If you are considering buying yourself a golf simulator, you will need to know where to start. Since there are a lot of different types of golf simulators on the market, it can be overwhelming if you are not sure what you are looking for. 

Types of Golf Simulators

To begin with, we will take you through the types of simulators to help you determine what you need.

  • Photometric: Photometric golf simulators are camera-based systems that will take high-speed pictures of the golf right as it hits the screen. The pictures are analyzed and the simulator provides feedback on the speed, angle, and the spin of your ball.
  • Radar: Radar golf simulators work with a microwave signal from the unit back onto the ball. This is the type of simulator that is most appropriate for outdoor use.
  • Infrared: Finally, infrared golf simulators emit a light signal that can capture the position of the club-head as it goes through your swing.

Photometric golf simulators will provide you with the most information overall, but they will not work outside like a radar system will. An infrared is also more basic, but it will still give you speed of the ball, the movement of your club head, and other information. The photometric simulators definitely can be the most expensive, given all of the information that they provide, so it might be a little bit much for a beginner. You really need to think about what you want to get out of a simulator before making the right choice in this regard.

Brands

There are a few popular brands of golf simulators that you will see. They include:

  • SkyTrak: SkyTrak is without a doubt one of the most popular brands, if not the most popular. This article reviews SkyTrak golf simulators if you would like more specific information. They do have a tendency to be on the pricier side of things, but they also come with a lot more equipment to set up. There are a lot of different models with SkyTrak as well, so definitely take a look.
  • OptiShot: OptiShot is more of a package option that will get you set up to practice golf right from your home, without too much effort. They are not as pricy, because they use several infrared sensors to pick up the data from your golfing. They are a good brand if you are just getting started.
  • TruGolf: The TruGolf brand is more of a high performance brand, which might not be quite what a beginner is looking for. They do have some more basic models, but they also have the models with a lot of features that you might not need if you are just really getting the hang of golf.
  • GC2: The last brand that we will mention is the GC2. This is another brand right up there with SkyTrak. They do have a tendency to be more accurate with data, because it does pick up on more subtleties than other brands, but it is unlikely you will need that as a beginner so it should not be the entire basis of your simulator search.

Should You Get a Golf Simulator?

As difficult as it is to get out on the green or even to the driving range, having the ability to play golf right at home is wonderful. With the current state of the world or even your current busy schedule, golfing at home is a relaxing way to stay healthy without even leaving the house. If you want to improve your game or practice at home, definitely get a golf simulator.