Golf simulators are fantastic pieces of technology that let you play on world-class courses from the comfort of your own home and provide a unique series of metrics that are perfect for analyzing your game and improving your play. However, golf simulators also take up space, and many do not have that much room to spare in their home, especially if they have a family to take care of.

Luckily, a lot of people have extra space in their garage. A garage is a common place for a golf simulator because as long as it doesn't have a car parked in it, it should have just enough room for a complete golf simulator spread.

If you plan to put a simulator in your garage, there are a few details we should go over. In this article, we will look at some great simulator packages for a garage and a few things you may want to consider as you plan out your garage golf simulator experience.

The Best Golf Simulators for Your Garage

OptiShot Retractable Simulator Package

The namesake of this product and the reason it makes for an excellent choice for your garage is the HomeCourse® Golf ProScreen 180. This is a retractable golf screen and enclosure that can easily take the repeated impact of full-powered golf balls. The ballistic grade screen ensures there are no errant shots and allows you to project directly onto the impact screen -saving even more room. The screen retracts with one touch from the wireless remote.

The OPTISHOT2 Simulator is a unique and perfect solution for a launch monitor type device you want to fit into your garage. This is a device that you hit the ball off of (it fits the specially designed golf mat) and is packed full of infrared sensors that will detect your shot flight, speed, and trajectory (and a bunch of other data points) to a high degree of accuracy. You will get precise and instant feedback on every shot without needing a large launch monitor that has to mount to the ceiling or take up a large amount of space.

The retractable screen  is run off of a powerful lithium-ion battery which allows the whole setup to be almost entirely wireless, making it incredibly sleek, easy to set up, and compact.

The software lets you play on 15 world-renowned courses with up to 4 players and has a wide variety of modes and features ranging from improving your game to having fun with the family.

SkyTrak Retractable Simulator Package

The SkyTrak package also utilizes the great HomeCourse® Golf ProScreen 180. The main difference between this package and the Optishot is the launch monitor. The SkyTrak Launch Monitor is a personal launch monitor that utilizes your smartphone to connect and feed your real-time data on your shots wirelessly. The monitor only needs a relatively small space (from the ball) in order to read the shot metrics, so it is perfect for the tight confines of a home. In fact, this monitor won the 2021 Golf Digest Editor's Choice for Best Launch Monitor under $2,000. The set comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (built-in) that can last up to 5 hours of continuous use.

Also worth noting is the fact that this screen is actually made to be retractable and is a fantastic design for when you want to be able to quickly convert the garage back and forth from a simulator space to whatever.

A Good Garage Golf Simulator Setup

The following are a few things to consider as you plan to put a golf simulator in your garage.

How Much Space Do I Need?

This is, of course, the most obvious question to ask before you buy a simulator. Take the time to measure out the room you have in your garage, and verify you can take a full golf swing in that space without issue. Generally, you will need at least 10 feet in width, 10 feet in length, and about 9 feet in height. The SkyTrak package we listed earlier in this article requires a space of 10'x10' and a height that allows for a full swing.

Also, make sure you take into account things like the garage door tracks and the swing of the door into the room. You also want to think about storage space. Make sure you have room to store the Simulator when a car needs to be in the garage.

Do I Need Wi-Fi in My Garage to Run a Golf Simulation?

Almost all of the top golf simulation software options require Wi-Fi in order to function fully. While some include offline modes, the majority of features, games, and training modes will need some form of internet connection.

If your Wi-Fi signal doesn't extend to your garage or is very weak in that area, you will want to consider getting an extender for your Wi-Fi signal so that the garage becomes a viable space.

Which launch monitor is best for a garage golf simulator setup?

There is a reason we chose the simulator packages we did. Both of these options offer very compact solutions for detecting your ball launch. The Optishot is a built-in sensor system that takes up very little space, while the SkyTrak launch monitor only needs about a foot distance from the ball to work.

For obvious reasons, you don't want to be using a launch monitor in your garage that requires a lot of space to properly function or that takes up a lot of room. Some setups will need to be mounted on the ceiling, while others ( like a FlightScope X3) will need large amounts of space to detect the ball flight properly.

Look for options that are small, compact, or need very little room to function.

Ready to Try a Golf Simulator for Yourself?

Hopefully, this article has allowed you to see just why golf simulators have become so popular these days and just how easy it can be to fit one in your garage. So, are you ready to try a golf simulator for yourself?

Looking for the top golf simulators? Browse our complete collection of Golf Simulators today! Want to learn more about golf simulators first? Check out our other helpful guides:

• Click here to read our comprehensive guide to Golf Simulators.
• Read Our list of the best golf simulators in 2024.