Golf simulators are a great way to practice your swings without having to go to a golf course or driving range.
But you won’t be able to swing if you don’t have enough room. So, how much space do you need to own and use a golf simulator?
Generally, you’re going to need a room that’s at least 12 feet long, 10 feet wide, and eight feet high. For a more flexible swing you’ll need a bigger space, closer to 16 feet long, 12 feet wide, and nine feet high.
For a more comfortable swing, you’d be looking at 18 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet high. This would be the ideal amount of room for a golf simulator.
To provide you with some context, though, we’ll first briefly sum up just how golf simulators actually work.
How Do Golf Simulators Work?
Although there are different kinds of golf simulators, they all work in essentially the same way. You first place your ball on the hitting area, which tends to be a swing mat, and then you make your swing.
The ball hits the impact screen, and the simulator then analyzes your spin, speed, the angle of your launch, and all the other relevant data.
The simulator will use this data to determine where the ball will go, and you’ll see your shot played out on the screen.
You’ll see where your ball lands, and you’ll see all the data the simulator received from your shot. The simulator will then move you on to the next hole.
How Long Must Your Room Be To Have A Golf Simulator?
In order to have a golf simulator, your room will need to be at least 12 feet long (or 3.65 meters).
The greater the length, the farther the ball will be traveling before it hits the impact screen. For the most comfortable backswing, you’ll need closer to 18 feet.
The reason having the right length is so important is that, if it’s even a little too short, it could result in serious damage to your surroundings.
There should be between six and seven feet between yourself and your screen. If your room isn’t the right size, you won’t be able to have the full golf simulator experience.
How Wide Must Your Room Be To Have A Golf Simulator?
Your room should be a minimum of 10 feet wide, or 3.05 meters wide, to be able to use a golf simulator. For the longer clubs, you’re going to need a room that’s closer to between 12 to 15 feet wide.
If you’re using a golf simulator in a room that’s too narrow, it’ll be a lot harder to hit the ball into the center of the screen, because your aim will be too far right (or too far left, if you’re a left handed player).
A narrow room also won’t be able to fit the swing mat or putting green.
How High Must Your Ceiling Be To Have A Golf Simulator?
To be able to comfortably use a golf simulator, your ceiling should be at least 8.5 feet high, or 2.6 meters.
For the most overhead clearance, you’d be looking at between nine and a half to 10 feet. Having enough height is just as important as having enough length and enough width.
The Space Required For Each Type Of Golf Simulator
There are three main types of golf simulators: photometric, radar, and infrared.
They can differ not only in size but in how your shots are analyzed. Let’s look at the space required for each.
Photometric Golf Simulators
A photometric simulator requires less space than a radar simulator, and the swing mat should be placed just before the screen.
The minimum space required to use a photometric simulator will be 12 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and 10 feet in height. This is the same for right handed golfers and left handed golfers.
Minimum space requirement
Length:
12 feet
Width:
15 feet
Height:
10 feet
Radar Golf Simulators
Unlike with a photometric simulator, radar simulators determine the course of your shot via radar waves.
This requires far more space than photometric simulators; you’ll need a room that’s at least 12 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet high.
The reason so much space is required is that it’s tracking your club, as well as your ball.
The advantage of radar simulators is that they’ll be tracking the full range of your shots, whether they’re as short as two yards or as long as 400 yards.
Minimum space requirement
Length:
12 feet
Width:
15 feet
Height:
10 feet
Infrared Golf Simulators
Most similar to radar simulators, infrared simulators use beams of light to determine your shots, rather than radar waves.
This kind of simulator only tracks your club and your swing, so a lot of infrared devices don’t even require you to hit any balls.
The minimum space needed will be a length of 10 feet, a width of 10 feet, and a height of eight and a half feet.
Minimum space requirement
Length:
10 feet
Width:
10 feet
Height:
8.5 feet
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Golf Simulators
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic of indoor golf simulators.
The minimum space required for an indoor golf simulator is 10 feet in length, 10 feet in width, and 8.5 feet in height.
While the highest quality golf simulators can cost anywhere from 3,000 dollars to 20,000 dollars, you won’t have to spend much more than 700 hundred dollars for a decent device. T
There are five main items needed for a golf simulator; mat, projector, net, impact screen, simulator (or computer and software).
Conclusion
For the most comfortable swings, you’re going to need a room that’s 18 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet high.
The minimum space required for an indoor golf simulator is 10 feet in length, 10 feet in width, and 8.5 feet in height.
The space needed will differ depending on the type of golf simulator in question. Photometric simulators and radar simulators require less space than infrared simulators.
It should be noted that this is just a guide – it’s possible to have a comfortable simulated golfing experience with less space than is suggested.
But for the full, safest experience, consider the measurements laid out in this article.
