Indoor Golf Simulator Reviews
Quick Links
At home golf simulators have come a long way in the past several years. As the technology gets better year after year, the popularity for these home simulators also increases every year. And this isn't surprising. Golf simulators really satisfy two different, hungry markets.
Golf simulators can really help you become a better golfer. With extremely accurate club head and golf ball metrics (e.g. speed, angle, spin, etc.), you get real time feedback with visual results, both with numbers as well as ball trajectory and flight. You can use this information to improve consistency, distance, control, and ultimately your golf swing and handicap.
Indoor golf simulators are also just really, really entertaining. If it's raining outside or the middle of the winter in the Midwest, you can fire up a golf simulator and play a quick round of 9 or 18 any time you choose. They are a ton of fun in a group setting with family or friends, or just a great way to unwind after a long day of work.
With the growing popularity, more and more options are becoming available in the home golf market. There are many quality products out there, each with different features and capabilities. This article will help you sort out the differences and list our choices for 2020s best golf simulators.
Best Indoor Golf Simulator for Home
Trackman Golf Simulator
Review
You can't really have a discussion about the best golf simulators without bringing up Trackman. When it comes to features and accuracy, Trackman is as good as it gets. The metrics that Trackman provides are pretty amazing. You will get all of the club metrics throughout your swing as well as the ball metrics during and after impact. Trackman also provides video analysis of your swing (from up to 6 angles/viewpoints) as well as putting analysis.
If you are looking for the most in-depth analysis of your swing and shots for game improvement, there isn't a better option than Trackman. It is the most trusted simulator amongst professional coaches and PGA players. That said, Trackman carries a steep price tag to go along with the not insignificant amount of technology it comes with. For most, the price is not justifiable. But if you are building a custom home simulator and want it to be a show stopper, Trackman is the best.
Best Indoor Budget Golf Simulators
SkyTrak Simulators for Home
Scroll Down For Our SkyTrack Picks
Some of the most popular golf simulator packages are brought to you by SkyTrak. At the core of these packages is the highly popular and performant launch monitor by SkyTrak. It is a very affordable and extremely accurate simulator. It revolutionized the industry by being the first affordable simulator that could give precise metrics on the ball after impact, such as spin (including side spin, back spin, etc.), both total distance and carry distance, off center measurements, trajectory, etc. You can get the SkyTrak Launch Monitor for under $2000.
From there, you can spend anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 to complete the
package, depending on what you decide on for your simulator bay. How much space do you want to take up? Are you looking for something that can be put away when you're done using it? Are you looking for a more realistic experience, or just somewhere to hit the golf ball safely and get feedback? These questions will help you determine which kind of screen or net will work best for you.
Best Home Indoor Golf Simulator Under $10,000
SkyTrak SwingBay Golf Simulator Studio - $8000 Option
Review
The SwingBay Studio provides the best home golf experience for under $10,000. You get the SkyTrak's precision accuracy that is comparable to the accuracy of simulators at 5 times the price.
You also get the SwingBay hitting screen and enclosure, landing pad turf, hitting mat, Optoma 1080p HD projector and projector mount for the ceiling.
In essence, you get all of the features and feel of a custom-built golf simulator but at a fraction of the price.
The SwingBay Golf Studio is easily our pick for best value golf simulator total package. You will need at least 16' x 12' x 9' of space.
Best Home Golf Simulator Under $5,000
SkyTrak Budget Golf Simulator Package - $5000 Option
Review
The SkyTrak Budget Golf Simulator Package is probably the cheapest way to get a full simulator experience. Of course you get the SkyTrak launch monitor with its accuracy and complete ball flight metrics, you also get the pro series screen, golf net, and side barriers, along with the Optoma 1080p HD projector and ceiling mount, and golf mat. You will be hard pressed to find another full simulator package that is this inexpensive and that comes with the ball flight accuracy this package comes with. The SkyTrak Budget Golf Simulator Package is our choice for cheapest full simulator experience package. You will need to set aside at least 12' x 10' x 8' of space for this package.
Best Golf Simulator Under $3000
SkyTrak Practice Golf Simulator Package - $3000 Option
Review
The SkyTrak Practice Golf Simulator Package doesn't come with a screen or projector, but it comes with the pro series golf net and side barrier, which is considered the best ball return golf net you can get. You also get a 6' x 10' golf mat and of course the fantastic SkyTrak launch monitor. The minimum amount of space you will need for this package is 12' x 10' x 8'.
Best Golf Simulator Under $2000
SkyTrak Simulator Launch Monitor
Review
SkyTrak is probably the industry leader when it comes to value golf simulators. The SkyTrak golf simulator is portable rather than permanent like the more expensive options. It is a wireless launch monitor that easily connects to your home computer, laptop, or tablet. It lacks some of the features of the bigger, pricier simulators, but it is still able to sync with the Golf Club Game. This means you have virtual access to over 150,000 courses that you can play online with your friends or with other online players. You can also participate in live tournaments.
The SkyTrak launch monitor will allow you to get a true simulator experience. It measures the distance and spin of the ball after contact, and it provides great accuracy, we believe the best accuracy for the money. Providing these ball metrics at this price point truly revolutionized the industry. You will not, however, get measurements on your swing, which will matter very little to some, but be a deal breaker to others.
The SkyTrak is a high-quality machine that delivers immense value at a pretty phenomenal price.
Best Golf Simulator for $1000
OptiShot 2 Practice Golf Simulator Package - $1000 option
Review
The OptiShot 2 Practice Golf Simulator Package is the least expensive golf simulator that is worth buying. The OptiShot 2 doesn't quite have the features or the accuracy of the SkyTrak launch monitor, but it still provides valuable feedback via 16 infrared sensors that track your swing before, during, and after contact with the ball. You also get a really nice ball return golf net, side barriers, and pro turf golf mat. If you are looking for the least expensive way to get into the world of golf simulation, the OptiShot 2 Practice Golf Simulator Package is our top pick.
SkyTrak vs Trackman Golf Simulator Comparison
SkyTrak and Trackman are two of the most popular golf simulators on the market. SkyTrak is a favorite among those looking for a more budget friendly option. Trackman is the preferred choice for those looking for the best of the best, regardless of price. Aside from the price, there are significant differences between these two machines. We will compare the features as well as the benefits/drawbacks of each.
Both the SkyTrak and the Trackman provide top notch accuracy and data on the ball. They both provide golf ball metrics such as carry distance, total distance, launch angle, descent angle, back spin, side spin, speed, and more. The SkyTrak uses cameras to calculate the ball metrics, while Trackman uses a radar system. When it comes to golf ball metrics and accuracy, the SkyTrak stacks up nicely against the Trackman.
When it comes to golf club data, such as club path, angle of attack, club face angle, impact location, and dynamic loft, the Trackman is the clear winner. The only club metric SkyTrak provides is club head speed, and of course the Trackman provides this as well. Keep in mind that the majority of golfers will have no use for this club data anyway. But, this is part of what makes Trackman the best in golf simulators for the home.
Both SkyTrak and Trackman offer the ability to play thousands of golf courses online and participate in tournaments with friends and strangers alike. With both, you can participate in skills assessments and competitions. Both provide legitimate golf simulation, including environmental settings. Where the Trackman leaves the SkyTrak behind is in the video analysis. SkyTrak doesn't provide video analysis, whereas Trackman is capable of connecting up to 6 cameras to get a truly comprehensive look at your golf swing. Trackman also provides analysis on your putting.
SkyTrak vs Trackman Bottom Line
The Trackman is simply a better all around simulator, with a lot more technology and features. It is also is a lot more expensive. The SkyTrak is a really great golf simulator in its own right, and for the majority of you looking for a home virtual golf solution, the SkyTrak will give you everything you need. For those of you who want the very best, especially for a custom built simulator, the Trackman is the clear winner.
SkyTrak vs. OptiShot 2 Golf Simulator Comparison
The SkyTrak and the OptiShot 2 are two of the most affordable and well-liked simulators out there. They are, however, fundamentally different, in that the OptiShot 2 is designed to give you data about your club during your swing, whereas the SkyTrak is designed to give you data about the ball after contact. So while the OptiShot 2 might be better as a swing improvement tool than the SkyTrak, the SkyTrak is going to offer a better and more accurate simulated golf experience.
For portability and ease of use, the OptiShot 2 is about as good as it gets. If you want to move it to another room or take it on vacation, you basically put it on the ground when you're ready and start swinging because you are basically hitting right off of the simulator. The SkyTrak takes a little more effort to get things lined up just right.
The OptiShot 2 is an infrared simulator, with high-speed infrared sensors built right into the hitting mat. These sensors gather data from your golf club throughout your swing. It doesn't gather data from the golf ball, which means you can use foam or plastic balls (for that matter, you don't need a ball at all) which a lot of people really like. However, it also means that mishits will be depicted as thought he ball was hit cleanly. Obviously this means you lose a lot of accuracy when it comes to ball flight.
The SkyTrak is a launch monitor as well as a simulator. It has high-speed photometric sensors that gather data from your ball immediately after impact. You get very accuracy measurements of back spin and side spin, golf ball speed, launch and side angles, etc. that are used to give an extremely accurate depiction of how your ball behaves in the air as well as after it lands. When it comes to accuracy (ball flight, distance, roll, etc.), SkyTrak competes with simulators that are up to 10 times as expensive.
OptiShot 2 vs SkyTrak Final Verdict
At under $1000 for the OptiShot 2 and under $2000 for the SkyTrak, both of these options are really, really good values. If you're more interested in a bit of fun than in improving your game, the OptiShot is a great way to go. You can use foam balls and be entertained for hours. If you want the fun that comes with virtual golf but are also serious about improving your game, you will want to go with the SkyTrak. Its accuracy is unbelievable (especially for the price!) and the metrics it provides will be invaluable to improving your game.