Square Golf Launch Monitor Space Requirements - How Much Space Do You Need? [Home Golf Simulator Guide - Full Indoor Specs]

For years, golfers dreaming of a home simulator studio with a sub-$1,000 budget were stuck with radar-based launch monitors. Affordable, yes. But space hogs.

That’s what makes the Square such a big deal.

This is the first truly affordable photometric (camera-based) launch monitor. And that means you don’t need the 16 to 21 feet of room depth required by radar units. Instead, the Square gives you the space-saving advantage of a side-mounted device, tracking shots at impact rather than from behind.

In fact, because the Square comes with the Swing Stick (a shortened trainer club), you can actually play full rounds of simulator golf with not much more space than you need to swing your arms.

But before you rush to order a Square, you need to know two important things:

1. The Square is indoor-only. You can’t take it to the range.
2. Like all camera-based systems, it requires moving the unit if righties and lefties are playing together.

If those aren’t dealbreakers, the Square might just be the most disruptive product ever to hit the budget golf launch monitor market. And the space-saving advantage is one of the biggest reasons. Let’s look at exactly how much space you’ll need.

How Much Indoor Space Do You Need for a Square Golf Simulator?

One of the very best things about the Square is how little space it requires compared to radar-basedcompetitors like the FlightScope Mevo Gen2 or Garmin Approach R10.

Because the Square sits to the side of the ball and captures data at impact, you don’t need extended room depth. In fact, the only real requirement is having enough space to swing your clubs comfortably.

Here are our room-size recommendations to use the Square Golf Launch Monitor indoors:

• 10 feet wide
• 10 feet deep
• 9 feet tall

These are the same general requirements as with other camera-based units like the SkyTrak+, Bushnell LPi, or Uneekor Eye Mini. They represent a comfortable minimum, but you may be able to get away with less depending on your height and swing length.

For example, taller golfers with longer swings may find that they need more than 9 feet of ceiling height, while shorter players wth compact swings can often get by with less.

Width can also come into play if you plan to host friends or family in your simulator space. While 10 feet is enough for solo play, a wider setup will give everyone more breathing room and make the experience more comfortable

And even though the Square works great in a compact 10-foot-wide enclosure, many golfers who want a more immersive simulator opt for 12- or 13-foot enclosures to enjoy a larger projected image.

The best way to check your own space is to swing a driver with a full backswing and follow-through (slowly at first!). If you can do that without feeling cramped or distracted, you’re in good shape for minimum space requirements.

One unique and fun advantage of the Square is the inclusion of the Swing Stick. This short, sensor-equipped club allows you to play simulator golf without hitting a ball or swinging a full-length club. It’s not as realistic as the real thing, but it can be a lot of fun and it requires pretty much no space at all.

The Tradeoffs of a Space-Saving Square Setup

The space-saving benefit of a camera-based simulator like the Square does come with a couple of tradeoffs.

First, if you’re hosting both righties and lefties, you’ll need to move the Square from one side of the ball to the other. It’s not complicated, but it can disrupt the flow of a simulated round. If you regularly play with golfers of both handedness, a radar unit set up behind the ball might be a better fit.

That’s the classic radar versus camera tradeoff. Radar systems are depth hogs, but once they’re set up behind the ball, they don’t care whether a righty or lefty steps up to hit. With a camera unit like the Square, you gain huge space savings but have to move the device when switching players of opposite handedness.

Second, as mentioned, the Square is for indoor use only. Sunlight can interfere with its camera and infrared sensors. So while radar units offer indoor/outdoor flexibility, the Square requires a dedicated indoor studio.

But if you’ve got the right space indoors and you’re not juggling righties and lefties every round, the Square’s compact footprint is a massive advantage.

Is the Square a Good Indoor Golf Simulator Option?

If you’re building a home golf simulator on a budget and want to minimize space requirements, the Square is one of the best options available.

It’s the only camera-based launch monitor under $1,000, which means you’re getting accuracy and space savings that were previously only available at two or three times the price. On top of that, Square eliminates subscriptions with its pay-as-you-go simulator model, includes putting and short-game functionality, and even connects to GSPro and E6 Connect without extra fees.

That putting advantage alone is a big deal. Most affordable launch monitors either ignore putting altogether or force you into an autoputt setting. With the Square, you can actually get to finish every hole, which makes the simulator experience far more realistic and enjoyable.

The inclusion of the Swing Stick also opens up unique possibilities. In a living room or tight space where swinging a real driver just isn’t possible, you can still get a fun and engaging simulator session in.

Yes, it has limitations. It’s not outdoor-capable. It doesn’t store sessions. And it misses a couple of data metrics like smash factor and clubhead speed. But for what it costs and for how little space it demands, it’s one of the best affordable simulator choices you can make.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.