Room & Build guides

Room Dimensions First, Gear Second

Start with the room, not the launch monitor. A standard simulator bay needs 10 to 12 feet of width and 14 to 18 feet of depth. That depth splits roughly into three zones: 8 to 10 feet from the tee line to the impact screen, 6 to 8 feet behind the ball for the monitor, and the remaining space for your stance and swing. If the room is shorter than 14 feet, you compress the screen distance and risk bounceback; if it is narrower than 10 feet, right-handed and left-handed players will interfere with each other.

Ceiling height is the hard limit. Nine feet is the absolute minimum for most iron swings, and 10 feet is comfortable for driver clearance. Measure from the finished floor to the lowest obstruction—beam, duct, or joist—not to the underside of the subfloor above. In basements and attics, that lowest point often decides whether the room works at all. For low-ceiling basements, see basement room rules and hardware; for attic conversions, see attic setup constraints.

Screen Distance and Projector Trade-Offs

Place the impact screen 8 to 10 feet from the ball. That distance balances image size against ball-flight safety. Closer than 8 feet makes the image feel cramped and increases the chance of a ricochet hitting the screen frame; farther than 10 feet dims the image unless you raise projector output.

Projector brightness should run 3,000 to 5,000 lumens. A 3,000-lumen unit works in a light-controlled basement, but a garage bay with ambient light or a screen larger than 10 feet wide usually needs 4,000 to 5,000 lumens to keep the image readable. Mount the projector behind the hitting area or ceiling-mounted behind the tee line; throwing from the side creates shadows and distorts the image geometry.

Dimension	Minimum	Comfortable	Notes
Ceiling height	9 ft	10 ft	Measure to lowest obstruction
Bay width	10 ft	12 ft	Allows two-handed swings both sides
Bay depth	14 ft	18 ft	Includes screen, ball, and monitor zones
Screen distance	8 ft	10 ft	From tee line to impact screen
Monitor distance	6 ft	8 ft	Behind the ball, facing the player
Projector output	3,000 lumens	5,000 lumens	Scale up for ambient light

Garage, Basement, and Attic Constraints

Garages offer depth but bring temperature swings of 20 to 30 degrees without conditioning, plus concrete floors that need underlayment or interlocking tile before you place a hitting mat. See garage flooring options for load limits and installation basics. Basements usually have the right depth but the wrong ceiling; low beams and ductwork often cap usable height at 7 to 8 feet, which restricts you to short irons and wedges unless you modify the framing. Attics have headroom near the ridge but floor-load limits near the eaves, so enclosure weight and joist spacing matter more than in a ground-floor room.

Decide early whether the bay is permanent or portable. A fixed frame and screen suit a dedicated basement or garage bay, but a portable frame packs away when the bay doubles as a parking space or workshop. Portable setups sacrifice some screen tension and image flatness, which affects launch monitor accuracy at the margins.

FAQ

Can I use a 9-foot ceiling with a driver?
You can, but leave at least 6 to 12 inches of clearance above your highest point of contact. Many golfers find a driver swing at 9 feet feels tight; 10 feet removes the worry.

Does screen distance affect launch monitor readings?Indirectly. The monitor sits 6 to 8 feet behind the ball and reads the shot at impact. Screen distance changes image size and bounceback safety, not the monitor’s ball-data capture.

How bright does the projector need to be?3,000 lumens in a dark basement, up to 5,000 lumens if the garage door lets in daylight or you use a wide screen.