How to build the most immersive indoor golf simulator for your home

At the 2022 PGA Golf show in Orlando, the busiest booths were the indoor golf simulators where attendees were playing their favorite courses on the screen.  So, if you are thinking about an indoor golf simulator for your home, here are some of the components you will need to build your own St. Andrews in your spare room or garage.  
 

·         Launch monitor to track your swing and shot

·         Golf simulation projector

·         Impact Screen and enclosure

·         Hitting mat

·         Computer and software

The most researched part of an indoor golf simulator is the launch monitor.  There are many good ones on the market that accurately track your shot path and distance, and overlay your shot onto Pebble Beach #7 to see if you are good enough to score an ace.   A number of them will track various components of your golf swing as well.

One of the least expensive launch monitors is the OptiShot 2, where the camera is integrated directly into the hitting mat so it can track your ball, as well as capture swing data.  One of the most popular simulations at the 2022 PGA Golf show was the Mevo+ Pro package where the portable launch monitor sits behind the hitting area and can capture over two dozen data points on your swing and ball flight.  If you are looking for a more permanent setup, the Uneekor system mounts above the hitting area.  The About Golf simulator also enables you to play on a curved screen.   Other companies making launch monitor are Skytrak, Foresight GCQuad, Trackman, TruGolf, Ernest Sports, and others.

The second most important component of a home golf simulator is the projector.   This is also the most confusing element for many buyers, and many make the mistake of just accepting any projector based on brightness.  Here are three key projector features you want to look at to avoid having your golf simulator look like an oversized arcade screen.

Resolution

Golf simulators setups can vary from 10 feet wide – to a room-size simulation theater that can also be used for playing movies or watching TV.  For a floor-mounted projector set up and a smaller square screen, a native XGA projector with a short-throw lens costs under $700 and delivers a nice bright picture.  For golf simulators, the larger your screen – the more important resolution is for you to see the details.  With a widescreen setup, consider either a WUXGA or 4K UHD resolution.  The WUXGA has the advantage of producing a taller image, but a 4K UHD projector puts a stunning 8.3 million pixels on the screen which is ideal for watching the Masters in true 4K resolution.

Color Accuracy

A common mistake is to use a projector designed for a classroom in a golf simulation setup.  While these projectors are bright, you may not get the type of immersive experience you were hoping for.  When you look for a projector for your golf simulator, make sure to check the color accuracy specification.  Home theater projectors have to be color accurate to industry standards such as Rec. 709 and reference these on their spec sheets.  Classroom projectors typically don’t have color accuracy specifications – only brightness – which can make the image look bright – but can make the grass on the course look like you are playing Wii Golf instead of Augusta National.  All BenQ laser-powered golf simulation projectors have over 92% color accuracy at high brightness and you can easily see the difference here.

Throw Ratio and setup tools

The best golf simulation projectors use “short throw” lenses that enable the projector to be mounted outside the hitting area but close enough to avoid the player casting a shadow on the screen.   Some models like the BenQ LU935ST have lens-shift that adjust the image up and down, and keystone correction if you have to tilt the projector one way or another to make it fit.   The “corner fit” on this model is handy to drag the image to the corners of the screen – and the projector will adjust the picture to make it look right.

In 2021 Bryson DeChambeau hit a drive with a ball speed of over 220 miles per hour.  For any home golf simulator, the right impact screen and enclosure ensure your walls and ceiling stay in one piece if you miss a shot. 

Impact Screen

These screens have become stronger – and better able to display a crisp, high-resolution image.  They are typically backed with foam or other material to absorb the energy of the ball, but the biggest difference is the weave of the screen, especially if you are looking at a larger screen and a higher resolution projector.   The latest screens have fine weaves that look fantastic with a 4K projector.  The size and shape of your impact screen are typically matched with your projector.  You can learn more from this article.

Enclosure

The enclosure extends out from the impact screen to catch any mis-hits as well as any rebound from the impact screen.   These are usually sold at the same time as the impact screen and can reach all the way to the hitting area.

For an avid golfer, this is an area where a little research can pay off in a more immersive experience.  While most of us have hit off of generic artificial grass at a regular driving range, the hitting mats for golf simulators have special cushioning and even dedicated hitting strips that are integrated into these mats that simulate the gentle rebound of a well-kept sandy loam fairway when you are taking a divot.  Like the projectors, the prices will vary, but a good quality mat will not only help you feel like you are on the course, it can also reduce the risk of joint injury.

The final part of a golf simulator is the computer and course software that calculates the data from the launch monitor and turns it into your perfect fade for an eagle at Sawgrass.   The best course software supports a 4K UHD resolution projector, and the computer video card will also enable you to stream movies, games, and digital TV to your screen as well.   You can use a touch screen monitor or a mouse to control what hole you are playing, or to change views.

Whether you are buying components for a DYI setup in your garage, or choosing an integrator to custom build your space, it’s a good idea to learn the basics of each component so that you can make the right trade-offs when it comes to getting a truly immersive system.   For example, if you want to see the difference of what a 4K golf simulation looks like on different systems, you can check out this YouTube video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwz1fUPU-JY  and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spJBzYfIfHE.