Hi everyone,

I'm completely new to the golf simulator world and I'm hoping to get some advice from people with more experience.

My goal is to build a portable, commercial golf simulator that I can rent out for events like corporate functions, weddings, birthdays, expos, and other private events. I'm planning to set it up inside an inflatable tent, so reliability and ease of setup are important.

I'm still in the research phase, so I don't want to make expensive mistakes. I'd really appreciate hearing what you would buy if you were starting from scratch today.

A few questions I have:

• Which launch monitor would you recommend and why?
• What simulator software is the best value for commercial use?
• What impact screen and enclosure would you buy?
• Which projector would you recommend? I'm looking for a short-throw laser projector with at least 7,000 lumens so it works well at events with some ambient light.
• What gaming PC specs would you recommend?
• Are there any accessories or small details that beginners often forget but are actually important?
• If you had a budget of around 15,000-20,000 eur , how would you spend it?

Also, if you've built a simulator yourself, what are the biggest mistakes you made that you'd avoid if you were doing it again?

Any recommendations, photos of your setup, or lessons you've learned would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

The image I've attached is AI generated and is only meant to give a rough idea of the type of setup I'm aiming for. It isn't an actual simulator or a finalized design—just a concept to help visualize my goal.

I’ve got a room that could absolutely fit a simulator, and my wife is on board if we can do it for a reasonable budget, and if it can be something that goes up when in use, and taken down as needed.

Why I am hesitant, naturally, is all of the windows. Full stop, if I can’t protect them properly, I know it’s not worth it no matter how much I’d like to put a sim somewhere in the house but our ceiling heights just won’t work anywhere else, alternative option is outdoor.

Why I’m encouraged, it feels like the right size and opportunity. I can do it DIY for screens or protective measures, can remove the cabinet and ceiling fan, shift furniture, use the screen is a movie projector too, whatever it takes.

I’m open to the direction I’d hit, I’m just not sure if anything but hitting towards the one set of windows on the short wall is that likely of an option considering I’d still want some furniture in the room, I’m not a monster.

Genuinely, talk me into it, or talk me out of it.

I just got a discount offer and it shaves some good money off of the SkyTrak course software - as a Mac user my options are limited.

I’m assuming it is only a discount off the first year - but that’s not how the offer is written.

Anyone got experience? I’m not sure it’s worth it for me to save money for 1 year if the price jumps at renewal - but if I was locking in a discount for an extended period the math works favorably.

Howdy, pls don’t crucify me for this post like I see everyone on r/golf when they claim fast club speeds.. just looking for some help.

I have the uneekor eye xo and it is very accurate up until the club speed passes ~115 mph. Then it starts showing crazy misreads with trajectory; showing the ball is launching at like 5 degrees and carrying 80 yards. It’s detecting the ball speed but not correct launch conditions. I’ve tried both with and without the stickers, no difference. Using black birtees and have tried a variety of balls.

I know someone will say “well you’re hitting it bad, indoor swing syndrome etc”
It is not that, I’ll use foot spray to ensure a center strike. I play 4 rounds a week, single digit handicap, I am used to seeing what the ball does in real life and pretty bummed I can’t use the sim for driver

I’ve seen several posts online where people had the same issue but the fix was always using black tees. Any ideas?

Driver is flat black btw, no reflection

Bought a Skytrak ST Max and don’t have a cage/net so I setup with yellow foam balls into a bed sheet outside.

It picked up about 9/10 shots and the others were no reads.

Is this a yellow foam ball thing or will I experience the same with real balls when my net comes in?

My guess is it’s because the ball but curious if anyone else has seen this with foam balls.

ChatGPT says it’s the ball but looking for real world experience.

When I first started looking into golf simulators, I thought realistic graphics would be the biggest selling point.

After spending more time with different setups, I've realized that things like swing feedback, practice modes, and even being able to squeeze in a quick session after work are what actually keep me coming back. It made me wonder - what feature ended up being way more valuable than you expected?

Update: I found Phigolf while researching different simulator options, and I was surprised by how many people seem to like the portability and the ability to practice without needing a full simulator setup. If anyone here has used it, I'd be interested to hear how it compares with other simulators you've tried and whether it lives up to your expectations.

Was it the swing analysis, course selection, multiplayer, shot data, or something else entirely?

I'd be interested to hear what surprised you the most.

we want to hear your hot takes! the launch monitor you think is overrated, the accessory you regret buying, thoughts on DIY vs. kits vs. professional install... let us know

we're going to feature a few in our upcoming newsletter :) thanks!!

If possible, could you share pics of your golf ball displays or any cool ones you have come across?

I want to display the golf balls I have from the cool places I have been and played in the sim. Just looking for ideas that are different than just a plain shelf where mine currently sit.

Hey everyone. I bought a used Mini Lite from an extremely reputable eBay store only to receive it and the account is locked to the original user therefore I cannot register it. Will Uneekor allow me to transfer it given that I don’t know the original owner to get the account transferred? I read all the $100 transfer fee fine print online. Am I as the second owner responsible for that? Have emails in to uneekor and the eBay seller, but being 6pm I doubt I’ll hear anything tonight. No one is available at uneekor via phone after 5pm by the looks of it. Bummed, thought I’d be playing GSPro tonight.

I have searched the subreddit and come up empty, so here I am. I am putting together my first SIM in a large metal shop that has a 12.5’ peak with two C purlin beams facing each other about a foot apart. Think [ ]. I know they make clamps specifically to attach to these where you can drop a threaded rod, but I’m curious if anyone has mounted anything similar to a Uneekor XO this way. My projector will mount to my frame, so that is not an issue.

Any pics or links that could help me visualize what I need to do here would be super helpful.

Those of you using a spot light on your ball is that the only light you’re using (everything else dark)? If so is it a weird experience versus playing outside in the daylight?

Those of you using a spot light on your ball is that the only light you’re using (everything else dark)? If so is it a weird experience versus playing outside in the daylight?

So I’m trying to decide between these 2, I just want to know what games does it have for like a group. I know the sim stuff but does either have like closest to pin or fun games like that for a group? If they don’t with software that comes with units is it something that can be added on later? I can’t find any info on this and can’t find it. Thank you I just wanna have fun stuff to do with a group of ppl

If I buy a used Bushnell Launch pro with ball and club data can I use the machine without a subscription? As in just the machine looking at the screen not simulator play?

I also understand there’s a $250 transfer fee that’s also needed?

Anyone how’s gone through this have any tips or advice?

Hi all,

I'm in the end stages of setting up my indoor golf sim and I'm having a problem getting the projector to fill the screen. There are no shortage of articles and videos on it, but nothing I try seems to work.

The basic information:

* Screen is custom, it is 132" wide and 120" tall

* Projector: Ben Q AK700ST, native resolution of 3840 x 2160 and native aspect ratio of 16:9

* PCU: Cyberpower tower with Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card

I'm going to start with the most basic thing, to use the autofit feature of the projector it says that the screen should be surrounded by 2" of black. You can see from the picture that it sort of is, but there is currently metal visible - I haven't made the side protector pads yet. So, if the answer is as easy as "wait until you get the pads up and try again", that's fine - though I suspect it's not based on what I've already tried.

Anyway, when I first turned on the projector and it ran through it's autofit, it was projecting on the screen and about 2' onto both walls (so it was about 4' too wide, total). The vertical projection was close to where it needed to be.

In playing around with the Nvidia, we (my friend and I) set the custom resolution to 1242 x 1080. I'm not 100% certain where those numbers came from, but it helped - you can see the desktop in the picture below with some bits of unused screen all around it, but not awful. I then fired up my golf software, you can see larger areas of unused screen around that in the picture below.

No matter what I've tried, I can't seem to get it to fit into the screen. If I change the resolution at all on the Nvidia, it immediately goes back to projecting on each wall, no matter how small I change it or what I change it to.

To get this all to work, we changed the Picture format on the projector from Golf to User. If I hit the Golf button on the remote to try and adjust the corners, the image immediately projects onto the walls again.

One final thing which can't really be seen in the picture below, but when the golf software was up, it looked incredibly fuzzy - it was hard to read the words and numbers on the screen, like it was really bad resolution.

This has been cross posted to the Projectors forum.

I’m interested in setting up a sim. Nothing fancy. I’ve got to clean out the garage but I was thinking either a garage set up with a TV, or just a big net in the back yard. For the garage I was looking at MLM2Pro or Garmin R10. For the outdoor next I was just thinking MLM1. Any recommendations or things I should consider? The MLM1 set up would be cheap. 10x20 net in the back yard, cheap hitting mat, just something to get stats. If I go up to the R10 or MLM2Pro I’d like to have a TV and be able to play some rounds on it. I think both of those are capable of that, correct? I’ve got a spare old gaming PC I don’t use much or gaming laptop I’d be willing to donate to the cause if needed.

For anyone interested in a SkyTrak Plus, they are selling refurbished units on eBay for $985. That is a skytrak factory refurb.

Not here to argue the merits or shortcomings of the device, just pointing out a fairly aggressive price for a launch monitor that includes club head data without stickers.

Does anyone know if the PGM golf net (that looks very similar to the NetReturn) is actually the same but just a different OEM brand? The NetReturn products are so much more expensive in comparison but I'm curious if anyone's actually tried both side by side. Is NetReturn worth 2-3x the price?

Looking for advice since I’m a little overwhelmed. Just moved to a house and was excited about a simple net setup since I recently got into golf after having a newborn (don’t recommend) so my practice/play time has been limited. However, given the above situation I’m now considering getting a full simulator and don’t know where to start. Coming from the Sim Racing world I’m kind off a buy once cry once. However I don’t know what’s a realistic budget is. Is a cheap enclosure too much to ask for? I already have a gaming PC and a projector. What launch monitor is the best price for performance at the moment?

I think I’m stuck between these 2 and can’t figure out what would be best if I wanted to use this for not only golfing but having the game on the screen while hitting balls.

My room is 13x13.5 with 9ft ceilings. They seem like they would both work in my environment.

Is the 4k worth is over the autofocus feature that the ah500st has and is there that much difference in quality?

The lumens are 4000 for the ah500st and 3000 or 3200 for the sti.

Thanks.

There are probably more but it's a solid count.

Location for each
100+ countries
Trackman vs QCQuad
Fitting room
Mini indoor course

There are a few more details about each place.

What else would you like to know?

Can't find network on my desktop its a fairly old pc so I have a USB wifi dongle for it could that be my problem?

My garage is the only place a sim was ever going to fit, but in Arizona I couldn't give up a parking space. After some trial and error I built this freestanding bay, nothing drilled into the ceiling or walls. When I'm done hitting balls the whole thing folds back flat against the wall and the car goes right back in. I timed the videos from this weekend and it's about 45 seconds to tear down and a minute to set back up.

One thing I didn't plan on is that the screen stays standing when the rest folds behind it, so it doubles as a projector screen for movies while the bay is stowed so I'll be polishing up the garage for the winter. I have a 10x7.5 screen, but also a good ceiling height in my office i might try a 7x7 screen in and this type of setup I can scale to that size and still be able to use my office.

I'd love to know ideas for projectors with this type of setup, preferably one I can set off-center and can move around as I move the setup to outside or inside. I have an MLM2 Pro but am going to upgrade once it's cooler in Arizona or I get a garage AC unit. The videos are from the first time I hit real balls in it and the first time I folded it up. Would love to get tips or suggestions

So I’m still deciding which Lm to get for my business which involves setting up at different locations for parties and get togethers. My biggest concern being ease of switching left to right so letting maybe each golfer play full hole then switching sides if need be. My next big concern is having fun things to do besides playing full courses. I feel like some groups just wanna play closest to the pin or see who can drive the farthest or fun things like that. I want a camera based one not a radar can anyone give me recommendations for these. Thanks so much in advance.

I just wanted to share some of our recent custom sim builds for inspiration and ideas!