5 Best Outdoor Golf Simulators in 2022

Sometimes golfers want a golf simulator at home but don’t have space for the setup inside. In that case, getting an outdoor golf simulator is an excellent alternative.

You can have your simulator out in the yard without worrying too much about space. And if you have an outdoor golf simulator, it’ll likely cause less disruption for the family.

An outdoor setup can be out of the way, allowing you to practice without distractions. Also, it feels nice playing on a simulator in the fresh air.

These are the five best outdoor golf simulators in 2022.

The FlightScope Mevo Plus Training Package is the best outdoor golf simulator overall. You can quickly set this up outdoors and start improving your game.

In its price range, the Mevo Plus launch monitor is one of the best for outdoor use. Its new Fusion Tracking technology combines 3D Doppler Tracking Radar and synchronized image processing.

Alone, each of these technologies has weaknesses. However, they give you amazing accuracy when they’re combined.

With this package, you get E6 simulation software to access five golf courses. It also has 17 different practice ranges and a darts mini-game.

The Net Return Golf Net can handle ball speeds of up to 225 MPH. So, there’s no danger of a ball punching a hole through it and damaging a neighbor’s property.

Also, a net setup is more practical for outdoor use. They’re much more portable than screens and enclosures, allowing you to easily move them if bad weather strikes.

The Bushnell Launch Pro SIG8 Golf Simulator Package is our runner-up for the best outdoor simulator. Although the whole setup isn’t as portable as the first option, it gives you a premium experience outdoors.

The Bushnell Launch Pro gives you all the data you need with exceptional accuracy. You can dial in your game with this simulator package.

This launch monitor is lightweight and very portable. So, you can easily take it indoors when not in use.

The SIG8 enclosure is durable and offers fantastic protection to the areas around the simulator. It’s not as portable as a net, but you can still take it down and move it if you want.

However, some type of roof to keep away the elements is likely your best option for outdoor use. Also, you can mount the Panasonic VMZ50U Golf Simulator Projector to that roof for the best results.

If you have a sheltered area outdoors, this package gives you a premium outdoor golf simulator experience.

Foresight Sports GCQuad SIG8 Golf Simulator

With the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor, you just have to sit back and marvel at it. Hands down, it’s one of the best launch monitors ever introduced to the game.

It gives you reliable data whether you’re outdoors or indoors. That makes it an excellent option for an outdoor golf simulator.

You get vast amounts of data relating to the club and the ball. It makes honing your golf skills that much easier.

Also, you have optional add-ons for clubhead analysis and putting analysis. This launch monitor really lets you delve into your game and identify your weaknesses.

When you pair that with The Indoor Golf Shop’s SIG8 enclosure, you get an exceptional outdoor golf simulator. As previously mentioned with the SIG8, it can be a good idea to have some form of shelter for your simulator space.

The Garmin Approach R10 is our pick for the best value launch monitor for outdoor use. And we’ve paired it with The Net Return Pro Series V2 Golf Net to give you the best value outdoor golf simulator.

The Garmin Approach R10 is a versatile golf launch monitor, working well indoors and outdoors. However, its performance outdoors separates it from other launch monitors in this price range.

Lightweight, compact, and ultra-portable, you can easily pack it away when not in use. That makes it super handy for outdoor use.

An included phone mount simply attaches to your golf bag for easy viewing. Furthermore, a tripod stand comes with the unit, making it easy to position anywhere outdoors.

The Net Return Pro Series V2 Golf Net is a durable hitting net that can withstand high ball speeds. It’s also designed to handle many shots, over 250,000 to be precise, throughout its lifetime.

And it limits the time wasted collecting your ball after every shot, as it returns the ball automatically. That’s more time to spend honing your game.

The FlightScope X3 is a premium golf launch monitor. This is an excellent choice if you’re serious about improving your game.

It can track over 50 full swing, ball flight, chipping, and putting metrics. That allows you to dial in every part of your game for a vast improvement.

Also, there’s an Environmental Optimizer feature that allows you to control altitude, air temperature, relative landing height, humidity, and wind speed and direction. Being able to test yourself in all these different scenarios can pay dividends out on the course.

You also have features like lesson recording and short-game analysis. With this launch monitor, you can delve deeply into your game and find any flaws.

When you pair this with the SIG8 enclosure, you get a premium outdoor golf simulator. Not only is it great for analyzing your game, but it’s also perfect for entertaining.

As with other outdoor simulators that use the SIG8 enclosure, we recommend some sort of shelter to guard it against the elements.

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What to Consider When Choosing an Outdoor Golf Simulator

When choosing an outdoor golf simulator, consider portability, setup, durability, launch monitor, projector vs. no projector, and budget.

Portability

The portability of an outdoor golf simulator is crucial to consider. Because you’re using it outdoors, you’ll have to pack parts of it or all of it away at certain times.

If it starts raining, you must be able to get the equipment packed away before it gets damaged. That’s why every launch monitor on our list is super portable.

Setup

The setup relates to portability. You want to be able to set up (and takedown) your simulator quickly and easily.

As you’ve likely noticed, we included practice nets instead of full enclosures in some of our options. That was directly associated with both setup and portability.

A full enclosure takes longer to set up than a net. That’s why we suggest getting some form of shelter above your outdoor golf simulator if you want a full enclosure.

Durability

It’s essential to consider durability for any golf simulator. However, we think it’s especially important for an outdoor one.

There may be a time when you pack away all your electronic equipment when the rain comes but leave the net or enclosure in the yard. In that case, you want those items to be durable enough to withstand the elements.

And, of course, durability is always a concern when you’re smashing golf balls against a net or impact screen.

Launch Monitor

For an outdoor golf simulator, the launch monitor must work well outside. Every launch monitor we’ve included works well outdoors.

We’ve steered away from solely camera-based systems because direct sunlight can affect their performance. The best outdoor launch monitors use either a 3D Doppler radar system or a combination of radar and camera.

Projector vs. No Projector

Another important consideration is whether to use a projector or not. Apart from your equipment being exposed to the elements outdoors, there’s another factor to consider when it comes to projectors.

If you’re practicing outdoors, it will likely be a sunny day. The sunlight can have a negative impact on your picture quality if you don’t have a decent projector.

High light may make the picture look faded on your screen. That significantly affects the experience you get with an outdoor golf simulator.

For outdoor use, you want a projector with at least 4000 lumens. That’s why our full simulator options with the impact screen and enclosure come with the Panasonic VMZ50U Golf Simulator Projector, which has 5000 lumens.

Budget

When choosing an outdoor golf simulator, you should consider your budget. You can get a decent outdoor simulator for about $1500, while a high-quality one can cost over $20,000.

It’s essential to identify your budget to get something to suit your needs. If you have a low budget, getting a good outdoor golf simulator is still possible.

However, the more you spend, the better it will get. Serious golfers might want to spend a little extra for a better simulation experience.

Other Accessories to Consider for Your Outdoor Golf Simulator Setup

Other accessories to consider for your simulator setup are impact screens and enclosures, projectors, mats, and nets.

Impact Screens and Enclosures

Depending on your outdoor area, you should consider impact screens and enclosures for your setup. These give you the best overall experience.

However, we think it’s better to have some type of shelter if you use this setup outdoors.

Check out the Best Golf Simulator Impact Screens & Enclosures for excellent options.

Projectors

You may want a projector if you’re using an impact screen. Again, this depends on your setup and budget, as projectors with higher lumens generally cost more.

For more details on projectors, check out the Best Golf Simulator Projectors.

Mats

A good mat is needed so that you can hit balls from it. If you’re playing outdoors, your significant other may not be too happy about you cutting up the garden.

You can read the Best Golf Mats for more information on good mats.

Nets

Nets are our preferred option for an outdoor golf simulator. They’re very portable and durable in bad weather.

You have excellent versatility with a net. Also, you can connect a device to your launch monitor and still get a simulation.

You’ll want to consider a few things when getting a net. Check out the Best Golf Practice Hitting Nets for more information and excellent options.

Does SkyTrak Work Well Outside?

Outside, SkyTrak doesn’t work as well as other launch monitors like the Garmin R10 launch monitor. SkyTrak uses a camera-based system that sunlight can have a negative impact on.

Direct light can disrupt the camera and lead to inaccurate data. Therefore, SkyTrak doesn’t work as well outside as launch monitors with Doppler radar systems.

Conclusion

The FlightScope Mevo Plus Training Package is the best overall outdoor golf simulator. Used outdoors, the FlightScope Mevo Plus launch monitor gives you excellent accuracy.

It’s highly portable and is packed with excellent features. At a great price, this package is perfect for any outdoor setup.