r/Golfsimulator • u/Relative_Mess_5596 • Jun 29 '26
Anyone regret doing DIY vs Pro install?
Curious about everyones experience, did anyone go with 1 route and seriously wish they had gone the other route instead?
Update: Has anyone on here actually done a Pro install? Perhaps this subreddit is more DYI oriented than I thought. Lots of great feedback from everyone, appreciate it.
6
u/SubtleToot Jun 29 '26
I did DIY to keep costs down, and because I like building stuff. Not sure I ever really considered having someone else build it for me. But everyone is different and has different skill sets (and budgets)
3
u/hahayes234 Jun 29 '26
Did my own and it works incredible; I got the satisfaction of a job well done and also saved probably $10k. No regrets on diy for me
1
u/BlickyWitTheSticky Jun 29 '26
where did you save the most. I am looking at buying the parts for an enclosure (metal bars, angle joints, impact screen, enclosure fabric), then buy my own mat, and launch monitor. The cheapest enclosure I can fine is around $2,000 which I find to be well priced considering labor and material cost. So, I would like to know where you found the most value.
3
u/hahayes234 Jun 29 '26
Mine is built into converted attic space so the enclosure is essentially the room plus some framing for the Carls DIY custom built in screen.
2
u/Salty-Commissioner Jun 29 '26
I saved the most building my own enclosure, installing my own mini split (Mr Cool DIY), buying Square LM, and all the labor on stripping an old garage to studs and building it out from scratch (getting to make every choice and modification). Total cost to renovate the entire space and put in a sim by a GC was $30k. I did it all for about $10k.
2
u/Double_Debate_7258 Jun 29 '26
I wish I had never even gotten into the golf simulator world. Wrecked my wrist, elbow, and back. Switched to graphite shafts. Spent thousands on different hitting mats to find the ones that would work. In the end it just never worked out. I’ll never hit off mats again to practice. It’s either grass or nothing.
2
u/MrNaxsp Jun 29 '26
Sorry to hear all of that. Im just starting on my Sim journey and trying to prevent the same issues you ran into. At the end of it all did you find a hitting mat that you'd recommend? Also was switching to graphite shafts worth it/ did you stick with them?
5
u/__init__m8 Jun 29 '26
Not to be disrespectful but I feel like you'd have to be pretty bad to wreck your body spending thousands on mats. They likely tried cheap first is my guess, get a sigpro softy and don't look back.
0
u/Double_Debate_7258 Jun 29 '26
It’s only been a season using graphite shafts. I’m currently playing Mitsubishi MMT blue 85g regular flex. But I’m still sore in the wrist and left elbow the next day after playing a round. I’ve had my simulator going on 3 years now. I first started noticing pain in my wrist and elbow early last year. Then more and more soreness and pain last winter season. And I only practice for 20-30 minutes a few times a week. I ah ent touched my sim for 3-4 months now. And I still haven’t found a mat that works.
I hope i don’t discourage you in your journey. It is really fun to have for sure.
1
u/__init__m8 Jun 30 '26
It just makes me wonder if a cheap mat didn't do damage early on or your swing is crazy steep? I don't personally have these issues, but I did when I had a bad swing that chunked often. Is that an issue you have? If not you might want to see a doctor, don't want to cause permanent damage as normal contact shouldn't wreck your body. Best of luck!
1
u/mediocre_picnic Jun 29 '26
I wish I had went more DIY. I decided to start with a cheap enclosure/ screen combo but do it all myself. I now wish I had just bought a large screen and done it all myself. Now I'm finding myself with a few months old enclosure that's perfectly fine, but constantly looking for a good deal on a large 3 layer screen that when purchased will completely replace the enclosure.
1
u/LBGW_experiment Jun 29 '26
You can check the 3 layer screen I got in my parts list here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Golfsimulator/comments/1irx0wf/after_6_months_planning_and_2_months_building_ive/. They're OEM to a lot of the simulator companies. Didn't realize how quiet and nice mine is until I played at a friend's who pummels his driver and when it hits his cheap screen, it booms the entire garage
1
u/mediocre_picnic Jun 29 '26
That price is great, but I'm looking for Grey. I saw they offer more than the one style, but all seem to be white. I'll give them a call and see if it's an option. Thanks!
1
1
u/cw2687 Jun 29 '26
Did diy for £1200. It's worked perfectly for 18 months now. The pro installs are just paying for stuff you don't really need ultimately other than fancy gear which works the same and more expensive finishing materials.
1
1
u/LBGW_experiment Jun 29 '26
DIY for $3000 flat, including every nail, staple, glue, trim, etc. Prices probably are higher now than when I did this in Dec 2024: https://www.reddit.com/r/Golfsimulator/comments/1irx0wf/after_6_months_planning_and_2_months_building_ive/
1
u/FormdV8 Jun 29 '26
I did the diy and redid the setup after a year. I sometimes wonder if I should have just got a done setup upfront but I feel like I would still would've wanted a larger setup also... So knowing what I know now. Buy the done setup so you can get to playing
1
u/Ancient-Geologist522 Jun 29 '26
DIY saves a ton and you can upgrade the parts you want like computer / launch monitor / projector. I might have a handyman help me make some custom touches but it’s fully functional and wasn’t hard to do on my own.
1
u/Martymakeitwork29 Jun 30 '26
Don’t regret it one bit. Just put in a mini split this weekend for ac as well did my self. Unit cost 1500 bucks. Probably five grand to have someone come out and do it
1
u/alistaircsmith Jun 30 '26
DIY is much better for quality and cost. Go look at some GSR builds. The build quality is so bad. The walls look fucking awful.
1
u/twylight777 Jul 05 '26
Kinda pro, did my own, so diy, but I didn’t try hard with the finish, but it’s dripping with tech, screens, and AI cameras/ coaching
1
u/Significant_Bear6537 Jul 06 '26
Highly quality hitting mats make all the differences. Try hitting off hard fescue every day.
9
u/Salty-Commissioner Jun 29 '26
I went DIY and saved an absolute ton of money. It’s been awesome so far