If you’re a golf hardcore, you’ve without question dreamed of a home golf simulator setup.
I mean, is there anything cooler than the idea of being able to play golf without leaving your house?
And even if you’re a golf newcomer, mainstream exposure to simulators through places like Topgolf may have piqued your interest.
The thing is: There’s never been a better time to consider a golf simulator for your home.
Why?
Because golf simulators used to be totally cost-prohibitive. They were the stuff of dreams, not reality, for most of us.
Not anymore.
We’re going to show you that budget is no longer the main consideration for an at-home golf simulator.
Of course, price is still a factor. But with some saving, a lot of golfers can now realistically consider a home golf simulator. In fact, we’ll show you how you can get set up at home for not much more than $500.
More than cost, the main barrier to entry for a golf simulator at home is space. Understanding how much of it you’ll need can be confusing. We’re going to simplify it for you.
It’s completely overwhelming to consider each and every home setup variable at once. The point of this guide is to pare down the insane amount of information you’ll find on the internet to give you your best choices along with the answers to your most likely questions.
It’s kind of crazy to think about, but you could be hitting golf shots in your house in like a week.
Here’s everything you need to know.
WHAT IS A GOLF SIMULATOR?
Simply put, a golf simulator is a device that simulates an actual round of golf.
It’s like a golf video game, but you actually swing your real clubs and hit real golf balls.
A simulator usually pairs with a computer and oftentimes with a projector. You hit shots into a screen or net. The simulator tracks your swing and ball flight and gives you a virtual display of where the ball is flying and where on the golf course it landed.
Many simulators include virtual access to some of the most famous golf courses in the world.
So, from the comfort of your home, you can actually see and play the layout and yardages of St. Andrews, for example.
Granted, if you land in one of the pot bunkers, you’ll still be hitting your simulated shot off of a mat. And a lot of simulators do not replicate the putting experience very well (or at all).
Still, it’s pretty damn next level to be able to get up off your couch, fire up the simulator, call up Pebble Beach and decide what club you’re going to hit on the famous par 3 seventh. And to then actually hit the shot, watch the ball fly through the air towards the Pacific Ocean and then land, hopefully on that iconic green… For a golf junkie, it’s a totally wild experience.
GOLF SIMULATOR VS. GOLF LAUNCH MONITOR
A golf launch monitor is a doppler radar or camera-based device that measures various metrics about your golf shots.
A simulator, on the other hand, is an entire system that both measures swing metrics and simulates your ball flight in a virtual environment. Basically, a launch monitor is one component to a simulator system
Launch monitors can be used indoors or outdoors, but are often used at the driving range by golfers looking to use data to help them improve.
Simulators can also be used indoors or outdoors, but are often used indoors for both entertainment and game improvement.
Some devices, like the Garmin Approach R10 or FlightScope Mevo Plus are both a golf simulator and golf launch monitor.
Related: Flightscope Mevo Plus vs. Garmin R10: Which is Better?
And most launch monitors can pair with a computer and software to create a simulator setup.
If you’re looking for dedicated launch monitors, check out our picks for the eight best golf launch monitors on the market.
GOLF SIMULATOR FOR HOME SPACE REQUIREMENTS
As we said, space is the single biggest factor when considering if a golf simulator is going to be an option for you.
So, how much space do you need? Well, it depends…
To do this with complete comfort and confidence and to be able to accommodate both left- and right-handed golfers as well as tall golfers with one setup, we recommend a room that is at least:
- 10 feet high
- 15 feet wide
- 16 feet deep
Now, you can get away with less space than this.
Some radar-based simulators operate from behind you and will require that 16-foot depth in order to accurately track your ball flight. Other photometric simulators are set up to the side or mounted above and therefore don’t require as much depth.
Some swings are steeper while others are flatter. Steeper swings require higher ceilings.
A tall golfer with a steep swing will likely require even more than 10 feet of ceiling height. A shorter golfer, on the other hand, might be able to operate with only 8-foot ceilings.
If you’ve got friends or family that are both right- and left-handed, having that 15 feet of width would allow you a wide enough space to swing from either side without hitting the wall. If you only plan to host righties or lefties, you can probably get away with 9 feet of width.
There may be no bigger buzzkill than to buy a simulator, set it up and then realize the space you have is too small.
I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I reviewed the Optishot 2 simulator. I set it up in my living room, invited some friends over, and within 15 minutes I’d put a hole in my ceiling (true story).
So, obviously, measure well. And swing your driver (slowly at first!) in the space before you buy anything.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU NEED FOR A DIY GOLF SIMULATOR?
To start bombing drives down the Road Hole from your garage, basement or living room, you’re going to need the appropriate space, a hitting mat, a net or impact screen, a golf simulator, a computer and possibly a projector.
At the end of this guide, we’ve included a list of our recommended mat, net and screen options.
Computer
Almost every proper golf simulator will require a computer to run its software. Devices like the R10 and Mevo Plus give you access to an iPad app that can run simulator software, but to get the full experience, you’ll likely need/want a dedicated computer.
You may already have a laptop, desktop or tablet capable of doing the job. It’s important that you check the specs of the simulator you choose to see if what you have will be robust enough.
If you can swing it, it would be ideal to have a dedicated computer for your simulator setup. Something that isn’t going to get slowed down with a lot of other software and files.
A dedicated gaming computer is the ultimate solution. Some simulator software includes 4K graphics, and you may need a powerful processor to keep up.
So, when you consider your overall budget, don’t forget to factor in the cost of a computer. Maybe you already own something that will work. If not, you likely will need to spend anywhere between $500 and $3,000 in addition to what you spend on a simulator, mat, and net or screen.
Do You Need a Projector?
So, you do not actually need a projector to pull off an at-home golf simulator setup.
But you might want one.
Why?
Because if you want to actually simulate what it would be like to play golf outdoors, you’re going to want to watch your ball fly through the air in front of you. To do that, you need an image projected onto an impact screen that won’t tear or dent when you pelt it with golf balls.
This means that you’ll be able to see where you’re hitting, just as you would if you were on an actual golf course or driving range.
Alternatively, you could just watch the action on your computer screen, or on a TV.
But obviously, you’re not going to hit balls into your computer screen or TV. So that would mean setting up that kind of display somewhere to the side. So, you’d hit your shot into a net, and then instead of looking ahead of you to see where the ball is going, you’d turn to the side to watch.
That’s not exactly ideal for a dream setup, but it does mean that you can save some money by not having to buy a projector or impact screen.
Personally, I think having a projector and impact screen makes all the difference. This is what’s going to separate a setup that will be pretty cool from one that will be totally mind-blowing and addictive.
If it’s me, I’m saving until I can step up to the best golf simulator setup.
PROS AND CONS OF A GOLF SIMULATOR
By this point, the pros of owning a golf simulator should be obvious.
Basically, you’ll become the coolest human in your general area.
Seriously, if you were my friend, you’d now be a strong candidate for becoming my best friend.
We’re talking about playing golf in your house!
Hitting shots after the kids go to bed.
Peppering greens even when it’s pouring rain outside.
Working on your short game in the dead of winter.
Blasting colossal drives in your underwear in the middle of the night (or whatever other weird thing you might be into).
I mean, come on! It’s golf in your house! Does it get any better than that?!
As for cons…
The biggest issue is once again space. How much room can you sacrifice? What’s the spouse going to say?
Now, depending on your setup, it is possible to collapse the net or screen, roll up the mat and stow away the computer and simulator. That’s actually a totally doable chore, and not necessarily a big deal.
So, you do have the option of not having to leave everything set up all the time.
Then again, it’s awfully nice to be able to walk in the door, turn on the system and start playing a round without the rigamarole of setting everything up.
And of course, cost can be a con. Again, with the introduction of devices like the Garmin Approach R10 (a simulator and launch monitor that retails for only $599.99) or the OptiShot 2 (a more basic setup that costs just $449.00), you can get going without a massive investment.
But if you want to reach toward the best golf simulator setup, you’re going to want a dedicated computer, a projector, an impact screen and the best hitting mat. When you throw in all of the components, it can start to get pretty pricey.
So while space, cost, and spousal considerations may be significant hurdles to clear, beyond those I can’t think of a whole lot of downside.
Oh yeah, one more potential con… Do you want to turn your house into a destination? Because your golf buddies might overstay their welcome.
BEST GOLF SIMULATOR UNDER $1,000: GARMIN APPROACH R10
We said it before, and we’ll say it again: Cost is no longer the biggest barrier to entry for home golf simulators.
That wasn’t always the case.
In fact, until very recently, cost was without question the leading factor that made golf simulators an impossibility for most people.
Introducing the Garmin Approach R10. For $599.99, you can get a totally badass golf simulator that can also be used at the range as a dedicated golf launch monitor.
If you know, you know. This thing is mind-blowing.
And if you don’t know, you’re gonna have to trust us. Or don’t. Just go online, and read what everyone in the world is saying. The R10 was the hottest golf product of 2022. So much so that it’s been nearly impossible for retailers to keep in stock. The good news, is this is easing now, and the R10 is more accessible.
Using Garmin’s Home Tee Hero, which does require a $100-per-year subscription, you can select literally any golf course in the world and play it at home.
Now, Home Tee Hero is not a full-blown simulator software in that it gives you an animated overhead view of the hole rather than more lifelike, granular detail of each aspect of the hole.
But I gotta say, I dialed up my home course and was shocked to find that I was hitting the same shots in the app that I’d be hitting on the actual course.
The yardages, the layouts, the hazards… Everything was totally accurate.
You can play with up to four people. It also allows you to turn chip shots on or off. And it calculates your number of putts based on how close you are to the center of the green.
The Approach R10 is also compatible with TruGolf e6 Connect, which is one of the most well-known simulator software companies. They have dozens of courses mapped out, and many of the best simulators in the world use their software.
When you buy the R10, you get limited access to their iOS app, which allows you to play a full-on, 3D, simulated round of golf using a mobile device.
The R10 even comes with a demo package with five courses that includes Bandon Dunes.
