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Everything You Need for Your Home Golf Simulator, Including the Best Golf Launch Monitors with Simulation.
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Watch videos of Bushnell Launch Pro, FS Mevo+, Garmin Approach R10 & SkyTrak reviews from our Partner Gabe at Let's Play Thru!
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FlightScope Mevo Plus
Home Golf Simulators | Table of Contents
Golf Simulator & Launch Monitor FAQs
PLAYBETTER GOLF SIMULATOR STUDIOS
Bushnell Launch Pro Review
SkyTrak vs R10 Reveiw
FlightScope Mevo+ Review
Best Golf Simulator for Home
The best home golf simulator is the one that fits your dedicated space, your budget, and includes the golf launch monitor with the data points and compatible simulation software that you want for your experience.
As far as space goes, your room, basement, or garage will need to accommodate your swing height, along with the height and space requirements of your golf launch monitor and other simulator equipment.
Home golf setups can range from the simple to complex, and you can go affordable or spend tens of thousands of dollars. All you really need is a mat, a net, and a compatible device like a laptop or a tablet—and of course, the golf launch monitor that meets your needs. Or, you can purchase a complete studio simulator package for a variety of spaces on PlayBetter.com that include enclosures/impact screens, projectors, mats and more! We even have packages for each of our launch monitors with simulation.
Garage Golf Simulator
There are lots of reasons to have a garage golf setup—especially now that so many golf launch monitors are priced for average golfers to take advantage of.
A garage is often a golfer's choice for a simulator space because it's out of the way, or there may simply not be any space in the house.
Whatever your reasons, if you're like us (and the majority of golfers) you probably can’t afford to drop tens thousands of dollars on a home golf simulator or setup.
Now that golf simulator technology has advanced, there are more affordable options that can accommodate a wide range of budgets and spaces—like your garage.
For a garage golf simulator, there are a few things you’ll need to make it a great experience: a launch monitor that records your shot data, a golf hitting net or impact screen, and optionally, a projector that displays your shot on a life-size screen. For more details, jump over to this garage golf simulator article.
Cheapest Golf Simulator Setup
If you want a home golf simulator setup, but don't have the budget for a full studio, complete with impact screen and projector ... good news! You can still enjoy an indoor simulator setting with an affordable golf launch monitor and simulator, like the Garmin Approach R10 (only $600), a hitting net, and your mobile device. You can even get your phone to mirror your simulator software onto a flatscreen TV!
What's the ceiling height for a garage golf simulator?
Thinking about putting a golf simulator in your garage, but wondering if you've got the ceiling height to do it?
The minimum golf simulator ceiling height is 8.5-9 feet, although, depending on your height and your golf swing, 10 feet is a much more comfortable option.
You need to be able to swing fully and freely with no anxiety about hitting the ceiling. Furthermore, you need to consider the space requirements of all your simulator equipment and your golf launch monitor of choice.
Read this Ceiling Height for a Garage Golf Simulator article to find out all the details you'll want to take into consideration when sizing up your space for your home golf simulator setup.
Best Launch Monitor for Your Home Golf Studio
The Garmin Approach R10 is an excellent choice for your garage golf setup because it is the most affordable launch monitor with simulation ($600!), offers a rich set of data points, is super easy to set up and use, and has proven accuracy.
The FlightScope Mevo Plus is the most portable of all these simulators, making it adaptable for any garage golf setup. Plus you get 16 top-of-the-line, proven data parameters on the launch monitor side, while also accessing simulation and gamification features to give you a robust home golf simulator experience.
The SkyTrak golf launch monitor and home simulator is the first affordable practice, play, and entertainment simulator that provides realistic results that compare accurately to your actual shot-making ability. This ultimate at-home golf system connects easily and quickly to compatible devices.
Bushnell Golf and Foresight Sports are bringing their top technology to a broader audience—who can now have a mind-blowing garage golf simulator experience with the Bushnell Launch Pro. This 3-camera-based launch monitor will buy you the GCQuad-type accuracy for the price tag—$3,999.00.
How Accurate Are Golf Simulators?
Photometric or camera-based golf launch monitors, like the SkyTrak and the Bushnell Launch Pro, are the most accurate for indoor golf simulators. And that technology is reflected in the higher-end price.
Because more affordable radar-based launch monitors—like the Garmin Approach R10 and FlightScope Mevo Plus—estimate some metrics, accuracy can be more easily affected indoors due to error from things like how the launch monitor is set up. This is why it's very important to always follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to place your launch monitor.
All things equal, the Approach R10 and Mevo Plus golf launch monitors and simulators have had very favorable reviews for accuracy, and remain excellent options for those who don't have the budget for the highest-end devices.
How Do Golf Simulators Work?
Golf simulators are user-freindly and most operate simularly. A simulator works by analyzing the data from your golf shot collected by your launch monitor. This can include ball speed, spin, launch angle, and so on. The most common technologies to measure this data in home golf simulators are radars and photometric (camera-based).
Once the simulator receives the data, it will then determine where your ball will go and simulate your shot on an inpact screen, flatscreen TV, PC, iPad, or smartphone. An indoor golf simulator allows you to see the entire flight of the ball from beginning to end in real time.
Along with seeing where your shot went (virtually), a golf simulator will give you various data points to help you get a more robust picture of your swing. The simulator will continue to progress you to the hole and onto the next. Some simulators will have putting.
What about outdoor golf simulators?
Can you recreate a golf course in your backyard? Sure you can. Watch this FlightScope Mevo Plus review by our partner, Gabe, from Let's Play Thru do just that in his backyard. All you need is a net, your portable device with downloaded companion app, and a portable launch monitor to get it done (and maybe even your kid's toy wagon, lol!).
How Much Does a Golf Simulator Cost?
A home golf simulator can be created for starting at under $1,500 all the way up to tens of thousand of dollars.
To get started, all you really need is a mat, a net, and a compatible device like a laptop or a tablet—and of course, a golf launch monitor. You'll also have to pay for a subscription to simulation software.
So, if you get the most affordable launch monitor with simulation on the market right now—the Garmin Approach R10 ($600)—use the 5 free course package from E6 that comes with it (iPhone only), buy a small Fiberbuilt Performance Turf Series Tee Box (starting at $459), and a Callaway Tetrad Hitting Golf Swing Net 6' x 6' ($149.00) ... you have a golf simulator set up for $1,208.
And it just gets better from there. Shop our variety of golf launch monitors, golf simulator enclosures, Fiberbuilt hitting mats, and more on the PlayBetter Golf Store—and DIY a golf simulator experience in your home.
Or go for a complete home golf studio package (with or without launch monitor) priced from $5,300 to $9,000.
Best Affordable Golf Launch Monitor
Gone are the days when serious golfers had to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a virtual golf setup in their home. Thanks to top brands and their devices loaded with advanced golf features like the SkyTrak and Garmin Approach R10 golf launch monitors and simulators, you can dig down into the elements of your swing, spot your weaknesses, and determine where you can improve.
The SkyTrak was the first affordable golf launch monitor and simulator for everyday golfers. At $2,000, it provides realistic results that compare accurately to your actual shot-making ability and robust simulation options.
But more recently, Garmin released the Approach R10 with a mind-blowing $600 price tag. For that you get robust data points (including Club Path metrics), simulation, and surprising accuracy wherever you take it.
Compare Golf Launch Monitors & Simulators
Garmin Approach R10 vs Skytrak
The Approach R10 is an affordable radar-based golf launch monitor with robust data points, moderate simulation software compatibility, and is super easy to set up.
The SkyTrak differs from the R10, first, as a camera-based launch monitor. It is one of the most robust golf simulators, which is reflected in its price that is over 3x as much as the Garmin's launch monitor.
While the R10 has twice as much battery life, the SkyTrak tends to be more of a home golf entertainment simulator experience.
Mevo Plus vs SkyTrak
The FlightScope Mevo Plus is a radar-based golf launch monitor and simulator that is super portable, ideal for indoor and outdoor, and has similar simulation compatiblility as the SkyTrak.
The SkyTrak is a photometric (camera-based) launch monitor that offers a robust simulation and home entertainment experience.
These two golf devices are the same price rance.
Approach R10 vs FlightScope Mevo Plus
The Garmin Approach R10 is the most affordable radar-based golf launch monitor with impressive data points (including Club Path), moderate simulation software compatibility, and is super easy to set up.
The FlightScope Mevo Plus cost over 3x more than the R10, but provides more simulation software compatibility and even offers putting, which the Approach R10 does not.
Approach R10 vs Bushnell Launch Pro
The Garmin Appraoch R10 and Bushnell Lauch Pro are two different beasts, created for two different kinds of golf consumers.
Compared to the Launch Pro out-of-box, the R10 offers comparable data metrics. The Launch Pro, however, is 3-camera-based launch monitor, closely related to the GCQuad. With subscription upgrades, it can level-up to a fierce home golf simulator experience.
But while the Approach R10 only costs $600, the Bulshnell Launch Pro starts at $3,000 for basic data points.
Launch Pro vs FlightScope Mevo Plus
Priced at about $1,000 less than the Launch Pro, the radar-based FlightScope Mevo Plus, offers 16 data points and access to TruGolf E6 Connect, the Golf Club, Creative Golf 3D, and Awesome Golf.
The camera-based Bushnell Launch Pro starts at $3,000 with near GCQuad-level basic data points. To add simulation and more advanced features, you will need to add on a subscription level.
For more information, check out this article on the Launch Pro.
SkyTrak vs Bushnell Launch Pro
The Bushnell Launch Pro is a camera-based golf launch monitor and simulator with near GCQuad quality and accuracy, made more affordable and accessable with tiered subscription packages.
The SkyTrak is a photometric (camera-based) launch monitor that offers the most simulation software compatibility (TrueGolf E6 Connect, WGT Golf, The Golf Club 2019, TrueGolf E6 Connect, Creative Golf, Fitness Golf, and ProTee Play) and home entertainment for $1,000 less than the Launch Pro begins at.