Golf Simulator Set up Tip for Right and Left-Handed Golfers

There’s a lot to fit in when setting up a golf simulator, from the launch monitor and impact screen to projector. In the case of a golf simulator for seamless right and left-handed use or ambidextrous use, there are a few things you’ll need in order to give yourself a great experience.

When considering a golf simulator that can smoothly accommodate right and left-handed play, probably the most important influencing factor is how the tracking system is positioned. There are several launch monitors that sit next to the ball, such as the SkyTrak+ or Foresight GC3. While they are great launch monitors, they need to be repositioned and recalibrated when switching between right and left-handed play. The environment they work best in is when you don’t have to move them back and forth for righties and lefties.

To make sure right-handed and left-handed people can comfortably hit from the same small area, your ideal option for a launch monitor would be radar-based launch monitors that sit directly behind the hitting area, such as Trackman. You can also consider a camera-based system that is ceiling-mounted above the hitting area, such as Uneekor. These launch monitors allow seamless hand dominance switching without any adjustments needed. They also do not have to be moved as long as they line up with the area where the ball is going to be hit from, no matter who's doing the hitting. But remember, no matter which kind of launch monitor you are using, the swing area to the left and right of the tee is important. Generally speaking, if you have both right and left-handed golfers using the simulator, room size of over 15ft in total width is ideal.

If your golf simulator setup also includes the immersive experience of hitting inside your enclosure, you’ll want to make sure that enclosure is wide enough for both right-handed and left-handed people to swing without hitting a wall. If you have a central hitting area in your enclosure, we suggest at least a 4.2m wide enclosure to allow 2.1 m on each side for backswings from right and left-handed golfers.

On the other hand, no pun intended, a golf sim setup for both right and left-handed golfers usually means and requires having a wider room. And if this is the case, a 16:9 widescreen projector is of course your best choice. For simulator systems which are optimised for use with GSPro, E6 CONNECT, and TGC 2019 with support for 4K or full HD output, a 16:9 projector makes you feel a lot more like you are actually on the course. Also, the 16:9 aspect ratio is the most common for golf sims and home theatre combos since all types of content these days, from movies and streamed TV shows to video games, are made in 16:9 widescreen. Projectors with a native 16:9 aspect ratio are great for 4K (3840×2160) and full HD (1920×1080) displays in a golf simulator, as both of those are native 16:9 resolutions.

The following are our recommendations if you want a golf simulator that gives you the best experience for right and left-handed use, and therefore helps more players join in the experience without compromise.

Having an ambidextrous golf sim set up is a great thing if you have the space for it. Golf by its design is a social sport, and you may want to invite your golfing partners to spend time at your home golf sim setup. Some of the people you invite are likely to be left handed, and so taking them into account could prove very helpful.