Page Title: We Built the “Shank Tank” So You Don’t Have To.
The Short Version
SimGolfLab is the anti-confusion resource for garage golfers. We believe you shouldn’t need an engineering degree to hang a projector, and you definitely shouldn’t need $20,000 to play Pebble Beach in your pajamas. We test the gear, do the math, and write the cut lists so you can build a pro-level sim for a “DIY” price.
The “Why We Exist” Story
It started with a returned projector.
Two years ago, I decided to build a golf simulator in my garage. I read the forums. I watched the YouTube videos. I felt confident.
I bought a “4K Projector” that everyone recommended. I mounted it to my ceiling. I fired it up… and realized it cast a giant shadow of my head directly onto the screen.
I had bought a “Standard Throw” projector instead of a “Short Throw.” I had to pay a 15% restocking fee to return it. Then I bought a net that was “guaranteed” to catch balls—until a 7-iron tore through it and dented my drywall.
I realized something frustrating: The Golf Simulator industry is terrible at explaining logistics.
- They tell you what to buy, but not where to put it.
- They sell you a $3,000 launch monitor but don’t tell you it stops working if your fridge is running nearby.
- They gatekeep the hobby, making you think if you don’t have $20k, you can’t play.
SimGolfLab was born to fix that.
Our “Lab Rules” (What Makes Us Different)
We operate by three simple rules that you won’t find on generic review sites.
1. The “Garage Reality” Check We don’t test gear in a massive, empty warehouse. We test it in real garages—places with concrete floors, metal door tracks, and limited depth. If a launch monitor works in a pro studio but fails when parked next to a water heater, we tell you.
2. We Do The Math You shouldn’t have to struggle with Pythagorean theorems to figure out where to drill holes in your ceiling. We provide “Copy/Paste” Cheat Sheets for:
- Projector Throw Distances.
- Enclosure Pipe Cut Lists.
- Minimum Room Dimensions.
3. The “No-Sew” Promise We love DIY, but we hate sewing. All our build guides are designed for standard tools: a pipe cutter, a drill, and a wrench. If a project requires a sewing machine or welding, we won’t recommend it.
Meet the “Chief Lab Rat”
I’m Brian, the founder of SimGolfLab. I’m not a PGA Pro. I’m a middle-aged tech guy who just wanted to hit balls at night without freezing.
I’ve made every mistake in the book:
- ❌ I’ve shattered a fluorescent light bulb with a wedge.
- ❌ I’ve bought software that required a PC twice as powerful as the one I owned.
- ❌ I’ve built an enclosure that was 2 inches too tall for my ceiling.
Now, I document those failures so your build is perfect on the first try.
Where Should You Start?
If you are new here, don’t buy a single thing until you read these three guides:
- [The Swing & Duck Test]: Find out if your room is actually big enough (before you buy).
- [The $500 Enclosure]: Download our Home Depot shopping list.
- [SkyTrak+ vs. Mevo+]: The only comparison that accounts for your garage’s interference.
Welcome to the Lab. Let’s build something awesome.