Enclosures, screens, mats and projectors
The launch monitor is a third of the bill. The rest goes on the enclosure that catches the ball, the mat you swing from and the projector that draws the course. Get these right and a $700 launch monitor feels like a simulator. Get them wrong and a $7,000 one feels like a garage.
Part of the home golf simulator guide.
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The parts, and what each one costs
| Part | Costs | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Impact screen | $200–$800, screen only | Catches the ball and shows the projected picture. A tighter weave gives a sharper picture and less noise. |
| Screen with frame | $600–$1,500 | The screen stretched tight on a frame. You’ll need side netting or a wide room. |
| Enclosure kit | $1,500–$3,000 | Frame, screen, and side and top walls. The standard home bay. |
| Premium enclosure | $3,000–$8,000 | Built-in walls, padded sides, finished turf. It looks like the retailer photos. |
| Hitting net | $150–$400 | For a TV or tablet setup, or a garage you still park in. |
| Hitting mat | $100–$900 | The part that touches your body. Don’t buy the cheap one. |
| Short-throw projector | $700–$3,500 | Keeps your shadow off the screen. Its throw ratio has to match your room. |
Rough prices at the main US simulator retailers.
Read these in order
Each guide sets up the next one, so read them in this order.
- Screens and enclosures. Start with the impact screens and enclosures guide. The screen size and the enclosure depth set what the projector has to do, and how much room is left behind you.
- Projectors. Next, the projector guide. It explains throw ratio (how far back a projector sits for a given picture width) with one worked example. Then you can check any projector against your own room.
- Hitting mats. Last, the hitting mats guide, which is mostly about your elbows.
These guides assume you've already done two things. You've checked your room with the room checker, and you've picked a launch monitor from the launch monitor guides. That matters because a camera unit cares about the mat color, and a radar cares about what's behind you.
Pricing the whole thing? The cost builder has every price on this page as a row.
Every guide in this section
- The best golf hitting mats for a home simulatorWhy cheap mats hurt, fiber vs nylon turf, how thick, what size, what camera launch monitors need from a mat, and what each price band gets you.Best-of listOpen
- The best golf impact screens and enclosuresScreen only, frame or full enclosure: how to pick a golf impact screen, how much gap it needs behind it, sizes, noise and what each type costs.Best-of listOpen
- The best projectors for a golf simulatorHow to pick a golf simulator projector: why short-throw matters, throw ratio made simple, how bright for a garage, 1080p vs 4K, and what each band costs.Best-of listOpen
Questions people ask
What is a golf simulator enclosure?
It’s a frame with an impact screen at the front and netting or padded walls at the sides and top. It catches the ball, keeps mis-hits in the bay, and gives the projector something to shine on. Kits run about $1,500 to $3,000, and built-in premium enclosures about $3,000 to $8,000.
What golf simulator accessories do you actually need?
A hitting mat you can swing from without hurting your elbows, and a screen or net. Add tees that work on a mat, a projector mount if you use a projector, and side netting if the room is narrow. Everything else is nice to have.
How far should an impact screen be from the wall?
Leave at least 1 ft. Some makers ask for up to 18 in. The screen moves when the ball hits it, and a ball that punches through to the wall is loud and does damage. In tight rooms, it happens more often than you’d think.