An ideal golfing day at the course is supposed to be sunny or at least overcast, however, conditions changes and often interrupt a good round. Fortunately, due to advancements in sporting technology, modern golfers can now enjoy golfing in the comfort of their own home using golf simulators.
Before we look at the components that make a home golf insulator, let’s first understand what is a golf simulator.
- A golf simulator is a virtual golf game designed to bring a player into a simulated golf course. The simulator allows you to take a shot and the shot is measured for a spin, speed and trajectory and the results are projected on a screen.
When looking to build a home golf simulator, there are many components and materials involved. And while it’s expensive to own high-end golf simulators, there are more budget-friendly golf simulator options available for your consideration. You can start with the essential components first then upgrade to more advanced parts for realistic simulation experience.
1. Golf Simulator Room Space Requirements
The first thing to consider when building a home golf simulator is the available space and its dimensions. Generally, the golfer height and the types of swings will determine the room space for your simulator, and so it’s necessary to consider the room’s height, width, and depth. The ideal ceiling size is about 9 feet– this should be enough for a full swing.
There should also be enough playing surface to avoid damaging the walls when taking a shot, but this often depends if you’re right hand or left-hand golfer. While best golf simulators would require more space for setup, some indoor options would only require a 10-foot by 10-foot area.
2. Hitting Mat
Mats are necessary when it comes to indoor golfing with a simulator; they help with your swing practice. Hitting mats come in a wide selection to suit different tastes and budgets. And the cost of the mat will often be determined by features and quality of the specific mat. High quality hitting mats are designed to withstand thousands of shots and different elements of weather for superior performance and durability.
3. Computer
Running a golf simulator relies on computing power even while using a launch monitor. But if you already own a laptop or a desktop you can run the software, and easily interpret and display results. Consider the laptop’s specification because running a golf simulator software is a task for machines with at least 8 gigs of RAM and a robust graphics card.
As you start, a basic laptop with medium specifications can help simulate the game without major screen lags, but as you get more immersed in the game you’ll need a superior machine that can also be used as a family computer.
4. Screen, Nets and Projector
- Choosing a projector is challenging because each room has its specific requirements, and elements like resolutions, size and light will greatly vary. Some projectors are not ideal for home golf simulator.
- Nets are used to protect walls from any damage, and often keep stray shots at bay. Use an impact screen to protect your projector.
5. Simulator
A simulator is a vital component of your indoor golf and the experience you’ll have will greatly depend on the actual sensor system you’ve put in place. Some of the high-speed sensor systems to consider are putting sensors, club and ball sensors.
There are various launch monitor options, and their cost depends on the features and performance. Invest in a high definition golf simulator to experience a complete golfing immersion experience.
With the robust growth of the golf simulation industry, golfers with different income backgrounds can now own a home golf simulator to polish up their skills with unlimited practice sessions. Instead of going through the gruesome details of building a golf simulator, hire experts who can do the heavy-lifting and understand how good golf simulators looks like.
