Before ordering a Carl’s Place Curved Enclosure, separate the outside frame width, the screen width along the curve and the width at the projection plane. Those measurements answer different questions. Using the largest number as the room width or as a flat-screen projector input can send the entire layout in the wrong direction.
The Carl’s Place Curved Golf Simulator Enclosure Kit gives you a curved impact surface and enclosure components. The pipe framing kit is separate. This guide uses manufacturer dimensions and original planning examples; it is not a hands-on review or a promise that any particular projector will fit.
Three widths, three jobs
| Measurement | Use it for | Do not substitute it for |
|---|---|---|
| Actual outside width | Checking whether the structure fits in the room | The usable image width |
| Width at projection plane | Describing the straight span shown in the manufacturer’s screen diagram | The curved fabric measurement |
| Width along the curve | Describing the curved screen surface | The space between the room’s side walls |
For selected standard sizes, Carl’s current specification sheet gives the following measurements. The listing labels below are height × width, matching the store options. All numerical widths are in inches.
| Listing size H × W | Outside frame | Projection plane | Along the curve |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 14 ft | 166 | 160 | 198.9 |
| 9.5 × 16 ft | 194 | 188 | 221.1 |
| 10 × 17 ft | 205 | 199 | 230.2 |
Example: the 9 × 14-foot option has a 160-inch projection-plane width and a 198.9-inch width along the curve. The difference is 38.9 inches. Neither figure replaces its 166-inch outside frame width when checking the room. The nominal “14” in the product option is not an installation drawing.
Draw the curved screen in plan view
A rectangle on graph paper can hide the main constraint. Draw the screen’s curved shape, the sidewalls and the backset fittings from the selected size’s diagram. Mark the intended ball position and proposed lens position on the same drawing.
Carl’s identifies a 9.5-inch minimum for the rear fittings and recommends 12 inches of rear buffer. Check how the selected drawing defines overall footprint depth so the rear allowance is neither omitted nor counted twice. The complete playing area also includes swing and equipment requirements beyond the enclosure footprint.
Then draw a side view. Include the finished floor, screen height, enclosure top, ceiling obstructions and the complete projector body. This reveals issues that a front-facing picture cannot: a beam in the light path, a mount drop that reaches the swing area, or an inaccessible connector after installation.
Decide how the curved image will be corrected
A curved surface changes the projection geometry across the picture. Carl’s discusses single-projector arrangements using image warping and the possible trade-offs in focus and usable resolution. A multi-projector design adds blending and alignment requirements. Choose the projection approach before ordering around an assumed mounting spot.
Ask for a setup plan covering your exact screen geometry, projector model, lens position, correction method and simulator application. A demonstration that fills a different curved screen does not settle those details for your room.
| Question | Useful answer to obtain |
|---|---|
| What dimensions were used? | The selected enclosure drawing and identified projection plane |
| How will the picture be corrected? | The projector’s supported warping workflow or specified external solution |
| What happens to edge detail? | A check of text and grid lines at the center and both ends |
| Does the complete interface remain visible? | Course view, menus and score panels checked at the intended resolution |
| Where is the lens reference? | A measured lens position, not just a ceiling bracket location |
Keep the enclosure order and projection order explicit
The reviewed enclosure listing includes the selected screen, surround, fittings, fastening hardware and foam inserts. It lists the pipe kit separately. Confirm any back cover, its supporting pipes, baffles and equipment mounts as individual order items.
Keep electronics and software on their own lines. An enclosure kit does not automatically include a projector, launch monitor, computer, hitting mat or image-warping software. If an existing component will be reused, record its model and the requirement it satisfies.
Assembly details worth checking before delivery
The curved enclosure manual uses a frame assembly sheet specific to the ordered dimensions. It also calls attention to fittings whose orientation must be correct before the frame is finished. Keep that sheet with the pipe inventory and identify the fittings before assembling a large structure.
Leave working access for the screen and its adjustments. Arrange the floor transition so it can be reviewed with the screen installed, rather than permanently finishing around an assumed bottom edge. Follow the supplied assembly sequence and tension instructions for the actual kit.
Use a final image check with five observations
- Show a grid and check the center, left end and right end separately.
- Display circles in those three areas and inspect their shape.
- Read small text at the center and edges from the normal viewing position.
- Open the simulator’s menus and course view to check for hidden controls or cropping.
- Photograph the result and record resolution, lens position and correction settings.
This produces a useful installation record without treating “the screen lights up” as the end of setup. Repeat it after changing the projector, source resolution or correction profile.
Choose curved when the whole layout supports it
Investigate the curved kit when its footprint, viewing experience and projection work suit the room. If a flat installation better matches the available space, our Carl’s DIY vs Pro guide explains those structures. For the curved option, send the room drawing and intended electronics with your selected enclosure size so the fit can be reviewed as a complete arrangement.
