How do you choose a golf simulator screen?

What a golf simulator screen does

The screen has two jobs. It has to stop a golf ball travelling at full speed, again and again, without tearing or sending the ball back at you. And it has to show a sharp, bright picture from the projector, because that picture is the golf course you are playing.

That is why simulator screens use dedicated impact fabric, woven or layered to absorb the ball’s energy, with a smooth white face for the image.

Types of impact screen

Single-layer screens

The simplest screens are a single tight-knit polyester fabric. SimSpace Golf describes its entry screen this way: a polyester blend chosen for sharp visuals and repeated use. Single-layer screens are the cheapest option and suit most home setups with entry or mid-range kit.

Multi-layer screens

Premium screens add layers. SimSpace’s top screen, for example, has a three-layer build with an impact-resistant foam centre, and is sold as 4K-ready. The extra layers soften the impact, reduce bounce-back and help the picture look smoother. They cost more and are worth it if you hit a lot of balls or have a 4K projector.

Noise-reducing backing

A foam backing that hangs behind the screen is a useful add-on in a house. It cuts the slap of the ball hitting the fabric, which matters if the room is next to a bedroom or a neighbour.

Screen versus net

A practice net stops the ball but cannot show a picture. With a net you see your shot data on a tablet, TV or monitor, which is fine for practice and costs less. A screen gives you the full simulator experience: you watch the ball fly down the fairway in front of you.

If you are building a proper room, a screen inside an enclosure is the usual choice. A net and a tablet are a cheaper way to start.

How big should the screen be?

The screen should fill as much of the width and height in front of you as the room allows, with padded side panels or netting to catch shots that go wide.

Ready-made enclosures give a sense of the range. Compact ones are around 2.6 m wide, 2.5 m high and 1.5 m deep; larger ones are about 4 m wide, 3 m high and 3 m deep. A custom screen can be made to fit wall to wall in a dedicated room.

Get the shape right

Simulator pictures are usually set to a squarer shape than a TV. BenQ explains that impact screens usually end up at about 4:3, which leaves more height for the swing, and recommends a projector with a native 16:9 or 16:10 picture adjusted to fit. So measure your screen’s width and height and choose your projector to suit, not the other way round.

Bigger screens need brighter projectors

BenQ suggests that a 3,000 lumen projector is a good starting point for a smaller screen, and a 4,000 lumen or brighter laser projector for screens 10 feet (about 3 m) wide or more. Our guide to golf simulator projectors goes into this.

The gap behind the screen

A screen needs space behind it so the ball can slow down before it reaches the wall. Too little space and the ball can bounce back hard, damage the wall, or wear the screen faster.

SimSpace Golf recommends:

• at least 30 cm between the screen and the wall when the screen is fixed on all sides;
• at least 50 cm when the screen hangs from the top and is only partly secured.

That gap comes out of your room depth, so include it when you check your space against our golf simulator size guide.

How far to stand from the screen

Most setups put the ball about 3 m from the screen. Trackman gives 3.0 m or more from screen to ball for its ceiling-mounted unit. Much closer and mishits hit harder; further away and you need a bigger, brighter picture.

What golf simulator screens cost

Published UK prices, read 26 October 2026, give a guide (not a quote; most of these listings do not say whether VAT is included):

Fitting is extra if you pay for it. A ready-made enclosure is designed for home assembly: GolfBays says its frame clicks together without tools in under an hour. A custom screen fixed wall to wall in a dedicated room, with padded sides and a hidden frame, is usually a job for an installer. Use the cost calculator to see how the screen fits into the whole budget.

Questions to ask before you buy

• What is the screen made of, and is it single or multi-layer?
• What size is it, and what picture shape does it suit?
• How is it fixed, and how much space does it need behind it?
• Does it come with side panels, a top net or a floor skirt to catch mishits?
• What warranty does it have, and is a replacement screen available on its own?

Getting it fitted

If you are fitting a screen into a dedicated room, garage or garden building, an installer can measure the space, pick the screen size, set the gap and line up the projector so the picture fills it without a shadow. See golf simulator installation for what that involves, or tell us about your space and we will find an installer who covers your area.