Golf Simulators

2026’s Hottest Indoor Golf Trends Revealed

Marc Hall February 25, 2026

Golf News

The Indoor Golf Shop and Practical Golf’s Jon Sherman Keep You Up to Date on Simulator and Launch Monitor Technology.

The landscape of golf is changing. No longer is it just played on golf courses around the world, it can also be played in your garage, basement, or a sports bar with the right setup. Thanks to companies like The Indoor Golf Shop, it’s never been easier to set up a home golf simulator or even to add one or two or more to a clubhouse or any other entertainment establishment.

The Indoor Golf Shop’s one-stop shopping multiverse offers an industry-leading selection of residential and commercial indoor golf equipment, which includes a full selection of launch monitors and simulators from companies like Trackman, Uneekor, Garmin, Bushnell, Flightscope, ProTee, Full Swing, and Tru Golf. The company also offers projectors, wall padding, golf mats, and many other products to help you set up your own sim at home.

But where is this industry going? Has it reached its peak? How real can these experiences get? And perhaps, just as important, how good are these simulator and launch monitor setups for serious game improvement?

To answer some of these questions, we talked to an expert, Jon Sherman, the founder of Practical Golf. Sherman’s newsletters, website, and podcasts are all about helping golfers get better. And having an indoor simulator or even just a launch monitor can play a large role in a golfer’s progress. He says it’s never been more affordable, and easier to set up. And now we are starting to see more and more stand-alone businesses that are focusing on simulators, whether it’s for league play, lessons, or just pure enjoyment. And that trend’s not ending anytime soon.

Let’s talk about the realism and effective game improvement that a good launch monitor/simulator setup can bring to serious golfers. What are your thoughts on what has made launch monitor technology so much more relatable to the outdoor game?

First off, my personal opinion is that Trackman has one of the best softwares, especially when you take into consideration different range environments, the testing you can do, the games, the tournaments and so on. I just think if someone wanted the absolute best software with graphics, user interface, challenge, Trackman is definitely the leader.

Of course, that comes at a premium price, correct?

Yes, in order to get into that world, you have to buy the Trackman iO or the Trackman 4, which is $15-25K, plus you’re going to commit to $1,100 a year on software costs. It is definitely an investment, but it’s worth it.

But in my opinion, I think GS Pro (an add-on subscription to compatible launch monitors), which is the software I use, is way more cost-manageable. And I think that their practice environments have a lot of good skill development games. You can customize the range really well. I actually prefer that over some of the leading OEM software. Now, it doesn’t work with every launch monitor but they do have integration with Foresight Sports systems now, for example.

What about really affordable systems like SkyTrak? You can’t use GS Pro with it, correct?

Right. SkyTrak has decided not to do that because they want a proprietary system now. Obviously, with Trackman, you’re going to use their software, which is incredible. Foresight is solid, but it does have some features like dispersion tracking and some other stuff that would be better for clubfitters. But as a consumer product, I would say GS Pro is amazing, as far as a dynamic software that’s going to help bring your simulator experience to life.

When it comes to using the indoor environment for game-improvement, can launch monitors and simulators be an effective tool?

They do a better job of customization of the environment now. You can go on Trackman, for example, and there’s a mode where you can do a variety of testing, like running different tests of clubs. There’s a mode where you can customize the range in terms of the green, like do you want to go to a back right pin, or do you want to do a short-game challenge. You can do situational practice on the golf course. You can really put yourself in an environment that you would face on the golf course.

To take it further, let’s say you’re really uncomfortable hitting a 50-yard wedge shot over a bunker. You can create that environment. Or you can say, I want to have a front-left pin on an elevated green, and work on my strategy here and make sure I don’t chase that pin.

So you can genuinely create any scenario you like on the golf course or range. And in addition to that, they have really good diagnostics like strokes gained data, and you can see how good your shots are with launch angle and distance. And you can get competitive with it.

Trackman Combine is also incredible. I’ve always loved that, and they have something similar in GS Pro now. So yeah, it’s just so much more robust. I think there’s like four or five different main practice environments you can do on Trackman.

Price accessibility and unprecedented competition within the indoor golf space have led to affordability with a high return on investment for those with modest to medium-range budgets. What are companies like SkyTrak doing to give consumers high value without paying top-of-the-market prices?

I was originally a SkyTrak user, so I’ve been a big fan of what they’ve done. I always thought the software had good practice tools. Like they had the bag mapping (how far you hit each club in the bag), the wedge matrix, and a performance test. Now since they’ve kind of rolled together with Golftec (which bought SkyTrak in 2022), they actually had very good skill-based practice, where you can create physical boundaries. They have fun games that are similar to Trackman where you can do bullseye stuff and arcade game type scenarios.

SkyTrak also just added swing speed training with the new ST Max, which is the newest version of the launch monitor. You can have a speed training environment where you can measure your swing speed without hitting a ball, which has become a really popular training method.

So in terms of overall value, SkyTrak seems like a great option.

I’ve always thought SkyTrak was one of the best indoor golf solutions. If you ask me who’s the best below Foresight and Trackman in terms of a launch monitor manufacturer, in terms of game improvement software, SkyTrak is probably it.

But you can make the argument that Foresight has gotten more aggressive. I would honestly rather pay more for better software and save a little bit of money on the launch monitor. Less expensive launch monitors are still pretty accurate. I think that’s a pretty good tradeoff in that space.

And I do think SkyTrak kind of has an ace up its sleeve with that Golftec integration. They’re just going to keep adding more and more game-improvement features. They’re very focused on that.

So what are we looking at pricewise to set up a SkyTrak system?

Right now, with the new ST Max, you’re going to pay between $2,500 and $3,000 for a launch monitor. You have to take the SkyTrak subscription which I believe is anywhere between $300 to $600 a year. They’ve got the Foresight/Trackman courses on there now, which is nice. So yeah, you’re going to pay a little more for their software. But you’re saving on the launch monitor; you’re not going to spend eight to 10 grand on that… That’s the tradeoff. They’re investing more in the software, but it’s also gotten more expensive. And you can only use theirs.

As we see simulator bars and clubs popping up all over the place, could you share your insights on this both as a value for consumers and as a potential small business idea?

I think their biggest challenge, talking to some of the owners, is just how to fill up ambient time, and by that I mean, weekday time and even weekday nights, especially in the warmer months.

I think some of the bigger companies have figured that out with food and beverage. But then you have smaller ones. I’ve seen a self-serve model. There’s basically no one working there. You just purchase a membership, and you book it online, and you have a key fob and you can get in there whenever you want. I think that’s the solution in terms of doing one that has a much lower overhead. You don’t have to pay as many – or maybe not any – employees, but there are far fewer perks available. It’s just people who want to hit golf balls and nothing else. But the bigger companies have figured it out.

Can you give some examples of the bigger companies that are finding success?

We have one here in the Northeast, Golf Lounge 18. They have about 12 locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Long Island. And they’ve been expanding. They build really nice high-end places with bars and big screen TVs. They go for the crowd that wants to watch a football game and hang out. A friend of mine who’s at my club goes to a high-end place like this on Long Island.

Then there’s Five Iron Golf (which offers memberships, leagues, lessons, and can host parties up to 200 people). They’re the national success story. Callaway invested in that. They are in just about every major city.

Is there still room for growth in the golf entertainment/indoor country club and game improvement facilities space?

It’s definitely happening. But it’s not always an easy business. I think there are challenges with that ambient time. Although many have found a model that fills the time with older clients on weekdays, kids and junior programs and league play in the afternoon, and league play or some form of golf entertainment in the evenings.

I don’t think it’s going to stop. Golfers will get more and more used to playing indoors and the technology is going to continue to make the indoor game more realistic-feeling. I don’t think it’s going away. I don’t think it’s a fad. I think it will become more commonplace, especially for people who don’t have the room or the budget to do it at home.

Like here where I live, we’re not playing golf for four or five months. So it’s a way to hang out with your golf buddies who you might not see over the winter. Your golf buddies are different from your normal friends sometimes. Like you hang out at the simulator together. I’ve done that with my friends. I enjoy it.

Press release by: Kevin Frisch PR

Foresight Sports Partners with PuttView Changing SIM Gameplay

Ted Odorico June 25, 2025

Golf News

FORESIGHT SPORTS INTEGRATES WITH PUTTVIEW TO REDEFINE SIMULATOR GOLF

Cutting-Edge Technology Aims to Create Complete & Immersive Golf Experience Via Realistic & Engaging Gameplay

San Diego, Calif., June 25, 2025 – Foresight Sports, the industry benchmark for professional-grade launch monitor and golf simulation technology, today launched its strategic partnership with PuttView, the number one putting solution on the market. This first-of-its-kind partnership seamlessly integrates Foresight’s simulator technology and PuttView’s innovative putting solution, setting a new standard for indoor golf experiences and creating a complete and immersive golf journey from the tee box through the green, and everything in between, including putting.

Traditional simulator golf is designed to replicate the feel and challenge of playing on a real course, offering players an authentic experience from the comfort of their own space. However, one of its longstanding limitations has been putting, which often lacks the precision and realism needed to truly mirror the nuances of the short game. Foresight Sports and PuttView are bridging this gap by providing enthusiasts with a more realistic and engaging gameplay experience.

“We are excited to lean in on a strategic partnership with PuttView to take the reality of golf simulation to the next level, delivering what players have been clamoring for over the last decade,” said Tim Tiel, brand marketing manager at Foresight Sports. “This partnership highlights Foresight Sports’ unwavering commitment to helping golfers improve their game by offering an unmatched experience that truly captures the feel of playing on a real course.”

Experience Simulator Putting Like Never Before

From detailed ball flight tracking to authentic green simulations, this first-of-its-kind integration ensures every shot from tee to green feels like traditional on-course golf. The PuttView technology accurately projects the in-game putt onto an actual sloped putting green for golfers to engage with. Golfers putt out on the physical PuttView green with various slopes and distances. In simulator play, after a player has reached the green, the in-game data is automatically displayed and projected onto the putting surface. Once the putt has been holed, the software automatically transitions the player to the next hole. Golfers can also leverage PuttView’s standalone system to practice their putting skills with PuttView’s industry-leading drills, games, custom practice scenarios, and data analysis.

“Simulator golf has always shown great potential, but putting hasn’t played a major role until now,” added Christoph Pregizer, managing director at PuttView. “Thanks to this partnership, golfers worldwide can now access a complete experience, including putting, whether they’re at home, in training facilities, academies, or anywhere else.”

Availability and Pricing
The integrated PuttView Simulator Series is now available and fully compatible with Foresight Sports’ 13′ SIM IN A BOX packages. It can also be customized for any Foresight Sports simulator setup. Pricing for the PuttView Simulator Series starts at $19,980, with complete SIM IN A BOX® PuttView Edition packages starting at $45,499. Owners of both a Foresight Simulator and a PuttView system can connect the two through joint software integration for just $3,500.

Rupe Taylor’s Indoor Golf Grind Got Him All the Way to PGA Championship

Marc Hall June 17, 2025

Golf News

Golf is an unusual sport. We hit down to make the ball go higher, swing more slowly when the wind blows hardest, and the lowest score wins. Where else is that normal? Perhaps most unusual of all, sometimes local golf coaches compete on the national stage, shoulder-to-shoulder with the game’s most elite talent. The recent PGA Championship at Quail Hollow is a reminder of just that. We all remember Michael Block’s Cinderella story of contending in the 2023 PGA before finishing in a respectable tie for 15th place.

One of the top 20 finishers at the PGA Professional Championship who earned an exemption in the PGA Championship (one of the game’s prestigious four majors), was a teaching professional from Virginia Beach, VA, 35-year-old Rupe Taylor. Taylor’s “Play Better Now” business (Yes, he clearly subscribes to his own instructional philosophy), part of Virginia Beach National Golf Club, is where he makes his living. On the golf course, though, Taylor excels despite dedicating most of his time to helping others improve.

His two-under-par 285 finish was good for ninth place at the PGA Professional Championship and a tee time in the first two rounds at Quail Hollow alongside veteran touring professionals Eugenio Chacarra and Justin Lower and 154 of the best players in the world.

“It was pretty surreal, playing with pros who I’ve watched for as long as they’ve been playing on the PGA Tour. To have my name on the same list of PGA Tour winners that I’ve just looked up to is very humbling. I know how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am, so there’s a lot of gratitude in there with all the fulfillment that comes with realizing a dream. Most people play their whole lives never getting to see how their games stack up against the game’s best, so the honor is definitely not lost on me,” Taylor said.

“I was able to get down to the same golf PGA Golf Club courses in Port St. Lucie (Florida) where we play the PGA Professional Championship to play in one of the PGA Winter Series events back in February and played well, so I definitely took confidence from that one event and got to stay in the process of playing one shot at a time. That was a huge help in helping me qualify for the PGA,” he adds.

In another fateful irony, the busy Taylor who conducts lessons with his golf students both on the range and in simulators, has spent most of the spare time he had to improve his own game in an indoor golf setting. In fact, prior to the PGA Championship, Taylor’s only experience playing Quail Hollow was on his Trackman software in his home simulator space.

“To have some idea of the types of shots that I would be facing, I played Quail Hollow in my simulator plenty of times in the lead up to the PGA. Honestly, I would say 99 percent of my preparation for the PGA Professional Championship was in my simulator. Without it, I would have a hard time making the time to get through the rain, to put in the type of reps that I have in my home. So it’s been a huge asset to have, and pretty much the only way I’ve been able to feel prepared for most of the tournaments that I played in in the last couple of years,” Taylor said.

Every cynic who ever said it isn’t possible to level up your golf game working primarily in an indoor environment, take note of what Taylor has accomplished.

“I definitely attribute a lot of my success recently to just the work that I put in over the last couple years, which was primarily in my simulator,” he said. “I get students asking questions all the time like, ‘How do you know that these numbers are legitimate? ‘How do you trust it?’ And, ‘Do you think to factor it?’ I tell them, ‘look like the best players on the world use the same technology, right?’ There is no reason to doubt it. These people who create these simulators are in it all day, every day, compiling as much data and research as they can to know that they’re putting the best product forward that they possibly can. I certainly trust my game with my Trackman. I take it wherever I go with me and try to at least get some confirmation of what I’m working on and how I am performing. The conditions, really, are at least fairly comparable to what I face indoors.”

Taylor says indoor golf technology and its instant feedback has also made his lessons more productive and impactful.

“I use Trackman data most of the time in my teaching, as well. I can take it on the range, even the presentation of the data is a little bit more difficult than it is when you see it indoors, it’s still very effective. When I’m standing on a range just with an iPad or my iPhone. I’m constantly having to explain, ‘Hey, your path is this, your face is this, your attack angle is this, right?’ So, indoors, when they hit a shot, and the numbers immediately come up on the projector, I’m trying to help them understand cause and effect. Technology helps them tell the difference between what they’re feeling or what they think they’re doing versus what’s actually happening. It helps them translate for themselves, so that once they’re playing on their own, they don’t need someone to tell them, ‘This is what caused this result, right? Indoor golf technology is a huge asset for everything that I do, both teaching and playing.”

Taylor thinks indoor golf could help unlock the key to golfers playing and scoring better year-round and fending off the ageless “Winter Rust” excuse.

“One of the biggest issues for most offers is that they basically go into hibernation over the winter because they’re not willing to go out into the elements, which is understandable, right? Anything and everything we can do to hit the ground running, hopefully close to full speed by the time that spring rolls around, I think you’d be crazy not to try to find an indoor facility that can help you stay sharp all year long,” he said. “A lot of indoor golf places are establishing flexible hours, so you can come in whenever it suits you. Without some sort of feedback and a way to just continue improvement, if you’re not trying to get better, you’re going to get worse, right?”

While Taylor’s time at the PGA at Quail Hollow could have had a more cinematic trajectory, his goal all along was to approach each thought with a healthy mindset – he even consulted famed mental coach Dr. Bob Rotella – and to find out how his game stacks up against the best players in the world. He posted rounds of 80 and 84 but came away with a rewarding experience and incentive to continue working on his game while inspiring his students to rich their most ambitious scoring goals.

“What I tell my students is the day that I no longer have the desire to work on my own game, I probably won’t have the same level of passion for teaching. I would feel like a hypocrite if I wasn’t doing the things that I told my students that they need to do to get better. I get a lot of satisfaction from improving my own game. And in the same way, I hope that sets an example and gives people an understanding of what working on my game one-to-three hours a day, basically seven days a week can yield for them in their games. And, at times it is difficult. Sometimes you just need a mental and physical reset. It’s hard to get better at this game, because the game is so hard and there are so many variables, but that’s kind of the advantage of working indoors. It eliminates some of those variables, right? There’s no wind, so you don’t have to worry about how that affects the ball flight. I know people like hitting off of grass, but, to be honest, if you can’t feel the difference between hitting the ball solidly and hitting it fat or thin, you’re in trouble. Hitting indoors off of turf keeps your ball stroking honest. With feedback and launch monitor data, you can get a sense of awareness of how well you’re hitting it and what direction and distance it’s going, what distance it’s going. There are plenty of ways to find improvement indoors.”

Taylor knew going into the PGA that competing with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau would be a longshot but takes away amazing memories and an admirable perspective that suggests he just might have the game and mindset to make it back into the field at a future PGA Championship.

“Dr. Bob Rotella encouraged me to be able to look at myself in the mirror at the end of the day, on every single day, and realize I just had the most fun time of my life. The whole experience was all about going and having fun seeing what I’m capable of on the golf course. I’ve learned to embrace whatever comes my way and not put too much stress or pressure on myself in some of those big moments,” he said.

Indoor golf equipment can be attained at a reasonable cost, for more information check out shopindoorgolf.com to learn more.

Press release by: Kevin Frisch PR