The technical reference for golf simulators
Plan the room. Pick the monitor. Buy the exact model.
Room depth, ceiling clearance, projector throw and five-year costs for launch monitors, screens and complete simulator packages — worked out from published specifications, with every figure's source shown.
The three numbers that decide a simulator room
Start with the room
Measure first. Then shop.
Most simulator regrets come from one missing measurement: a ceiling 6 inches too low, a radar that needs 3 more feet of ball flight, or a projector that can't fill a 4:3 screen from where it has to hang.
Room size calculator
Enter depth, width, ceiling and golfer height; see which launch monitors fit.
Ceiling height calculator
Driver swing clearance for your height, club and mat — formula shown.
Projector throw calculator
Lens-to-screen distance for any screen shape, and which projectors fit.
Launch monitor finder
Filter by budget, room, spin method, handedness and subscription.
Equipment reference
Every part of the bay
Each category lists every product we cover in a sortable table, with the figures that matter for that part of the room.
Launch Monitors
Radar, camera and overhead units with room depth, spin method and five-year cost worked out for each.
392 productsSimulator Packages
Complete bundles from specialist retailers, decoded: what's in the box, the room it needs and what it really costs.
72 productsEnclosures & Screens
Enclosure frames, retractable screens and impact screens by size, with the room and projector fit for each.
51 productsProjectors
Throw distance and on-screen brightness for common simulator screens, calculated for every projector.
111 productsHitting Mats & Turf
Hitting mats, strike strips, landing pads and turf — sizes, construction and launch-monitor fit.
56 productsPutting Greens
Indoor putting greens and chipping surfaces by size, for rooms with space beside or behind the bay.
30 productsGolf Nets
Practice nets and net packages for hitting full shots with data before building a full bay.
37 productsSoftware & PCs
Simulator software and PCs, with launch-monitor compatibility and stated system requirements.
56 productsStudio Accessories
Side barriers, baffles, padding, mounts and cables that make a bay safer and easier to use.
Build tiers
What a simulator costs
Budgets cluster into three builds. Use the tier to set expectations, then let the room decide the launch monitor.
DIY garage or net setup
A radar or entry camera launch monitor with a net or DIY screen. Needs the most room depth if you choose radar.
$5,000–$12,000Dedicated simulator room
Measured-spin camera unit, full enclosure, short-throw projector and a quality mat. The most common serious home build.
$12,000–$25,000+Premium or commercial studio
Overhead or tour-grade launch monitor, curved or custom enclosure, 4K laser projection and club data for coaching.
Launch monitors
Popular starting points
Garmin Approach R10
Radar · Behind the ball · 17–19 ft deep
Rapsodo MLM2PRO
Radar + camera · Behind the ball · 16.5–18.5 ft deep
Square Golf Omni
Camera · Beside the ball · 13.5–15.5 ft deep
SkyTrak ST MAX
Radar + camera · Beside the ball · 13.5–15.5 ft deep
FlightScope Mevo Gen2
Radar + camera · Behind the ball · 18–20 ft deep
Bushnell Golf Launch Pro
Camera · Beside the ball · 13.5–15.5 ft deep
Uneekor EYE XO2
Camera · Ceiling, in front of the ball · 13.5–15.5 ft deep
Foresight Sports GCQuad
Camera · Beside the ball · 13.5–15.5 ft deep
Guides
Plan it properly
Best-of lists
Rules stated, math shown
How FOREference works
A reference, not a review blog
Every figure is sourced
Specifications are transcribed from the manufacturer's store or the specialist retailer's listing, and each one is labelled with its source tier.
Our math is labelled
Room depth, ceiling clearance, throw distance, brightness and five-year cost are FOREference calculations with the formula printed beside them.
Exact-model links only
Buttons go to the product page for that exact model — never a search or category page. We may earn a commission; it never decides coverage. Disclosure