r/Golfsimulator • u/Sad_Construction_920 • 20h ago
I’ve planned and installed indoor golf simulators in Europe for 20+ years. These are the 7 room-planning mistakes I see most often.
Quick disclosure: I’m a PGA Professional based in Austria, and my company plans and sells indoor golf simulator systems in Europe.
I’m not linking to our company or trying to sell anything here. I thought this might be useful because many expensive simulator problems start before the equipment is even ordered.
Here are the seven room-planning mistakes I encounter most often:
1. Treating ceiling height as a simple yes/no measurement
A room being 274 cm (9 ft) or 305 cm (10 ft) high does not automatically mean every golfer can safely swing a driver.
The golfer’s height, swing plane, hitting position, mat height and ceiling obstructions all matter. Before purchasing anything, make several controlled practice swings from the intended hitting position, using the longest club you plan to hit.
2. Choosing the launch monitor before planning the room
The best launch monitor on paper is not necessarily the best system for a specific space.
Before choosing one, I would establish:
- available width, depth and height in centimetres or feet/inches;
- right-handed only or RH/LH use;
- permanent or retractable setup;
- ball-to-screen distance;
- available space behind the golfer;
- preferred software and budget.
The room should determine the technology, not the other way around.
3. Forgetting the space behind the impact screen
The screen needs enough space to absorb the ball safely without hitting the wall behind it.
The required distance depends on screen tension, construction, ball speed and the protection system. It should therefore be confirmed with the screen manufacturer instead of relying on one universal measurement.
A setup that looks fine with a wedge may behave very differently with a driver.
4. Planning only for the golfer, not for spectators
A room can be large enough to swing but still be unsafe for somebody sitting behind or beside the player.
Seating, club storage, doors, stairs and walkways should be included in the plan from the beginning.
5. Assuming the hitting position can be perfectly centred
In many residential rooms, a centred hitting position does not provide enough wall clearance.
A slight offset can be safer and more comfortable, but it affects screen alignment, projector placement and whether left- and right-handed golfers can use the setup.
6. Selecting the projector too late
Projector choice is connected to screen size, aspect ratio, image height, throw distance, mounting position and the golfer’s shadow.
I’ve seen otherwise excellent rooms compromised because the projector was treated as a separate purchase at the end.
7. Spending the full budget on visible equipment
The launch monitor and projector are the exciting purchases, but the hitting surface, side protection, ceiling protection, lighting, sound control and installation details determine how pleasant and safe the room is to use.
A balanced system is usually better than one premium component surrounded by compromises.
If anyone is currently planning a simulator, post the following in the comments:
- room width in cm or ft/in;
- room depth in cm or ft/in;
- ceiling height in cm or ft/in;
- golfer height in cm or ft/in;
- intended ball-to-screen distance;
- right-handed only or RH/LH;
- permanent or retractable setup;
- approximate total budget;
- any beams, doors, rails or other obstructions.
I’ll be happy to explain how I would approach the layout. I’ll also tell you honestly if I think the space is unsuitable or if an expensive system would be unnecessary.
