Tired of the snow, cold, or rainy weather stopping you from playing golf?
Do you wish you could play golf 365 days a year and either have fun or see how good you can truly get?
I have been in your shoes and spent many months researching the best golf simulator package for my build. I have now played over 700 rounds of simulator golf with my SkyTrak Launch monitor.
I finally had it and decided to make the investment and I have zero regrets. The ability to practice and play anytime of day and regardless of the weather has been a blessing not only from a game improvement area, but the amount of fun and stress relief provided.
Many of us live the hectic life, but love golf at the same time. Being able to play a round of golf in around 45 minutes on a Tuesday evening at 8pm when there is a foot of snow outside has been a game changer for me.
Even working 50 hours a week and raising 3 kids, I have been able to find the time to reduce my average scores from 76-78 to 72-74. This is a significant reduction in score at this level of golf.
I am nearing a scratch handicap and I attribute much of this success to the golf simulator packages that I purchased several years ago.
What is the best SkyTrak Golf Simulator Package?
I would highly recommend checking out the packages at Rain or Shine Golf. Their low pricing, customer service, and financing offers are difficult to beat. Buying a golf simulator can be stressful, but when you buy a package from one place, it makes financing and the customer service that much better.
I believe this package provides everything you need at a quality price. Check it out here.
Rain or Shine would be my recommendation. Check them out here:
There are many essential parts to a golf simulator build. This is why I recommend the package approach. The cost of a golf simulator can be one of the biggest hold ups for many people, but with the financing offers that are available, you can get into the game with a low monthly cost that keeps you from having to come up with 5 to 7 thousand dollars at time of purchase.
Essentials Parts to Any Golf Simulator Build
#1: The Launch Monitor
This might be the most important part and the one I spent the most time researching. I ended up going with the SkyTrak Launch Monitor because of the ability to use indoor and outdoors and that it doesn’t have to be a permanent setup.
Several others that I researched required installation and getting everything perfect. However, the SkyTrak provided the versatility that I needed. I have been pleased with the purchase and 700 rounds later I feel that it is accurate and reliable.
There is the occasional misread, but overall my satisfaction is a 9 out of 10. At the price point of the SkyTrak it is difficult to beat. If you have an unlimited budget there are better options, but when you factor everything in, the SkyTrak is an excellent option!
Here is my complete review on the SkyTrak
#2: The Enclosure and Impact Screen
The first thing you need to decided with the enclosure and impact screen is how much space you have. The ideal situation is 16 feet wide by around 25 feet deep with at least 9.5 feet of height in the ceiling.
However, I have seen many different setups because at the end of the day, we work with what we have and many adjustments can be made. I ended up with a 14 foot wide, by 9.5 in height. I have around 25 feet from front of screen to the back wall of my space.
I would recommend a high definition impact screen and an enclosure that has 3-5 feet of side protection as well.
#3: The Computer
If you are going with the SkyTrak and paring it up with The Golf Club (TGC) software (my recommendation), you will need a gaming level computer with certain levels of graphics cards.
You can’t under buy here or your overall experience will be poor. This is another reason to buy a package if you are not 100% comfortable with every little part.
#4: The Hitting Mat
There are many options for hitting mats, but in our opinion there are a top 3. Check out our full review of golf hitting mats here.
#5: The Software
I have tried at least 5 different softwares in my research and golf simulator experience. Hands down, the best option out there is the TGC software. The graphics as well as the course options is truly top notch and hard to match for other software companies.
The ability to pair the SkyTrak with the TGC software raises the level and the attractiveness of the SkyTrak. You can compete with others on courses like Augusta, Pebble, Whistling Straits, St. Andrews and many of the top 100 courses in the world.
For a complete review of TGC, check out this post.
#6: Projector
Maybe one of the most confusing purchases connected with the golf simulator. You see plenty of questions arise on forums about the distance from the screen. In general, your projector will be around 6-10 feet from the screen.
This can be mounted on the ceiling and placed on the floor (make sure you purchase this cover). Overall, you have options, but you want an HD projector that is a short throw projector.
You can’t place your projector 20 feet from the screen due to shadows and other issue. You need the short throw and then figure out if you want to place it on the floor or on mount it on the ceiling.
Golf Simulator Projector Placement (2 Options)
Checklist of Items to Consider
- Budget
- Do You Need Financing?
- Golf Launch Monitor of Simulator (Brains of the operation)
- Hitting Mat
- Computer
- Enclosure and Screen
- Projector
- Software
This can be an overwhelming process, but with the package from Rain or Shine golf your experience can be smooth sailing and you could be playing golf in your garage, home, basement or even a shed in a short amount of time.
Your scores will decrease, your ball striking will improve and you will have a ton of fun with family and friends. Now you might be the envy of your golf buddies, but you deserve the golf simulator and it will be a game changer for you!
How Accurate is the SkyTrak?
The number one question I receive when someone finds out I have a golf simulator in my garage is how realistic are the golf simulators. I go on to explain my SkyTrak setup and give a 10 out of 10 review for the realistic nature of it.
The only thing that really doesn’t measure up to great is the putting. However, there are features to turn off the putting and take 2 strokes if on the green, but outside of 6 feet or a 1 putt inside of 6 feet.
My thinking on this is if I only have 45 minutes for a round of golf that day, I want to hit full shots or chip shots that will develop my full swing, areas where I feel the SkyTrak excels in accuracy. Putting is so much about reading greens and the vision part of it, that while I believe it is somewhat realistic, I would rather spend my time elsewhere.
So, I did a little comparison of golf scores to measure up the realistic nature of the SkyTrak. What better way than to actually compare scores shot over the past 15 rounds, both outside and with my SkyTrak Golf Simulator setup.
| Golf Simulator Score | Relative to Par | 15 Total Rounds | Real Golf Score | Relative to Par |
| 72 | 1 | Round #1 | 76 | 4 |
| 75 | 0 | Round #2 | 78 | 6 |
| 72 | 3 | Round #3 | 74 | 3 |
| 81 | 9 | Round #4 | 71 | 0 |
| 75 | 3 | Round #5 | 70 | -1 |
| 73 | 3 | Round #6 | 71 | 0 |
| 75 | 3 | Round #7 | 72 | 0 |
| 71 | -1 | Round #8 | 73 | 1 |
| 71 | -1 | Round #9 | 72 | 1 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #10 | 74 | 3 |
| 73 | 3 | Round #11 | 74 | 3 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #12 | 74 | 4 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #13 | 72 | 1 |
| 72 | 1 | Round #14 | 73 | 3 |
| 76 | 4 | Round #15 | 73 | 2 |
| 1102 | 31 | 1097 | 30 | |
| 73.47 | 2.07 | 73.13 | 2 |
Accuracy of Golf Simulator vs Reality – Data Breakdown
- Total Strokes (15 Total Rounds) = 1102 in Simulator Golf and 1097 in Real Golf
- Total Strokes Over Par (15 Total Rounds) = 31 in Simulator Golf and 30 in Real Golf
- Average Score = 73.47 in Simulator Golf and 73.13 in Real Golf
- Average Strokes Over Par = 2.07 in Simulator Golf and 2.0
Overall the numbers speak for themselves, but below I will talk about some of the differences in Simulator Golf vs Reality. How crazy that after 15 rounds there is only a 5 shot difference? Having never done a data comparison before, I must say I am even more impressed with simulator golf.
One Other Benefit
This space you can build somewhere in or around your house, will provide the opportunity to pracitce areas of your game to improve your swing speed.
There is a great amount of science out there that shows what is required to gain speed in your swing. We will leave this drill for you and you owe it to yourself to check out SuperSpeed Golf.
BONUS DRILL: Increase your swing speed through overspeed training
- Check out SuperSpeed Overspeed Training Protocols
- Train every other day for 10-15 minutes.
- See a 4-6% increase in swing speed as early as the first training protocol.
The number one thing that has helped me gain significant distance is the SuperSpeed Training System. This overspeed based system where you train every other day for about 10-15 minutes with different swing sticks can help you increase your swing speed by 5-8% which can be 20-30 yards. Who wouldn’t want an extra 20-30 yards. Plus it helps improve your mechanics.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The analytics are pretty clear on the importance of speed in the game of golf. Would you rather hit your approach shot from 130 yards of 160 yards? The answer is pretty simple! We know that over the course of time, we will hit shots from 130 yards much closer than from 160 yards, whether we are an average amateur golfer, a scratch golfer, or a PGA Tour member!
The key is having shorter approach shots, so we can hit the ball closer to the hole and then make more putts! Speed is king in the game of golf! Make sure you check out SuperSpeed Golf!
FINAL THOUGHTS: My Secret To Golf Improvement
It comes down to game improvement for me and the joy of playing golf daily!
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.