How to make an indoor driving range??? Any ideas...

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By Carlo Angelo

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  1. Carlo Angelo

    Carlo Angelo
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA

    Being a resident of Wisconsin, I need not say more of the upcoming dilemna now that Fall is here (Winter not far off). I've decided on a project that would benefit my golf game... To convert our garage into an Indoor Driving Range!!! Just to keep the swing loose during the 'white fairways/green' months.

    Anybody who have any ideas??? Suggestions??? I've already insulated the walls, no dry-wall yet. Thinking of buying a hitting matt and net. How about some low-end simulators? Thanks for any help.

  2. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    That all sounds very cool! I would google some pics and see if any cool set ups come up...if it were up to me I would make it a man cave with a bar-double tap of course!, dare I say flatscreen TV, simulator of course!, mat and net...if you wanted paint the walls the scenery of your favorite view from a tee box.  Depends how much you want to spend and energy you wish to put into it but it sounds like a lot of fun!

    Cheers!

  3. brad t

    brad t
    Shobonier, IL

    I have a practice station in my basement and I'll give you one recommendation based on my experience: get a good net! You get what you pay for!! I bought a new net and it was a name brand net like you see at most sporting goods or golf stores. One of those practice nets that has a sheet of vinyl with a bullseye hanging in the back of the net to aim at. Let me tell you . . . if you don't hit the target in the back of the net, a hard hit ball will go right through the net! My $100 net didn't last one week. I then bit the bullet and spent considerable more money for a GOOD net and got what I paid for. I bought a net from TheNetReturn.com and would highly recommend it to anyone. I've had it for a year and I know I've hit somewhere in the range of 7500 to 10000 balls into the net (with no backstop). Full swing irons and drivers. The net doesn't show any wear what-so-ever. Throughout the winter months, I was averaging about 1000 balls a month. You can purchase side panels for the net, but I did not. I don't care how good of golfer you are, it you hit as many balls as I did, you are occasionally going to shank one. A side panel would have helped in those instances. I admit I bounced a few off my concrete walls which ricochet on my basement walls like a pinball!! I don't think a person would need panels for both sides, but one on the right for a right handed golfer would be extra protection (for that rare shank)! I've got about $400 in the net, $75 in a 8'x 12' felt type material for the ball return (of which I can practice putting on), and $100 in a 3'x 5' hitting mat. You definitely want to get a decent hitting mat that will not fall apart and will cushion the blows of a "digging" type golf swing that would take a divot. I got my mat on the internet somewhere and it has held up nicely. If I remember, it's about an 1 1/2" thick and dense enough to allow the use of wood tees. A side note on this net, you only need one ball. It returns the ball to you and based on the direction of return, you can tell if you pulled/hooked or pushed/sliced the ball. It's not the same as hitting on a driving range and seeing your actual ball flight, but it's pretty close. I don't have to see the ball flight to know if it was a well struck ball or not. I know by feel. This net allows me to work on mechanics, rhythm, and timing. I love it! Best money I've ever spent towards golf. DON'T BUY A CHEAP NET!
  4. Carlo Angelo

    Carlo Angelo
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA

    Thanks for the advice Brad. Spot-on on the hitting net, it should be sturdy. I see you don't recommend the ones we see on those major golf stores. I was thinking on getting one... I'll check out your recommendation. Hopefully this project of mine pushes through...

  5. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    I have a 20' x 60' workshop/building with a 15 foot ceiling as part of my marine services business. It is full of woodworking equipment, tools, a boat, etc. In any case it was pretty full, so it was difficult to dedicate a large area for my golf practice. So, what I did was to buy a very good mat---one with which you can hit down on the ball and it will absorb the shock like turf---and set it up at one end of the shop. ((Cost nearly $375.) Instead of using real balls, I use AlmostGolf balls. These are fantastic practice tools. They mimic the characteristics and react like real balls, but fly about 1/3 as far. More importantly, they won't damage anything so no net is required. You can tell far more about the quality of your shot by hitting these balls straight out into the shop than you would be able to tell hitting real balls into a net 8 ft in front of you (unless you have some sort of launch monitor). You can chip, pitch and make full shots with all clubs and get a real feel for the quality of the shot, as opposed to normal, everyday cheap rubber practice balls. The AlmostGolf balls cost about 10 bucks a dozen. I even use them outside in my yard during the season because they mimic the flight of a real ball so well. I hit driver into the woods behind my house with no worry about ricochets back into my house.

    My shop set up allows me to keep my swing fresh all winter here in the northeast. I hit balls virtually every day.

  6. brad t

    brad t
    Shobonier, IL

    To each his own, and it sounds like your system works well for you. In my case, I don't have the space (unless I go outside) to watch ball flight so the net works great in the winter warmth of my home. And there's nothing like the feel of a well struck Titleist Pro V1. When you feel that ball compress and spring off your clubface, you know your swing is working. And in the NetReturn system, you only have to use one ball. No downtime chasing balls and bending over to pick them up. Just use your club to roll it back in place for your stance and let'r rip again. Keep in mind, that the NetReturn is designed to give you feedback by the way the ball is returned to you. A straight ball comes straight back on the path it was hit. All balls are returned on the path they were flying. I like hitting the real thing and the feedback from clubhead contact of the ball I play on the course. Sweet!
  7. Madison P

    Madison P
    Holly Ridge, NC

    I'm going to agree with Chris on this, go with the man cave. I would have the bar (stocked of course) along with stereo and the TV would only be on the Golf Channel. (or whatever match is on) Also, make sure there is netting in between where you're hitting and your TV/ Bar area is. You can go with the simulator, but if it's just to keep your swing loose then you really don't need something telling you how far you're hitting. (you already know that)

  8. Carlo Angelo

    Carlo Angelo
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA

    Thanks Chris and Madison. That would be the last objective, to put up a bar and entertainment area. That would be sweet. For the meantime; net, mat and simulator(?) first... although the basement could be the 'man cave'...

  9. BRAD S

    BRAD S
    FISHERS, IN

    I too have thenetreturn pkg. there are none others like it! spend the extra bucks on this system. It is the best on the market.

  10. SAlter

    SAlter

    After looking at this forum for quite some time now and doing some due diligence I have finally made my purchases for the ultimate at home driving range. I purchased the Rukket Monster Cage by Rukket Sports. After reading about what type of mats people used I learned a ton. Injuries are quite frequent with a cheap mat. I went with the 5 x 5 Country Club Elite Golf Mat by JR Mats. You could fing it at Costco (online). Link below for both items. I will post pictures soon. Now time to buy training aids!!

    www.rukket.com/.../B008IM34EG

    www.costco.com/Country-Club-Elite-Golf-Mats®.product.100034931.html
  11. SAlter

    SAlter

    Serenity now!
    Post Image

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