Guides · Enclosures, mats and hitting surfaces
Carl's Place DIY vs. Pro vs. Curved vs. Built-In: Which Golf Simulator Enclosure Fits Your Room?
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Carl's Place sells four enclosure styles that solve different room problems. DIY is the lower-cost freestanding route, Pro is a heavier and more finished freestanding bay, Curved trades simplicity for a wider field of view, and Built-In turns the room itself into the enclosure. Start with the space you have and the finish you want; the enclosure should follow those decisions, not the other way around.
The Room Should Eliminate Options Before the Price Does
A garage with an awkward ceiling, a finished bonus room, and a dedicated commercial-style bay do not need the same structure. Measure usable width, height, and depth first, including the space behind the impact screen and the area the golfer needs to swing.
Carl's Place lists the DIY enclosure from $999.95, the Pro from $3,409.95, and the Curved from $4,894.95. Those are starting prices, not installed-room totals, and the Built-In kit is priced through a room customizer.
DIY Makes Sense When Cost and Custom Fit Matter Most
The DIY enclosure is built around a simpler 1-inch EMT frame. You can source and cut the pipe yourself or add a framing kit, which is one reason the entry price stays lower.
That approach works well when you are comfortable measuring carefully and doing some assembly. It suits garages, basements, and sheds where fitting the room matters more than creating a furniture-like finish.
Pro Is Still DIY Assembly, but the Structure Is More Substantial
The Pro enclosure uses a heavier 2-inch EMT structure and is aimed at a more permanent, finished bay. Carl's Place says the Pro frame is strong enough to carry mounted electronics, including projectors and overhead launch monitors. It does not make the launch monitor any more accurate.
This is the version to look at when the simulator will stay in place and you want the bay itself to feel like part of a finished room instead of a temporary frame.
Curved Changes the Projection Problem
Carl's Place describes the Curved kit as bringing a curved screen with no visible join to a DIY-friendly design. The image wraps around the hitting area instead of sitting on one flat front screen, which also makes projector planning less forgiving.
Screen shape, image mapping, projector placement, and room width need to be planned together. A projector layout that worked on a flat 16:9 screen should not be assumed to transfer cleanly to a curved surface.
Built-In Works Best When the Room Is Permanent
The Built-In Golf Room Kit uses a wall-to-wall screen with padded wall and ceiling panels instead of a freestanding cage, and Carl's Place says it is "designed for handy people skilled at home reno projects." It can use the available width efficiently and look cleaner in a dedicated golf room, but field measurements matter more because the walls, outlets, trim, doors, and ceiling transitions become part of the installation.
Screen Material Is a Separate Decision
Do not let the enclosure name choose the screen for you. Carl's Place offers different impact-screen materials, and the right one depends on how much you care about image smoothness, impact noise, durability, and cost.
A practice-first room may do fine with a less expensive screen. A simulator that also doubles as a theater may benefit more from a smoother premium surface than from another cosmetic enclosure upgrade.
Leave Space Behind the Screen
Rear clearance is easy to forget because you cannot see it once the room is finished. Carl's Place publishes a recommended gap behind each enclosure. In a short room, that one foot can move the tee, launch monitor, and projector enough to change the entire layout.
Choose the enclosure after the room has passed the swing and equipment-fit test.