Let me be real with you: a home golf simulator is one of the best investments I've ever made for my game. But it's not for everyone, and I'd rather help you figure that out now than have you drop thousands of dollars on equipment that collects dust in your garage.
So before we dive into launch monitors, impact screens, and projector specs in future articles, let's answer the most important question first: Should you actually build a home simulator?
Who Actually Benefits from a Home Simulator
The Year-Round Golfer
If you live somewhere with actual winters—where courses close for months at a time—a simulator can be transformative. Instead of watching your swing get rusty from November to March, you're taking real swings, seeing real data, and maybe even shaving strokes before the season starts.
I've talked to simulator owners in Minnesota, Michigan, and upstate New York who credit their home setups with the best spring golf of their lives. No more "rust removal" rounds. No more spending April re-learning your swing.
The Time-Strapped Player
A full round of golf takes 4-5 hours. Add travel time, and you're looking at half a day minimum. For parents, business owners, or anyone with packed schedules, that's often impossible during the week.
A simulator changes the math entirely. You can hit 100 balls in 30 minutes. Play 9 holes at Pebble Beach after the kids go to bed. Squeeze in swing work before your morning meetings.
The Improvement-Obsessed
Here's something that surprised me: I learned more about my swing in the first month with a launch monitor than in years of casual range sessions.
Why? Data. Real numbers. When you can see that your club path is 4 degrees out-to-in and your face is 2 degrees open, you stop guessing. You start fixing.
Simulators aren't just for hitting balls into a screen—they're diagnostic tools that show you exactly what's happening at impact.
The Entertainment-Focused
Maybe you're less interested in grinding on your swing and more interested in playing famous courses with friends on a Saturday night. That's completely valid.
Modern simulator software lets you play St. Andrews, Torrey Pines, Whistling Straits, and thousands of other courses in stunning detail. Add some friends, a few drinks, and you've got a golf experience that rivals going out—without the greens fees.
The Real Costs (Not Just Equipment)
Everyone focuses on the big-ticket items: the launch monitor, the screen, the projector. But the full picture is more nuanced.
Upfront Equipment Costs
Budget setup: $3,000-$5,000 A functional simulator with an entry-level launch monitor, DIY enclosure, basic projector, and hitting mat. You'll have some accuracy limitations, but it works.
Mid-range setup: $8,000-$15,000 This is where most serious golfers land. A quality launch monitor (Mevo+, GC3, or similar), proper enclosure, good projector, and a mat that won't destroy your joints.
Premium setup: $20,000-$35,000 Tour-level accuracy, 4K visuals, professional-grade everything. This is country club quality in your home.
Ongoing Costs People Forget
Software subscriptions: $150-$500/year Most simulator software requires annual subscriptions. GSPro, is $250/yr and has premium courses that cost extra.
Electricity: $20-$40/month (when in use) Running a projector, PC, and launch monitor adds up. It's not massive, but it's not nothing.
Replacement parts: Variable Impact screens wear out. Hitting mats break down. Projector bulbs die. Budget $200-$500/year for maintenance.
The "upgrade itch": Infinite Fair warning: once you have a simulator, you'll want to improve it. That "good enough" projector will start bugging you. You'll want a better mat. This is normal, but know it's coming.
The Space Reality Check
Here's where dreams often meet reality. You need actual space for a simulator, and "my garage is pretty big" often isn't enough.
Minimum Dimensions
Height: 9-10 feet minimum You need to swing a driver without hitting the ceiling. If you're tall or have a steep swing, you need more. Measure with a club in your hand, at the top of your backswing. Add a foot of buffer.
Width: 10 feet minimum You need room on either side to swing without feeling cramped. For safety, you want buffers so a mishit doesn't destroy something valuable.
Depth: 15-16 feet minimum This is usually the killer. You need space for:
- Standing position (5+ feet from screen)
- Backswing follow-through room (5 feet behind you)
- Projector throw distance (variable, but often 6-10 feet)
If your total depth is under 14 feet, it's going to be tight. Under 12 feet, you'll likely need to make compromises.
Common Spaces and Their Challenges
Garage: Usually has the height. Problems include temperature extremes (you won't want to practice when it's 20°F), cars taking up space, and garage doors creating lighting issues.
Basement: Often temperature-controlled and dedicated. The challenge is ceiling height—many basements have 8-foot ceilings or less, plus ductwork and pipes that reduce usable height.
Spare room: Convenient and comfortable, but rarely has the dimensions. Also, do you really want to swing a driver inside your house?
Outdoor covered space: No ceiling worries, but lighting is a nightmare and weather limits usage.
The Time Commitment Question
Be honest with yourself: Will you actually use it?
I've seen too many simulators become expensive coat racks. The excitement of building it fades, life gets busy, and suddenly it's been three months since you took a swing.
Ask yourself:
- How often do I currently practice?
- What's stopping me from practicing more?
- Will a home simulator solve those obstacles?
If you already go to the range twice a week, a simulator will likely get heavy use. If you rarely practice because you "don't enjoy it" or "don't have the motivation," a simulator won't magically change that.
The golfers who get the most value are the ones who were already hungry to improve but constrained by time, weather, or access. The simulator removes the friction.
The Simulator Paradox
Here's something counterintuitive: you need to already love golf to get real value from a simulator.
A simulator won't make you fall in love with the game. It won't turn a casual player into a practice junkie. It won't replace the experience of being on a real course on a beautiful day.
What it will do is amplify existing passion. If you're already obsessed with improving, a simulator is like adding rocket fuel. If you're lukewarm on the game, you'll have an expensive room that you occasionally feel guilty about not using.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you go any further in this series, sit with these questions:
- Do I have a realistic space that meets the minimum dimensions?
- Can I afford not just the equipment, but the ongoing costs?
- Will I actually use this at least 3-4 times per week?
- Am I trying to solve a real problem (weather, time, feedback) or just buying a toy?
- Does my family/partner support taking over this space?
If you answered yes to all five, you're a great candidate for a home simulator. Keep reading this series.
If you hesitated on some of those questions, that's okay. Maybe a launch monitor alone (without the full simulator setup) makes more sense. Maybe finding a local indoor golf facility to try before you buy is the right move. Maybe this isn't the right time.
What's Coming Next
If you've decided a simulator might be right for you, the next step is figuring out your space in detail. In Article 2, we'll cover exactly how to measure and plan your simulator room—including the mistakes I see people make constantly.
From there, we'll work through every component: launch monitors, hitting mats, impact screens, projectors, enclosures, flooring, computers, and software. By the end of this series, you'll have everything you need to build a simulator that matches your goals and budget.
But it all starts with this honest assessment. The best simulator is one you actually use.
Next up: Space Planning 101: Where to Put Your Golf Simulator
Have questions about whether a simulator is right for you? Drop them in the comments below.
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