Golf is always something fun to head out to the course and play for a while. Almost everyone in the world has swung a golf club or stepped on a golf course at some point in their lives. Although it seems like the weather is always great on the golf course, inclement weather can put a literal damper on golf day. Because of this, many people are turning to building golf simulators in their basements. No weather indoors means golfing at any time from the comfort of your own home!
Now that you have decided to have a golf simulator in your home, it is time to build it! Most importantly, in the process of building the simulator, you will need to make sure it is safe. Naturally, if a golf ball hits a rigid surface, it will bounce. In an enclosed space in your house, that bounce back can be extremely dangerous, so it is crucial that you prevent that from happening as much as possible.
Believe it or not, foam is actually the best remedy for the safety issues here. Not just any foam, though. Closed-cell foam is generally too rigid and will cause the same issues you were having with the wall surfaces. Conventional open-cell foam has elastic properties to it, so this can cause the ball to bounce off the surface of the foam, as well. The best foam to use for this application is actually our 3lb Memory Foam topper.
You might be wondering, “Why memory foam? Aren’t those used for mattresses?” As odd as this may sound, the reason this foam is used as golf simulator padding is the same reason they are used as mattress toppers. When we lay on a memory foam mattress topper, it contours to our body, and offers us support. When a golf ball strikes the 3lb memory foam, the foam reacts by contouring to the ball, which in turn absorbs the impact, and redistributes it into the foam. This causes the golf ball to drop with little to no bounce back.
Typically, it is suggested to cover as much area as possible with panels of this material to get as much protection as you can. The most important spot to put the materials, however, would be on the back wall and a good portion of the sides in the direction you will be hitting the ball. To help the foam last longer, it can also be helpful to upholster these panels with a durable fabric, like vinyl.
Once you have the memory foam placed, and the rest of your golf simulator built, you can enjoy a golf day from home. Even better, you can do this in the safest way possible with 3lb Memory Foam from Foam Factory. If you have any other questions regarding your application, feel free to Contact Us directly!
Hey I’m wondering how you would apply the memory foam to drywall behind the golf sim screen. Thank you
The most efficient way to do this would be to put the 3lb Memory Foam Topper on wood, and then anchor the wood to the wall behind the screen. If you have further questions, please feel free to Contact Us.
I am looking for something for my ceiling to absorb golf balls in my golf simulator. Do you sell foam sections wrapped in black fabric? I see on your website a picture of a simulator with 2 x 2 foam squares in a lighter color fabric. Thanks
Please Contact Usfor further information regarding your inquiry.
what is the best application method to install on wood as mentioned above?
We would typically suggest adhering the foam to the wood using a Spray Adhesive, and then anchoring those to the wall.