A golf simulator screen is not rigid. It has to work: absorb the impact, give a little and release the energy so the ball dies on the screen and drops just in front of the golfer. That is why the way a screen is hung matters as much as the fabric itself. A badly mounted screen wears out faster, sends balls back at the player and creates ripples that show up in the projected image.

The golden rule: never fix the sides or the bottom of the screen rigidly to the frame, especially in the middle section. Only the corners may be fixed rigidly. The hook-and-loop (Velcro) strip along the edge of the screen is there to attach side curtains and the top valance, not to fasten the screen to the frame.

What every SIM|GOLF screen has in common

• 5 cm top and side borders with a black finish, optionally with sewn-on Velcro (black, or white on screens with a white finish).
• 10–15 mm grommets.
• On request, a top band made of a black, matte, heavy-duty fabric for when the screen needs to reach the ceiling.

Below are our mounting systems, from the simplest to the most advanced.

1. STANDARD system: grommets all the way round

The screen has grommets around its entire perimeter. The top is attached to the frame profile or to hooks with elastic cord, the sides with loosely tied ball bungees, and the bottom via the grommets. This is our standard impact screen and how most golfers play at home.

Pros

• The simplest and most affordable option.
• Works with any frame, wall or ceiling.
• Easy to install yourself, and the screen is easy to take down and move.

Cons

• The bottom edge can be restless: it may bounce after impact and ripple.
• Balls can roll under the screen.
• The result depends on how carefully it is installed; rush the job and it is easy to over-tension the screen.

2. STANDARD + bottom sleeve

As above, but the bottom of the screen ends in a 5–8 cm sleeve. We slide a weight chain into the sleeve (a 10 mm rod in heat-shrink tubing, in 1 m sections that fold up for transport), an elastic cord, a steel cable or a rope.

Pros

• The bottom edge is weighted and straight.
• Installation is still simple.

Cons

• Extra cost, and the chain adds weight.
• The sleeve is visible. Ideally, hide it behind a SIM|WEDGE Puzzle platform.
• Tension along the bottom is still not as even as with the SIM system.
• The screen bounces, and balls can get behind it.

3. ROD system: fibreglass rods

The sides of the screen are folded back and stitched to form a sleeve, into which we insert a 6–8 mm fibreglass rod. Every 50–60 cm there are half-moon cut-outs where a bungee cord wraps around the rod and runs to the frame profile or to an angle bracket on the wall (V-type mounting). The rods work like leaf springs: they spread the tension along the full height of each side and cushion the impact. The top is attached with grommets or an extended band with grommets, the bottom with a sleeve or by wrapping it around the frame profile. See: ROD SYSTEM screen.

Pros

• Very straight sides, with no ripples or “teeth” at the grommets.
• Extra cushioning that a small screen cannot provide on its own. We recommend ROD for screens narrower than 4 m.
• Works on a BFS frame and on a wall (perforated L-brackets).
• Quick to mount the sides. Ideal for professional golf studios and indoor centres, where screen changeover time matters.

Cons

• More expensive than the standard system, and the cut is 5–7 cm wider on each side.

4. SIM system: wrapped around the bottom profile (BFS Hybrid / Full)

This is our own technology for full simulator installations. The top and bottom profiles of the BFS frame sit in the same plane. The screen is wrapped around the bottom profile a few centimetres above the floor, and its edge is attached to the rear profile with grommets and elastic cord. A SIM|WEDGE Puzzle platform sits in front of the screen, and its turf covers the gap. See: BFS HYBRID golf frame.

Pros

• The most even tension across the whole surface, with no ripples.
• Balls cannot get behind or under the screen.
• The cleanest look: no visible edges or fixings.

Cons

• Requires a BFS Hybrid or Full frame (with BFS Simple, choose systems 1–3).
• The finished floor height must be known before installation, and a SIM|WEDGE Puzzle is practically a must.
• A project-based solution, usually installed by our team.

Finally: DISP, the dispersion layer

DISP does not replace any of the systems above; it complements them. It is an additional layer of special white mesh hung behind the screen, against its back surface. See: dispersion layer.

How we mount it

• Top: with grommets to the top profile, or with Velcro to the upper back edge of the screen. The choice depends on the system, the available height and whether the layer should be independent (it stays in place when the screen is taken down) or part of the screen, e.g. when a customer is replicating a system they already have.
• Bottom: in the SIM system, the mesh is wrapped around the bottom profile and attached to the rear profile, about 30–40 cm behind the screen. In the other systems it ends in a sleeve just above the floor or profile. A polyester rope, elastic cord or, less often, a cable goes into the sleeve and is tied off to the sides so the bottom does not bounce.

What it is for

On impact, the screen can deflect locally by as much as 30 cm towards the wall. The dispersion layer absorbs part of that energy.

Pros

• Less space needed behind the screen. Without DISP, the screen should hang about 35–40 cm from the wall. With the dispersion layer, 25–30 cm is enough and the ball still won’t hit the wall.
• Longer screen life. The ball doesn’t push as deep into the screen, so a smaller area of fabric takes the hit. This matters most with wedges and short irons (9-iron, 8-iron, PW, SW). A ball with heavy spin “hangs” in the screen for a split second, and the spin abrades the fabric at that spot.
• The ball dies faster. It loses energy more quickly and drops closer to the screen.

Cons

• Extra cost and one more layer to install.
• Needs a fixing point at the back (a rear profile) or a bottom sleeve with a cord.

How to choose: a quick guide

Situation	Recommended system
Home screen, DIY installation, sensible budget	1. STANDARD
As above, but with a straight, weighted bottom edge	2. STANDARD + sleeve
Screen narrower than 4 m, BFS frame or wall	3. ROD
Full installation on a BFS Hybrid / Full frame	4. SIM
Little space behind the screen, or heavy use (club, studio)	Any system + DISP

Whatever the system, tension is what makes the difference. A simple test: hit a driver or an iron (not a wedge). The ball should die on the screen and drop no further back than just in front of your feet. If it bounces back well past you, the screen is too tight. We will cover this step by step in a separate guide: How to tension a golf simulator screen.

Not sure which system to choose? Get in touch: sim@simgolf.pl, tel. +48 797 989 119, or order the PRELIMINARY STEP – simulator design and quote.