Looking for advice on a retractable screen and curtain setup for my carport… anyone done this?

I’m working on a carport sim build and could use some advice if anyone has any to share!

I didn’t realize how much the sun would make the screen so bright, so I’m thinking about adding blackout curtains behind the net. If anyone has a simpler or better idea, I’d love to hear it.

For the front net, I plan to use some clips to tighten it up. I’m not sure if just having a hanging net is enough or if I should add some extra protection on the top part.

I’ve got a 20x10 hitting net that I’ll cut down to fit around the enclosure, mostly to cover the gaps between the curtain and the hitting screen. I thought about dropping the hitting net enclosure entirely but haven’t found a strong enough way to attach the curtain and screen together.

The best method I’ve come up with to secure the curtain/screen to the track is using wire carabiner combos, but I’m open to better suggestions!

I also have some all-weather sandbags to add tension to the curtain’s front.

I’d really appreciate any tips or guidance!



Maybe you could fill a garden hose with sand and attach it to the bottom of the screen. The black curtain idea sounds good, but I’d also wrap it around the sides just to cover any gaps.

Payton said:
Maybe you could fill a garden hose with sand and attach it to the bottom of the screen. The black curtain idea sounds good, but I’d also wrap it around the sides just to cover any gaps.

How would you suggest attaching it? Or should I just lay it down?

Wind might be your biggest challenge here, just a heads-up.

Kim said:
Wind might be your biggest challenge here, just a heads-up.

Yeah, that’s my concern too. I’m planning to use sandbags and carabiners to keep things secure. There’s also a rope through the bottom of the curtains.

@ElonX
Maybe ditch the screen and just use a net instead? You could still use a launch monitor hooked up to a laptop or tablet to get the data or even play sim golf.

I’m working on my own carport golf simulator setup too, so this caught my eye! I’m also thinking about an impact screen with a projector, but that’s the tricky part. My fence blocks most of the wind, but here are a few ideas for you…

  1. Like someone else said, a net with a TV might be easier. It’s not quite the same as an impact screen, but way less hassle.

  2. If you’re sticking with the screen, maybe put up some lattice behind it to block the wind. You could also cover the lattice with mesh to stop more wind from getting through.

@Bliss
Totally agree, a net and TV would be way easier, but I’m excited to see if I can make this work.

The screen turned out heavier than I expected, which is good. I’m thinking of using tape and stitching to keep it all together.

I got a 4000-lumen projector off eBay, and I’m planning to put it in a case for protection. It should project a 90" image from 10 feet away. I’m using a Sig Pro Softy and a gaming laptop for the setup, hoping it all comes together.

@ElonX
Sounds awesome, good luck with it! I’m in Florida, so I have to be able to take mine down when there’s a hurricane coming. That’s already happened a couple of times this year.

I’d put something heavy behind your screen to stop it from blowing back. That’ll reduce wear and tear. Maybe use a thick black stage blanket or sound blanket—it’ll block the light and give the screen some extra support.

@Keaton
Yeah, I’m thinking about using blackout curtains with Velcro to make the screen heavier and more stable.

Grab a large, heavy-duty tarp and a set of 4” tarp clamps. For my setup, I used a 10mm thick black and green tarp wrapped around an EMT frame.
image

@Zane
This is what mine looks like during the day in my SoCal backyard, using a budget ViewSonic projector.

@Zane
Looks great! Is it a semi-permanent setup or easy to move around?

ElonX said:
@Zane
Looks great! Is it a semi-permanent setup or easy to move around?

I usually set it up on Thursdays and take it down by Sunday. I can do it by myself in about 30 minutes. The frame is 10x14x10, and I added wheels so I can roll it to the back of the yard.

@Zane
Here’s a link to the tarps I used: Heavy Duty Poly Tarp 12 Feet x 20 Feet 10 Mil Thick Waterproof, UV Blocking Protective Cover - Reversible Green and Black - Laminated Coating - Grommets - by Xpose Safety - Amazon.com