Lower-cost practice setup
Square Golf with a suitable practice net and mat. Check each component price before buying. Use a phone/tablet/PC and skip projection initially.
Start with SquareResearch-based assessment · regional context
GGL Scores and attributed testing summaries come from our existing research library. Some original value judgments reflect the source market. Confirm the exact US model, licence, availability and warranty before choosing.
Golf Gear Lab complete build · 2026
What should you budget for a projected garage golf simulator?
Our answer is about for a proper projected garage simulator built around Square Golf — assuming your garage already fits and you already own a suitable phone, tablet or computer. Here is the exact basket, what we would change, and where the money goes.
~complete hero basket
3menclosure width
2.5menclosure height — not a guaranteed swing height
0.496:1projector throw ratio
GGL quick answer
The build we would start with
Square Golf + SimSpace 3m enclosure + SimSpace 1.5m mat + Optoma ZH350ST short-throw projector. Add the Square protective case if the monitor will live permanently beside the hitting area. It is a compact, sensible indoor setup without paying premium-launch-monitor money.
But do not buy any of it until you have made a completely unrestricted driver swing in the exact hitting position. If the roof needs structural work, the economics change quickly.
The component plan
A projected garage simulator plan
| Component | Our choice | Why | Current component cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch monitor | Square Golf Home | Side-on camera system suits compact indoor rooms and avoids the extra rear space radar units need. | Check current cost |
| Enclosure + impact screen | SimSpace 4K 3 × 2.5 × 1.5m | Enough screen width for a convincing garage setup without jumping to the much larger 4m enclosure. | Check current cost |
| Hitting mat | SimSpace Premium Turf 1.5 × 1.5m | Full stance-and-hit mat rather than a tiny strike strip; 17mm turf over a 12mm base. | Check current cost |
| Projector | Optoma ZH350ST Read buying guidance → | 1080p laser, 3,500 lumens and genuine 0.496:1 short throw. A 3m-wide image needs roughly 1.49m lens-to-screen throw. | Check current cost |
| Monitor protection | Square Golf metal case | Not essential, but sensible protection for a permanent garage installation. | Check current cost |
Indicative full setup budget:
Planning estimate for the listed monitor, enclosure, screen, mat, projector and protective case; confirm each component price before ordering. The range excludes room alterations, projector mount/cables, flooring outside the hitting mat and a new PC or tablet.
One-order alternative: the Square Golf Home Simulator Bundle at SimSpace Golf includes the launch monitor, an enclosure, impact screen and side netting (smallest size, checked 30 September 2026), against for Square Golf and the 3 m enclosure bought separately. Its enclosures start at about 3.3 m wide, so the separate 3 m enclosure above remains the choice for narrower garages. Add the mat and projector either way.
Before you spend
Will it actually fit your garage?
The enclosure dimensions are not the room dimensions. Check your full driver swing first, then allow clearance around the enclosure and behind the impact screen.
Our rule: take your longest club into the empty garage, stand where the ball will be and make several full-speed swings. Test the tallest golfer and both left- and right-handed positions if the simulator will be shared.
Height
Aim around 2.7–2.8m where possible; 2.5m enclosure height does not guarantee swing clearance.
Width
3m enclosure width; allow extra room for golfer position, walls and left/right-handed use.
Depth
Square sits beside the ball, making it better suited to compact garages than rear-positioned radar.
Three ways to buy
Start where your budget makes sense
Projected garage · budget
The component plan above, with each cost checked again before purchase. This is where the setup begins to feel like the simulator most golfers have in mind.
See the basket+ premium
Move up only if you value a more expensive launch monitor, larger enclosure, premium 4K/short-throw projection or a dedicated gaming PC enough to justify it.
Compare higher-budget options →Software
Software: start simple, upgrade later
Start with Square’s own software on a device you already own. Practice modes do not require a subscription; move to GSPro, E6 or Awesome Golf only if you want their extra courses or features.
The decision
Is a garage simulator worth it?
If your garage already fits, yes — this is now a surprisingly achievable home-golf project. The hardware no longer has to cost to create a convincing projected simulator.
But if you need to raise the roof, rebuild the garage or spend thousands preparing the room, stop and compare that cost with nearby simulator facilities. The best-value home simulator is the one that fits the room you already have.
How we chose this setup
We compare specifications, compatibility, current pricing and practical room requirements. Affiliate relationships do not determine our recommendations. How we review products → · Affiliate disclosure →