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Quick Answer: you generally need at least 8-10 feet of ceiling height for a golf simulator, but this will depend on the height of the enclosure, your height, and the length of your clubs, among other things.
Space is one of the the biggest obstacles to owning a golf simulator aside from budget.
In particular, it’s usually the ceiling height that’s the main issue for people. You’re likely to have enough width and depth in your space, but it’s standard practice for most homes in the USA and other countries to have ceilings that are around 8-10 feet high, and this can be limiting to many simulator setups.
Indeed, as a general rule, 8 feet is the bare minimum ceiling height requirement for a golf simulator. 8.5 feet is better, but 9-10 feet or more is ideal.
Of course, the ceiling height you need will depend on the simulator system in question. It’s usually determined by the height of the enclosure or net being used, and some large enclosures may require a minimum of 10 feet of ceiling height.
Let’s explore more about ceiling height requirements for golf simulator setups, including the importance of ceiling height, examples, and other considerations.
Why Ceiling Height Is Important
Ceiling height is essential when setting up a golf simulator, as it determines:
- whether or not you can swing your clubs freely
- whether or not your enclosure or net can fit
- whether or not ceiling-mounted launch monitors can operate properly
Now, an 8-foot ceiling may fit some simulators, but the problem is that most people will have to shorten their backswing or avoid using longer clubs like woods and drivers in order to not hit the ceiling during the swing.
Even then, the anxiety and trepidation about possibly hitting the ceiling during the swing will likely affect the quality of your ballstriking.
That said, it will depend heavily on your height and the actual length of your clubs. This is why we recommend taking out your longest club (usually driver) and making a full backswing to ensure you have enough clearance, preferably while you’re standing on a hitting mat which will elevate you slightly off the ground.
Fitting The Enclosure Or Net
Practically all enclosures or hitting nets will require a minimum of 8 feet of ceiling height. Many will require at least 8.5 feet, and some even 9 or 10 feet.
Here are some examples of high-quality enclosure systems and their heights:
- SwingBay Enclosure by Rain or Shine Golf: 8 ft high
- SIG10 Enclosure by The Indoor Golf Shop: 8’4″ high
- Carl’s Place C-Series DIY Enclosure: 8 ft high (other sizes available)
- PerfectBay Enclosure by Top Shelf Golf: 8 ft high
- HomeCourse ProScreen 180 Enclosure: 8 ft high
In addition to these minimum requirements, you want to try to have a cushion of at least half a foot between the top of the enclosure and the ceiling so that the ball doesn’t ricochet off the ceiling if it touches the top enclosure wall.
Some examples of high-quality hitting nets and their heights are:
- SIGPRO Golf Hitting Net: 7’7″ high
- The Net Return Home Series V2 Net: 7 ft high
- GoSports ELITE Hitting Net: 7.5 ft high
Nets generally require less height than enclosures, but you still want to have a little bit of space between the top of the net and the ceiling for safety and comfort.
Note: some companies such as Carl’s Place can create custom enclosure sizes at your request, so if you have an unusually low ceiling that’s less than 8 feet, you could still make it work.
Launch Monitor Requirements
Launch monitors that are meant to be mounted in a fixed position on the ceiling typically require a minimum vertical distance to be able to measure data properly. See the table below for examples:
| Launch Monitor | Minimum Height |
|---|---|
| Uneekor QED | 9 feet |
| Uneekor EYE XO or EYE XO2 | 9 feet |
| TruGolf APOGEE | 9 feet |
| Foresight Sports GCHawk | 9.5 feet |
As you can see, if you plan to use these kinds of launch monitors, you shouldn’t bother with any ceiling height less than 9 feet unless you want to risk significant performance issues.
If you do have a ceiling height that is too low and there is no other space where you could house your golf simulator, there are many ways you might be able to raise the ceiling depending on the construction of the space itself.
Raising the ceiling height can be very difficult if not impossible to DIY, so if you’re interested in going this route, we recommend employing the services of a professional.
Conclusion
To sum up, a ceiling height of 8 feet may work for some golf simulators. However, 9-10 feet is best because it most likely will be able to fit the enclosure/net with a small buffer zone, accommodate a full swing with your longest club, and satisfy the space requirements of your launch monitor.
Remember that there are many golf simulator systems out there that can accommodate a range of space sizes, so just because one setup won’t fit in your space doesn’t mean another won’t.
Also remember that when finding a place for a golf simulator, you also need to take into account the width and depth of the space. There are certain things you need to take into account for that which you can read more about here.
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