Golf simulator technology, explained

Every golf simulator does the same basic job: it measures how the ball leaves the club, then works out where that ball would have gone. How it measures, and how much it works out instead of measuring, varies from one system to the next. That's why the same swing can read a few yards differently in two venues. Here's what's going on inside the bay.

The three parts of a simulator

• The launch monitor. The sensor that measures each shot. It's the most important and usually the most expensive part.
• The software. The program that takes those measurements, models the ball's flight and draws the shot on a virtual range or course.
• The bay. The hitting mat, impact screen, projector, enclosure and computer. These don't measure anything, but a good mat and a bright, sharp picture make a big difference to how real it feels.

When a venue says it "has Trackman" or "uses Foresight," it's naming the launch monitor. The software may come from the same company or from someone else.

Radar launch monitors

Radar launch monitors use Doppler radar: they send out microwaves and read the signal that bounces back off the moving ball, and in many cases the club as well. Trackman is the best-known radar system. A radar unit usually sits several feet behind the ball, looking down the target line.

Radar is very good at tracking a ball in flight, which is why radar units are common at driving ranges and on tour. Indoors, the ball only flies a short way before it hits the screen, so the system sees just the start of the flight and the software models the rest. Radar systems need some room behind the ball and some distance to the screen to work well, which is one reason venues set up bays the way they do. Some venues use balls made to help radar read spin indoors, so they may ask you to use theirs.

Camera launch monitors

Camera-based launch monitors, also called photometric systems, take a burst of high-speed pictures of the ball, and often the club, right around impact. From those images they work out speed, direction and spin, then hand the numbers to the software to model the flight.

• Side units. Foresight Sports' GCQuad is a well-known example. It sits on the floor beside the ball, facing the golfer, and photographs the ball as it leaves the club.
• Overhead units. Uneekor is known for units mounted in the ceiling above the hitting area. Nothing sits on the floor, and the same unit works for right- and left-handed players without being moved.

Cameras measure the first moment of the shot very closely, including spin, but they don't see the ball fly. Some camera systems read spin from marks on the ball, or need small stickers on the clubface to measure club data. That's another reason venues often hand you their own balls.

Other systems you'll see

Not every venue fits neatly into "radar" or "camera."

• Full Swing makes simulators that are common in venues and homes. The sensing technology differs by model and has changed over the years, so ask the venue which unit is in the bay.
• Golfzon builds complete simulator systems with its own sensors and software. Some Golfzon setups include a hitting platform that tilts to mimic uphill, downhill and sidehill lies.
• Toptracer uses cameras to track the ball's flight. You'll mostly find it at driving ranges and range-style venues, where the ball flies out into the open rather than into a screen.
• Personal launch monitors, such as SkyTrak, are smaller and cheaper units built mainly for home use. Some venues use them too.

What a launch monitor measures

Launch monitors report two kinds of numbers: ball data, about how the ball left the club, and club data, about how the club moved through impact. Not every system reports all of these, and some numbers are measured while others are calculated from the rest.

Ball speed

How fast the ball leaves the clubface. The biggest single factor in distance.

Launch angle

How steeply the ball takes off, up from the ground.

Launch direction

Which way the ball starts, left or right of the target.

Spin rate

How fast the ball is spinning. Too much spin balloons a drive; too little drops an iron out of the sky.

Spin axis

The tilt of that spin. It decides how much the ball curves and which way.

Carry and total

How far the ball flies in the air, and how far it goes after it lands and rolls.

Peak height

The highest point of the flight.

Club speed

How fast the clubhead is moving just before impact.

Smash factor

Ball speed divided by club speed. A rough read on how centered the strike was.

Attack angle

Whether the club is moving down or up into the ball.

Club path and face

Where the club is traveling and where the face points at impact. Together they explain most curves.

Indoors, almost every system measures launch conditions near the ball and calculates carry, total distance and peak height from them. That's normal. It just means those numbers depend on the software's flight model as well as the sensor.

The simulator software

The software is what turns numbers into golf. It takes the launch data, runs it through a ball-flight model, and draws the shot on a range or a course. It also handles bounce and roll, wind, green speed and firmness, and the scorecard.

Some launch monitor makers write their own software, with their own course libraries. Third-party programs, such as GSPro and E6 Connect, work with a range of launch monitors. Which programs and courses a bay can run depends on the hardware and on the licenses the venue pays for, so if you want a particular course, ask.

Putting is the hardest part of golf to simulate. Some software has you putt on the mat, some offers auto-putting or "gimmes" inside a set distance, and some venues have a real putting green for that reason.

Why the numbers differ between systems

If your seven iron carries a little farther in one venue than another, nothing is necessarily broken. Several things move the numbers:

• Measurement method. Radar and cameras measure different things in different ways, especially spin.
• Measured versus calculated. Two systems can measure the same launch and still model the flight a little differently.
• The ball. Range balls, premium balls and marked balls fly and spin differently.
• Settings. Altitude, temperature, wind, fairway firmness and green speed are all adjustable, and venues set them differently.
• Setup. A unit that's slightly out of level or misaligned to the target line can skew direction and curve.
• You. A softer mat, warmer room or a different time of day all change how you swing.

The practical answer: compare yourself on the same system, look at averages over many shots instead of single swings, and use carry rather than total when you're learning your distances.

Choosing a venue by technology

For a fun night with friends, the software, course list and atmosphere matter more than the sensor. For lessons, practice or a club fitting, the launch monitor matters more, because you'll lean on its numbers.

On this site, simulator brands appear on a venue's listing only when the venue names them on its own website. We don't check the hardware in person, and venues can upgrade or swap systems, so confirm with the venue if a specific system matters to you.

Questions

Is radar or camera more accurate?

Both kinds are used by serious coaches and fitters. Radar tracks more of the flight when there's room for it; cameras read the moment of impact very closely. Indoors, a well-set-up system of either kind gives useful numbers. Consistency on one system matters more than which kind it is.

Why are my simulator distances different from the course?

Indoor flight is modeled, and settings like firmness, altitude and wind may not match your course. Mats also forgive heavy strikes that grass would punish. Treat sim numbers as a guide and check them outside.

Do I need special balls?

Use whatever the venue gives you. Some systems read spin best from a particular type of ball, and clean balls protect the screen.

Can a simulator read putts?

Many can, but putting is the least realistic part of most simulators. That's why many venues offer auto-putting or a real putting green.

Find venues by simulator brand

Each list below includes only venues whose own website names that system.

• Trackman venues
• Foresight venues
• Uneekor venues
• Full Swing venues
• Golfzon venues

Find indoor golf near you Venues by feature