How To Build A Home Golf Simulator
You would struggle to find any amateur golfer who, in an ideal situation, would not want a golf simulator in their home.
Golf simulators are a great way for golfers to squeeze in more practice away from the course – effectively giving golfers their very own driving range in their house or garage.
If you are thinking about installing a home golf simulator, we will take you through the process in our step-by-step guide below. Simulators can be very expensive, but there are options and choices you can make to help make the cost a bit more affordable.
Area requirement for a home golf simulator
The minimum area for installing a golf simulator should ideally be 12 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 9 feet high.
Depending on your physical appearance, your launch monitor, and your impact screen setup, you might need more length, width, or height.
Also, make sure that the floor is level as the system may not work correctly if its on a slope.
Components required for a home golf simulator
Below is the full list of components you will need to install a high-performance home golf simulator:
- Tracking System
- Software
- Projector
- Impact Screen and Enclosure Box
- Hitting Mat and Turf
- Net
Tracking system
First, you need a good ball tracking system for your golf simulator. This is the ‘heart’ of your entire system and should record the ball speed, spin rate, distance, club head speed, and club path.
Some popular brands to use for your tracking system include SkyTrak, Uneekor, FlightScope, Full Swing, or TruGolf – so they are a good place to start.
Software
If the tracking system is the heart of the golf simulation, then good software works as the brain of it.
With the best software, you can see how your shot will look on a virtual driving range, or golf course.
Depending on what mode you're playing, some golf simulator software offers training and games in addition to virtual driving ranges and golf courses.
Top software manufacturers include E6 CONNECT, Uneekor Refine, Creative Golf 3D, Awesome Golf, GSPro, FSX 2020, and WGT Golf.
Projector
Although most golf simulator software can project your shots onto mobile and computer screens, projectors are required to project the real-time image on the larger impact screen. This creates a more realistic simulation experience as you can actually see the shot on the screen in front of you after hitting the ball.
However, the resolution ratio of the projector depends on the golf simulation software, with 16:9, 16:10, and 4:3 being the preferred ratios.
We also suggest that you buy a projector that can produce 3000+ lumens so that you get a bright, vibrant, and realistic real-time simulation.
In terms of brands, take a look at Optoma, BenQ, and ViewSonic.
Impact screen and enclosure box
The impact screen and enclosure box are essential components of home golf simulators. As the name impact suggests, your shots will hit on the impact screen.
These white canvas screens are used for the projections of the projector, while the enclosure box keeps the ball within the designated simulation area. This box can have side walls and a roof.
We suggest you buy a reliable impact screen because you will be hitting a lot of balls with greater speeds again and again. It should be durable enough to cater to your shots.
Popular brands include SIG12 Golf Simulator Enclosure, PerfectBay, SwingBay, and SIGPRO.
Hitting mat and turf
A hitting mat and good artificial turf are also very important for a good golf simulator.
As mentioned earlier, it is important to make sure the floor is level before installing the mat or artificial turf. This part of the simulator is important as it will be subject to a lot of use, so choosing the right products is critical.
Take a look at our list of the best golf practice mats.
Net
The net has a few uses. You can either net the entire area of your golf simulator to protect the area from any mishits, or you can use it as a great cost saver by substituting the projector, impact screen, and the enclosure with a net.
Although it will downgrade the virtual projection, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to a TV and watch every shot after hitting.
Additionally, you can also assemble the net and side fittings yourself to further reduce the cost.
Some people have chosen to use archery netting as an alternative, this is usually priced cheaper than specialist golf netting, and is just as strong.
Additional components
The following are some additional items and optional extras that you can consider to perfect your home golf experience:
- Projector Mounts
- Enclosure Net
- Monitor Stand
- Lighting
- Putting Mat
How much does a home golf simulator cost?
This naturally will depend on the type of set-up you opt for – particularly which launch monitor and tracking software you pick.
An entry-level home simulator can cost as little as £500 up to about £5,000, which will probably include a hitting mat, protective netting and a launch monitor app on your phone.
For the more high-end home golf simulators, you can spend anywhere from £50,000 - £100,000 on getting the very best in-home golf experience.
