Having the best golf impact screen can make a massive difference in your at-home golf simulation experience. We cover the best screens, options, and brands in this review.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Overview
Buying a golf impact screen for your home simulator can be a daunting experience. It is much different than picking out a launch monitor or projector, for example. Those devices are typically household brands that everyone has heard of.
Impact screens are a specialty product that are more of an unknown. And they are not something that is easily returned/replaced. You want to make the right purchase up-front.
We have spent hours researching this topic and have installed a custom impact screen as well. We will walk you through the steps to buying the best impact screen from the top brands, the Indoor Golf Shop and Carl’s Place.
You likely have not heard of these brands, but don’t fret. They are very well-known in the industry and both offer the highest quality products & service.
We are only including what we consider to be the top 2 brands for golf impact screens. There are other options out there you may see that can work well (such as bulk buying directly from a mill). However, this requires a lot of research to ensure you are buying from a reputable source. In addition, you may have to find someone else to add fasteners or Velcro to the impact screen.We chose to simplify this down to what we believe are the two best options available based on performance, price, and customer service.
The Indoor Golf Shop
The Indoor Golf Shop started in 2017 and is based in Texas. Even though Texas is known for its warm weather, wintertime can bring conditions that are not ideal. The owner went through the process of buying a golf simulator and could not find any stores dedicated to offering indoor golf equipment.
Thus The Indoor Golf Shop was created. Their goal is to only sell the highest-quality & most reliable products. They have their own line of products called “SIGPRO” which are premium level and very well-reviewed.
The company ships free to the lower 48 states and has great customer service and return policies. They are a great company and you can trust them for an indoor golf needs.
Carl’s Place
Carl’s Place has a very interesting beginning. In 2006 the owner (Carl) wanted to project a video game onto a larger screen. He decided to build one himself so he could use it on the side of a barn. Once he did this, he found there was a demand for high-quality screens for indoor (and outdoor) use.
The company is located in Milton, Wisconsin and focuses on all the equipment golfers need to create a luxury golfing simulator. Carl’s Place also sells home theater screens and accessories.
Carl’s Place sells premium & luxury products and has incredible service to go along with their products. If you want the luxury shopping experience, Carl’s Place will make that happen.
FYI: Carl’s Place is not in any way related to Carl’s Golfland
The Indoor Golf Shop Vs Carl’s Place
Buying a premium impact screen comes down to these two brands. But which one should you choose?
There is no wrong choice. Both brands are incredible options. Some say that The Indoor Golf Shop has an edge in durability. But that will cost you ~$100 more.
Carl’s Place has the best website & resources and has been in the business longer. Their customer service is 2nd to none and they will customize anything for you.
It really comes down to minor details. However, you will love either of these brands and know that you purchased the best!
The Indoor Golf Shop Impact Screens
The Indoor Golf Shop designs & manufactures their own line of impact screens. SIGPRO impact screens are one of the best on the market (or one of the top 2, if not the best). The Indoor Golf Shop offers two different models– SIGPRO Preferred & SIGPRO Premium.
| AREA | SIG Preferred | SIGPRO Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Starting at $439 | Starting at $839 |
| Image Quality | HD (some grain) | Up to 4K |
| Noise Dampening | Decent | Excellent |
| Bounce Back | Moderate | Minimal to None |
| Material | Single layer, tightly woven, reinforced material | Two heavy duty, tight knit impact resistant polyester surfaces that sandwich vertical spacer yarns, |
| Thickness | 0.81″ | 3.54″ |
| Best For… | A budget-friendly impact screen with good picture quality and good durability | The ultimate impact screen experience that can also handle 4K |
SIG Preferred Golf Impact Screen
The SIG Preferred is The Indoor Golf Shop’s middle-tier offering.
It features multiple fasteners, a single layer, and is 0.81″ in thickness.
It is good option if the Premium is out of your price range. Otherwise, we recommend the SIGPRO Premium.
This is for the Golfer who wants…
- A middle-tier, budget friendly impact screen
- Good quality with multiple fasteners built in
- Good picture quality (but not the best)
SIG Preferred Golf Impact Screen Features
The SIG Preferred is a single layer impact screen. It is geared for residential usage and is their budget friendly, middle tier option.
Impact Resistant
The material is made from impact resistant polyester and is tightly woven with reinforcement added.
Finishes
The SIG Preferred Impact Screen is finished with double-stitched vinyl edges and grommets, and includes a strip of Velcro along the edge.
Thickness
The SIG Preferred is 0.81″ in thickness
SIGPRO Premium Golf Impact Screen
The SIGPRO Premium is The Indoor Golf Shop’s top impact screen offering.
It features multiple fasteners, triple layer constructions, sound dampening, and is 3.54″ in thickness.
The SIGPRO Premium is the best impact screen available.
This is for the Golfer who wants…
- The best golf impact screen
- Premium quality with multiple fasteners built in
- The best picture quality (up to 4K)
- Sound dampening
- Low-bounce back
SIGPRO Premium Golf Impact Screen Features
The SIGPRO Premium is a multilayer impact screen. It is the best golf impact screen available.
Image Quality
The material is made from multilayer impact resistant polyester and is tightly woven with reinforcement added.
The highest image quality (up to 4K) with minimal bleed-through, and no grain effect or pixelation.
Finishes
The SIGPRO Premium Impact Screen is finished with double-stitched vinyl edges and grommets, and includes a strip of Velcro along the edge.
Quiet
The SIGPRO Premium is 3.54″ in thickness leading to it being very quiet with excellent noise-dampening capabilities.
Durable
The thicker construction is also smooth which enhances durability by reducing the amount of time the ball spins on the surface.
Low BouncE Back
The SIGPRO Premium’s interior surface contains spacer yarns which absorb much of the ball’s impact.
This results in a much better simulator experience where balls are dampened upon impact on the screen.
Carl’s Place Golf Impact Screens
Carl’s Place designs and sews their own line of impact screens in-house. They make one of the top 2 impact screens on the market.
If you have special requirements, Carl's Place has a special Build Your Own Golf Simulator that can customize almost anything!
Carl’s Place offers three different models– Standard, Preferred & Premium.
| AREA | Standard | Preferred | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Starting at $294 | Starting at $494 | Starting at $744 |
| Image Quality | Decent | Good (slightly grainy) | Up to 4K |
| Noise Dampening | Minimal | Decent | Excellent |
| Bounce Back | Moderate | Minimal | Minimal to None |
| Material | 100% heavy-duty polyester | Single layer heavy duty polyester with silicone reinforcement | 3 layers of heavy-duty, impact-resistant polyester with noise-dampening center layer |
| Best For… | Beginners who want a budget-friendly option | A mid-range impact screen that still performs well | The ultimate impact screen experience that can also handle 4K |
Carl’s Place Finishing Styles
Carl’s Place offers (3) finishing styles; Classic, Classic with Flaps, and Classic with Loop Fasteners.
Classic
- 2.5″ black vinyl edging
- Grommets sewn around the screen
- Convenient to mount your screen with bungees
Classic WIth Flaps
- Classic style enhanced with sewn-in 7″ nylon flaps
- Flaps let you insert safety cushions to protect your frame
- 1″ strip of loop fasteners sewn around the screen
- Gives you options to hide the grommets
Classic With Loop Fasteners
- Classic style enhanced with a 1″ strip of loop fasteners
- Strips let you attach curtains, nets, or safety cushions
- Great for the DIYer (or attaching to a retractable roller)
Carl’s Place Standard Golf Impact Screen
The Standard impact screen is Carl’s budget-friendly offering.
It features a single layer, and is a good option if you want a basic setup.
Otherwise, we recommend the Carl’s Place Premium.
Starting at $294
(7’7″ x 13’3″)
This is for the Golfer who wants…
- A budget friendly impact screen
- Decent quality with multiple fasteners built in
- Decent picture quality (but not the best)
Carl’s Place Standard Golf Impact Screen Features
The Carl’s Place Standard is a single layer impact screen. It is geared for residential usage and is their budget friendly, entry-level option.
Built to Withstand 250 MPH
The material is made from 100% heavy duty polyester.
Finishes
Every Carl’s Place golf impact screen comes with (3) available finishes – Classic, Classic with Flaps, or Classic with Loop Fasteners
Weave
The Standard is loosely woven
Carl’s Place Preferred Golf Impact Screen
The Carl’s Place Preferred golf impact screen is their middle-tier offering.
It has a heavy-duty single layer, a much smoother surface, and is great for home use.
It is good option if the Premium is out of your price range. Otherwise, we recommend the Carl’s Place Premium.
Starting at $494
(7’7″ x 13’3″)
This is for the Golfer who wants…
- A middle-tier, high-quality impact screen
- A smoother texture than the Standard
- Good picture quality (but not the best)
- Good durability
Carl’s Place Preferred Golf Impact Screen Features
The Carl’s Place Preferred is a single layer, heavy-duty impact screen. It is geared for residential (or light commercial) usage and offers good picture quality.
Built to Withstand 250 MPH
The material is made from 100% heavy duty polyester with a strong silicone enforcement.
Finishes
Every Carl’s Place golf impact screen comes with (3) available finishes – Classic, Classic with Flaps, or Classic with Loop Fasteners
Weave
The Preferred has a tightly woven knit.
It features a much smoother texture than Standard with tightly woven fibers for a better HD picture
Carl’s Place Premium Golf Impact Screen
The Carl’s Place Premium golf impact screen is their top offering.
It features three layers of heavy-duty, tight-knit impact resistant polyester, noise dampening, and the best picture quality available.
The Car’s Place Premium is their best impact screen.
Starting at $744
(7’7″ x 13’3″)
This is for the Golfer who wants…
- The best golf impact screen
- The best picture quality (up to 4K)
- Top-level Sound dampening
- Low-bounce back
Carl’s Place Premium Golf Impact Screen Features
The Carl’s Place Premium is a single layer, heavy-duty impact screen. It is geared for golfers who want the best impact screen with picture quality up to 4K.
NoisE & Bounce back Dampening
Quiets noise from the golf ball hitting the screen with a cushioned center layer.
Greatly reduces bounce-back from shots.
Finishes
Every Carl’s Place golf impact screen comes with (3) available finishes – Classic, Classic with Flaps, or Classic with Loop Fasteners
Weave
Made of three layers of heavy-duty, tight-knit impact resistant polyester
The smoothest surface available on a full impact material.
HD (up to 4K) golf impact screen – recommended where image quality is the top concern.
How To Buy A Golf Impact Screen
It seems easy enough right? Pick a screen that fits your room and you are good to go. There is an old saying that “you don’t pick the screen, the screen picks you”. I’m pretty sure I heard that somewhere.
Ok I made that up. But there is some truth in that you want to account for certain options to make sure you get the right screen for your area.
We will walk you through the process so you can identify your requirements. Once that is done, we will show you information about The Indoor Golf Shop & Carl’s Place impact screens.
If you already know what size of golf impact screen you need, feel free to skip this section and head down to How to Identify a Premium Golf Impact Screen.
Here is the outline for determining what screen to purchase.
- Room Size
- Launch Monitor Model
- Projector Model
- Aspect Ratio
- Enclosure Type
- Shot Protection
It seems a bit daunting, but it is actually easier than the list looks.
Room Size
Room size is obviously the biggest determinant of how big of an impact screen you can use. When looking at your room size, you need to factor in 3 components:
- Width – How wide your room is with usable space
- Length – How long your room is with usable space
- Height – How tall the ceilings are
Also factor in any overhanging obstructions (such as garage door openers).
Garage door opener in the way? Many golfers install golf simulators in their garage if they don't have a basement or another suitable space. This typically works out really well. However, the garage door opener can sometimes block what would be a perfect space.There is a solution (although it is not cheap). You can replace your existing garage door opener with a Wall Mount Garage Door Opener.This unit attaches to a side wall (left or right of the actual door) and they only need about 8 inches wide and two feet long for install.Below is an example you can find on Amazon for about $450:Chamberlain Wall Mount Garage Door Opener
Buffer Zone
Behind your impact screen, you need a minimum of 12″ (16″-24′ is ideal). This is because the screen will flex backwards upon impact.
If you don’t leave this space, 1 (or both) of these things will happen:
- Your screen will wear out fast from friction with the wall behind it
- The ball will ricochet back towards you creating a dangerous situation
Understanding the usable space allows you to move on to the next step, which is your model of launch monitor.
Launch Monitor Model
This may be a big factor or no factor depending on your launch monitor.
Photometric Launch Monitors
These are camera-based launch monitors such as the Bushnell Launch Pro, GC3, GCQuad. These will have no impact on your impact screen as they are placed to the side of the ball.
Radar Launch Monitors
Radar-based launch monitors have very specific requirements which dictates how far behind the the screen the launch monitor sits and how far behind the hitting zone it sits.
For instance, the FlightScope X3 needs a minimum of 9′ behind the hitting zone and 13′ from the hitting zone to the target. The Mevo+ requires 8′ from the hitting zone to the impact screen.
Make sure you note the space requirements so you aren’t too close to the the screen or you end up buying a screen that is too small for how far away you are.
Projector Model
If you already have a projector, you can look up the throw ratio and screen size to see your ideal screen dimensions.
The “throw†of a projector determines how far away from the screen the projector can be. If you have a large space, you can get a long-throw projector.
For a smaller space, you need a short-throw projector. Each projector lists this in its specs.
If you don’t have a projector, you can use the calculator below to research options (or you can use it for a projector you own). Using your maximum available room size, you can figure out your ideal screen size.
Carl's Place has a great Screen Size Calculator you can use to calculate throw ratio and maximum screen size for almost any projector.
The calculator will give you everything you need to figure out the maximum height & width your projector is capable of from a certain distance & height.
In the example displayed, here is what the data tells us:
- Throw Distance – the projector needs to be mounted 6′ 10′ away from the screen
- Height – the projector needs to be mounted 15″ BELOW the top of the screen
- Aspect Ratio – 16:9
Using these settings, the ideal screen size would be as follows:
- 168″ (14′) wide
- 95″ (7.9′) high
- 193″ (16′) diagonal
You can move the sliders to try out different options as well.
Coming out of this step, you should have a maximum screen size that you can use in your space, factoring in room size, launch monitor requirements, and projector limitations.
Aspect Ratio
The screen aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of a display screen to its height. It is usually expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9 or 4:3. The aspect ratio determines the shape of the display screen and the way that the displayed content will be cropped or stretched to fit the screen.
For example, a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio is wider than it is tall, and is well-suited for displaying widescreen video content. A screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio is more square in shape, and is well-suited for displaying standard-definition video content
Manual Aspect Ratio Calculation To calculate the screen aspect ratio, divide the width of the screen by its height. For example, if the screen has a width of 16' and a height of 9', the aspect ratio would be calculated as follows:16' / 9' = 1.78The aspect ratio is usually expressed as a simplified fraction, so the result of the calculation would be rounded to the nearest whole number and written as 16:9.
Why This Matters
You use Aspect Ratio to determine the ultimate size of your screen (4:3 screens require less space).
We highly recommend sticking to a 16:9 aspect ratio whenever possible. It just feels more immersive when playing courses on your simulator.
Enclosure Type
There are a few options as to how your screen is installed. The enclosure will reduce the maximum size of screen that can be used.
Full Enclosure
This is a frame with sides and a top in which the screen sits. If you go with an enclosure, all of your measurements from above will be used to figure out the maximum-sized enclosure you can purchase.
Each enclosure will note the screen size being used, so you can match that to your optimal size.
Retractable Screen
With a Retractable Screen (manual or motorized), you attach the golf impact screen to a roller and the screen can be raised & lowered. The roller will always be about 1′ wider than your maximum impact screen size.
Factor this in if you choose a retractable screen option. Your actual golf impact screen needs to be 2′ less than the roller width.
Shot Protection
Of course you have never hit a hosel-rocket (we do not use the “s” word here at theLuxeGolf), right? But, you need to be protected when your friends/family come over and want to show you how they can carry their 7 iron 210 yards with a 2 yard fade.
Bad shots will happen. Even if they don’t come from you, half the fun of a golf simulator is sharing it with others. Make sure you install some type of protection if there is anything that can be damaged.
Typically, golfers install side netting with an enclosure that takes care of this. It should not change your measurements much, but at least have a plan and be aware of it.
Summary
Once you have gone through all of these steps, you will be left with an ideal screen size. You can now move onto selecting the best brand of impact screen with the right features for your space.
How To Identify a Quality Golf Impact Screen
There are multiple components that make up the overall quality of a golf impact screen. Both brands we recommend excel in all the areas below. We will point out any differences between them in the review section.
- Material
- Picture Quality
- Durability
- Sound
- Fastening System
What Material are Golf Impact Screens Made of?
Golf impact screens are typically made of polyester mesh. The differences among screen types are how tight the mesh weave is, how thick the material is, and how many layers are used in the screen.
Picture Quality
The smoother the golf impact screen is, the better the picture quality. Smoothness is created by having a tighter-knit weave in the impact screen material.
Durability
Typically, the thicker the material and the more layers result in higher durability. Entry-level screens are single layer and won’t last as long (or perform) as well as multi-layer screens.
Sound Dampening
Premium golf impact screens use different methods to dampen the sound of the ball impacting the screen. The most popular method is to have a middle layer that acts as a sound-dampener.
Anyone who has family members or young children sleeping will appreciate this. You don’t want to wake people up with the thud of a ball hitting the screen too loudly.
Fastening System
The best golf impact screens will include multiple methods for attaching to an enclosure of retractable roller. Embedded loops or Velcro strips are common fasteners found on premium models.
Cheaper screens do not have finished edges, or if they do they don’t offer Velcro. If you buy a screen without the proper fastening system (Velcro for instance), you will have to find a place to sew it on there (and you likely won’t find anyone to do this).
