Complete beginner - where do I even start with a $5k budget?
Total noob here. I have a 2-car garage that I can dedicate one bay to a sim. Budget is $5,000 all in.
I'm a 18 handicap and mainly want to:
- Practice during winter
- Play rounds with friends
- Work on my swing
I've been researching for weeks and I'm completely overwhelmed. There are so many options at every price point.
Can someone give me a simple recommended build at the $5k price point? I don't need the best of everything, just something that works well and is reliable.
Space is approximately 12ft wide x 22ft deep with 9ft ceilings.
3 Replies
Here's my recommended $5k build:
Launch Monitor: Garmin R10 - $600 Projector: Optoma GT1080HDR - $900 Enclosure: DIY EMT frame - $150 Screen: Carl's Place Standard - $350 Mat: Fiberbuilt 4x5 - $600 Computer: Refurbished Dell with GTX 1660 - $400 Software: GSPro annual - $250 Misc: Netting, flooring, cables - $300
Total: $3,550 with room to spare
Save the extra $1,450 for upgrades later when you know what you want to improve. Most people don't know what they want until they use it for a while.
Great space at 12x22! You have room for everything.
My advice: Don't overthink it. Pick a launch monitor in your budget, buy a basic setup, and upgrade over time. You'll learn so much from actually using it that will inform future purchases.
At 9ft ceilings you're golden for any swing. That's actually a really good height.
One thing to budget for that people forget: LIGHTING. You'll need good lighting for the launch monitor to work properly. Add $100-150 for LED shop lights.