Best Golf Simulator for Under $1000

Finding a golf simulator for home use is a huge step towards becoming a better golfer. There is a lot to know about putting a home simulator together. Once you learn what it takes, and you get the process down, you can really get some great setups going in your home. There are not too many home golf simulator options for under $1000; however, there are a few choices that you can get to work. If you are smart about the technology you buy and use it carefully, you can get this done for under $1000. We have pulled together some of the best options to use for your golf simulator under $1000. As a golf professional, I can tell you there is no better way to work on your game in the off-season than to be using one of these best golf simulators for under 1000.

Best Golf Simulator For Under 1000: OptiShot 2 Golf Simulator for Home | Golf in A Box Series

As we go through our reviews of the best golf simulators on the market, one common theme that you will notice is that there are many pieces required to put together a great golf simulator. Part of what makes it so difficult to find a cheap golf simulator is the fact that you need quite a setup to get this entire process to work.

Only one company puts together a really complete solution for under $1000, and that is OptiShot. With the OptiShot Golf In A Box, you can get everything necessary to play golf all year long for a very fair and reasonable price.

Regardless of your golf handicap, the Opti Shot Golf In A box will work for your needs. You can set this up in a spare bedroom, a basement, or even a garage as long as you have the proper clearance for your golf swing.

The Optishot comes with some essential technology, including the Infrared Optical Swing Pad, OptiShot2 Software with 15 courses, a 10ft USB Cable, Adjustable Rubber Tees, Two Foam Practice golf balls, the OptiShot Hitting Mat, and the Hitting Net.

You will still need a smart device or computer and a projector and a screen if you should choose to set this up so that you can watch your golf shots on the golf courses in front of you. However, for the price that this system is offered, you will not find better technology or a better solution.

One of the best things about the OptiShot Golf In A Box is that you can use these golf simulators for under $1000 for game improvement or simply to enjoy yourself and have fun. The system has fast response times, the mat is very much like real turf, and the net is the exact size you need for your home golf simulator setup.

You will want to ensure that the system requirements for this simulator will match your computer or Ipad that you plan to use it with. Compatibility issues tend to be the biggest concern with budget golf simulators.

Overall this is the best option on the maker for golf simulators under $1000. Staying within your budget is one thing but getting great value and staying within the budget is incredibly important.

Best Golf Simulator For The Money: tittle X Home Golf Simulator 2021 E6 Connect Edition – Indoor Real Golf Game Experience with Smart Micro Sensor Swing Analyzer

If you are looking for a simulator for under $1000, chances are the budget will matter to you. Finding the best cheap golf simulator on the market sometimes means combining a few different types of products to get the right choice. However, the Title X Home Golf Simulator offers everything you need for a simulator at a very fair price.

If you are looking for a golf simulator that will give you the highest quality data and help you achieve your goals of playing on the PGA Tour, the Title X Home Golf Simulator is not the best choice. This is really an option for those that want a practice session/game to play at home.

Although you will be working on your game and getting some accurate data, it won’t be as impressive as you would get with a true golf launch monitor and setup. However, this is a really great choice for a starting point and getting through a winter golf season.

One thing that we found really impressive with the Title X Home Golf simulator was the reaction rate. This system works very fast, and the sensor is quite accurate. You can either swing the trainer that is attached, or you can attach the cradle to your personal golf clubs. We like this option so that you can even do a setup if your house does not have room to swing a club completely.

To get this simulator to work, all you will need is an iPhone, Ipad, or a PC. You won’t be able to use Title X with a Mac, but we are sure they will increase their compatibility options in the near future. If you decide to use the swing training tool, you will have to charge it from time to time. However, the fully charged unit will last for about 8 hours.

Best Golf Simulator For Entertainment: Phigolf Mobile and Home Smart Golf Game Simulator with Swing Stick – WGT Edition

Best Value

Some golfers are looking for a simulator that will give them accurate data about their swing; others would rather have a simulator that is just a fun game to play. If you are looking for a mix of a true golf simulator and a video game, the Phigolf could be a great choice to consider.

This is one of the more affordable options on the market. If you enjoy golf enough to want to play when you get home from the course, then the Phigolf is perfect. You will get a swing stick and one sensor that you can charge for about four hours of battery life. With no waiting on the tee boxes, you will have no trouble getting through your round in less than 4 hours.

Most of the system is going to work wirelessly through Bluetooth on your phone or tablet. You will be able to use the PhiGolf with just a few minutes of setup.

One of the features of the PhiGolf that we really like is the ability to play on your own or play with a friend. If you want to set up a match play type event, you can do so. There are 19 total courses included with this tool, which is quite a few considering the different options on the market. There are also game modes at a driving range, so you can work on different types of shots.

The only real downside to this tool is that it will work a bit differently than if you were to have a real club in your hand. You can learn to play really great Phigolf, but whether or not that will transition to better scores on the golf course will be kind of difficult to tell.

However, for a fun thing to do on a rainy day or a great way to spend time with friends, you will enjoy all that the PhiGolf has to offer.

Best For Indoor and Outdoor Use: Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor for Golf Indoor and Outdoor Use

A launch monitor is the most important part of a golf simulator setup. Without an accurate launch monitor, you will not be able to get accurate results with your golf simulator system. The launch monitor is essentially the equipment that will transfer what you are doing with your golf swing to the computer and screen.

As you can imagine, if you take a great golf swing, but your launch monitor doesn’t properly record the information, the overall results will be off. It is important the golf simulator you put together has a top-of-the-line launch monitor, and the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor is a great choice to consider.

With the Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor, you can practice both indoors and outdoors with your launch monitor and still get accurate results. The Rapsodo claims to be very close to the Trackman Launch monitor when it comes to accuracy. The Trackman is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars, so this really says quite a bit about the Rapsodo and its functionality.

You will need a Bluetooth app to work the Rapsodo, and then the entire setup should only take about one minute to complete. Once you start hitting, you will notice that the feedback and information you get are very well done. You can even get a GPS Satellite view of the shots that you are hitting. This is not something that all golf simulators offer.

Being able to take your practice session both indoors and out and get the instant feedback and information that you need is quite impressive. Don’t let the price and the simplicity of the Rapsodo tool you. This is a high end golf launch monitor that can be used to put together a great golf simulator for under $1000.

Best Launch Monitor For Simulator Under $1000: FlightScope Mevo – Portable Personal Launch Monitor for Golf

As we have mentioned, the launch monitor is the most important part of the golf simulator setup. If you want to purchase just a launch monitor and use it to build the rest of your simulator out, the FlighScope Mevo is a great choice. FlightsScope Mevo makes an all-in-one solution for golfers looking to set up a golf simulator, but it is over $1000.

However, you can purchase just the launch monitor and work with your other smart devices and current at home setup to put together a great setup. One of the things that set the Mevo apart is the accuracy of the model.

You will notice that you can use the launch monitor both indoors or outdoors, and it can capture both data and video. The MEVO can be set to automatically record so you can just continue to hit into your golf net, and this launch monitor will get the information you need.

Some of the data points that the Flightscope Mevo can pick up on include club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, spin, flight time, and more. Overall the Flightscope is used even by very low handicap players looking for very detailed specifics on their game.

Another great feature of the Mevo is that it will save older data so that you can have lots of great information stored over time to review and compare the swings that you are making.

Best Mat For Golf Simulator Under $1000: GoSports Golf Hitting Mats – Artificial Turf Mat for Indoor/Outdoor Practice

If you try to set up a full simulator where you can be looking down the fairways of Pebble Beach as you play them, then you will need a screen. The screen has to be able to tolerate the occasional golf ball that gets pushed through the net, and therefore you will need what is called an impact screen. Many golfers like the impact screen because it can eliminate the need for a net and just allows for the shot to be collected.

The Terakart Indoor Golf Simulator Screen is a good choice, and it is a long lasting option for golfers to consider. You can use this for a projection screen if your golf simulator needs to turn into the movie theater in your home as well.

The great thing about this screen is that it can take thousands of golf balls being hit at it, and it is not going to compromise the screen’s functionality in any way.

Buyers Guide

Now that you have a better idea of what equipment is needed to get your home golf simulator up and running, you likely have quite a few questions. How will you know which of these is the best for your home? DO you want to spend more than $1000 or less? We have some helpful information that could narrow down your decision just a bit more.

Complete Setup or Individual Pieces 

When buying a golf simulator, you will need to decide if you want something that is completely put together and sold as one option or if you are ok with piecing the system together. Chances are, you will save quite a bit of money by putting together the system yourself.

If you can get a great deal on a launch monitor, you may be able to use your computer, smartphone, a mat, and a net to get a great home system going. Of course, if you want to see the golf course on a screen in front of you, then the projector and impact screen will also be additional, increasing the money you spend.

Overall you will have to look into what options work best. However, for those that want to spend less than $1000, typically, the piecing together of a set will offer some of the best golf simulators on the market.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Most people want to set up a golf simulator indoors. This is because the main reason you are likely using a simulator is that it’s too cold or too rainy to be playing golf outside. However, there may be a time on a summer day or for a BBQ with friends that you want to take the simulator outdoors.

Keep this in mind when you purchase the launch monitor for your golf simulator. Some golf simulators cannot be used outside as they have difficulty collecting information about ball speed and other parameters.

As long as your launch monitor works outside and your impact screen is weather-resistant you should be able to take your golf simulator indoors and outdoors.

Pricing Of The System 

We gave you a list of some golf simulators that were less than $1000 for a complete package or some components that you could put together for less than $1000. When you head to a bar or entertainment place with a golf simulator, you have to know that these places are spending more than $5000 and probably more than $10,000 for their golf simulator setup.

For a Trackman system that is used for golf club fittings, the pricing can get as high as $50,000 depending on the accuracy.

The pricing of the golf simulator system has to make sense for how often you will use it.

If you plan to play golf every day all winter long, the simulator will be well worth the money you pay. If you also use the simulator screen as a way to show movies, then that can help to justify the cost as well.

Some golfers get a little too excited about the simulator idea, and they spend more money than necessary. Think about what it would have cost to pay greens fees and cart fees all winter long; spend that amount on your simulator, you would have spent it on golf anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Now that you have a better idea as to what the best golf simulators for your home could be, here are a few other questions that we are often asked about golf simulators and whether or not they are even worth investing in.

Are Golf Simulators Worth It?

Golf simulators are worth it for those that have a long off-season. If you happen to live in an area where it rains or snows for long periods and you can’t get out to play golf, then the golf simulator is worth the money.

For those that spend most of their day on the golf course, the simulator will likely not get used all that much. Golfers need a break from time to time, and sometimes it is good to take a few hours without a golf club in your hand.

Golf simulators are a good choice for those that are trying to improve their game and understand the importance of taking a few swings every day.

How Good Is The OptiShot?

The OptiShot is an excellent option for a golfer of any level. If you care about lowering your scores and want to get your game to the next level, this is one of the smartest choices you could make. Although the hitting pad is a little small, the results and information you get from the OptiShot are quite impressive.

Can You Get A Golf Simulator For Under $1000?

You can put a golf simulator package together for under $1000 as long as you are smart about your shopping and careful not to overspend. If you have a smart device and a computer in place already, you will have a much easier time spending under $1000.

For those that try and purchase a new computer or smart device to work in conjunction with their simulator, it can be hard to maintain any control of the total price.

Always remember that the most important part of the simulator is going to be the launch monitor. If you find a great deal on a net or a mat, go ahead and take it. However, keep the launch monitor to the highest quality possible if you want to ensure it stays around for many years to come.

Money invested in launch monitors will not only be used for your simulator, but you can use it for club fitting and overall performance check-ins on your golf game.

Are Golf Simulators Difficult To Setup?

Most golf simulators say that they take seconds to set up. Our experience is that it really takes a few minutes and a bit of testing before you know that you are getting accurate results. The golf simulator setup process is not difficult; however, if you take a bit of extra time, you can ensure that your results are much more accurate.

The extra few minutes to get everything lined up properly will be well worth the time you spend when you get accurate results from your simulator.

Do Golf Simulators Come With Golf Courses Downloaded?

Most complete golf simulator systems are going to give you a decent number of golf courses to play. Anywhere from around 7-20 golf courses is fairly standard with the golf simulator software system. If you want to be more particular about the courses you play, then you may have to pay a monthly fee for a service.

We suggest using the courses that were downloading, playing any skill challenges they have, and working on the simulator at the driving range before upgrading to purchase more courses; you may find that you have enough.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now feel better about making your golf simulator decision. The OptiShot stands out as the best overall option on the market. No other choices will give you the information and products you need for this fair of price. If you plan on using your golf simulator quite a bit, the Optishot will be well worth the pricing that you pay. When you start comparing other complete systems to the price of the Optishot, you will be experiencing some sticker shock. Go with this affordable golf simulator for under $1000 and start working on your game all winter long.