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It’s the ultimate aspiration of many golfers to own a life-size golf simulator for their personal use — one that allows them to play their favourite golf courses or practice on the range day or night, rain or shine, any time of the year.
You might think about the simulator system, the hitting mat, and the projector, but what about the screen?
It turns out that a quality screen and enclosure are crucial for a great golf simulator experience. Among other things, they need to contain balls safely, have minimal bounceback, and be made of durable materials that will last.
Without a good screen or enclosure, you won’t be able to realize the full potential of your simulator.
In this article, we’ll review and compare our picks for the best golf simulator screens & enclosures across a range of different budgets. We’ll also provide a buying guide that will help you narrow down the screen that will suit you best.
We have tested and used all of these screens and enclosures. Some have less to offer than others, but they all provide excellent reliability for the cost.
Our Top Picks For Golf Simulator Screens & Enclosures
- SIG10 Golf Simulator Enclosure
- Carl’s Place DIY Golf Simulator Enclosure
- PerfectBay Golf Simulator Enclosure
- SwingBay Golf Simulator Screen & Enclosure
- Carl’s Place Golf Simulator Impact Screen
- SIGPRO Premium Golf Simulator Screen
- rsTour Series Golf Simulator Impact Screen
- HomeCourse ProScreen 180 Enclosure
- The Net Return Pro Series V2 Flex Simulator Screen
- Cimarron 10’x10′ Impact Projection Screen
1. SIG10 Golf Simulator Enclosure
The SIG10 is a screen & enclosure that was created by The Indoor Golf Shop, one of our top recommended sources for golf simulator equipment.
It has everything going for it: a thick, durable enclosure, a large, high-impact screen, side barrier netting, and weights to keep the installation secure.
The SIG10 was designed so that the projection image fills 100% of the screen. It is nearly 11′ wide, sitting between the SIG8 and SIG12 in terms of size.
Everyone we know who has used a SIG screen & enclosure has been very happy with it; this is on top of the great results we’ve had with it in our tests. The great thing about the SIG10 is that it can fit in most spaces, including in rooms with a standard ceiling height of around 9 feet.
Features
The SIG10 enclosure is 10’10” wide, and the screen is 10’1″ wide x 7’7″ high. It’s very large in person.
The screen, made of tight-knit polyester, is designed for a 4:3 aspect ratio projection and can withstand ball speeds of up to 250 MPH. The SIG10 also features black nylon walls, a powder-coated steel frame, a bottom weight strip, and protective foam padding.
Assembly and installation can take an hour or less: just connect the frame via quick connectors and attach the screen to the frame with bungees.
Recommended space requirements for the SIG10 are 12 ft wide x 9 ft high by 18 ft deep, in addition to being able to swing your longest club comfortably.
If you have the budget for a premium simulator enclosure that will impress your friends, definitely give the SIG10 serious consideration. Customer support is terrific and will help you through the entire process from delivery to setup.
2. Carl’s Place DIY Golf Simulator Enclosure
Carl’s Place is a company that has been around for a while. They offer some of the best enclosure and screen systems on the market.
Their DIY enclosure, in particular, is very affordable, and what’s even better is that it’s highly customizable, giving you control over the screen material, enclosure size, and various optional accessories. They can even make a custom-size enclosure down to the inch if that’s what you want.
Depending on the options you choose when building a Carl’s Place enclosure, you could save a significant amount of money compared to enclosures from other brands.
Additional Info
Starting with the screen, Carl’s Place offers the following options:
- Standard: a loosely woven, heavy-duty polyester ideal for beginners.
- Preferred: heavy-duty polyester with a tightly woven knit, smoother surface for better image quality, and strong silicone reinforcement.
- Premium: a triple-layer, heavy-duty polyester with noise-dampening qualities, the smoothest surface, and the best image quality.
Naturally, it gets more expensive as you move towards Premium.
Next, Carl’s Place allows you to choose between six enclosure sizes (not including custom requests): 7.7’x10′, 7.7’x13′, 8’x8′, 8’x10.5′, 8.5’x11.5′, and 9’x12′. For custom orders, use Carl’s Build-Your-Own-Golf-Simulator Tool.
Then you can choose optional accessories which include:
- pipe framing: all the correctly sized pipes necessary for the frame as well as any necessary fittings.
- foam inserts: protect the frame from golf ball impacts.
- side barrier netting to help catch bad shots.
- a Carl’s Place 4’x5′ hitting mat that is easy on the joints.
These DIY enclosures use 1″ EMT pipes for the frame, which are more affordable but should not be used to mount electronics. Carl’s Place offers a stronger, higher-quality Pro enclosure that can support mounting here.
Nylon blackout walls, ball bungees and a weight bag are also included.
One of the things we like most about Carl’s Place is how willing and able they are to work with you to build the enclosure that’s perfect for you. Their enclosures are proven and have great reviews.
3. PerfectBay Golf Simulator Enclosure
This screen & enclosure is sold by Top Shelf Golf and has some huge advantages for golfers. It has a similar look to the SIG10 enclosure reviewed above, and the screen is just about as large, but it manages to be almost half the cost.
The PerfectBay is focused on indoor use. It’s an all-in-one solution that requires no tools to set up.
The impact screen is designed for 4:3 projection that fills 100% of the screen, and it’s able to withstand ball speeds up to an impressive 250 mph.
The PerfectBay has a quality design, and it’s certainly an excellent option for those who want to save money on this style of screen/enclosure.
Additional Info
The PerfectBay impact screen has a very smooth surface, with a premium triple-layer construction made of tight-knit, heavy-duty, impact-resistant polyester. The center layer works to dampen the noise of golf ball impacts.
The enclosure provides a shading effect for the screen to bring out the brightest image possible given the ambient lighting. It’s five feet deep, and combined with included side nets, it can catch even the worst shanks.
Other features of the PerfectBay enclosure are:
- made in the USA
- black nylon enclosure material
- no gaps around the screen for the ball to pass through
- weight bags, EMT pipes, steel corner fittings, and other assembly items
The size of the regular PerfectBay unit is 10’5″W x 8’H x 5’D with a screen diagonal of 144″.
There are also PerfectBay PLUS and PerfectBay WIDE enclosures:
- PLUS: 12’W x 9’H x 5’D footprint, 164″ screen diagonal, 4:3 aspect ratio
- WIDE: 13.5’W x 8’H x 5’D footprint, 177″ screen diagonal, 16:9 aspect ratio
Assembly is fairly straightforward; full instructions are provided here. Make sure there is a bit of clearance between the wall and enclosure, and keep your balls clean to avoid marking up the screen.
4. SwingBay Golf Simulator Screen & Enclosure
This enclosure was designed by the team at Rain or Shine Golf, and it takes into account the feedback of hundreds of golf simulator owners.
The SwingBay screen & enclosure system isn’t cheap, but it’s excellent. It ranks high on our list because it’s well-made, it looks great, it’s relatively easy to set up, and it’s used with some of the most successful simulator packages on the market.
It features a solid assembly framing system with a heavy-duty projector screen and walls, and it allows you to get one of the best simulator experiences possible.
Features
We start with the screen, which is 7’3″ tall and 9’8″ wide — slightly smaller than the SIG10 screen but also a little more affordable. It’s built to withstand balls going at up to 250 mph (good luck reaching that speed), and is optimized for a 4:3 image aspect ratio.
Next is the blackout side and upper walls. These are made of commercial-grade polyester, they protect the projector image from being washed out by external light, and they contain mis-hit shots that don’t hit the screen.
There is also a bungee system for fastening the screen to the frame, and a 8′ x 10’5″ x 4’8″ deep framing system.
Despite the fact that the enclosure walls help block out some light, we still recommend a projector with 3000+ lumens for best results.
You won’t be left out in the cold with this: you can get professional help choosing the right accessories, full assembly instructions, and size specifications for all the components. For that, go to this page.
5. Carl’s Place Golf Simulator Impact Screen
Looking for just a screen? Making a DIY enclosure? Whatever your reason for wanting a standalone screen, one of the best ones you can find right now is from Carl’s Place.
What makes ordering an impact screen from Carl’s Place so attractive is the amount of control you have over the customization. In addition to being able to choose from over 27 different sizes, you can choose a screen material and a finishing style.
Carl’s Place impact screens are sewn in-house, and they can even accommodate custom sizes, edges, finishes and materials.
Features
Carl’s Place golf simulator impact screens have a durable build and are designed to withstand balls travelling at up to 250 mph. The material options are:
- Standard: loosely woven polyester; a budget-friendly option
- Preferred: smoother texture with better durability; tightly woven polyester fibers for better image quality
- Premium: triple-layer, heavy-duty, impact-resistant polyester; a smooth surface with dampened noise and an HD image
There are also three different finishing options:
- Classic: consists of 2.5″ black vinyl edges and grommets all the way around the screen.
- Classic with Loop Fastener: a classic finish enhanced with 1″ loop fastener strips all the way around the screen.
- Classic with Flaps: a classic finish enhanced with 7″ flaps and edged with 1″ loop fastener strips all the way around the screen.
Carl’s Place provides absolutely everything you need to get the screen you want, and then to maintain the screen and keep it clean as best as possible. They provide a wealth of information in that regard in their Resources and FAQ section here.
The Carl’s Place impact screen is priced very affordably given the amount of flexibility and customization at your fingertips.
6. SIGPRO Premium Golf Simulator Screen
The Indoor Golf Shop’s SIGPRO Premium impact screen is a result of months of development working with one of the best mills in the world.
In fact, MyGolfSpy found in its head-to-head test that the SIGPRO Premium outperformed the most popular impact screen on the market and is generally superior to the competition.
It has excellent longevity, produces a quality image, and has reduced sound and bounceback. Moreover, it’s available in a wide range of different sizes (up to 10’x10′) and aspect ratios to suit your requirements.
Features
Let’s start with the screen material. The fabric is thick and smooth, consisting of vertical spacer yarns that are sandwiched by two heavy-duty, impact-resistant, tight-knit polyester surfaces. The result is a unique triple-layer surface that:
- dampens the noise of golf ball impacts
- absorbs more of the impact resulting in less bounceback
- reduces the amount of time a golf ball spins while in contact with the screen, thus reducing wear
The smooth spacer mesh fabric minimizes bleed-through, does not suffer from pixelation or a grain effect, and is capable of producing crisp 4K images.
The screen is surrounded by black double-stitched vinyl edges and grommets. The finished edges contain heavy-duty hook-and-loop Velcro, allowing easy integration with netting, bumper borders, enclosure blackout walls, etc.
The SIRPRO Premium screen can withstand ball speeds of up to 250 mph and comes with a 1-year performance guarantee. You may also be able to upgrade the screen to a SIG enclosure at a later time.
We love this screen and think it has so much to offer, but if it’s a little pricey for you, check out The Indoor Golf Shop’s more affordable SIG Preferred screen.
7. rsTour Series Golf Simulator Impact Screen
The rsTour Series is the exclusive impact screen offering of Rain or Shine Golf. It’s the same screen used in their successful SwingBay enclosure system.
This screen is edged with nickel grommets, ready to be attached to or hung from a frame. Its durable construction consists of a premium impact screen material with tightly-woven fibers that are conducive to a crisp and bright projection image.
The rsTour Series screen is built to withstand ball impacts up to 250 mph. You can hang the screen with Rain or Shine Golf’s frame ball bungees.
The screen comes with a 6-month warranty and is currently offered in at least five sizes including 8 ft x 10.5 ft (4:3), 7.7 ft x 10 ft (4:3), 9 ft x 12 ft (4:3), 8 ft x 14 ft (16:9), and 9 ft x 16 ft (16:9). Custom sizes are available upon request.
We like the simplicity and competitive pricing of the rsTour Series relative to other impact screens with similar specs. Note that you can also pair the screen with wall mount or ceiling track curtains.
8. HomeCourse ProScreen 180 Enclosure
This newly upgraded screen & enclosure system by HomeCourse is an excellent option for golfers who want to practice their game indoors. You can put it in any garage, basement or living room as long as it has enough space to accommodate a full swing of your longest club.
The ProScreen 180, which can be fully retracted and extended with the press of a button, benefits from two main improvements over the old HomeCourse Pro Screen:
- the old side netting has been replaced by Pro Arms made of ballistic-grade screen material
- the Pro Arms can be used as enclosure side walls or extended to create a wide 14 ft projectable area
It can be used as a simple indoor driving range or as part of a golf simulator like the SkyTrak. It has enclosure netting and can be retracted at the press of a button.
Features
Here are the features of the HomeCourse ProScreen 180 Enclosure:
Pro Arms & Sky Net
These create a topped enclosure that helps contain the worst mishits — errant shots, shanks, sky balls, etc. — allowing you to practice with real balls.
Alternatively, the Pro Arms can be extended straight outwards to create an ultra-wide 16:9 projectable area that is 14 feet wide.
Ballistic-Grade Screen
Because the screen is made of ballistic-grade material, you can go all out with your driver at point-blank range and it’ll take it no problem.
The screen also flexes at the bottom so that the ball can roll back to your feet. Just make sure you can make a full swing unimpeded!
Retractable System
The Pro Screen is battery-powered and comes with a wireless remote. With it, you can press a button and have the screen fully retract in less than 30 seconds.
This means that you can easily set up and take down the screen for an afternoon session, and you don’t have to deal with a mess of cables.
Projectable
The HomeCourse Pro is projectable, which means it can be used with any projector and golf simulator. Check out our recent article on the best golf simulator projectors for ideas.
Add-Ons
If you have a high ceiling and would like to mount your Pro Screen on the wall, you can do that with the HomeCourse Wall Mount Kit.
In addition, you can pair the Pro Screen with a landing pad that will protect your flooring.
Space requirements are a minimum of 8.5 ft high x 10 ft wide x 8 ft deep. For more information about add-ons and more, visit this page.
9. The Net Return Pro Series V2 Flex Simulator Screen
This is an excellent no-frills simulator screen from The Net Return that is designed to be used with The Net Return Pro Series Net.
Unlike the original Pro Series screen which just hung from the top, the new version now features grommets on the four corners where bungees can be used to secure the screen to the net.
With the Pro Series V2 Flex screen, you can switch from golf simulation (with a projector) to general practice within a minute. It’s one of the most affordable solutions out there today.
How It Works
You can use the Pro Series Simulator Screen with any golf simulator software and projector, including the Optoma EH200ST and SkyTrak Launch Monitor.
The screen is made of white polyester fabric that can take even the most monstrous drives. It:
- can project a crisp, bright image
- absorbs the sound of golf ball impacts
- minimizes bounceback and puckering
Its size is 84″ high x 85.5″ wide — make sure you have enough space.
There are a couple things you should note:
- We recommend projecting at a 4:3 aspect ratio because of the shape of the screen. If you use 16:9, there will be a lot of white space.
- The screen will arrive folded and likely have creases; you can use a clothes iron on medium setting to flatten them out.
For more details on installation and what you can pair with the Pro Series V2 Flex Screen, go here.
10. Cimarron 10’x10′ Impact Projection Screen
This DIY golf simulator screen by Cimarron is simple, but it performs extremely well.
It has dimensions of 10 ft x 10 ft and is made of 100% commercial-grade polyester.
Not only is the flatness and whiteness perfect for use with a simulator projector, but it can also be used as an impact net and a baffle net. In fact, it’s thicker and more durable than a normal baffle.
It easily takes real golf balls at high ball speeds. The screen’s topstitching can be secured to any type of framing with a bungee or rope system.
If you have the space, we suggest pairing this screen with the Cimarron Masters Golf Net and Frame.
Buying Guide
Investing in a good screen for your golf simulator is important. If you get one that is incorrectly sized or cheaply made, you may have to deal with substantial wear or accidental damage from your ball missing the screen.
Fortunately, there are a lot of options on the market for quality simulator screens. It’s important to consider all the factors that will affect your experience and match it with what your goals are.
Here are the most important factors you need to consider when determining which screen will best meet your needs:
1. Size & Aspect Ratio
Size is one of the most important factors in golf simulator screens. You need to have a clear understanding of the space you intend to use in your home to contain the screen, and also, what aspect ratio you intend to project.
If you want a widescreen 16:9 experience for your simulator, you should get a screen that has more of a rectangular shape; this will minimize the amount of blank space around the projected image.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind a 4:3 experience, you should get a screen that has more of a square shape. Most golf simulator screens are designed for 4:3 projection.
The simulator screen, to a large extent, determines what the width and height of your simulator setup will be. Make sure to compare the minimum space requirements of simulators you’re interested in to the size of your space.
2. Enclosure
What is the enclosure like that comes with the simulator screen?
Some screens come on their own without any sort of enclosure, and this has two main drawbacks:
- There’s nothing to catch your ball if you hit an errant shot and miss the screen.
- There’s nothing to help block out the ambient lighting in the room so you get a brighter picture.
You ideally want to look at screens that come with an enclosure (the deeper the better), and even better, side barrier netting, but we understand that this can increase the cost substantially.
If you want to save money and set up a screen by itself, perhaps hung from the frame of a net, just be aware of the associated risks and limitations. Another way to save money is by getting a DIY enclosure kit and buying your own pipe framing from a hardware store.
3. Screen
A bad screen can break a golf simulator experience. So, what makes a good screen? It should:
- Be able to accommodate a clear, bright, high-quality image with as little graininess and bleed-through as possible. The smoother the surface, the better.
- Be durable. It should be able to last for years without ripping, tearing or fraying.
- Not be overly loud when your ball makes contact with it, as this can disturb the people around you or even be irritating to yourself. There should be some degree of cushioning which helps to dampen some of the noise.
- Have some degree of impact absorption that will minimize ball bounce back.
Also take note of the maximum advertised ball speed that an impact screen can handle. If you go over this, you run the risk of busting a hole in the screen. In general, anything under 250 mph should be fine.
You’ll have to decide how much importance you place on each of these factors based on your unique circumstances.
4. Budget
Of course, your budget is very important when shopping for a golf simulator screen. Not everyone can afford screens and enclosures that cost $3000+, and fortunately, there are options that cost less than this amount.
With that said, you should realize that the less you spend, the less you’ll usually get — this could be in the form of lower-quality screen material (less durability), a weaker frame, a smaller area, or the absence of an enclosure and/or side barrier netting.
In this guide, we’ve tried to include quality screens over a range of budgets that golfers might have. But the great thing is that you don’t have to drop the full cost of it at once.
Our recommended golf simulator source here provides easy financing options that allow you to pay for your screens and enclosures over the course of a year or longer. Don’t forget about this option.
Conclusion
Golf simulators have become a lot more accessible and affordable over the past decade or so, and this means more golfers and businesses than ever before have been able to have their own setup.
A good golf simulator screen that is made of a quality, durable material, and that is able to produce a bright, clear image from a projector, can make a world of difference. Similarly, an enclosure made of quality materials that has sufficient depth to catch balls is a significant asset.
Finding a screen and enclosure that will meet your needs is certainly possible with some research.
Each of the screen options reviewed above offer excellent value for the cost. We’ve given you the information you need to make a decision; now it’s up to you to go the rest of the way.
If you would like some help choosing a full golf simulator package that includes a launch monitor, projector, and mats, you can start by checking out this article.
Thanks for reading this guide. What kind of screen are you considering for your golf simulator? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
When is cimmaron golf impact screen in stock? What is price for it ?
I have the cimmaron 10 x 10 x10 cage and netting including the baffle net section.
If SIG doesn’t have it in stock, you can try buying it from Cimarron directly here. Sorry about that.
Are any of these suitable for outdoor use please?
If so ..is it possible yo print an image of a specific tee shot on a golf course on it?
Thanks
It depends. Do you mean completely out in the open or in a protected area like a shed or garage? If it’s the latter, these enclosures would generally be suitable as long as the temperature and humidity aren’t extreme.
If it’s the former, no, but a good option would be the Cimarron Masters Golf Net Enclosure. A screen isn’t practical in this case.
As for the image, I’m not clear on what you’re asking. Do you mean projecting a video feed onto a screen or putting up a static image?