your screen we recommend using a baffle net, increasing the hitting distance, and using only newer “unscuffed” golf balls. The use of lighter weight products such as “Almost” Golf Balls (1/3 weight) can also significantly extend the life of your screen, although the shot distances will typically be shorter than when using real golf balls.

Will the projected image completely fill the screen?

Yes, in many cases our enclosures have a viewport that matches perfectly or near perfectly one of the three common aspect ratios commonly available on projectors. See the chart below showing the best image fit for each of our hitting enclosures.

The viewport refers to the white portion of the screen that is visible after installation. We give careful consideration to the size of our golf hitting enclosures and the resulting viewport of your screen. Enclosures designed by AllSportSystems maintain a balance between a good image fit and enclosure size. For best overall function, safety and swing clearance an enclosure height of 9ft or more is recommended. When a space is less than 9ft we suggest an enclosure no lower than 8ft tall.

In general projectors will have a native aspect ratio of 4:3, 16:9 or 16:10. Aspect ratio is a means of expressing the ratio of width to height of the image in terms of pixels. A typical 4:3 resolution is 1024×768 where as a typical HD resolution is 1920×1080 (16:9) or 1280×800 (16:10). For the best image quality, we recommend using the native resolution of your projector where possible. All golf hitting enclosures from AllSportSystems can be customized to any height, width or depth. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about customizing your enclosure.

What is the best resolution/aspect ratio for my screen?

You can find the best aspect ratio for your Golf bay enclosure by reviewing the

You can find the best aspect ratio for your Golf bay enclosure by reviewing the chart below.

How far from the screen will my projector be?

Each projector model will have a specific throw ratio. A throw ratio is an expression of image width in feet divided by distance from the screen in feet. For example a projector with a 0.5 throw ratio can produce a 10ft wide image from 5 feet. For Golf simulation we recommend short throw projectors with a throw ratio of 0.5 to 0.7 as they place the projector close enough to the screen so that the golfer will not block the image. We have listed on the chart below the throw distance for the Short-throw HD 16:9 1080×1024 3800 lumen projector we offer. This projector has a 0.5 throw ratio in the native HD 16:9 aspect and a 0.66 throw ratio in the standard definition 4:3 aspect.

Throw distance from the screen can be calulated for other projectors using online projector throw calculators for your projector model.

How does the screen size compare to the enclosure size?

All of our golf enclosures are listed according to the outside dimensions of the frame. This guarantees your enclosure will comfortably fit within the space you have designated for your simulator. When deciding what size enclosure to order note that the side and top netting extensions require at least 12″ clearance from walls, ceilings, or other objects.

Screen size and viewport of the screen varies by product. The viewport refers to the white portion of the screen that is visible after installation. See the chart below showing viewport and recommended image aspect for the MicroBay™, SuperBay™, DIY Bay™ and StudioBay™ golf simulator enclosures.

Projector distance shown in this chart is based on the Short-throw HD 16:9 1080×1024 3800 lumen projector we offer.

Image sizes for MicroBay™, SuperBay™, DIY Bay™, and StudioBay™ golf simulation enclosures.

MicroBay™
Viewport
Best Image Fit
Alternative Option:

10′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
9′-4″ W x 7′-5″ H
9′-4″ W x 7′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 2″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’2″ from screen
–

12′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
11′-4″ W x 8′-5″ H
11′-2″ W x 8′-5″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 7’6″ from screen
11′-4″ W x 6′-4″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 12″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 5’8″ from screen

14′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
13′-4″ W x 8′-5″ H
13′-4″ W x 8′-4″ H (

HD 16:10 aspect

)
✔ Perfect Fit
13′-4″ W x 7′-6″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 6″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’8″ from screen

16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
15′-4″ W x 8′-5″ H
14′-11″ W x 8′-5″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 2″ left/right of viewport
📏 Projector 7’6″ from screen
–

SuperBay™
Viewport
Best Image Fit
Alternative Option:

10′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
9′-4″ W x 7′-0″ H
9′-4″ W x 7′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 6’2″ from screen
–

10′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
9′-4″ W x 8′-0″ H
9′-4″ W x 7′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 6″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’2″ from screen
–

12′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
11′-4″ W x 8′-0″ H
10′-7″ W x 8′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 4″ left/right of viewport
📏 Projector 7’1″ from screen
11′-4″ W x 6′-4″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 9″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 5’8″ from screen

14′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
13′-4″ W x 8′-0″ H
13′-4″ W x 7′-6″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 3″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’8″ from screen
12′-9″ W x 8′-0″ H (

HD 16:10 aspect

)
Letterbox 3″ left/right of viewport

16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
15′-4″ W x 8′-0″ H
14′-2″ W x 8′-0″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 7″ left/right of viewport
📏 Projector 7’1″ from screen
–

DIY Bay™
Viewport
Best Image Fit
Alternative Option:

10′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
9′-0″ W x 7′-0″ H
9′-0″ W x 6′-9″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 6’0″ from screen
–

10′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
9′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
9′-0″ W x 6′-9″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 7″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’0″ from screen
–

12′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
11′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
10′-7″ W x 8′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 2″ left/right of viewport
📏 Projector 7’1″ from screen
11′-0″ W x 6′-2″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 10″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 5’6″ from screen

14′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
13′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
12′-9″ W x 8′-0″ H (

HD 16:10 aspect

)
✔ Perfect Fit
13′-0″ W x 7′-3″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 3″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’6″ from screen

16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
15′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
14′-2″ W x 8′-0″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 4″ left/right of viewport
📏 Projector 7’1″ from screen
–

StudioBay™
Viewport
Best Image Fit
Alternative Option:

12′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
8′-0″ W x 7′-0″ H
8′-0″ W x 6′-0″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Letterbox 6″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 5’3″ from screen
–

14′-0″ W x 8′-6″ H
10′-0″ W x 7′-6″ H
10′-0″ W x 7′-6″ H (4:3 aspect)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 6’8″ from screen
10′-0″ W x 5′-7″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 10″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 5’0″ from screen

16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
12′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
12′-0″ W x 7′-6″ H (

HD 16:10 aspect

)
✔ Letterbox 3″ top/bottom of viewport
12′-0″ W x 6′-9″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
Letterbox 7″ top/bottom of viewport
📏 Projector 6’0″ from screen

18′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
14′-0″ W x 8′-0″ H
14′-0″ W x 7′-10″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 7’0″ from screen
–

20′-0″ W x 10′-0″ H
16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H
16′-0″ W x 9′-0″ H (

HD 16:9 aspect

)
✔ Perfect Fit
📏 Projector 8’0″ from screen
–

Projector distance shown in this chart is based on the 16:9 HD (1920×1080) Short-throw 3800 lumen projector we offer.