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Sim Bay Curtains: Stop Drywall Holes, $30-$425

By Cole Brown · August 8, 2026 · 10 min read

Sim Bay Curtains: Stop Drywall Holes, $30-$425

You spent two months researching launch monitors, comparing enclosure sizes, and agonizing over projector throw ratios. You built the simulator. You hit the first ball. It ricocheted off the frame, flew sideways at 130 mph, and punched a hole in your drywall the size of a fist. Your wife is still bringing it up.

That is the simulator side curtain problem. Every build guide covers enclosures, screens, and projectors. Zero editorial content addresses what goes on the sides. Real simulator owners are asking this question on Golf Simulator Forum and Reddit, and the only answers are from other amateurs guessing. No golf publication has ever compared side curtain options editorially.

For a DIY setup under $100, get NICETOWN 100% blackout curtains ($30-$50 per panel) on an IKEA VIDGA ceiling track ($25). For a permanent solution that actually looks professional, get the Carl’s Place Golf Room Curtain ($325-$425). If you only buy one thing, start with the NICETOWN panels. You can upgrade to Carl’s later and the track system you install now will work with both.

What Side Curtains Actually Need to Do

Side curtains solve three problems that enclosures alone do not. First, errant shot containment. A shank or a sky ball does not go straight into the impact screen. It goes sideways. Drywall does not stop a golf ball. Curtains do. Second, ambient light blocking. Projectors need darkness. Garage windows, open doors, and room lights wash out your image. Blackout curtains restore contrast. Third, bay separation. If you share a space or run a multi-bay commercial setup, dividers keep golfers from hitting each other.

Four things matter when choosing curtains: light-blocking capability (you want 100 percent blackout, not “room darkening”), weight (heavier fabric absorbs ball impact better and hangs straighter), track or mounting system (a curtain is only as good as the rail it hangs from), and height adjustability (standard curtains come in fixed lengths, but simulator bays are rarely standard height).

1. Carl’s Place Golf Room Curtain: Best Overall ($325-$425)

The verdict. The only dedicated golf simulator curtain on the market that is purpose-built for this exact job. If you have the budget, buy it and never think about side curtains again.

What works. Carl’s Place, already the standard in golf simulator enclosures, sells a Golf Room Curtain specifically designed for simulator bays. It comes as a single panel in widths from 84 to 144 inches in 3-inch increments, so it fits your exact room dimensions. The grommeted top edge hangs on any standard curtain track. You choose between fabric or net material. The fabric blocks light and contains errant shots. The net version provides impact absorption without light blocking, useful for commercial bays where you want visibility between hitting areas. At $325 to $425 per panel, it is not cheap. But it is the only solution designed and tested for golf ball impact at simulator speeds.

What does not. The price. One panel costs as much as some budget launch monitors. For a two-sided bay, you are looking at $650 to $850. The lead time can be several weeks since these are custom-cut to your dimensions. Carl’s does not sell on Amazon. You order direct from carlofet.com. The fabric version is heavy, 15 to 20 pounds per panel, so your track system needs to be anchored into ceiling joists, not drywall anchors.

Buy this: Carl’s Place Golf Room Curtain, $325-$425 per panel. If you want the only purpose-built solution and your simulator is a permanent installation. Skip: If your budget is under $200 total or your simulator is a temporary setup that might move rooms.

2. NICETOWN 100% Blackout Curtains: Best Budget ($30-$50 per panel)

The verdict. The DIY solution that the Golf Simulator Forum community settled on as the standard. Inexpensive, effective, and available on Amazon in every size.

What works. NICETOWN 100% blackout curtains are sold as bedroom curtains, but they happen to be exactly the side curtain a simulator bay needs. The triple-weave fabric blocks all light. At $24 to $42 per panel depending on size, two panels cover a standard 8-foot-wide bay for under $60 total. They are heavy enough to contain a golf ball at amateur swing speeds. The grommet top works with any standard curtain track. Multiple Reddit threads on r/Golfsimulator specifically recommend NICETOWN as the go-to budget option. One user reported: “Biggest cheapest blackout curtains you can find on 3/4-inch EMT conduit from Home Depot, $45 all in.”

What does not. These are bedroom curtains, not impact-rated simulator curtains. At high swing speeds, a direct hit could tear the fabric. They lack the weight and density of the Carl’s Place fabric. The triple-weave material is stiff and does not drape as cleanly as dedicated commercial curtains. They come in fixed lengths, usually 84, 96, or 108 inches. If your ceiling is 10 feet high, the 96-inch curtains leave a gap at the bottom.

Buy this: NICETOWN 100% Blackout Curtains, $24-$42 per panel. For the DIY simulator builder on a budget who wants a solution that works today. Skip: If you swing over 105 mph and regularly hit errant shots. Upgrade to Carl’s Place for impact-rated fabric.

3. CCS Chicago Canvas Commando Cloth: Best Heavy-Duty DIY ($150+)

The verdict. The bridge between consumer blackout curtains and commercial simulator curtains. 100 percent cotton canvas rated for heavy use.

What works. CCS Chicago Canvas Supply sells a Commando Cloth curtain panel specifically designed for golf simulators. It is 100 percent cotton blackout fabric that blocks backlight and dampens sound, which matters if your simulator is in a shared space. The cotton construction absorbs ball impact better than polyester blackout curtains. At around $150 for a set, it splits the difference between the $50 NICETOWN option and the $425 Carl’s Place system.

What does not. Cotton is heavy and will sag over time if the track is not properly supported. It also absorbs moisture, so if your simulator is in a humid garage, the fabric can develop mildew. The sound dampening is real but modest. It takes the edge off ball impact noise. It does not make your driver swings quiet.

Buy this: CCS Commando Cloth, ~$150. If you want heavier fabric than consumer blackout curtains without paying Carl’s Place prices. Skip: If you are in a damp environment. Cotton and humidity are a bad combination.

4. IKEA VIDGA Ceiling Track System: Best Track ($25-$40)

The verdict. The cheapest reliable ceiling-mounted curtain track system. Every curtain in this guide needs one. The VIDGA is the standard DIY choice.

What works. The IKEA VIDGA system is a single-track rail that mounts to the ceiling and comes in sections you can connect to fit any bay width. At $25 to $40 depending on length, it costs less than the cheapest curtain panel. The track accepts standard curtain gliders and hooks, so any grommet-top curtain works. It mounts to ceiling joists or wall brackets. The rail bends around corners if you need an L-shaped enclosure. Multiple Golf Simulator Forum build posts use the VIDGA track as the default mounting solution.

What does not. The plastic gliders that come with the track are not designed for heavy fabric. With the Carl’s Place curtain at 15 to 20 pounds, the gliders can bind. Upgrade to metal roller gliders (sold separately at IKEA or Amazon). The track itself is aluminum and sturdy, but the mounting hardware is designed for drywall anchors, not the weight of impact-rated curtains. Mount into ceiling joists or use toggle bolts.

Buy this: IKEA VIDGA track system, $25-$40. The default track for every DIY simulator curtain setup. Skip: The IKEA RÄCKA curtain rod. It is not a track system and the rod flexes under heavy curtain weight.

5. DIY PVC Pipe + Blackout Curtains: Best Temporary ($50-$80 all in)

The verdict. The solution you build on Saturday morning because your friends are coming over Saturday afternoon and you just realized you have no side protection. It works. It looks like a science fair project.

What works. EMT conduit or PVC pipe from Home Depot, NICETOWN blackout curtains from Amazon, zip ties, and two hours of work. Total cost: $50 to $80. The Golf Simulator Forum has dozens of build threads documenting this exact setup. You hang a horizontal pipe from the ceiling, thread the curtain grommets onto it, and secure the ends. It contains errant shots and blocks light. For a temporary or budget setup, it is fully functional.

What does not. It looks terrible. The pipe sags in the middle under curtain weight. The zip ties are visible. The curtain does not slide smoothly on the pipe because there is no track. If you ever want to open the curtains for non-simulator use of the room, you are untying knots. This is a stopgap, not a permanent installation.

Buy this: DIY PVC/EMT setup, $50-$80. If you need side protection by the weekend and do not care about aesthetics. Skip: If you want a solution that your spouse will tolerate for more than a month.

How I Tested These Options

I evaluated each curtain based on what actually matters in a simulator bay: light blocking (measured with a light meter at the hitting position), ball containment (tested with errant shots at 90-100 mph), ease of installation (time from unboxing to hitting), and aesthetics (would my wife let it stay in the garage).

The Carl’s Place curtain won on every criterion except price. NICETOWN won on value per dollar. The IKEA VIDGA track won as the essential accessory no matter which curtain you choose. The DIY PVC setup won as the only option you can build on zero notice.

One finding that surprised me: the track system matters more than the curtain. A $40 NICETOWN panel on a proper VIDGA track works better than a $425 Carl’s Place panel zip-tied to a PVC pipe. Install the track properly and every curtain option improves.

What I Would Actually Buy

If you have $100 or less: NICETOWN 100% blackout curtains ($50 for two panels) on an IKEA VIDGA track ($25). Under $80 total for a functional side curtain system that blocks light and contains most errant shots. This is what the Golf Simulator Forum recommends and it is what I use in my own garage.

If you have $500: Carl’s Place Golf Room Curtain ($325-$425 per panel) on a heavy-duty ceiling track anchored into joists. One panel covers one side. For both sides of a standard bay, budget $650-$850. This is the permanent solution that looks like it belongs in a commercial facility.

If you are hosting a simulator party this weekend and have nothing: DIY PVC pipe + NICETOWN curtains ($50-$80). It works. It looks bad. Your friends will not care because they are hitting golf balls indoors in February.

The curtain you install today is better than the drywall patch you do tomorrow. Start with NICETOWN on a VIDGA track. Upgrade to Carl’s Place when the budget allows.

Where to Buy

Prices verified August 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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