The mat is where he won't skimp. He says to buy a proper simulator mat and cut it into strips. When the strip you hit from wears out, you swap in a new piece from the same mat and don't have to replace the whole thing.
The computer
Two of his tips are about the gaming PC. A golfer in his online course found a used PC on Facebook Marketplace, pasted its specs and GSPro's requirements into ChatGPT, and asked whether it would run the software. According to the video, it did, and he saved more than £300 over buying new. The host says the tip that saved him the most was building his own PC from a few YouTube tutorials, for about £500 at the time.
Screen, projector and second monitor
- For a cheap first screen, he used white archery netting. He says it took a projected image, though not at 1080p quality.
- He says some golfers now buy impact screens from Temu, and the ones he has seen looked good. They also have grommets along the bottom, so you can flip a worn screen upside down and use it longer.
- For projectors, he suggests checking which models simulator resellers carry, then looking for those same models on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. He calls 4K a luxury and says 1080p is fine, especially if your PC can't run 4K graphics.
- He says the projector maker's own ceiling mount isn't necessary. He has always used Amazon mounts that cost £15 to £20, sized to fit the projector.
- For a second screen, he uses a 1080p TV, which he likes at 32 inches, connected to the PC over HDMI.
Making the room look finished
To cover rough plasterboard walls in his second bay, he hung three black photography backdrops from Amazon at £25 each. For the black border around the screen, he cuts black marine carpet into strips and attaches them with Velcro. He warns this takes a fair bit of DIY. For side protection, he suggests long, heavy black curtains instead of foam tiles. For lighting, he controls Tapo smart bulbs from his phone and says four of them cost about £40.
