Golf lovers around the world will agree that they’ve dreamt of having their very own golf simulator. And as golf simulators have drastically reduced in cost over the last decade, more and more people are making that dream a reality. A golf simulator lets you experience all of the fun of going to your favorite course for the day, without having to leave the comfort of your home. What's not to love? Well, while the cool-factor of having a golf simulator is definitely worth every penny, a lot of owners forget that golf isn't the quietest activity in the world.

You may not realize just how loud hitting a golf ball is when you're outdoors on an actual course, but when you're inside an enclosed space, you can’t miss it! Hitting a golf ball actually makes a pretty loud WHACK that can be amplified when you don't have the proper sound barriers and absorption installed.

That's why we're creating this guide. We want you to be able to enjoy your golf simulator without having to worry about being too loud for those around you. Second Skin Audio has all of the golf simulator noise reduction and soundproofing materials needed to keep your game quiet, so you can stay focused.

Step 1: Impact Resistant Sound Absorption Behind The Golf simulator Screen

Let's start off by adding some materials behind the screen of your golf simulator. We install our BlocknZorbe Sound Panels behind the screen. BlocknZorbe panels are absorptive, lightweight, water resistant, and impact resistant. They should be installed behind the screen, which will flex back several inches before contacting the panels. They also will be able to take direct hits from some golf balls if you're having an off-day with your aim. This golf simulator wall padding is super easy to hang on your walls and are one of the few acoustic panels that block and absorb noise simultaneously. While BlocknZorbe is the most impact resistant acoustical panel out there, we would still recommend that there be an object in front of the panels to protect them, but in a pinch, they can withstand some periodic abuse from stray golf balls. By fully covering a wall with the BlocknZorbe panels, you’ll notice a significant reduction in reverb inside your golf simulator without installing any other sound absorption. Perfect for when you're trying to hit that ball harder than Happy Gilmore!

Step 2: Further Reducing Reverb and Soundproofing with Golf Simulator Wall Padding

Now that you've got the BlocknZorbe behind the screen, it's time to work on soundproofing walls in the rest of the room. Believe it or not, this can be tricky. You're going to want to first figure what kind of treatment your specific room needs.

If you're in an open concept room or a room that has harder bases like concrete in a garage, then you're most likely going to be hearing a decent amount of echo and reverb when you hit the golf ball. To help combat this, we'd recommend you get some acoustic panels to install on your walls. The best places to install these panels will be on hard surfaces near where you’re striking the golf ball (wall and ceiling), although anywhere in the room will be helpful. You can go with more BlocknZorbe panels or upgrade to a more decorative fabric wrapped panel or PolyZorbe panel. Adding acoustical panels is best for controlling the noise that's happening inside of the room.

If you're looking to stop noise from getting out of the room then we need to take a different approach – now we’re talking about soundproofing. You're going to want to seal up the room as best as you can, like it’s a swimming pool you don’t want water to leak out of. The most common opportunity for soundproofing is the door to the room. First, make sure you have a solid core door. Next, seal up the gaps with a door seal kit. Those small gaps around the door can allow a ton of noise to escape the room. That's why we have our Sound Lock Door Seal Kit. This kit will stop noise from leaving the room by blocking the openings around the door. All you need to do is install this kit around the perimeter of the door.

Now that you've taken care of the wall behind your golf simulator screen and sealed the perimeter of your doors, the noise level and soundproofing will be substantially. But you can take it a step further; why not, right?

If additional soundproofing is needed, your options depend on the construction of the room. Let’s assume you already have the walls studded out with drywall. You’ll need to seal up the gaps around the perimeter and any penetrations with acoustical sealant. Then add a new layer of 5/8” drywall with Green Glue between the two layers. If you have a different setup, feel free to contact us to discuss your situation!

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