Best Golf Simulator
Over the last few years, more and more people have been investing in equipment and technology that allows them to practice at home. Thanks largely due to the coronavirus pandemic, golfers across the world were not willing to stop playing and wanted to keep practising their swing, while in lockdown. That usually took the form of a golf net, which allows people to hit golf balls whenever they like from their living room to their back yard. Some people have even gone a step further, buying technology that allows them to simulate golf in their homes or gardens. Because of this growth in popularity, we have put together a list of some of the best golf simulators below. But what actually is a golf simulator?
A golf simulator is a piece of equipment designed to help golfers practice. A golf simulator enables a player to practice in a virtually simulated golf environment, which mimics the real game. While it won't provide the player with a completely accurate simulation of their This is to help a player analyse their swing, work on weaknesses, and improve without having to head to the golf course.
They are extremely handy to have, allowing players to get the perfect home or indoor setup (opens in new tab) to perfect their swing and improve the contact they're getting on the golf ball. There are definitely some expensive options, such as the model Tiger Woods has in his home, but they really are incredible pieces of technology and can be custom-built to your preference for the ultimate golf experience.
However, they don't have to break the bank and you can compose your own with a budget launch monitor and practice net or a cool training aid. To help you decide, we have listed some of our favorite simulator designs to help you get the most out of your game. Also be sure to take a look at some of our other golf gear guides too, such as the best golf GPS (opens in new tab), best golf mat (opens in new tab), or the best golf rangefinders. (opens in new tab)
Best Golf Simulator
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It’s popular in the US among many leading PGA Tour players but has now made its way to the UK, with the first installation located at Silvermere Golf & Leisure. We paid it a visit recently and tested out the top-of-the-range Pro Series, the same 16-foot widescreen option used by Tiger Woods himself.
The technology is as cutting edge as it gets with patented dual sensor technology that uses an overhead ion3 high-speed camera with line tracking infrared sensors. This allows the user to see ball's flight, path and strike easily. When fitted the simulator also comes with a solid wood enclosure, cinema-quality projector, an energy-absorbing diffuser screen and an industrial-grade carpet and hitting mat. You can also play up to 84 simulated golf courses, other games and then there’s the option to practice your penalties, rugby conversions or even your cricket bowling action along with being able to watch films or play video games like a cinema experience.
- Read our full Full Swing Golf Simulator Review (opens in new tab)
Foresight is one of the biggest players in the simulator market, with its hugely popular GCQuad launch monitor being used by many professionals out on tour. You can bring the GCQuad (opens in new tab) (or the Hawk, GC3, GC2 or GC2 HMT) to your own home with a Foresight Simulator package, where you can have a lower-priced Sim-In-A-Box or Net-Ready package or the Performance Simulator premium package.
You'll get a launch monitor of your choice as well as a performance laptop and much more to ensure your home simulator setup is as perfect as you want it to be. You can also buy the launch monitor separately, including more affordable pre-owned options. As you would expect with Foremost, the detail on offer here is outstanding as the GCQuad in particular gives precise club information such as path, lie angle, angle of attack and strike location. With the addition of the home setup you can practice how you like, or play golf courses around the world as well as fun games.
Another model that challenges to be the best golf simulator is the SkyTrak. SkyTrak offers launch monitors as well as a complete home setup for the golfer with space to dedicate to their game. The launch monitor delivers instant and real-time 3D shot analysis and ball-flight data and the company also offers a high-definition simulation package for the ultimate setup. With this comprehensive setup, you can also play different golf courses and other various games like the longest drive and closest to the pin.
- Read our full SkyTrak Launch Monitor Review (opens in new tab)
Another huge name in the golf simulator world is Trackman. Its devices are used by a number of the world's best players and the new Trackman 4 - which is also featured in our best golf launch monitors (opens in new tab) guide - offers up accurate data thanks to its patented multi-sensor technology that synchronizes an inbuilt camera with two bespoke designed ultra-sensitive radars. It also comes with over 100 courses installed on its system which you can play, full putting analysis, club fitting software, swing video software, online tournaments, skills testing, kids games and an on-course practice suite… all from one device. No other launch monitor offers this extensive list of features. You can buy a single launch monitor and also get a complete home setup as well.
More than a decade after the debut of its GC2, Foresight Sports has announced the product’s successor, the GC3. The latest addition to the Game Changer (GC) family will provide more golfers than ever before with unmatched data accuracy and a true-to-life simulation experience guaranteed only with Foresight.
Built on the same advanced photometric technology found in the company’s flagship launch monitor, the GCQuad, the new GC3 features a three-camera system that measures ball and club performance data, both outdoors and indoors, with precision and accuracy. One of the things that make the GC3 so accurate is its Barometric Sensor, which takes into account temperature, humidity and altitude and gives you accurate data based on these real-time factors.
- Read our full Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor Review (opens in new tab)
Bring the practice greens to your living room, with this excellent excellent ExPutt RG putting simulator. It is a compact and easy to set up putting simulator that plugs straight into your television or smart tablet and lets you practice on hundreds of greens from well known courses around the world. This simulator uses a high-tech camera that is placed at the end of the putting mat to gauge how well or how fast you're hitting each putt. That can give you feedback on everything from your impact angle to your putter path to help you improve your swing and accuracy with the flatstick.
What's great about this simulator is the analytics it provides, offering handy graphs and visuals that allow you to easily see all aspects of your putting performance. That can enable you to easily rectify any issues you have in your game. But there's more. As while this is primarily designed as a tool to help you score better on the greens, the simulator also lets you compete online against friends or other golfers. With rankings and leaderboards available, put your putting skills against other golfers from around the world to improve your score and climb the ladder.
- Read our full Exputt RG Putting Simulator Review (opens in new tab)
As seen in the Sky Sports Golf Studio, the adjustable Zen Green Stage offers up the complete indoor golf experience for both playing and coaching. It's an incredible piece of technology that allows for adjustable sloping lies - and it can be used as both a putting green and a full-swing golf surface. It is said to offer more movement, stability, accuracy, flexibility and connectivity than any other playing surface yet seen in golf. It can be controlled via Wi-Fi from your phone or tablet making it very easy to set yourself up with a new lie and practice having the ball above or below your feet.
aboutGOLF is another big player in the simulator market. A common package from the company will see you receive its 3Trak Software, a Patented 3Trak Launch Monitor, a high-performance laptop and a one-year subscription to their excellent golf software. Providing one of the most accurate and immersive golf experiences from the comfort of your own home with either one of their flat screen or curved golf simulators. That means you can get them custom built to fit your home perfectly and the ability to use the technology as a home cinema is a huge bonus too for any movie buffs too.
PHIGolf's Smart Home Golf Simulator is a fun and performance-enhancing simulator that is very easy to set up and use. It takes up very little space in your home and you won't need a hitting mat or a net with this simulator. It comes with a swing stick that features a built-in motion sensor that tracks your golf swing. While that does mean that you wont actually be striking a golf ball with this simulator, which does take away some of the practice elements of what you might want to it for, it does offer accurate data about your swing, from your speed to the shape of the shots your producing.
Ultimately, this simulator is built for entertainment purposes, allowing users to play some of the most iconic courses in the world of golf from Pebble Beach to St Andrews. It also comes with seven different game modes including stroke play, nearest to the pin and longest drive, meaning there are hours and hours of fun to be had with friends and family with this excellent golf simulator.
How we test golf simulators
When it comes to golf simulators, we take the testing process very seriously. Whether we are sent a product or buy it ourselves, we put everything through its paces to ensure we can provide thorough and reliable advice. Every member of the Golf Monthly team is an avid golfer and as such, knows what does and doesn't make for a good simulator.
As far as our methodology goes, we review all simulators properly, which means we have used each one to test a variety of different features, from how it performs with a driver to the putting simulations it has on offer. For example, if a brand claims its simulator is the best in the game, we will test that theory as much as possible, assessing all of the games, features and the accuracy of the data it provides to see how good it really is.
This comprehensive testing style is not just exclusive to golf simulators as we test with the same level of thoroughness across all gear categories. To read more about how we test our equipment, take a look at our testing methodology here (opens in new tab).
What to consider when buying a golf simulator
Golf simulators come in all different shapes and sizes and can be used both indoors and outdoors. As they don't come cheap, it is wise to ensure that you purchase the right simulator for your needs. For that reason, there are several key considerations you need to take into account before you buy your next launch monitor.
Indoor/Outdoor Use
Are you going to be using the monitor inside or outside? If you look to focus on the former then investing in a proper setup may be the way to go whilst if you want to use a monitor outside then something convenient and portable is a better call.
Space
The first thing to think about is how much space you have and how big the simulator will be. Most of the time, the more expensive the simulator, the more room it will take up because the full screen, enclosure and turf/mat will require significant space.
Importantly, whatever simulator you go for, you need enough space for the simulator setup and to swing your driver unimpeded because it is the longest club in the bag. You need to measure the width, length and height of your space and compare it to the minimum space requirements of every golf simulator you look at.
Accuracy
Next up you have to think about how accurate you want your simulator to be. Some are better than others, with the premium models at the top of this page being the best in this regard. But you can also get more budget-friendly models with good accuracy too.
Metrics
Most devices these days give insight into metrics like ball speed, club head speed and carry distance however if you are looking for more specific club head data, and metrics like dispersion, then models like the Foresight Sports and Trackman are the way to go. They are more expensive but offer incredible detail.
Features
Next up think about how many features you want your simulator to have. Are you just going to use it for golf practice? If so a cheaper model will suit you best whereas if you want more, then some designs offer the opportunity to play golf courses, GPS functionality, or even change the setup into a home entertainment system, or cinema.
Portability
If you don't have a lot of space, or you don't want a specific room for your simulator, you might be better off just going for a good launch monitor that you can take to range or wherever you practice. The question is do you want to have a dedicated place where your simulator will be located, or will there be times you want to move it?
If the answer is yes to the former, then a larger simulator will work well for you. Whereas if you plan to move your simulator around often, you may not want a full simulator setup with screen and projector unless it’s marketed as retractable.
Price
This is the big one. Not everyone can afford the big models above, some of which are in the thousands of dollars price point. As such above we have tried to include products that help simulate the golfing experience, for a variety of price points but it should be noted, with full golf simulators you often get what you pay for in terms of performance and quality.
As such if you can afford the top models, it is worth the money and effort to work out which model you want. Bearing that in mind, you may also want to take a look at our guides on the best golf nets (opens in new tab) and best golf putting mats (opens in new tab).
FAQ's
How much does it cost to get a golf simulator?
Again, linking with the answer above, there are simulators for different aspects of the game and as such, there are models that come with different price tags. The Full Swing model used by Tiger Woods for example will cost thousands of dollars, whereas there are more budget-friendly options that are available as well. We would recommend being aware of how much money you are willing to spend on a simulator as a result.
Is a golf simulator worth it?
There is no denying a golf simulator can be expensive but at the end of the day you get immense return on your investment here. We all know practice is the way to get better at golf and a simulator allows you to get as much detailed information as possible which can therefore help you iron out weaknesses and improve. There is a reason most top professionals have simulators and that is because the feedback on offer is second to none.
And we should also acknowledge that they don't always cost an arm and a leg. Golf simulator technology ranges from fifty thousand dollar top-of-the-line models used by golf equipment manufacturers and world-class professionals, to entry-level consumer devices that can be taken to a driving range.
What is the difference between a simulator and golf net?
A golf net is a simple piece of kit designed to help people practice. Importantly, they do not give that much feedback aside from giving an idea of strike and possibly ball flight. A simulator gives a lot more information, on things like strike, ball flight, spin, launch and many more variables. Because of this, nets are a lot cheaper and an be a lot simpler to use.
What size room do I need for a golf simulator?
This will be entirely dependent on which type of simulator you want and which model you go for. For example, you can use the PuttOUT Putting Mat simulator pretty much anywhere, whereas you will need a large room for the Full Swing Golf Simulator. As a basic rule of thumb, to get a good golf simulator setup we would recommend having a set area of at least 12ft x 10ft x 8.5ft. The whole point is for you to be able to swing comfortable and freely and anything less than this will hinder your ability to do so. Obviously these numbers will be dependent on how short or tall a player is as well.
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