How we research, and what powers the calculator
FitMySim is an independent resource for people building a home golf simulator. This page explains exactly how our room-fit calculator reaches its verdict, where our numbers come from, and how we keep recommendations honest.
Updated: October 2026.
How does the room-fit calculator work?
The calculator checks the three constraints that actually decide whether a golf simulator fits a room, in order of how often they're the blocker:
| Constraint | Comfortable | Workable | Too tight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling height (full swing) | 10 ft / 3.0 m | 9 ft / 2.7 m (you'll feel it); 8.5 ft only for players under ~5'8" with a flat swing | under ~8.5 ft → irons & data only |
| Width - one-handed (centred) | 12 ft+ / 3.7 m+ | 10–12 ft with an offset tee | under 10 ft |
| Width - both right & left | 15 ft+ / 4.6 m+ | 13–15 ft (offset per hand) | under 13 ft |
| Depth (ball-to-screen + stance) | 18 ft / 5.5 m (16 ft workable) | 15–17 ft; radar units need 17–20 ft | under ~12 ft (can't keep the 10 ft ball-to-screen safety gap) |
We adjust the ceiling requirement for player height (shorter / average / taller), because the limiting factor is the highest point of the club arc - usually the follow-through, not the top of the backswing, and not standing height alone. Aim for roughly 6–9 inches of clearance above that point. When ceiling, width or depth falls below "comfortable," the calculator recommends a side-placed camera launch monitor (it sits beside the ball, no overhead mount - not a behind-the-ball radar, which actually needs the most depth) and an offset hitting position. Important: a side / floor monitor removes the ceiling-mount requirement but does not create swing room - a low ceiling still limits the swing itself.
Where do the numbers come from?
The thresholds reflect widely published manufacturer space requirements for home simulators and common enclosure/screen dimensions. They are deliberately conservative: we'd rather tell you a room is "tight" and have it work than call it "fine" and have you clip the ceiling on a driver. One figure we treat as a hard safety floor, not a comfort trade-off: keep at least 10 ft (3 m) from the ball to the impact screen - a fast mishit ricochet needs that distance, and a short-throw projector does not shorten it.
Numbers are guidance, not a survey of your exact room. Always confirm with a tape measure and a slow practice swing to the lowest obstruction - a light fixture, beam, or garage-door track - before buying anything.
Sources we checked on October 21, 2026:
- SkyTrak's room guide says a 9 ft ceiling gives most golfers enough clearance, suggests 1–2 ft of extra width when left- and right-handed players share the room, and calls a 17 ft deep room comfortable (SkyTrak: Choose the Right Size for Your Space).
- For radar units such as the Garmin Approach R10, a retailer guide gives 6–8 ft behind the ball and at least 8 ft in front of it, with 13 ft between ball and screen recommended (PlayBetter: Garmin R10 space requirements).
Our comfortable figures sit at or above these: a 10 ft ceiling, 15 ft+ of width for both-handed play and an 18 ft deep room, plus the 10 ft ball-to-screen safety gap.
How does FitMySim make money?
Today it doesn't: we are not yet in any active affiliate program, and the store links on the site are ordinary links. When a program accepts us, links to that store will carry an “Ad” label and the affiliate disclosure will name the program. Commissions will never change the calculator's verdict or which setup we recommend: that depends on your dimensions and budget. If a product is wrong for your space, we say so.
How is this kept current?
Launch monitors, projectors and packages change fast. We review core pages (calculator logic, launch-monitor picks, prices) on a rolling schedule and stamp each guide with a "last updated" date. Prices and model availability shift - treat figures as approximate and confirm on the retailer's page.
Launch monitor prices are checked against the manufacturers' own product pages (Bushnell, Garmin, SkyTrak, FlightScope) rather than resellers or secondary sources, and the date of the last check appears on every guide that quotes them.
Not every manufacturer publishes a price. Trackman and Uneekor quote on request, E6 Connect puts its pricing behind an account, and Rapsodo does not publish a public page for its Premium membership. Figures we give for those are indicative market ranges, not manufacturer list prices, and we say so rather than presenting them as verified.
Who is behind FitMySim?
FitMySim is an independent project, not owned by any simulator brand or retailer. We build and maintain the calculator, research the gear, and write the guides. Spotted an error or have a room we should account for? We'd genuinely like to fix it - see the about page for contact.
Try the calculator
Put your room in and see the verdict for yourself: open the room-fit calculator.