Simple tips to take care of your indoor golf simulator
Now that you’ve made the investment in a golf simulator for your home or business, you’ll need to maintain it to keep it looking and working like new. Your manufacturer will have the appropriate recommendations for your systems, and you should always follow the instructions according to their instructions. Each simulator on the market is different and although the simulators are similar there are still significant differences in the care of the units.
Control the dust!
Always require players to use clean clubs! If you allow players to use clubs that are a bit dirty, all that dirt will end up in and around your sim. Dirt and dust do not mix with the computer and sensors. Dust can be a big problem for your system, especially in commercial settings. I have a set of exposure sticks that I have available for players to use, I will clean these sticks with a damp cloth once a month, just to control dust. I have my players clean their clubs every time they play just to remove as much dirt as possible. Even if a club looks clean, it may have a bit of dirt in the club’s groves; This dirt will end up in your simulator in a few hits.
The same goes for golf balls, I only let players use balls from home (which are new, never used outside) or new balls that I inspect before I play. If a ball has some wear marks, when the ball hits the screen, it can make friction burns on the screen worse or even damage the screen over time. You want to keep an eye on the balls being used, over time they can crack or even break, while being used in a simulator.
I recommend removing as much dirt as possible (describe above) before players set foot in the simulator. He cleaned the dust around the computer once a week and also vacuumed the area where the player hits the ball at least once a week. If you have a commercial golf center, I would recommend doing these tasks every day.
Follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for cleaning the projector. Make sure the projector lens is free of dirt; It can greatly extend the life of the projector bulb, which is very expensive to replace. Most projector manufacturers do not guarantee the bulb at all. Therefore, preventive maintenance on your projector can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars over time.
Keep the sensor area clean!
All golf simulators use some type of sensor technology to track and interpret data, to ensure good results your sensors must be clean. Again, each manufacturer will offer the proper way to clean the sensors, but a simple tip is to keep the area free of debris. Often times, small pieces of grass are dislodged and over time this can block or interrupt a sensor. If you have a camera-based system, make sure nothing is in sight of the camera’s path. Even a small pebble can cause a misreading by a camera-based simulator. My advice vacuum frequently and keep all your sensors as clean as possible.
Screen maintenance:
Friction burns will occur in most simulators. This is when the golf ball hits the screen and makes a small mark. You can help minimize these ball marks by keeping the screen clean. Contact your manufacturer for advice on how to clean your screen. Many of the screens can be wiped with a damp cloth (not a paper towel) to remove dust and dirt. Contact your manufacturer before using water; some screens will be damaged by the use of water. If it has been a while since you cleaned your screen, you will be surprised by all the dust and dirt that comes off your cloth.
By following these simple tips, you can help extend the life and reliability of your simulator.