Garage golf simulators
The short answer
A two-car garage usually has the width and the ceiling. What it often lacks is depth, because a radar launch monitor needs to sit several feet behind you and the door track eats the ceiling near the opening. Measure to the lowest obstruction, not to the drywall.
| Launch monitor | Sits | Sensor | Ceiling | Room depth | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Approach R10 | Behind the ball | Radar | — | 15 ft | $600 | Check price |
| Uneekor EYE XO | Overhead | Camera | 9 ft or more | 13 ft | $6,499 | Check price |
| TrackMan iO | Overhead | Camera plus radar | 8 ft 10 in to 10 ft 6 in | 15 ft | $9,500 | Check price |
| ProTee VX | Overhead | Camera | 9 ft to 10 ft | 13 ft | $6,500 | Check price |
| FlightScope Mevo+ | Behind the ball | Radar | — | 16 ft | — | Check price |
| SkyTrak SkyTrak+discontinued | Beside the ball | Camera plus radar | — | 13 ft | $1,995 | Check price |
| Rapsodo MLM2PRO | Behind the ball | Camera plus radar | — | 15 ft 6 in | $700 | Check price |
| Uneekor EYE XO2 | Overhead | Camera | — | — | — | Check price |
| TrackMan 4 | Behind the ball | Radar | — | — | $25,995 | Check price |
| SkyTrak ST MAX | Beside the ball | Camera plus radar | — | 13 ft | $1,995 | Check price |
| Foresight Sports GC3 | Beside the ball | Camera | — | 13 ft | $6,999 | Check price |
| Full Swing KIT | Behind the ball | Radar | — | 19 ft | $4,999 | Check price |
| Foresight Sports GCHawk | Overhead | Camera | — | — | $9,498 | Check price |
| Foresight Sports GCQuad | Beside the ball | Camera | — | 13 ft | — | Check price |
| Bushnell Launch Pro | Beside the ball | Camera | — | 13 ft | — | Check price |
| Garmin Approach R50 | Beside the ball | Camera | — | 13 ft | $5,000 | Check price |
| Uneekor EYE MINI | Beside the ball | Camera | — | 13 ft | $2,999 | Check price |
| Uneekor EYE XR | Overhead | Camera | — | — | $5,999 | Check price |
Room depth is the minimum this unit can work in, counting clearance behind the screen, ball flight and the space the sensor itself needs. A dash means the maker does not publish that figure, never that we guessed it. Each unit’s page lists its sources and the date they were read.
A typical room of this type
Run against 20 ft deep by 18 ft wide with a 9 ft ceiling, 14 of the 14 launch monitors we could check will work. Yours will differ, and the ceiling especially, so put your own numbers in.
What to check before you commit
Measure to the garage door track, not the ceiling
The track and opener hang well below the joists and usually sit directly over the hitting position. That is the number your driver will meet, and it is often a foot lower than the ceiling you measured.
Check the depth with the door shut
A garage that measures twenty feet to the door measures less to anything you can actually build against. The enclosure needs a wall or a frame, and the door is neither.
Plan for temperature before you plan the screen
Cold does not stop the equipment working, but it stops you using it, and an unused bay is the most expensive outcome here. Insulation and a heater change the value of the build more than a better sensor does.
Look at the floor
Garage slabs slope toward the door for drainage. A hitting mat on a slope changes your lie subtly and consistently, which is worth levelling before it becomes a swing fault.
What to avoid
- Building against the garage door. It has to open, and the enclosure cannot move.
- Assuming a two-car garage is wide enough for both handedness. Width is usually fine, depth usually is not.
- Mounting a projector where a raised door will hit it.
Check it against your room
A typical two-car garage runs about 20 ft deep by 18 ft wide with a 9 ft ceiling, though the door track often drops the usable height near the opening.
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Keep reading
Room fit calculator
Check your own ceiling, depth and width against every unit
Room size guide
The three distances that add up to room depth
What it costs
Sensor, enclosure, projector and the subscription after
Complete packages
Sensor, enclosure, screen and mat in one purchase
Under $5,000
Complete builds that land under five thousand
Under $10,000
Where a better sensor starts to be the upgrade
Common questions
Is a garage tall enough for a golf simulator?+
Usually, at 9 to 10 ft. The catch is the garage door track and opener, which can drop the lowest obstruction well below the ceiling itself. Measure to the lowest thing above your swing, not to the ceiling.
Do you need to insulate a garage for a golf simulator?+
Not for the equipment to work, but cold affects ball flight and your willingness to use it, which is the thing that actually decides whether a build was worth it. Screens and mats are unaffected by temperature within normal ranges.
Can you still park a car in a garage with a simulator?+
Only with a retractable screen setup. A fixed enclosure occupies the depth permanently, which is the trade most garage builds end up making.