The Hitting Bay · Comparison Guide
Carl's Place vs Gungho Golf:
Which Simulator System Is Right for You?
Two of the most respected names in home golf simulator enclosures, screens, and hitting mats. Different design philosophies, different strengths — and genuinely different fits for different rooms and build styles. Here's an honest comparison of both systems across every dimension that matters.
Disclosure: The Hitting Bay is an authorised Gungho Golf dealer. We sell Gungho products. That means this guide could easily be biased toward Gungho — we've worked hard to make sure it isn't. Where Carl's Place is the better choice, we say so clearly. Where Gungho wins, we explain why. Where it genuinely depends, we tell you what it depends on.
Carl's Place founded
2006
Milton, Wisconsin — one of the earliest DIY sim companies
CP screen options
4 tiers
Standard · Preferred · Premium · High-Contrast Gray
Gungho USP
Pre-cut kit
Frame pipes included and pre-cut — no hardware store run
Bottom line
Both are good
Decision comes down to build style, not quality
Who They Are
Two Different Approaches to the Same Problem
Carl's Place and Gungho Golf both make excellent golf simulator enclosures, impact screens, and hitting mats. They've arrived at those products from different starting points — and that history shapes what each company does best.
Carl's Place
Founded in 2006 in Milton, Wisconsin by Carl Fierek, who wanted a big projection screen for Mario Kart and discovered the same technology worked for golf. Carl's Place grew into one of the most customisation-forward simulator companies in the market. Their philosophy is flexibility: screen materials in four tiers, enclosures from compact DIY kits to large commercial Pro and Curved systems, every dimension customisable to the inch. They sell more screen types and more size combinations than almost anyone else. The DIY C-Series uses 1-inch EMT conduit sourced locally from hardware stores, which keeps costs down but means a hardware store trip is part of the build process.
Gungho Golf
A newer entrant to the residential simulator market, Gungho was built around the installer's experience — what does a complete, professional-standard kit look like when everything needed for the build ships in one box? Their DIY enclosure kit includes pre-cut, pre-labelled pipes — no hardware store required. Their Holy Grail hitting strip is a construction they spent over a year refining for their own studio installs before selling it commercially. They've since added a retractable screen system for shared garages and a built-in screen kit for permanent wall installations. The product line is more focused than Carl's Place, with fewer variants — each one designed to be the best version of that specific thing rather than the most configurable.
The honest bottom line before we go deeper
Carl's Place and Gungho Golf are both genuinely good. In the simulator community, both are consistently recommended as top-tier options, and independently reviewed against each other they produce similar results on image quality and enclosure durability. The decision between them is not "which one is better" — it's "which one fits your specific build situation." If you're the kind of person who wants the maximum customisation flexibility and is happy to source your own EMT pipes, Carl's Place is probably the better fit. If you want a complete, everything-included kit that ships pre-cut and assembles directly, Gungho fits better. The rest of this guide explains what those differences mean in practice.
Enclosure Systems
Enclosure Comparison: Frame, Fabric, and Assembly
Both companies use EMT conduit frames with fabric enclosure walls. The key differences are in whether the pipe is included, the fabric material, and what side protection comes with the kit.
Carl's Place DIY C-Series
- →1-inch EMT conduit frame — purchased separately from a hardware store (or add the Pipe Framing Kit for pre-cut pipes at additional cost)
- →Black nylon fabric enclosure walls — blocks ambient light effectively, durable
- →Steel corner fittings included — connects pipes without tools
- →Side netting via separate shank net add-on (budget DIY models) or requires deeper enclosure on Pro models
- →Cabled screen bottom — keeps screen flush to the floor for borderless turf-to-screen visual. A genuinely excellent design detail.
- →Foam inserts for frame padding available as add-on
- →Pro Enclosure uses 2-inch EMT — heavier, more complex, better for commercial builds
Gungho DIY Enclosure Kit
- →Pre-cut, pre-labelled pipe frame included in the kit — no hardware store run required. Cuts one step out of the build process.
- →Enclosure walls and mounting hardware all included — assemble directly from the box
- →Full bilateral side netting included as standard — catches heel hooks and shanks on both left and right sides without an add-on purchase
- →Ceiling netting panel included — catches topped shots before they leave the bay
- →Impact screen matched and included with the enclosure — you're not choosing screen material separately
- →Retractable and Built-In variants available for shared spaces and permanent wall installations
Carl's Place wins
Maximum customisation. Wider range of enclosure types (DIY, Pro, Curved) and size combinations. The cabled borderless screen bottom is a genuine differentiator for immersion. Pro Enclosure is the right choice for large commercial builds.
Gungho wins
Everything-in-the-box assembly. No hardware store run. Full side netting included as standard — not an add-on. The retractable system is unique to Gungho and has no direct Carl's Place equivalent.
Impact Screens
Impact Screen Comparison: Materials, Projection, and Bounceback
The impact screen is the most important component in a simulator — it determines projection quality, ball containment, and noise. Both companies take it seriously. Carl's Place offers more options; Gungho's screen is a known quantity.
Carl's Place — Four Screen Tiers
- StandardEntry-level mesh. Adequate for casual play and lower-lumen projectors. Visible texture at close viewing distance. More bounceback than the upper tiers.
- Preferred100% heavy-duty polyester, smoother weave. Noticeably better image at 1080p. Less bounceback than Standard. Good mid-tier choice.
- PremiumThree-layer construction. Smoothest surface, best noise dampening, rated to 250 mph. 4K-ready. The most commonly chosen Carl's Place screen in serious builds.
- Hi-Con GraySame as Premium but tinted gray. Improves black levels and contrast in rooms with ambient light (windows, overhead lighting). New for 2026. Genuinely useful for garage builds that can't fully control daylight.
Gungho — Premium Woven Screen
- ✓Tight woven construction — the weave is not visible through the projected image at playing distance, producing a smooth continuous display
- ✓Bright white surface — reflects projector light evenly across the full screen area
- ✓Rated to 250 mph ball speed — same rating as Carl's Premium tier
- ✓Reduced bounceback — ball decelerates through the fabric and stays within the landing zone
- ✓Custom sized to your enclosure opening — manufactured to exact dimensions with finished edges and grommets
- →One screen material (no tier choice) — the screen that comes with the kit is the screen you get
Carl's Place wins
More options — particularly the High-Contrast Gray Premium for rooms with ambient light. The ability to choose Standard for a budget build and Premium for a serious one, within the same product family, is genuine flexibility.
Performance: essentially tied
Carl's Premium and Gungho's woven screen perform similarly in community comparisons. Both appear in top recommendations on Golf Simulator Forum and Reddit alongside Indoor Golf Shop. "You can't go wrong with either" is the honest community consensus.
The borderless bottom: One area where Carl's Place has a clear design advantage is the cabled screen bottom — it keeps the screen flush to the floor for a seamless turf-to-screen visual with no gap between the hitting mat and the image. Gungho's screen mounts to the enclosure frame with a small border at the bottom. For golfers who prioritise immersion and find the visual gap distracting, this is a genuine differentiator in Carl's Place's favour.
Hitting Mats
Hitting Mat Comparison: HotShot vs Holy Grail
Both companies make their own hitting strips and mats. These are the most directly competing products in each lineup, and the differences are genuinely meaningful.
Carl's Place — HotShot Hitting Mat & Divot Strip
- ✓Fiber-base construction — allows real wooden tees to be pressed into the surface without damaging it. Significant practical advantage for players who use wooden tees with driver.
- ✓Three insert options: Standard, Foam, Gel — firmness can be chosen to preference. The Advanced/Gel version produces a more solid, less spongy feel on impact.
- ✓Available in 4×5, 4×9, and 5×8 ft mat sizes
- ✓Divot strip comes in one size only (12×30") — limited vs Gungho's three sizes
- →Community comparisons: Advanced insert described as firmer and more "realistic" feel than the Holy Grail's standard version. A matter of personal preference.
Gungho — Holy Grail Hitting Strip & Mat
- ✓Multi-layer foam construction — softer upper / firmer lower — produces accurate fat shot feedback without full impact energy transmission to wrists and elbows
- ✓GrassTex Money Putt turf surface — consistent feel, maintains pile height with heavy use
- ✓Three strip sizes: 12×30", 12×35", 12×46.5" — the 46.5" Pro covers both LH and RH address positions simultaneously
- ✓Water-jet cut edges for flush subfloor inset installation
- ✓Ball position 3 inches from edge — compatible with side-mounted camera monitors (GC3, Bushnell LPi)
- →Does not accept wooden tees — requires rubber/flexible tees (Birtees, Carl's Hot Shot Tees)
Carl's Place wins
If you need to use real wooden tees with driver. The fiber-base HotShot is the only hitting strip in this category that genuinely supports wooden tee use without damaging the surface.
Gungho wins
Three strip sizes including the 46.5" dual-handed option. Flush inset installation design. Joint-protective multi-layer foam. Better choice for shared LH/RH setups and builders who use rubber tees.
The tee question is the decision: If you hit driver with a real wooden tee as a non-negotiable, choose Carl's Place HotShot. The fiber base accommodates wooden tees cleanly. The Gungho Holy Grail's GrassTex turf surface will be damaged by wooden tees over time — it requires rubber flexible tees (Birtees or similar). For players who already use rubber tees, or who only tee up with flexible tees, the Holy Grail is the better constructed hitting surface. For players who specifically need wooden tee compatibility, HotShot is the right call.
Side by Side
Full Feature Comparison
| Feature | Carl's Place | Gungho Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Frame material | 1" EMT (buy separately or add Pipe Kit) | Pre-cut pipes included in kit |
| Side netting | Add-on (budget models) or separate purchase | Bilateral netting included as standard |
| Screen tiers | 4 tiers: Standard, Preferred, Premium, Hi-Con Gray | One woven screen (premium grade) |
| Borderless screen bottom | Yes — cabled design, screen flush to floor | Frame border at bottom |
| Retractable system | Not available | Yes — ceiling-mounted, 30-second deploy |
| Built-in wall system | Custom Pro/Curved (high-end) | Built-In Screen Kit (from $1,403) |
| Hitting strip sizes | One size only (12×30") | Three sizes (30", 35", 46.5") |
| Wooden tee support | Yes — fiber-base HotShot accepts wooden tees | No — GrassTex requires rubber/flex tees only |
| Hitting mat firmness options | Three inserts: Standard, Foam, Gel | One construction (standard foam stack) |
| LH/RH shared setup | 4×9 mat size available | 46.5" strip covers both sides simultaneously |
| Screen customisation | Dozens of size combinations, multiple aspect ratios | Multiple heights + widths, custom to order |
| Ambient light screen | High-Contrast Gray — designed for ambient light rooms | Standard white (4,000+ lumen projector recommended) |
| DIY enclosure price | From ~$1,199 (screen + enclosure, pipes extra) | From $2,199 (all-in-one, pipes included) |
| Community reputation | Consistent top recommendation for 15+ years | Highly rated, growing community presence |
The Decision
Who Should Choose Which — Specific Scenarios
Forget the feature list. Here's the honest recommendation for specific situations.
Choose Carl's Place if you want maximum flexibility and the lowest upfront enclosure cost
Sourcing your own EMT pipes, choosing your screen tier, budget-first builds
Carl's Place DIY C-Series is genuinely more configurable. You choose your screen material based on your projector brightness and room light control. You source 1-inch EMT from a hardware store for less than the pre-cut Pipe Kit. You pick your enclosure size in more granular increments. If you want to start with a Standard screen and upgrade later, you can. If you specifically need the High-Contrast Gray for a garage with windows, Carl's Place is currently the only company offering that material. And if you need a large commercial Pro or Curved enclosure, Carl's Place's lineup has no Gungho equivalent. Carl's Place is the right choice for builders who enjoy the configuration process and want to make deliberate material choices.
Choose Gungho if you want everything in one box and don't want to visit a hardware store
Turnkey assembly, shared garages, retractable setups, the most complete DIY kit
The Gungho DIY kit ships with the pipes already cut, the netting already included, and the screen already matched. The only reason to leave the house before building is to get the rubber tiles for the floor. For builders who want to assemble — not configure — this matters. The bilateral side netting as standard (not an add-on) is also significant for safety-conscious builds and for LH/RH shared setups where both sides need protection. And the retractable system is genuinely unique: Carl's Place has no equivalent product for garages that need to remain functional. Gungho is the right choice for builders who want a complete, curated kit and for anyone who needs a retractable or built-in system.
Choose Carl's Place if you specifically need wooden tee support
Driver practice with real tees — the HotShot's fiber base is the only way
If hitting driver off a real wooden tee is important to you — not a rubber tee, a genuine wooden tee — the Carl's Place HotShot with fiber base is the correct hitting mat. The Gungho Holy Grail's GrassTex surface will be damaged by wooden tees pressed through it over time. This is not a quality issue with Gungho — it's a design choice optimised for a specific kind of turf feel. But if your practice routine requires wooden tees, Carl's Place HotShot is the right hitting mat regardless of which enclosure you choose. The HotShot can be purchased independently and used with a Gungho enclosure if that combination makes sense for your build.
Choose Gungho if your garage needs to stay a garage
Retractable screen — unique to Gungho, nothing comparable from Carl's Place
If you need your garage to park a car and function as a simulator, the Gungho retractable screen system is the only quality product that solves this well. The screen retracts to a housing mounted on the ceiling joists. The projector stays ceiling-mounted in position. The mat rolls up or hangs from a hoist. The rubber tiles stay on the floor (car-friendly). The deploy cycle is genuinely under 5 minutes. Carl's Place does not make a retractable system — this is a scenario where Gungho is the only credible option.
Either works if you're choosing based on screen quality alone
Community consensus: Carl's Premium and Gungho's woven screen are comparably rated
The Golf Simulator Forum and Reddit simulator community consistently rates both Carl's Place (Premium tier) and Gungho among the top-recommended screen options alongside Indoor Golf Shop's SIGPRO. If your decision is primarily "which screen produces the best image and lasts the longest," the honest answer is that either company's premium screen tier will serve you well, and the real differentiator is the enclosure system design, the hitting mat, and the build experience — not the screen material performance. Choose on the enclosure and mat factors above, not on a screen quality difference that doesn't meaningfully exist at the premium tier.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — hitting mats and enclosures are completely independent. The enclosure is a frame with a screen and netting. The hitting mat sits on the floor in front of it. Any hitting mat works with any enclosure. If the Carl's Place HotShot is right for your hitting preferences (wooden tee support, Gel insert firmness) but the Gungho DIY enclosure kit is right for your build style (pre-cut pipes, side netting included), you can buy both. We sell the Gungho enclosure and hitting mat systems. Carl's Place products are available through their site or authorised dealers. Mix and match based on which product wins each category for your specific situation.
Not in head-to-head community comparisons at the premium tier. Both consistently appear among the top recommendations on Golf Simulator Forum and in Reddit simulator threads — often cited together as the two best options alongside Indoor Golf Shop. The High-Contrast Gray Premium from Carl's Place is the one screen that has a genuine differentiating advantage for rooms with ambient light, where the tinted gray material improves black levels and contrast. In a dark-controlled room, the projection quality between Carl's Premium and Gungho's woven screen is not a meaningful distinguishing factor in real-world use.
The Carl's Place DIY C-Series starts lower partly because the pipes are not included — you source 1-inch EMT from a local hardware store (roughly $1–$2 per foot, depending on your enclosure size and local prices). Adding Carl's Place's Pipe Framing Kit (pre-cut, delivered pipes) brings the Carl's Place total cost closer to Gungho's. The Gungho kit also includes full bilateral side netting as standard, which would be an add-on cost at Carl's Place. When you price both systems fully equipped with pipes and side netting, the cost difference narrows significantly. The comparison is more honestly "Gungho includes more in the base price" than "Gungho is more expensive for equivalent components."
No — we're an authorised Gungho Golf dealer, not a Carl's Place dealer. We sell Gungho enclosures, screens, and hitting mats. Carl's Place products are available through their own website (carlsplace.com) and through authorised dealers including several online simulator retailers. If Carl's Place is the right system for your situation based on this comparison, we'd rather you buy the right thing than the wrong thing from us. If Gungho is the right system, we'd love to be the place you buy it — and we'll match you to the right kit using the room configurator.
Both are consistently recommended. Carl's Place has a longer track record (founded 2006) and a larger installed base, which means more community reviews and more third-party comparisons. Gungho's Holy Grail hitting system has developed a strong reputation for construction quality. In the threads specifically asking "Carl's Place vs Gungho" the answer is almost universally "both are excellent — here's what each does better" rather than a clear winner. The scenario-based decision framework in this guide reflects the actual community consensus: the right choice depends on your specific build situation, not on a quality difference that doesn't exist between the two.
Decided on Gungho? Let's Find Your Kit.
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