Net-Only Sim: The $400 Path to Golf

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You don’t need an enclosure. You don’t need a projector. You don’t need a gaming PC.

You need a net, a launch monitor, and something to hit off of. That’s three things. You can buy all three on Amazon and be hitting balls with data by Saturday.

The sim industry wants you to think you need a $10,000 build with a 12-foot enclosure and a 4K laser projector. They want you to believe that anything less isn’t “real.” That’s marketing. This is the truth.

A net-only setup is how most people start. It’s how I’d start if I were doing it again. It’s how you prove the concept before investing in the permanent build. And for a lot of people — maybe you — it’s all you’ll ever need.

What You Actually Need

Three things. That’s it.

1. A launch monitor — the brain. Measures ball speed, launch angle, spin, carry distance
2. A net — the thing you hit into. Catches the ball, stops it, keeps your garage door intact
3. A hitting surface — the thing you stand on. A mat, a piece of turf, or even a towel on concrete (don’t do that — your elbows will hate you)

Optional but nice: a phone or tablet to run the app. You probably already have one.

That’s it. No PC. No projector. No enclosure. No side netting. No flooring. No soundproofing. No clever lighting solutions. No Lutron switch. No ceiling-mounted projector mount. No GSPro subscription (unless you want it).

A net. A launch monitor. A mat. Three things.

The Three Budget Tiers

Tier 1: The $400 Bare Minimum

Item	Product	Price
Launch monitor	Garmin R10	$499 (often on sale for $399)
Net	GoSports Golf Net	$150
Mat	Amazon Basics hitting mat	$50
Total		$699 (or $599 with R10 at sale price)

This is the cheapest setup that isn’t a toy. The R10 gives you ball speed, launch angle, spin, carry, and club head speed. The GoSports net catches full-speed driver shots. The mat saves your joints from concrete.

What you get: Ball data on your phone via the free Garmin Golf app. Full driving range. No courses. No subscription for basic data. You hit balls, you see numbers, you get better.

Who this is for: The guy who wants to hit balls after work and see real data. Not sure if you’ll actually use a sim? Start here. Total investment is less than a new driver.

The limitations: No course play. No GSPro. The R10 needs 18-20 feet of room depth for accurate driver data. Short chips don’t register. See our full R10 setup guide for exact placement.

Tier 2: The $1,200 Sweet Spot

Item	Product	Price
Launch monitor	Square Golf Home Edition	$699
Net	Spornia SPG-7	$180
Mat	Fiberbuilt Hourglass Pro	$299
Total		$1,178

This is the setup I’d buy if I were starting today. The Square HE is a camera-based unit — it doesn’t need 18 feet of room depth. It works in a 10-foot garage. It tracks putting. It connects to GSPro with no subscription. And it’s $699.

The Spornia SPG-7 is the best net for the money. Self-standing, catches shanks, breaks down in 30 seconds. The Fiberbuilt mat is the best under $500 — saves your elbows, lasts years, has a replaceable hitting strip.

What you get: GSPro course play (4,000+ courses) on an iPad or PC. Real putting. No subscription. Camera accuracy in tight spaces. The full sim experience without the enclosure.

Who this is for: The guy who wants course play but doesn’t have the space or budget for a full enclosure. You’ll play Pebble Beach on your iPad this weekend. Total cost: $1,178.

The trade-off: No projector. You’re playing on a 12-inch iPad screen instead of a 120-inch impact screen. It’s still fun. It’s still real sim golf. The screen size is the only thing you’re missing.

Tier 3: The $1,500 “Almost Full Sim”

Item	Product	Price
Launch monitor	Rapsodo MLM2Pro	$700
Net	Rukket Haack Net	$160
Mat	SIGPRO Softy (Amazon)	$349
iPad stand	$20	$20
Total		$1,229

The MLM2Pro is the best camera-based launch monitor under $1,000. It has a built-in camera for swing video, tracks putting better than the R10, and works in tight spaces. The SIGPRO Softy is the best mat under $400 — feels like real turf, lasts forever.

What you get: Ball data + swing video + course play on your iPad. The MLM2Pro’s shot video is genuinely useful — you can see your swing immediately after each shot and compare frame by frame.

The upgrade path: This tier is the one that naturally grows into a full build. Add a projector ($1,000-2,000) and an impact screen ($300-500) later, and you’ve got a proper sim bay. The MLM2Pro and SIGPRO mat are permanent components — they survive upgrades.

Net Options Compared

Not all nets are the same. Here’s what changes at each price:

Net	Price	Best For	Why
GoSports Golf Net	$150	Absolute budget	Works, catches balls, folds up. Simple.
Spornia SPG-7	$180	Portability + shank protection	Self-standing, side nets catch slices, 30-second setup/breakdown
Rukket Haack Net	$160	Heavy use	Triple netting, thick frame, survives driver abuse
Net Return Pro	$500	Build quality	Rolls back to you, pro-grade, overkill for most
Carl’s Place impact screen	$300-500	Full screen experience	Mount it on a frame, add a projector later

My pick: The Spornia SPG-7. It’s $180, self-standing, has side nets for shanks, and breaks down in 30 seconds. If you’re setting up and breaking down every session (apartment, shared garage, etc.), the Spornia is the best choice. The side nets alone are worth the extra $30 over the GoSports.

Which Launch Monitor for Net-Only?

You have options. The right one depends on your room and your budget:

Launch Monitor	Price	Room Needed	Best For
Garmin R10	$499	18-20 ft depth	Budget radar, range + outdoor use
SC4 Pro	$499	15-18 ft depth	Built-in screen, 5 E6 courses included
Square Golf HE	$699	10-12 ft depth	Camera accuracy, real putting, GSPro native
MLM2Pro	$700	12-15 ft depth	Swing video, best camera under $1K
Mevo Gen2	$1,299	20+ ft depth	Tour-level accuracy, 18 parameters, 8 free E6 courses

For a tight garage (under 15 feet deep): Buy the Square HE. Camera-based. No room requirement. Real putting. GSPro works. $699.

For a big space (18+ feet) on a tight budget: Buy the R10. $499. Works indoors and outdoors. The free Garmin Golf app is genuinely usable.

For swing video at net-only: Buy the MLM2Pro. The built-in camera + shot video is the single best feature for a net-only setup. You can’t see ball flight (it hits the net), but you can see your swing on video after every shot.

Do You Need a PC?

No. For net-only setups, a phone or tablet is enough.

Phone-only (free): Garmin Golf app, SC4 Pro built-in display, or Square Golf app. Ball data on your phone. No courses. No PC needed.

Tablet + GSPro: Square HE and MLM2Pro both support GSPro on iPad. You don’t need a PC. Full course play on a 12-inch screen. This is the sweet spot for net-only setups.

PC + GSPro: Only if you want the best graphics, 4K rendering, and the full GSPro course library. Most net-only setups don’t need this. But if you already have a gaming PC, our PC guide has the specific builds.

The Hitting Surface

Don’t hit off concrete. Don’t hit off a $20 Amazon mat that’s basically a door mat. Your elbows will hate you after 200 swings.

Under $100: Amazon Basics hitting mat ($50). It’s a 3x5 foam mat with a rubber bottom. It’s fine for 2-3 sessions a week. Replace it in 6 months.

$100-300: Fiberbuilt Hourglass Pro ($299). The best value in the market. Replaceable hitting strip. Feels like real turf. Saves your joints. Lasts 3-5 years.

$300-500: SIGPRO Softy ($349). Best feel under $500. Real turf simulation. No joint pain. This is the mat that survives upgrades — you’ll still use it when you add a projector and enclosure.

My pick: Fiberbuilt Hourglass Pro. $299. Replaceable strip. Good feel. It’s the best balance of quality and price for a net-only setup.

The Three Biggest Mistakes

1. Buying a net that’s too small. A 7-foot net is fine for irons. Driver will go over it. Get a 10-foot wide net (Spornia SPG-7, Rukket Haack) or a 7x7 GoSports. And put it 8-10 feet from the hitting area — not 4 feet.

2. Using a phone app that doesn’t track spin. Some free apps show ball speed and carry distance but not spin. That’s a toy, not a tool. The Garmin Golf app, SC4 Pro built-in display, and Square Golf app all show spin. Anything that doesn’t show spin is a waste of money.

3. Not accounting for shanks. A net-only setup has no side protection. If you chunk a wedge and it goes sideways at 90 mph, it’s hitting your garage wall, your water heater, or your car. The Spornia SPG-7 has side nets. The GoSports and Rukket Haack don’t. If you’re not a single-digit handicap, buy the Spornia.

Net-Only vs Full Enclosure: When to Upgrade

The net-only setup is perfect for:

• Proving you’ll actually use a sim
• Budget-limited buyers ($400-1,200)
• Renters who can’t mount things on walls
• Apartment dwellers with limited space
• Guys who want to practice, not play courses
• Outdoor range use (take the net + LM to the range)

You should upgrade to a full enclosure when:

• You want a projector and impact screen (the real “wow” experience)
• You’re tired of setting up and breaking down every session
• You have the space for a permanent setup
• You want to host sim nights with friends
• Shanks are a real concern (enclosures contain everything)

The beautiful thing about a net-only setup: it’s not wasted when you upgrade. The net becomes your shank backstop behind the enclosure. The launch monitor moves to the new setup. The mat stays. You’re not starting over — you’re building on top.

The Bottom Line on Net-Only

A net-only setup is the best way to start. Not a compromise. A starting point.

Three products. Under $1,200. Saturday delivery.

The R10 + GoSports + Fiberbuilt mat gives you ball data on your phone for $699. The Square HE + Spornia + Fiberbuilt gives you GSPro course play on your iPad for $1,178. Both are real sim golf. Neither needs an enclosure, a projector, or a PC.

The industry wants you to think you need $10,000. You don’t.

You need a net, a launch monitor, and a mat. That’s it.

Buy the Garmin R10 starter setup → Or the Square HE + Spornia mid-tier setup → See more budget builds →

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