Golf Simulator Projector vs No Projector: Do You Need One at Home?

You don't need a projector to have a useful home golf simulator. A launch monitor and a phone, tablet or TV will give you every number you need for practice, and a projector mainly adds the big-screen, play-a-course feel. Many golfers start without one and add it later. If you think you'll want one, plan for it from day one.

Below is how each option works, what it costs you in space and money, and how to set up now so a projector is easy to add later.

What "no projector" actually looks like

A no-projector setup is a launch monitor, something to hit into, and a screen you already own. You hit, and your numbers show up on your phone, tablet or a TV mounted off to the side.

The Garmin Approach R10 ($599.99) is a good example. It sits about 6 to 8 ft behind the ball, pairs with your phone or tablet, and reports club head speed, ball speed, spin rate, smash factor, launch angle, launch direction and carry distance. It also shows dispersion charts and records swing video with your stats on top.

Good for:

• Range-style practice: working on carry numbers, gapping and dispersion
• Tight budgets, since there's no projector or mount to buy
• Rooms where there's nowhere safe to hang a projector
• Bright garages where a projected image would look washed out

The trade-off: you're looking down at a small screen between shots, not at a ball flying down a fairway. That's fine for practice but less fun for full rounds with friends.

What a projector adds

With a projector, your simulator software is shown life-size on an impact screen. You hit the ball into the picture and watch the shot continue on screen. This is the setup most people imagine when they say "golf simulator."

• Immersion. Playing a course feels like playing a course, not checking an app.
• Easier to share. Everyone in the room can see the shot, so it works for family and friends.
• Better aim. Lining up to a target on a big screen is closer to standing on a real tee.

Note that course play in apps and third-party simulator software (for example E6 Connect, Awesome Golf or TGC 2019 with the R10) may need a paid subscription or license. Check current terms for your launch monitor and software before you buy.

What you need to go the projector route

A projector changes what you hit into. A net won't hold an image, so you need an impact screen.

• An enclosure with an impact screen. The GolfBays EasySim ($799) is about 10 ft 10 in wide, 8 ft 2 in tall and 3 ft 3 in deep, and comes with a Lite impact screen in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which makes matching a projector simpler. The GolfBays SimBox (from $1,529.10) comes in seven sizes with the impact screen included and blackout side walls.
• A projector and a safe mount. Most home setups mount the projector on the ceiling, above or behind the hitting area, so it's out of the swing path and out of the ball's way. Use your projector maker's throw calculator to check it can fill your screen from where you can mount it.
• Light control. A garage with windows or bright overhead lights will wash out the picture. GolfBays blackout side screens (from $233.99) hang behind the impact screen and stop projector light bleeding through, which improves contrast.
• A screen that holds the image. If you're upgrading a screen, the GolfBays Duo (from $243) uses a tight-knit front layer to keep light on the screen, with built-in foam to cut impact noise.

More on picking a screen in our impact screen buying guide.

Side by side

• Cost: No projector is cheaper. A projector setup adds the projector, a mount and usually an enclosure with an impact screen.
• Space: Both need room for a full swing and launch monitor spacing. A projector also needs a mounting spot and enough ceiling height to stay clear of your swing. See how much ceiling height you need.
• Practice value: About equal. The numbers come from the launch monitor either way.
• Fun and course play: The projector wins clearly.
• Setup effort: No projector is close to plug and play. A projector takes an afternoon of mounting and aligning.

The middle path: buy the screen now, add the projector later

If you're unsure, start with an impact screen instead of a net. You can practice with numbers on your phone or tablet today, and when you're ready, add a projector without replacing anything.

For a lower-cost start, the Golf Range Cage with Impact Screen ($279.99, 10 × 8 × 5 ft) gives you a screen inside a net cage. If you know you'll never project, a plain net cage like the Golf Driving Cage (from $379.99) is fine, but it can't be turned into a projected setup later.

Common mistakes

• Buying a net, then wanting a projector. You'll end up buying an impact screen or enclosure anyway.
• Mounting the projector where a ball or club can reach it. Keep it above and out of the hitting zone.
• Ignoring aspect ratio. A projector that doesn't match your screen's shape leaves black bars or spills light onto the walls.
• Forgetting light control. An open garage door or bright shop lights make even a good projector look dim.
• Skipping room measurements. Launch monitor spacing, swing room and projector placement all compete for the same space.

New to launch monitors? Start with our launch monitor buying guide for beginners.

Not sure which way to go?

Send us your room's ceiling height, width and depth, plus a photo if you can, and we'll tell you whether a projector setup fits and which enclosure size makes sense. Use the chat button, text (714) 343-7110, or email info@gryngolf.com. We ship within the US.