In-home golf simulators took off during COVID, and the trend hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. They’re an ideal solution for golfers who can’t play year round, or want to practice but find getting to the range to be difficult. A quality golf simulator has the potential to be a game-changing tool in your quest to play better, and they can be a hell of a lot of fun too.
But, be warned: there are important planning considerations you MUST pay attention to before taking the simulator plunge. Get them wrong, and your golf simulator dream will become an expensive and unsatisfying nightmare. So, put away your credit card for another moment or two and give these items some thought.
The Space
The most important planning consideration is the space you’ll put your golf simulator in. “It should fit,” ain’t going to work here. You need to break out the tape measure and ensure you have adequate height, width, and depth in the room you intend use. Having the appropriate room dimensions is vital to making sure you can swing freely without damaging a wall, ceiling, or yourself and your clubs. The generally agreed upon minimum is 9’ of ceiling height, but that’s only a general rule and can depend on the golfer and the simulator setup.
The space you’re going to put your sim in is about much more than the golfer; it also drives many of your equipment decisions. If you’re in a smaller room, you’ll need to go with a camera-based launch monitor like the lineup from Foresight Sports, which includes their flagship (and expensive) GCQuad. If space is not a concern, radar-based systems like the Flightscope Mevo line come more into play. Getting the info from the monitor to an impact screen requires a projector, another purchase that is very nuanced for the dimensions of your overall setup.
The Budget
Golf simulators can vary greatly in their size, complexity, customization, and cost. A very basic no-frills approach is to hit balls into a net, with your launch monitor pushing the display to a tablet or computer monitor. At the top end are high-dollar setups that use Trackman or GCQuad monitors, 4K projectors, and high-dollar custom enclosures. The point is, you can realistically call it a golf simulator with only a few dollars invested, or you can get well north of $20K in a hurry.
Fortunately, there are options for in-home golf simulators at many different price points. Entry level monitors like the Garmin R10 and Rapsodo MLM2PRO can be had for $599 and $699, respectively. Higher up on the ladder are the FlightScope Mevo+ at $2,199 and the Skytrak+ at $2,995. Step into Foresight’s offerings and a GC3, a VERY capable little brother to the much more expensive GCQuad, can be had for $7,000.
If you want to hit into a screen, the right projector is crucial to making it all work. Depending on the space you’re working with, you’ll very likely need a short throw projector capable of the right aspect ratio for the screen you buy. You need sufficient lumens to cut through the natural light if that’s a factor in your chosen space. And, you’re not going to want to sell yourself short and get a low-resolution projector that doesn’t do your investment justice.
You’ll need a PC to run that software and get an image to the projector, by the way. And of course, there’s that screen to hit into. And the enclosure around the screen. And the mat to hit off of. And some safety netting in case the dreaded s-word shows up every now and then. It starts to add up, doesn’t it?
When to Pay
Speaking of the GC3, you should probably figure out when you want to pay in addition to how much. The $7,000 GC3 is fully unlocked, with ball and club data and the full suite of Foresight’s software. You can get the same basic monitor for $3,799 in the GC3S, but you’ll be on the hook for annual subscription costs to unlock the rest of the features. Subscriptions are part of the model for many available launch monitors, so make sure you’re reading the fine print when buying one.
Managing Expectations
Ever have one of those days where you’re striping it on the range, then can’t seem to find it on the course? That’s largely because hitting off turf masks the quality of your ball-striking, often even deflecting the club and producing a decent shot that would otherwise be punished on the course. The same thing happens off turf in a golf simulator.
Your Golf simulator can absolutely help you make big improvements in your game, but don’t confuse it with the actual game of golf. Your simulator’s going to give you the same perfect lie every time. That’s not going to happen on the course, ever. Be careful to make sure you’re ingraining good habits in the simulator that will translate to the course when it’s time to tee it up for real.
Fun for the Whole Family?
Let’s be honest: part of the challenge in putting a simulator in the home for many of us is getting the go-ahead from the spouse. In many cases, you’re going to have to play the “it-will-double-as-a-movie-room” card. Don’t box yourself in with unrealistic promises of how cheap it will be. Do the research and the measuring and make sure you’re investing in a setup you and your whole family will be happy with. For example, if your combo simulator slash movie room is going in the garage, how’s that going to work from a heat or air-conditioning standpoint when the temperatures rise or fall?
A golf simulator in your home can be a springboard to big improvements in your game. It can also be a daunting investment in money, time, and energy that can go sideways quickly if you fail to plan properly. Do the research and start building your setup with the information you need to make your golf simulator dreams come true!