How to Build Your Own Golf Simulator – A Step-By-Step Guide
It’s tough to find any avid golfer that doesn’t dream of having their own golf simulator setup. And aside from just regular consumers, golf simulators are in demand from professionals, club fitters, and various businesses. Building a golf simulator may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This video will walk you through creating a setup that meets your needs and budget. Let’s break it down step by step. Before we continue, it’s important to stress that this video is meant to be a concise summary of the process of building a golf simulator. Many details are omitted to keep the video at a digestible length. For a more comprehensive, detailed, up-to-date version of this guide, we strongly recommend visiting our blog post linked in the description. Links to products mentioned in this video can also be found in the description below. Now, let’s jump into the step-by-step guide. Step one, choose the location. The first thing you need to do is figure out where your golf simulator will be installed. A garage, basement, wreck room, office, or will it be a portable setup that will be moved around to different locations? Whatever the intended location of your golf simulator, we recommend striving for a space that is at least 9 ft high, 15 ft wide, and 20 ft deep. The larger the better. You’ll need to make sure that your space can accommodate the size of the enclosure, launch monitor space requirements, and mounting location for the projector. Step two, choose a tracking system. The tracking system is the technological core of a golf simulator, typically using advanced camera technology, radar, or sensors to measure club and ball data. Without tracking, you have no simulator. Most affordable golf simulators use a launch monitor to track data. And in fact, we recommend launch monitors for a convenient, easy, economical setup. Some of our top launch monitor recommendations include the SkyRack Plus, Uniore Exo, Flight Scope Meo Plus, and Foresight Sports GC3. Each of these systems measure their own sets of data points and have their own features. Step three, choose simulation software. Golf simulation software is needed in order to take the data parameters measured by the tracking system and visualize them in a virtual environment. Each launch monitor will have a set of in-house and third-party software solutions that it’s officially compatible with. While there may be technical workarounds that allow you to use software that isn’t officially supported, you may run into issues if you go down this route. Some of the best and most popular thirdparty simulation software on the market include E6 Connect, E6 Apex, GS Pro, The Golf Club 2019, Awesome Golf, and Creative Golf. Step four, decide on the setup. When it comes to golf simulators, one of the most important decisions anyone can make is whether they want to use an impact screen and projector or a net. The net will be the cheaper option, but it won’t be as realistic. Whichever way you go, you’ll be connecting your launch monitor to a computer or tablet that has the simulator software installed. Unless you’re using a system like the Garmin Approach R50, we suggest enclosures like the Sig 10 or the Carl’s Place DIY enclosure. For projectors, we recommend the Optoma GT 2000 HDR or BenQLK936 ST. For nets, you should take a look at ones like the Sig Pro or the Net Return Home or Pro series. We’ve put links to these products in the description for your convenience. Step five, choose a hitting mat. When buying your hitting mat, the first thing you should do is decide if you want a large mat, standard size mat, or small hitting strip. Larger mats come with many benefits, including possibly being able to double as a putting or chipping green. Mats are long enough can be used as landing turf to protect your floors. Recommendations for large mats include the Net Return Pro Turf or the Fiberbuilt Double Hit Combo Mat. For standard size mats, we suggest the Sig Pro Softy or Swing Turf. For hitting strips, get something like the Fiberbuilt flight deck mat, which can also take a tea. Links are in the description. Step six, round it out with accessories. You can certainly achieve a nice simulator setup with the essential components that we’ve covered thus far, but you can really take things to another level with some accessories. Let’s cover some of the key ones now. First, it is strongly recommended to use a projector mount. Projector mounts can be designed for the ceiling or ground. We would argue that ceiling mounting has an edge because the projector is out of sight and not a distraction, but a floor mount offers guaranteed protection from rogue balls. Second, consider using side netting or ceiling track curtains. Side nets extend from both sides of a net or enclosure and act as barriers that help contain poor shots, while ceiling track curtains help reduce ambient light, reduce noise, and improve the aesthetic of the install. Third, think about using a hitting mat that has a replaceable hitting strip. Hitting strips will typically wear out over time from repeated golf club impacts. For example, the indoor golf shop’s Sig Pro Softy hitting strip is designed to conveniently replace the hitting strip of the Sig Pro hitting mat. Fourth, consider using landing pad turf which covers the area between the screen and hitting mat. You can use landing turf designed for various simulator enclosures or buy cheap turf at a hardware store as a tight budget solution. And that’s pretty much all there is to it. It’s easy to mix and match components to achieve a golf simulator setup that you really like. Depending on your choices, you could spend less than $1,000 or up to $20,000 or more. There is a golf simulator setup that can meet practically any budget. Keep in mind that most of the best golf simulator stores out there offer simulator packages which are very convenient and include everything you need in one purchase. Full golf simulator packages make the whole process of buying and setting up a golf simulator much simpler without headaches and without getting overwhelmed. Even better, some online golf simulator stores like The Indoor Golf Shop and Carl’s Place offer a special tool that walks you through building your custom golf simulator in a step-by-step fashion. You can find links to these tools in the description below. Ready to build your golf simulator? Follow the steps in this video. Check out the links in the description and take the leap into the world of golf simulation. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them down below. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe so that you’re notified as soon as a new video drops.
Blog Post: https://golfstead.com/how-to-build-a-golf-simulator-step-by-step
It’s tough to find any avid golfer that doesn’t dream of having their own golf simulator setup. In this video, we’ll take you step-by-step through the process of building the perfect golf simulator that meets your needs and doesn’t exceed your budget.
Note: Golfstead is viewer-supported and this video description may contain affiliate links. When you buy through such links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
*Sim Builder Tools:*
Carl’s Build Your Own Golf Simulator Tool: https://pbgnrl.cc/carlsbyostool
The Indoor Golf Shop Room Builder: https://pbgnrl.cc/tigsroombuilder
*Some Products Mentioned in the Video:*
Launch Monitors
SkyTrak+ Launch Monitor: https://pbgnrl.cc/stpluslmtigs
FlightScope Mevo+ Launch Monitor: https://pbgnrl.cc/mevopluslmtigs
Uneekor EYE XO Launch Monitor: https://pbgnrl.cc/eyexolmtigs
Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor: https://pbgnrl.cc/gc3lmtigs
Garmin Approach R50 Launch Monitor: https://pbgnrl.cc/r50lmtigs
Enclosures, Projectors & Nets
SIG10 Golf Simulator Enclosure: https://pbgnrl.cc/sig10enctigs
Carl’s Place DIY Enclosure: https://pbgnrl.cc/carlsdiyenc
Optoma GT2000HDR Projector: https://amzn.to/48q7Ol9
BenQ LK936ST 4K Projector: https://pbgnrl.cc/benqLK936STtigs
The Net Return Home Series Net: https://pbgnrl.cc/tnrhomenettps
Other Products
SwingTurf Hitting Mat: https://pbgnrl.cc/swingturfmatrsg
SIGPRO Softy Hitting Mat: https://pbgnrl.cc/sigpro4x7mattigs
Fiberbuilt Flight Deck Mat: https://pbgnrl.cc/fiberbuiltflightdeckmattigs
SIGPRO Softy Hitting Strip: https://pbgnrl.cc/sigprosoftystriptigs
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:49 Step 1: Location
1:23 Step 2: Tracking System
2:02 Step 3: Software
2:41 Step 4: Setup Type
3:28 Step 5: Hitting Mat
4:07 Step 6: Accessories
5:24 Closing
Disclosure: the voiceover in this video was created with AI. All products mentioned have been researched or tested. The availability of mentioned products may change, and we suggest checking out our blog post for a more detailed, up-to-date version of this guide.
Disclaimer: this video is for informational purposes only, and while we strive to ensure its contents are accurate at the time the video is created, we make no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the video or the information or visuals contained in it.
