Should I invest in a Golf Simulator?

When I was kid, I would get frustrated every time the golf season ended in New England. It felt like I was finally getting in a groove with my swing, and then I would shut it all down and wait until spring, just to start the process all over again. I daydreamed about being able to play all year round, but it was impossible to work on your short game in a foot of snow.

Fast forward to present day. Playing golf all year round doesn’t have to end when the snow falls. Technology has advanced to the point that you can set up a Golf Simulator in your house and keep crushing drives down the fairway, but before you run out, or fire up amazon to find the best simulator there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you invest the money.

How Big Does My Internal Space Need to Be?

Let’s be honest. You’re going to need space. Removing all the shoes and coats from a closet to set up a simulator is just not going to work. You need to think about the length, the width to each wall, and the overall height of the ceilings, but you should consider what type of club you will be using to determine the size. If you are planning to just chip and work on your short game, you probably don’t need as much space… but if you are planning to break out the Big Dog and rocket golf balls 300 yards, then you are going to need space.

To make a full swing there ought to be sufficient space for the best results. Do not alter your swing to make it work within the space you have. The last thing you want to do is mess up your swing just to use a simulator. That defeats the whole purpose on working on your swing year-round. The recommended size for a room to accommodate an indoor simulator is 10 feet wide and 15 feet long. Now, check the height. To swing irons properly you are going to need at least 7 feet high ceilings, and for woods they recommend a minimum of 10 feet. If you are taller, then you may need to adjust a bit more.

Can a Golf Simulator Improve Your Game?

This is an investment in your game, so you need to treat it like that. So by playing golf regularly and practicing different shots in a realistic virtual environment, this should have a positive impact on your game. It certainly avoids the stop/start that most golfers face in the off-season. Plus, let’s be honest. It’s pretty cool to have, and gives a reason for your buddies to come and hang out.

Do You Putt in a Golf Simulator?

Sure, you can putt using the indoor golf simulator. I always found it a little wonky, but most simulators will allow you to putt directly into the screen where a tracking device will determine the speed and the direction of the ball and calculate the path towards the cup from the information.

How Long Does It Take to Play 18 Holes on a Golf Simulator?

A single player can complete 18 holes between 1 and 2 hours and a fourball will be able to complete 18 holes within about 4 hours.

How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?

Cost varies, you can find simulators for a couple of hundred dollars, or you can spend up to $50000 or even more for the top of the range indoor simulators. The most expensive units are usually used by professional golfers, or the simulators you see at indoor driving ranges.

Wrap Up

Golf simulators have become immensely popular for various reasons. Technology has advanced and allowed the ease of installing these in your home, which I could have never dreamed about as a kid.

In the coming days I will be reviewing the Top 5 Indoor Golf Simulators, that will includea detailed analysis and rating for each, but until then I will link to a simulator that I’m familiar with, the Rapsodo R-Motion. It’s versatile and extremely easy to use.