How To Build A Golf Simulator At Home

Man stands in front of his empty garage and contemplates how he is going to build a golf simulator

Building a Golf Simulator at Home and Getting it Right

Let’s be honest, if you love golf, you have probably dreamed of having a golf simulator at home. Building a home golf simulator can be one of the best ways to practise year-round, avoid travel time, and enjoy a genuine indoor golf setup from your own garage, shed, spare room or commercial space.

If you are considering building a simulator, the key is getting the setup right from the start. A good golf simulator is not just an impact screen and a launch monitor. It is a complete system where the room size, enclosure, hitting mat, projector and launch monitor all work together.

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to building a golf simulator at home.

Step 1: Choose the Best Location

The best places for a home golf simulator are usually:

  • Garages
  • Sheds
  • Spare rooms
  • Outdoor covered areas
  • Commercial rooms or studios

At Aussie Golf Sims, the most common setup we see is a garage golf simulator. Garages usually offer good depth and floor space, but garage door tracks, slopes and ceiling height can affect the final setup, so these need to be checked early.

Do not miss this critical step. The goal is to choose a space where you can swing freely and safely.

Step 2: Measure Your Available Space

Before buying anything, the first step is to measure the space where you want your golf simulator.

You need to measure:

  • Room width and depth
  • Ceiling height
  • Garage tracks, beams, lights or doors
  • Where you will stand and swing

Ceiling height is especially important. You need enough room to swing comfortably without worrying about hitting the roof, lights, walls or projector.

For most home golf simulator setups, you want enough space for:

  • A full golf swing
  • A safe ball-to-screen distance
  • A suitable enclosure size
  • Enough room for your launch monitor

If the space is tight, a custom golf simulator enclosure may be the best option.

Step 3: Decide on Your Enclosure Size

Once your room is measured, the next step is choosing the right golf simulator enclosure.

This is a big decision, as the enclosure controls the overall shape of your setup, helps protect the room from stray shots, holds and tensions the impact screen, and creates a more immersive simulator experience.

When choosing an enclosure, consider:

  • Width of the room
  • Height of the ceiling
  • Depth available
  • Screen size
  • Swing clearance
  • Projector image size

Do not take this step lightly. Standard enclosures work well in some spaces, but many homes are not built around standard simulator dimensions. If your room is narrow, low, or has obstacles, a custom enclosure can help maximise the available space.

At Aussie Golf Sims, we cater for everyone, with the ability to build custom enclosure sizes on request to suit garages, sheds, rooms and commercial spaces.

Step 4: Choose Your Impact Screen

The impact screen is one of the most important parts of the setup.

It needs to:

  • Handle real golf ball impact
  • Display a clear projector image
  • Fit the enclosure properly
  • Allow enough tension without excessive bounce-back

A good impact screen improves both safety and image quality. It also helps the simulator feel more immersive.

When planning your home golf simulator, avoid choosing the cheapest screen possible. A poor-quality screen can crease, sag, mark easily or produce a dull image.

At Aussie Golf Sims, we use premium impact screens to help maximise performance, safety and the overall simulator experience.

Step 5: Select the Right Launch Monitor

The launch monitor is what tracks your golf shots and turns them into simulator data and visuals.

There are different types of launch monitors, including:

  • Camera-based launch monitors
  • Radar-based launch monitors
  • Hybrid camera and radar systems

The best launch monitor depends on your space, budget and how you want to use the simulator.

For tighter indoor rooms, camera-based launch monitors are usually more flexible because they do not need as much ball flight. Radar-based systems generally need more room behind the ball and between the ball and screen.

Your room size is a serious consideration when selecting a launch monitor, so do not skip this research phase.

Aussie Golf Sims recommended entry-level launch monitors:

  • Tight space without room to spare: Square Golf side-mounted launch monitor
  • Plenty of space: Rapsodo MLM2PRO rear-mounted launch monitor

The right choice depends on whether you want a portable setup, a compact indoor simulator, or a more premium dedicated bay.

Before buying a launch monitor, check what software it works with and whether there are ongoing subscription costs.

Step 6: Set the Correct Ball-to-Screen Distance

Screen distance is an important part of golf simulator performance.

For most home simulator setups, a ball-to-screen distance of around 3.0m to 3.5m works well. This gives the ball enough flight time while still keeping the setup compact and immersive. However with side mounted launch monitors, the ball to screen distance is not critical, with the longer distances not required for data collection. 

If the ball is too close to the screen, some launch monitors (rear mounted) may struggle to read the shot properly. If the screen is too far away, you can lose immersion and waste valuable room depth.

This is why your enclosure size, launch monitor and hitting position should all be planned together to get the setup right.

Step 7: Choose a Quality Hitting Mat

A good golf hitting mat makes a big difference.

Cheap mats can feel harsh, wear quickly, and place extra strain on your wrists, elbows and shoulders.

When choosing a hitting mat, look for:

  • A realistic strike feel
  • Good shock absorption
  • Enough size to stand and swing comfortably
  • Durability under repeated use
  • Compatibility with tees

Your hitting mat also affects your overall height in the room, so remember to account for mat thickness when checking ceiling clearance.

Step 8: Choose a Projector or TV Setup

Most full simulator builds use a projector to create an immersive image on the impact screen.

When choosing a golf simulator projector, you need to consider:

  • Throw distance
  • Brightness
  • Image ratio
  • Mounting location
  • Screen size

A short-throw projector is often the best choice for home golf simulators because it can fill the screen from a shorter distance, reduce shadows and support a more compact setup.

For very simple setups, a TV can work, but it will not provide the same immersive simulator experience as a full impact screen and projector setup.

Step 9: Set Up Your Software

Your launch monitor connects to simulator software, which displays your shots and creates the premium golf simulator experience.

Depending on your launch monitor, this may include:

  • Driving range practice
  • Data feedback
  • Course play
  • Skills challenges
  • Online competitions

Before finalising your setup, check which software options are compatible with your launch monitor and whether any subscriptions are required.

Step 10: Test, Adjust and Fine-Tune

Once everything is set up and installed, the final step is testing.

Check:

  • Can you swing safely?
  • Is the ball hitting the screen correctly?
  • Is the projector image aligned?
  • Is the launch monitor reading consistently?
  • Is there enough side protection?
  • Does the setup feel comfortable?

Most home golf simulators need minor adjustment after the first setup. This might include moving the mat, changing screen tension, adjusting projector position or recalibrating the launch monitor.

Final Thoughts

Building a golf simulator at home is about more than just buying equipment.

The best setups are designed properly from the start, with the space, enclosure, launch monitor, mat and impact screen all working together.

If you get the planning right, a home golf simulator can provide:

  • More practice time
  • Year-round golf
  • Better feedback on your game
  • A fun setup for family and friends
  • A professional golf experience from home

At Aussie Golf Sims, we help customers design golf simulator setups that suit their actual space, whether that is a garage, shed, spare room or commercial bay.

Need Help Building Your Home Golf Simulator?

If you are not sure what size enclosure or launch monitor will suit your room, send us your room width, depth and ceiling height. If you would like to chat with a golf sim expert, book a call through the form on our website. 

We can help recommend a golf simulator setup that fits your space properly.

Happy golfing!

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