At-Home Golf Simulator Buying Guide

Find the right at-home golf simulator set up or bundle for your game, budget and space.

The future of golf has arrived, with the first tee being right in your living room or garage. Imagine playing your favorite course at midnight, regardless of the weather, without ever leaving your home. You can swing away in your pajamas and finish 18 holes in under an hour — no tee times, no green fees and no commute. This is the reality of the modern in-home golf simulator.

High-end systems now offer a seamless transition from the real world to the digital realm. With zero lag, you see your ball flight exactly as you would outdoors. Beyond the obvious cool factor of letting you virtually play dozens of the world’s top courses, a golf sim is a powerful game-improvement tool. It provides invaluable, accurate swing data and ball metrics that even Tour pros now rely on for practice.

For beginners, the benefits are even simpler: you can relax and learn the game in a private, pressure-free environment.

Choosing the right gear depends on four main pillars: 
 

You can opt for an all-in-one bundle or piece together individual components, such as a net, hitting mat, enclosure, projector and monitor. If you aren't a DIY enthusiast, a prepackaged solution is usually the safest bet and may come with cost savings.

Regardless, it’s imperative to know where to splurge and where not to. At a baseline, these are the essential components to setting up a successful at-home simulator.

The Launch Monitor

Experts suggest buying the best unit you can afford to avoid needing an upgrade in a year.

The PC 

A common mistake people make is using a standard home laptop to run their sim. For high-end graphics, multiple displays (projector and touchscreen) and speed, you’ll likely need a dedicated gaming PC with a robust graphics card.

Projector

If it’s not bright enough for your space, it will frustrate you to no end and deliver a poor playing experience. Beyond brightness, if the throw distance doesn’t match your room, the image won’t fit the screen and will not render accurately. Also where you mount the projector matters:

• Short‑Throw Projector: Wider image from up close, great for tight spaces. Typically mounted on the floor or low ceiling, close to screen.
• Standard‑Throw Projector: Needs more room depth; typically mounted on the ceiling

Space is your biggest physical constraint. Golf simulators require you have enough room for a full swing and proper sensor placement. These requirements vary by simulator. Are you installing the sim inside or out? Or will you be moving the gear between spaces? While "if you can swing it, you can fit it" is a common mantra, comfort is key to a good experience. That is, you want to enjoy the experience and not worry about hitting the ceiling or the back wall.

Width

You typically need at least 9 feet for swing clearance. Ensure you have enough room (roughly 2 feet) on your follow-through side so you don't "short-arm" the ball out of fear of hitting a wall.

Height

This depends entirely on your height and swing arc. You must feel 100 percent comfortable at the top of your backswing. A general rule of thumb is at least 9 feet of clearance, but ultimately this depends on factors like your individual swing and your height.

 
Depth

You generally need about 14 feet of length if you’re hitting into a screen, to allow for proper sensor tracking and safety.

Now for the brains of the simulator, which usually falls into one of two categories. The realistic nature of the experience depends on the tracking system. 

Photometric or Camera-Based

It’s best for indoor setups and garages. These systems use high-speed cameras to take thousands of images per second at the moment of impact. Because they only need to see the first few inches of ball flight, they require very little depth. They are excellent at measuring detailed ball spin and clubhead data. “It takes impact location on the clubface and uses an internal algorithm to provide shot and performance data,” says Murszewski. 

Pro: Great indoors, high accuracy.

Doppler or Radar-Based

This option is ideal for outdoor use or large indoor spaces. Radar units sit 6–10 feet behind the golfer and track the ball’s entire flight via microwave signals. They are the "gold standard" for outdoor practice and for measuring how wind and weather affect your shots. 

Pro: Better for larger spaces, often used outdoors.

The Hybrid Option

For those who want the best of both worlds, units like the SkyTrak+ offer a balance of technologies at a more accessible price point, performing well both indoors and at the driving range.

Opting For Software

Regardless of the type of sim, the software ultimately dictates your experience, including the gamut of simulated driving ranges, practice modes, course choices, detailed swing analysis and non-golf games. Keep in mind that while some software is included, many premium course libraries require an annual subscription. Always check the recurring costs before you buy.

A Portable Alternative

Finally, if you’re convinced you want a launch monitor to gather swing data but know you simply do not have the space to install a sim, your best option is to get one of the many portable and relatively inexpensive handheld launch monitors that are available at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. Essentially, you set them up by you at the driving range or on the course, and swing away. They will instantly display plenty of pertinent swing and shot metrics, to help you gain insight into your swing. Some even pair with your smartphone, for more detailed information, visuals and video. And then they can quickly and conveniently pack away into your golf bag afterwards. While they won't give you the wow factor of playing immersive virtual golf, they will help you improve your game.

LAUNCH MONITOR COMPARISON CHART

We hope you’re feeling more equipped to begin your golf simulator journey and ready to take your game to the next level. You can also explore our ready-to-go shopping bundles that are prepped for the perfect setup. Easy.
 

Not quite ready for an at home-setup, but looking for golf tech you can take to the course? We have you covered with a look at the Best Golf Gadgets.