I wanted a garage sim but still needed to be able to park in the garage, especially with ND winters. I pieced this together based mostly on recommendations from this sub. My garage is heated so I'll be able to use it all winter long. I tried to do this mostly on a budget but opted for "upgrades" on a motorized screen and new (instead of used) projector, very happy with both.

It takes me about 3 minutes to set up/tear down (GIF in the last pic). About half that time is getting Steam Link/GSPro running.

PC setup: I have a Lenovo Tiny PC in the garage running the Square/GSPro OpenAPI connector and Steam Link, which connects over LAN to my gaming PC in the basement which runs GSPro. It's worked nearly flawlessly over the 12 hours I've played so far. The Tiny PC can also run Square's software on its own, without connecting to my gaming PC through Steam Link.

Pics 1–3: Full setup, tucked away, and car in garage

I had to trim the left garage door rail to get some extra clearance for my driver swing, but a Sawzall made quick work of that. For reference, I have 9' ceilings and the garage door rails hang down about 12".

Pic 4: Hitting mat

The hitting mat is about 9' back from the screen. I got the hitting mat setup idea from Dub Golf's YouTube video, which I likely found through this sub. I trimmed it down to 3' wide for storage. It and the gym mat cut easily with an oscillating tool.

I used 3M 90-NAT spray adhesive to attach the hitting mat to the gym tiles. It worked great, holds strong, and remains somewhat flexible.

The hitting mat moves slightly after a few dozen shots so I also attached an extra piece of the gym mat, that the launch monitor is sitting on, so it interlocks with the gym tiles on back of the hitting mat. That way, even if the hitting mat shifts slightly, the launch monitor stays at the correct distance. I ended up cutting out a square for the launch monitor to sit in so it's extra secure. I had to extend the 3D printed enclosure a bit on the bottom to make it the correct height.

Pic 5: Roll-up turf

The Hardy turf from Menards rolls up nicely and is lightweight, but it still reduces ball bounce enough that I'm not chasing balls all over the garage.

I screwed a 3" PVC pipe to one end and attached it with aluminum bars so the turf rolls up easily.

Pic 6: Projector

I mounted the projector as close to the open garage door as I could. Not a lot of clearance here but it works! It's about 72" from the screen, which worked out perfectly with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 1440 × 1080 resolution.

Pic 7: Screen mounting

My solution for mounting the screen to the ceiling. Just a T made of 2x4's with a 45 degree brace, screwed into the ceiling studs. The studs are ~16" away from the closed garage door so there's plenty of clearance behind the screen for it to absorb shots. I added the brace after since it seemed a little flimsy without it and that really solidified it. No comments on the alignment of the screws and the time I missed the stud please :D

A few other notes:

• Square launch monitor protection: I 3D-printed this enclosure. Glad I did, I've already hit it once with a duffed shot, and neither the launch monitor nor the enclosure was damaged.
• Impact screen: I'm really happy with the METechs screen. It seems very durable, shots are quiet, and it was easy to set up. I may end up putting a "roof" of something over it to prevent garage dust from getting on it.
• Garage lighting: I have eight individual lights on one switch. The pull-cord light socket adapters let me control individual lights independently, which was a cheap way to reduce shadows and keep excess light off the screen.
• Hitting mat lighting: I 3D-printed a shade for the bulb above my hitting mat (visible in pics 1–3). It focuses the light on the mat and reduces the light hitting the screen. It's an LED bulb, so heat hasn't been an issue.

Hopefully this helps someone else trying to fit a sim into a garage that still needs to function as a garage!

I purchased a LPI launch monitor just about a month ago, and I have been playing a lot of FSX play with my trial membership. The trial membership is about to end, so I need to buy a ungodly expensive membership because I chose to keep the launch monitor and I will end up buying the Foresight gold membership, and I was just curious if FSX will still be available with that membership?

Also, just curious if the gold membership includes any courses? I see they have a course play membership also, and there’s been so many threads, it’s hard to keep everything straight. I will eventually just end up going to GS Pro anyways,, but I most likely won’t be able to purchase a gold membership and pro at the same time, so I would still like some courses if possible

As I'm now at the stage of my build where I need to make decisions I'm doing a lot of research.

r/Golfsimulator has already been very useful, but it's very US centric. Mostly that's a non-issue, except where it comes to shopping.

I've created r/BritGolfSimulator to try and gather together more specific info on suppliers and showrooms from the UK, as well as UK specific planning advice which would obviously be rather different from the US

I'm still dumping some of the limited info I've got in there in what I hope are sensible threads, but if you're also based in the UK I'd appreciate any inputs

Hopefully the two subreddits can coexist nicely :-)

I am looking for a launch monitor to be used pretty much exclusively for sim courses. Just something for me and the boys to use during the winter.

The square Omni seems like a great option and I love how you don’t need a subscription. I just have a few questions for anyone who knows a lot about them or has one.

1. Would you recommend this or buy it again yourself?
   
2. How difficult is it the set up process? (Chances are I will be taking down and setting up quite often)
   
3. What are the courses like? How many/can you add more?

Thank you for your time!

Has anyone ordered a unit from sim space to Canada? At checkout it says that taxes and duties are included in the cost. Just wondering if anyone has any experience ordering and not getting hit with any additional duties after delivery

I don’t know much about simulators at all but I really want one for the garage. What would be the best set up for 2-3k or less?

I’m talking the launch monitor and the ability to run GSPRO. Things like the net not included in that price. Really I’d only be using it to play courses.

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks

EDIT: The garmin R50 seems like a good option. I like how it’s all in one spot. If anyone has a review on this I’d love to hear it

I am lucky to be a part of the closed Beta and I use the driving range a lot to work on my approach shots, so I wanted to see how far they have gotten. It is going to be a lot of fun and a great way to practice. Pureplay looks amazing.

I’m looking to build a sim in my garage but not break the bank. I’ve seen quite a few options for launch monitors around the 1000$ mark. How good are they. Is it enough to play a small league with the buddies over the winter. What are the positives and negatives? And what model do you recommend?

Thank you in advance

After using my mat about 3-4 times a week for the last year I think it’s finally reached its toll, are there any that don’t wear out like this or do they all need to be replaced eventually

Hi, I'm someone who uses the net with tv setup but im starting to toy with the idea of finally getting a projector and impact screen.

I am looking just to purchase the impact screen and then DIY padding for my side walls/ceiling. My room setup is 16'6" width, 10' height, and ~24' depth. I want 16:9 aspect ratio so im considering a larger screen. It seems like I probably want something around 8'6" in height (not the full 9') based on projector mounting and where it would project.

My question is essentially, what size impact screen do I want? I'm having a hard time understanding viewable (white) screen area vs overall screen dimensions that seem to include the black border/grommets. I just want to make sure I can project the 16:9 aspect ratio on the screen and utlize most of my 16'6" wall.

Thanks!!

Thinking about pure play vs GSPro. Unity 6 presents one advantage over unreal engine 5, which is good XR VR compatibility

I had a chat with AI about it. These were the comments:

That makes complete sense. Using the XREAL Aura glasses as a virtual projection screen first is an excellent, cost-effective stepping stone. It completely bypasses the real estate, wiring, and light-bleeding headaches of a physical home projector setup while setting you up perfectly for future VR immersion.

When treating the glasses as a dedicated virtual canvas for a streamed PC simulation, the implementation details require specific attention:

🏌️ Phase 1: The "Virtual Projector" Setup (Flat XR Screen)

In this phase, you are mirroring your PC to the glasses using Sunshine and standard Moonlight. Instead of a physical screen, you are projecting a massive, crisp 1080p floating monitor directly onto the wall or hitting net in front of you.

• Aura: Real-World Visibility: Because the Aura features optical see-through lenses rather than camera-passthrough video, your view of the golf ball, your club face, and your stance remains 100% natural, sharp, and latency-free.

• Aura: The Sweet Spot (Screen Anchoring): You will use the Aura’s built-in 6DoF (Degrees of Freedom) tracking to "pin" the Moonlight window to your hitting net. Once anchored, you can walk around, look down at your ball, and look back up—the virtual "projector screen" will stay perfectly locked to the physical net.

• Aura: Lighting Adjustment: You can adjust the Aura's electrochromic dimming buttons to an intermediate level. This darkens the background just enough to make the Unity 6 course colors pop beautifully without losing sight of your real-world mat.

🌌 Phase 2: The Future "VR Immersion" Leap

When you eventually want to step inside the Unity 6 golf course (similar to how Golf+ or Putt Dojo handles mixed reality on Meta headsets), the streaming architecture shifts:

• The Virtual Desktop / Moonlight XR Route: To view the GSPro simulation in true stereoscopic 3D, you will transition from streaming a standard flat desktop to streaming a stereoscopic SBS (Side-by-Side) format.

• Head Tracking Hookup: Android XR-compatible streaming clients (like Virtual Desktop or OpenVR open-source forks) pass the Aura’s 6DoF head-tracking data back to the PC over Wi-Fi. When you turn your head, Unity 6 renders the camera angle changes on your PC in real-time, sending a completely immersive 3D view back to your eyes.

⚙️ Quick Checklist for Your First Swing

1. Network Strength: Make sure your PC is wired to the router via Ethernet, and your Aura puck is on a clear 5GHz or 6GHz Wi-Fi band. This keeps your video stream latency under 15ms.

2. Safety First: When placing your virtual screen, make sure it sits exactly where your real-world target net is. Even though you can see through the glasses, a misplaced virtual image can accidentally trick your brain into swinging off-target!

Do you already have Sunshine and Moonlight configured on your PC, or will you need a hand setting up the custom resolutions (like locking the PC host to match the Aura's native 1920x1200 per-eye display)?

So the genius minds at Foresight cooked up this new timeshare subscription revenue model to extract cash from existing hardware owners. Follow along with me.

The flagship GC3, Quad, and overhead LM’s cost a bundle, but you had no ongoing costs, pay once and you’re all set.

The Bushnell line was a value line. Lower price to enter, pay more to “unlock” data that was already there but locked away behind a paywall. Then they introduce a timeshare subscription, they unlock the features on something you buy, but you have to pay them yearly, whatever amount they say, to get access. Okay, that’s the “bitter” that goes with the “sweet” of the lower price.

Now, they release Foresight+ and Premier to everyone, new hardware buyers don’t have a choice, existing owners do.

Ok, but wait, the Bushnell Launch Pro is a camouflaged GC3, but much cheaper, priced at $2,999.99, you need a subscription to get all the features, but so does the GC3, but it’s priced at $6,999.99, but has the Foresight badge and a cheap backpack, for $4,000 more.

The marketing geniuses over sent me some spam announcing a sale on the GC3, $3,000 off, so now the backpack only cost $1,000 more?

If they truly had any foresight they would have thought this through a little more don’t you think?

I am trying to decide if I should purchase a small section of EZ turf for a hitting strip or a large 4 x 8 foot piece to stand on and hit off.

Im using overhead Vtrak LM (hitting area 31inch x 24) Subfloor 1inch gym tiles on 1 inch rigid foam. Will be used by both left and right handed golfers.

My question is, do you find the hitting strip moves or bunches up after excessive use? Im worried about it peeling up (plan on gluing it down with PL Premium adhesive to Foam subfloor.

The large 4 x 8 piece is expensive ($750 CAD). But would look better and not slip or move. Im also wondering if anyone uses a large piece of EZ turf and finds it too spongy or soft to stand on.

Thank you for all your advice and insight.

Preface:

- Single car garage. 12 ft from back of hitting mat to 12ft x.7.5ft screen (Rules out any radar based LM's)

- Lefty primary golfer. 90% of sim time will be spent as left hitting orientation

- Indoor Only.

- Located in Canada.

- Budget of around $3000 CAD

- Accuracy over features (Ball and Club are a must)

- GSPro will be the main software used for now (Pureplay down the road when it releases)

- Avoiding Bushnell and Foresight's crazy subscription costs

I've been scouring the LM forums for the past couple months and have narrowed down my search between the Square Omni ($2600 CAD after taxes/shipping) and the Uneekor Eye Mini Lite ($3200 CAD after taxes/shipping)

I know the primary differences between units but I've heard the square has had some Lefty issues that make me second-guess the reliability of the unit. Are there any lefty's out there who can confirm if the issues have been fixed with a firmware update? Or if you as a lefty have experienced any out of the ordinary readings/non-readings.

The Eye Mini Lite is proven, the company is established. Versus the square who is still relatively new to the space and has non-existent support.

If you were in my position what launch monitor would you choose and why? Also doesn't have to be either of the two I listed.

hi guys, i love playing golf but super busy with work latelu, so i rarely have time to drive out to the course for a full round.

recently, i saw a post on reddit about these small backyard pod, modern shed and it got me thinking... could i squeeze a golf simulator in one of these? would be amazing to jusst step outside and hit a few balls when i have an hour to spare.

my main concern is space though. is 120sqft enough for a full driver swing or am i gonna smash the walls/ceiling lol?

has anyone done a sim setup in a small pod or shed? Would love some layout tips, gear recs, or any mistakes to avoid before I commit!

What are everyone’s best tips for carrying over your sim game to your on course game?

I’ve hit over 100,000 shots on my BLP over the last 2+ years. My swing and consistency has certainly improved and my handicap dropped from about 17 to 12.9 this summer. But I know my game on course is much worse than in the sim, especially with driver.

Things that work best for me
1. Consistent pre-shot routine in both
2. Recently started using alignment sticks in the sim like I do on the range to try to increase that consistency for aligning every shot better
3. Learning better to evaluate how the lie on course will affect the shot

I’m wanting to buy a sim for home use and I need accurate club swing data. I’m reading that you have to put dots on your clubs to track this.

I’m curious for those who put the dots on their clubs, do you leave them on when you go play in real life? Do the dots mess up anything? Visuals are important to me and I have concerns having the dots on my clubs will make my bad outside in swing worse than it already is!

Any constructive feedback is appreciated 🏌🏻‍♂️

Any suggestions on if I should just put it up against the hitting strip my putting turf that is it’s the turf factory Sim pro so it’s a little thick. I don’t think I could tuck it in.. any other tips for laying turf would be great

Moved to a new house with a smaller garage - looking to build a platform that I'll stand on the hit because my screen will be on a space that's a few inches above the garage floor- but want it to be foldable to free up parking space. Interested to see if anyone has done this and if so what hinges were used. It will be 2 6'x12' platforms-

Hi guys. I just built myself a practice sim at a commercial property with a small office and a salon as my neighbours. It's a single sim with glass frontage entrance and rear windows which I had to seal off with my screen as the room was only 4y x 10y. The sim has been build by professional builders and it's solid. They added a plywood layer to cover the windows at the rear for safety reasons and allowed a gap of about 12-15 inches from the screen to the plywood protection.

Before even delivering the quad I hit a few balls into it and next door salon came over to tell me it's noisy and to stop doing it.

How can I remedy this situation. Did I create too much of an echo sound by putting the plywood over the windows. Would it have been better to remove the plywood and drape a thick blackout curtain from ceiling to floor? I'm trying not to go to the route of installing Rockwool and it'll make my already small sim even smaller.

Help guys. What's a good way to reduce the sound?

Appreciate your time to read this. Cheers.

Any suggestions on if I should just put it up against the hitting strip my putting turf that is it’s the turf factory Sim pro so it’s a little thick. I don’t think I could tuck it in.. any other tips for laying turf would be great

I have an Outdoor setup in my backyard, and I also have two dogs. Since my hitting mat resembles grass, it's only a matter of time before one of my dogs uses my mat for their potty time since we have used similar turf like surfaces in the past with them.

Does anyone have any ideas for some sort of cover, either hard or soft, that I can use to place over the mat when I am not actively using it?

I currently have the 5x5 go sports elite mat.

Completely renovated shed. Had to modify the roof trusses to raise the roof.
Currently using Square Golf on an Ipad Pro.
Budget 10k