Build your setup
Build a home golf simulator
A home simulator is really just a launch monitor plus a place to swing — everything past that is how far you want to take it. You can start with a monitor and a net for a few hundred dollars and add a screen and software later. Here’s what each piece does and roughly what it costs, so you can plan the build instead of guessing.
What a sim is actually made of
Launch monitor
Reads the ball (and usually the club). The brain of the whole setup — and the same tool you use to measure your distances.
$300 – $2,000+
Hitting space
A net for practice, or an impact screen + enclosure to see the ball flight projected. Screen setups need real ceiling height.
$150 – $1,500
Mat
A hitting mat that takes a real divot-strike without wrecking your wrists over time.
$100 – $600
Computer + software
The sim software (courses, driving range, shot data) and a laptop or PC to run it. Some launch monitors bundle it.
$0 – $1,000
Projector (screen setups)
Optional. Only if you want ball flight and courses projected on an impact screen rather than a tablet.
$400 – $1,500
Ranges are typical 2026 street prices for the gear category, not a specific product recommendation. Detailed budget-tier and room-fit guides are in progress.
Will it fit your room?
The usual dealbreaker isn’t money — it’s ceiling height. A full driver swing wants around 9 to 10 feet of clearance; plenty of garages and basements sit at 8. If that’s you, a net-only practice setup or a shorter-club routine still works, and you can measure every club except a full-height driver. A dedicated “will a sim fit my room?” calculator is on the build list.
How we’ll compare gear here
By published specs and price — never invented hands-on reviews or star ratings. See our approach.
The one piece you buy first
Start with the launch monitor
It’s the brain of the sim and the tool that measures your real distances — so it does double duty from day one. Here are the three that hit the home-golfer sweet spot.
See the launch monitors