How to Build a Golf Simulator At Home in 2025

Imagine rolling out of bed, grabbing a coffee, and stepping into your very own golf simulator room—ready to play Pebble Beach, grind wedge distances, or track your swing speed without leaving the house. For more and more golfers, this isn’t a dream—it’s reality.

An indoor golf simulator is one of the best investments you can make if you’re serious about improving your game (or if you just want to play more golf without worrying about weather, daylight, or driving to the course). Not only does it let you practice year-round, but it’s also a great source of entertainment for friends and family. 

Today, I'll help you learn how to build a golf simulator at home for all types of budgets and room sizes. 

How to Build a Golf Simulator on a Budget

Here’s the thing: you don’t need $50,000 and a warehouse-sized room to build a great setup. With the right space, gear, and plan, you can create a simulator that fits your budget and lifestyle. 

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to build an indoor golf simulator—from choosing your space to the essential components, cost breakdowns, setup process, and common mistakes to avoid.

Decide on Your Space

Before you start browsing launch monitors or impact screens, you need to decide where your simulator is going to live. Your space dictates your equipment options, budget, and even how realistic your experience will feel.

The two most important measurements are ceiling height and room depth.

• Ceiling height: Most golfers need at least 8.5–9 feet to swing comfortably indoors, though 10 feet or more is ideal. If you’re tall or take a steep swing, anything less than 9 feet may feel cramped (or result in busted drywall).
  
• Room depth: To allow space for the ball to travel into the screen/net and for accurate launch monitor readings, you’ll want at least 12–15 feet in length. More depth is better if you’re using radar-based systems like Trackman, which need more ball flight to calculate data accurately.
  
• Room width: A minimum of 10 feet wide works for most setups, but 12–15 feet gives you more freedom for centered hitting and lefty/righty use.
  

Best indoor locations for a golf simulator:

• Basement (quiet, private, and often the right ceiling height).
• Garage (plenty of room, though watch for heat and ventilation issues).
• Spare bedroom or office (great for net-based setups without a projector).
  

💡 Pro tip: Before buying anything, grab a driver, take a slow-motion swing in your chosen room, and make sure you’re not clipping the ceiling, lights, or walls. You’d be surprised how much space you actually need.

Launch Monitor & Simulator Software

The launch monitor is the heart of any golf simulator. It’s the device that measures your swing and ball flight, then translates it into data and visuals on your screen. Without it, you just have a hitting mat and net.

There are two main categories of launch monitors:

Photometric (camera-based)
Examples: SkyTrak+, Foresight GC3, Uneekor.

• Pros: Accurate indoors, smaller space requirements, work well in tighter rooms.
  
• Cons: Can be more expensive for high-end models.

Radar-based
Examples: Voice Caddie SC4 Pro, Voice Caddie SC300i, Trackman, Garmin R10, FlightScope Mevo+.

• Pros: Excellent for outdoor/indoor versatility, full ball-flight capture.
  
• Cons: Require more depth behind and in front of the ball for accurate readings.
  

On top of the hardware, you’ll need simulator software if you want more than just numbers on a screen. Popular options include:

• E6 Connect (great graphics and variety of courses).
  
• GSPro (growing fast, affordable, realistic).
  
• TGC 2019 (tons of course options).
  

💡 Pro tip: If you’re on a tighter budget, you can start with a net + launch monitor app on your phone or tablet, then add a projector and screen later. This lets you spread out your investment instead of dropping everything at once.

Impact Screen or Net

Once you’ve chosen a launch monitor, the next decision is where your golf balls will actually land. You’ve got two main options: a hitting net or a full impact screen.

Hitting Net

• Cheapest option, takes up less space, and is easy to set up or take down.
  
• Great for garages, bedrooms, or when you don’t want a permanent setup.
  
• The downside? No immersive visuals—you’ll be looking at your phone, tablet, or laptop for ball flight instead of watching it on a big screen.

My favorite hitting nets are the Net Return, which I'm sure you've seen in a Bryson DeChambeau YouTube video. They're not cheap but built to last and great if you're speed training and hitting balls hard over time. If you use this link, you'll get 10% off your investment too (they have sizes for all types of simulators). 

Impact Screen

• A heavy-duty screen designed to absorb the speed of real golf balls while also serving as your projection surface.
  
• Creates a true simulator feel—you’ll see your shot fly down Pebble Beach or Augusta in life-size HD.
  
• Costs more than a net and usually requires an enclosure or side barriers to protect walls from shanks.
  

💡 Pro tip: If you’re starting on a budget, get a quality net first and upgrade to a screen/projector later. That way, you can still work on your swing and track data without the upfront cost of a full enclosure.

Projector (Optional but Highly Recommended)

Technically, you don’t need a projector—you can run your simulator software on a laptop, tablet, or even a TV mounted behind your hitting area. But if you want that true, immersive indoor golf experience, a short-throw projector is the way to go.

What to look for in a projector:

• Short throw ratio: lets you project a large image from close up, which is critical in tight rooms.
  
• Brightness (lumens): at least 3,000 lumens for a clear image, especially in brighter rooms.
  
• Resolution: Full HD (1080p) is the baseline, but 4K gives the best experience if your budget allows.

Placement tips:

• Ceiling mounting keeps it out of the way and prevents shadows from your swing.
• Make sure it aligns with your impact screen, so the image isn’t distorted and fits properly.
  
• If ceiling height is limited, consider floor-mounting behind the hitting mat with a protective enclosure.
  

💡 Pro tip: If you’re on a tighter budget or don’t have the ceiling height for a projector, you can use a large TV or monitor as your display. It won’t feel as immersive, but it’s a solid step up from looking at your phone.

Hitting Mat

If the launch monitor is the brain of your simulator, the hitting mat is the foundation. This is the one piece of gear you’ll interact with on every single shot—so don’t cut corners here.

• Why quality matters: Cheap mats can feel like concrete and lead to wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries over time. A high-quality mat provides realistic turf interaction and shock absorption, so you can practice longer without pain.
  
• Size considerations: At minimum, you’ll want a mat wide enough for a comfortable stance. Many golfers upgrade to larger mats with multiple hitting zones, so you can rotate wear and tear and even practice from different lies.
  
• Upgrade options: Some mats include replaceable hitting strips, while others can be paired with stance mats and putting turf for a more complete setup.
  

💡 Pro tip: If you’re tight on space or budget, start with a smaller mat but make sure it’s built for durability and comfort. Spending an extra $100–$200 here is far better than dealing with sore wrists after every session.

Golf Simulator Cost Breakdown

One of the biggest questions golfers ask is: “How much does it cost to build an indoor golf simulator?” The good news: you’ve got options for nearly every budget. Let’s break it down:

Budget Build ($1,000–$3,000)

• Net instead of screen
• Entry-level launch monitor (Garmin R10, Rapsodo MLM2 Pro)
• Basic hitting mat
• Optional projector (or use laptop/TV)
• Great starter setup for garages, basements, or spare bedrooms
  

👉 Best for: Golfers who want to practice and track swing data without going all-in.

Mid-Range Build ($4,000–$8,000)

• Full impact screen and enclosure
  
• Short-throw projector
  
• Solid hitting mat (TrueStrike, Fiberbuilt, Country Club Elite)
  
• Launch monitor like SkyTrak+, FlightScope Mevo+, or Uneekor
  
• Simulator software (GSPro, E6 Connect, or TGC 2019)
  

👉 Best for: Golfers who want an immersive, course-like experience with realistic visuals and accurate data.

Premium Build ($10,000–$25,000+)

• High-end launch monitor (Foresight GCQuad, Trackman, Uneekor Eye XO2)
• Professional-grade impact screen with full enclosure
• 4K short-throw projector
• Multi-surface hitting mats and putting turf
• Dedicated PC with powerful graphics card for ultra-smooth play
• Room customization (side nets, custom lighting, bar setup, etc.)
  

👉 Best for: Golfers who want the closest thing to a professional studio, whether for personal use, coaching, or entertainment.

Closing Thoughts on Building a Golf Simulator at Home

Building an indoor golf simulator might seem overwhelming at first, but the truth is, you can start small and scale over time. Whether it’s a simple net and entry-level launch monitor in your garage or a full-blown, projector-powered simulator in your basement, the most important step is just getting started.

The key is making sure your setup fits your space, your budget, and your goals. If you’re serious about lowering scores, focus on a quality hitting mat and a reliable launch monitor. 

If you want entertainment value for friends and family, a projector and impact screen will make your setup come alive. And remember—you don’t need to spend $20,000 to get real game improvement indoors.

At the end of the day, your simulator is more than just a practice tool—it’s an investment in your game, your confidence, and your ability to enjoy golf year-round. With the right setup, you’ll not only sharpen your skills but also create a space you’ll actually look forward to using.

So grab your tape measure, map out your space, and start building. Before long, you’ll be teeing it up at St. Andrews or Pebble Beach without ever leaving your house.