Most garages and spare rooms are wide enough for a golf swing and tall enough for a driver, but not deep enough for radar. If you have less than about 16 ft from the back wall to where the screen will go, you need a camera unit that sits beside the ball. Every pick here works in about 10 ft of depth.
Our picks at a glance
- Best valueSquare Golf HE$699.99
- Best camera unit under $2,000SkyTrak ST MAX$1,695
- Best indoor and outdoorSquare Omni$1,599.99
- Best accuracyBushnell Launch Pro$2,999.99
- Best all-in-oneGarmin Approach R50$4,999.99
- Best if you can mount it overheadTrackman iO$13,995
Square Golf HE
- Price
- $699.99
- Technology
- Camera, sits beside the ball
- Room depth
- About 10 ft
- Use
- Indoor only
- Plan
- No annual fee; 1,000 course credits included
Square's HE is the cheapest launch monitor that works properly in a small room. It costs $699.99, needs no annual fee, and includes 1,000 course credits. It's indoor only, and it doesn't report club head speed or smash factor.
What we like
- $699.99
- No annual fee
- Fits about 10 ft of depth
What to know
- Indoor only
- Limited club data
- Shaft stickers required
SkyTrak ST MAX
- Price
- $1,695
- Technology
- Dual radar + photometric camera
- Room depth
- About 10 ft
- Use
- Indoor, on a mat
- Plan
- $99.99/yr Essential plan
The ST MAX pairs a camera with dual radar and works on a mat about 10 ft from the screen. It's a proven simulator unit with complete package options.
What we like
- Proven simulator unit
- Measured spin
What to know
- Mat only
- No attack angle
Square Omni
- Price
- $1,599.99
- Technology
- Four-camera photometric
- Room depth
- About 10 ft
- Use
- Indoor and outdoor
- Plan
- Pay-per-use course credits
The Omni adds club head speed and smash factor to Square's camera design, and works on real grass in daylight, so it can go to the range as well.
What we like
- Indoor and outdoor
- No yearly plan
What to know
- Light sensitive
- Stickers for club data
Bushnell Launch Pro
- Price
- $2,999.99
- Technology
- Three-camera photometric (GC3 platform)
- Room depth
- About 10 ft
- Use
- Indoor and outdoor
- Plan
- $199/yr Silver plan for simulator play
The Launch Pro's three cameras are the GC3's, a system fitters use. It works in small rooms and outdoors. Plans start at $199 a year.
What we like
- Fitter-grade cameras
- Small-room friendly
What to know
- Plans from $199/yr
Garmin Approach R50
- Price
- $4,999.99
- Technology
- Camera with built-in 10-inch screen
- Room depth
- About 10 ft
- Use
- Indoor and outdoor
- Plan
- $99.99/yr for courses
The R50 sits beside the ball and runs the simulator on its own screen, which saves space for a PC in a tight room.
What we like
- No PC needed
- Measured spin
What to know
- $4,999.99
Trackman iO
- Price
- $13,995
- Technology
- Ceiling-mounted radar + camera
- Room depth
- About 12 ft
- Use
- Indoor only
- Plan
- Software included
The iO hangs from the ceiling, so it takes no floor space at all. Trackman says no minimum distance is needed in front of or behind the ball, and the iO DUO setup supports bays as narrow as 10 ft.
What we like
- Zero floor footprint
- Both hands
What to know
- $13,995 and up
How they compare
| Model | Price | Technology | Room depth | Spin | Club data | Plan needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Golf HE | $699.99 | Camera, sits beside the ball | About 10 ft | Measured | Limited (no club speed) | No annual fee; 1,000 course credits included |
| SkyTrak ST MAX | $1,695 | Dual radar + photometric camera | About 10 ft | Measured | Partial (no attack angle) | $99.99/yr Essential plan |
| Square Omni | $1,599.99 | Four-camera photometric | About 10 ft | Measured | With shaft stickers | Pay-per-use course credits |
| Bushnell Launch Pro | $2,999.99 | Three-camera photometric (GC3 platform) | About 10 ft | Measured | With a paid plan | $199/yr Silver plan for simulator play |
| Garmin Approach R50 | $4,999.99 | Camera with built-in 10-inch screen | About 10 ft | Measured | With face stickers | $99.99/yr for courses |
| Trackman iO | $13,995 | Ceiling-mounted radar + camera | About 12 ft | Measured | Club speed (more with Home Complete) | Software included |
How to measure a small room
- Depth: measure from the back wall to where the screen or net will hang. Leave a few feet behind you for the backswing.
- Width: aim for at least 10 ft, and more if left- and right-handed players will share the space. Camera units sit on the hitter's side, so they move when a lefty steps in.
- Ceiling: swing a driver slowly where you'll hit. Most adults need about 9 ft; below about 8.5 ft, plan on irons only.
Our room-size guide has a calculator that checks every unit against your measurements.
Questions
Will a Garmin R10 work in my garage?
Only if you have about 16 ft of depth. Garmin's radar sits behind you and needs space to track the ball.
What's the smallest room for a golf simulator?
With a camera unit, about 10 ft deep and 10 ft wide, with a ceiling high enough to swing a driver. That's tight; 12 ft by 12 ft is more comfortable.
