What is a Golf Simulator?

There are many different types of golf simulator enclosures: 

DIY
One way to build a golf simulator, especially on a budget is the old fashioned way: Doing It Yourself. The materials themselves are fairly easy to find, but this will require some craftsman skills as you will need to measure and cut all of the materials yourself. For more information on this process, check out our page about DIY golf simulators.

PreBuilt
A PreBuilt Golf Simulator Enclosure kit will include all the necessary components to assemble your enclosure. The kits are convenient as a one-stop shop for everything that goes into a golf simulator structure. You can find DIY Golf Simulator kits on our site and other sites such as Amazon.

Commercial Grade
Commercial Grade simulator enclosures will feature top-of-the-line materials and a high price point to match. Commercial Grade Enclosures are perfect for those with plenty of space in their homes and for those who are looking to create a golf simulator experience at their bar or restaurant. To start on your golf simulator, check out our SIGPRO Commercial Enclosures. Custom sizing is available.

A golf simulator impact screen is a critical part of the golf simulator. There are a few things to consider when purchasing an impact screen:

Screen Size
Most golfers will generally choose the largest possible screen for their space. A large screen will help create a more immersive golf simulator experience. It is important to also consider the range of the projector used for the golf simulator. Matching aspect ratios with both the impact screen and the projector will ensure the best image quality.

Material
Screen material plays a large factor into the performance and price of an impact screen. Fabric Type, Thickness, Durability, etc all contribute to how an impact screen will perform. For more information about impact screens, please check out our Golf Simulator Screen Guide.

Durability
According to research, most golf impact screens can take between 3,000 and 15,000 shots before seeing significant damage. According to one post, My Golf Spy estimates that one of our SIGPRO golf impact screens has taken over 150,000 shots and is still in great shape! Check out our video featuring the SIGPRO Premium Screen.

Additional accessories can be added to the golf simulator enclosure for that extra touch of professionalism. If you want to save some money, you might also consider using a golf net instead of an impact screen. There are many add-ons and accessories to include with a golf simulator enclosure. Here are a few ideas to really get that perfect golf simulator for you:

Side Netting
Side Barrier Netting will add that additional layer of protection to the area around the golf simulator. Easy to install and affordable this add-on an obvious addition to any golf simulator. The side barrier netting is included with all of our Golf Simulator packages and is almost considered a must-have for any golf simulator owner.

Blackout Screen
When building a golf simulator, many golfers also consider the multi-purpose entertainment space that a golf simulator can provide. A relatively new featured accessory for a golf simulator is a Blackout Screen. Attaching to the back of the impact screen, the blackout screen can provide crisp and brighter images. Without a blackout screen, light tends to bleed through the impact screen may lead to blurred and glaring images.

Wall Padding
Wall padding is soft foam panels that attach to the wall and act similar to the side barrier netting for that extra resistance. The primary function of wall panels is for noise control. Swinging a golf club and impacting the golf ball at high speeds will cause a significant amount of noise. Wall Padding helps channel noise and reduce the range the sound waves travel. This creates a better experience for those not using the golf simulator.

Golf Simulator Baffle
An often overlooked, but very useful accessory. A Golf Simulator Baffle helps to catch high-angle golf ball shots and deflect them to the impact screen or back down to the ground. Multiple baffles are recommended for best results. 

Ultimately when purchasing a launch monitor, it's job is to read the data from your golf swing and impact. This should be the first consideration when deciding on the right launch monitor for you.

Make sure that the specific data that you are looking for can be read by the launch monitor. There are many different launch monitors on the market and they all excel at different things.

For example, if you are just looking to get distance and ball height, a simple Voice Caddie will do. If you need more specific information such as "smash factor" you'll need a stronger launch monitor such as the Mevo+ from Flightscope. Further, if you want to see a replay and full data spread of each of your shots, the GCQuad from Foresight will be the launch monitor for you.

Do you plan on taking your range finder to your local golf range or are you okay leaving it at home in your golf simulator? Golf simulators come in all shapes and sizes. It is important to determine where you wish to use your launch monitor.

Our most popular golf launch monitors of 2024 include: SkyTrak+ Launch Monitor, Uneekor EYE XO Launch Monitor, the Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor, and the Bushnell Launch Pro.

Some launch monitors can be used both indoors and outdoors. These portable launch monitors that can also be used in golf simulators include the SkyTrak+, the Bushnell Launch Pro, Flightscope's Mevo+, Garmin Approach R10, and the Rapsodo MLM2Pro.

The hitting will be a common theme when it comes to building a golf simulator. The available space will also determine what launch monitor would work best for you. Some launch monitors work best directly behind you, some work best to the side, and some require to be hung on the ceiling above the hitting area.

Several factors of a projector will contribute to the overall resolution:

Distance From Screen
Also known as "Throw", projectors are built with different ranges to how far they can project an image without beginning to blur. In general, a higher resolution will require a shorter "throw" from the projector.

Contrast Ratio
This is the measure between the brightest color and the darkest color that the projector provides. A higher contrast ratio will lend better image quality. Look for a higher contrast ratio for a golf simulator projector.

Brightness of screen projectors is measured in a unit called a lumen. A standard 100 watt candescent light bulb will produce between 1,500 and 1,700 lumens.

Minimum Lumens
Rooms with little to no ambient light (garage or basement), a projector with a minimum of 1500 lumens is recommended. For rooms that have several windows and ambient light, a minimum of 3,000 lumens is recommended.

A perfect-fitting golf mat can do wonders for the look and feel of a golf simulator. While there are a few golf tiny golf mats, a good-fitting golf mat with a stable base will do wonders.

One of the most popular golf mats is the SIGPRO Softy 4' X 7' Golf Mat featuring the hitting strip of the same name: Sigpro Softy. The mat features a sturdy comfortable base and a soft hitting area that replicates hitting off a real fairway.

The quality of a golf mat and simulator flooring is determined by the type of material used. Some of the cheaper golf mats you might find at your local driving range are made from thin and rough material. If you hit the mat with your swing, you will feel a considerable amount of pain. Therefore, a good quality mat might cost you an arm and a leg, but you will avoid injuries to both.

A golf-hitting mat is a necessary component of any golf simulator, but an often-forgotten part of the simulator is the turf flooring.

The flooring beneath the golf mat plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience of the simulator setup. Anti-skid and noise-absorbing materials ensure stability and minimize disturbances, creating a comfortable environment for uninterrupted gameplay.

Golf simulators come in many different shapes and sizes. The range of prices can be as low as $1,000 to some simulators as expensive as $50,000. For further reading, check out our article on How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?

Depending on your setup, the launch monitor will have a large impact on your simulator experience. A portable launch monitor like the Mevo+ will be perfect for simulator use and the range while a launch monitor such as the Foresight Falcon is a permanent mount only. The Indoor Golf Shop has a great article that covers the Best Golf Launch Monitors.

Definitely! A golf simulator setup is completely customizable and allows you to use the perfect part for you. Whether you are looking to upgrade your golf mat or check out that sleek-looking golf simulator projector, The Indoor Golf Shop has you covered!

Depending on the setup and amount of money put into the simulator, the accuracy of the data will vary. As a general rule of thumb, the higher-quality golf launch monitor will have increased ability to read data.