Indoor Golf Simulators For Home: The Pros And Cons
An indoor golf simulator is a high-tech, virtual golf system that you set up at home. It enables you to analyze your golf swing technique while practicing golf shots, by hitting a golf ball from a swing mat into a net or screen.
They provide instantaneous feedback on every shot. Depending on the model, the launch monitor will track and record your swing and shot data using different radars, sensors, or cameras. This feedback is a great tool to improve your game which is why golf simulators work well if you want to teach yourself golf.
Most software available today will analyze things like:
Ball speed
Club speed
Smash factor
Launch angle
Launch direction
In this post, we will go over the pros and cons of investing in a virtual golf simulator.
The Pros
You can practice golf year-round regardless of the weather.
You’ll have the flexibility to golf on your own time, day or night.
If you have unused space, this can be a great way to utilize an extra room, garage, or basement.
Save money in the long run instead of spending $20 or $30 every time you practice at the driving range.
If you want to get a decent golf score as a new player, you’ll need to practice as often as possible. Having a golf simulator at home will allow you unlimited practice time.
(According to an article from Keiser University, as long as a student is provided accurate feedback throughout the learning process, it would take them approximately six weeks before they see a significant improvement in his or her swing.)
The Cons
They aren’t always accurate which is why you need to do your research before deciding on one. Making sure you follow the directions throughout the setup process will be key to ensuring your simulator works the way it was designed to.
They can be expensive but as we just mentioned, in most cases, you get what you pay for.
You don’t need to wear the same golf attire that the dress codes call for at some golf courses, but you will need to have golf clubs in order to practice at home.
You need to have some extra space at home to set things up.
As excellent as a golf simulator can be, it’s not going to test you in the same way as being outdoors in the elements on an actual golf course.
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The Cost
The simulators we will go over in this post range from under $1,000 to almost $4,000. These are considered small to mid-range models. If you were looking to purchase a high-end model, that could set you back over $50,000.
Fun fact: According to the Washington Post, President Trump had a high-end model installed at the White House during his time in office.
Optishot sells some of the best reviewed golf simulators out there. They offer several different combinations of their Golf In A Box bundles that include things like hitting mats, nets, projectors, impact screens, and more.
Whether you’re building an entertaining game space, a professional golf room, or a temporary practice area, you should be able to find what you need. Here is an example:
Golf In A Box
Includes: Optishot 2, software, USB cable, adjustable rubber tees, two foam practice golf balls, golf mat, and golf hitting net.
Every OptiShot2 comes with 15 premium real-world golf courses available to play online or offline.
Golf Net Size: 7’x10’x3’
Golf Net Type: Hitting net
Compatibility: Windows 8, 10, or 11. 3GB Hard Disk Drive Storage. 4GB RAM. USB 2.0 Port; Not compatible with MacOS
Things To Consider
1) How high of a ceiling and how big of a room do you need?
According to their user guide, you’ll need a space with at least a 10 ft. x 10 ft. area and with at least 8½ ft ceilings to take full swings. You must also take into consideration your height, the steepness of your swing, and the length of the club you are swinging. They suggest taking a few gentle practice swings in the area you would like to use to be sure it is suitable.
2) Should you use real golf balls or practice golf balls?
Optishot comes with foam golf balls. Some golf simulators allow you to use a real ball, it all depends on the model.
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3) What is the proper lighting?
Since OptiShot uses infrared sensors, it should only be used indoors as the light from the sun causes inaccurate results. Here are some tips from their user guide:
OptiShot works best when used in a room with fluorescent or warehouse lighting (such as Sodium Vapor or Metal Halide).
An overhead light is generally better than light coming from the side of the room.
Avoid Incandescent, halogen, and daylight as even small indirect amounts will affect performance.
Shadows from objects may affect performance.
