Setting up your own home driving range is easier than you might think! These days there are a lot of options no matter the budget or space requirements you may have. From small mat and net setups that are under $300 to full on driving range simulators, there are options for all.
In this guide we'll go over everything you need to make your dream of having your own at home driving range a reality. We'll cover the best products on the market, top things you can do to upgrade your setup, driving range kits, and more!
The first thing you will need for your setup is a golf net. The best golf net for your setup will depend on your budget, whether your setup will be indoors or outdoors, as well as the space you have available.
If you're buying a net, continue reading for our recommendations.
If you're a handy person and like do-it-yourself type projects, then building your own net is possible for your home driving range. There are a variety of ways you can build your own net, but here is our recommended path:
PVC pipes are an easy, affordable, and sturdy material for a golf net frame. 1 1/2" PVC Pipes can be found at any big box hardware store for a reasonable price. You'll simply cut 10' PVC pipes to your desired height and width for your frame. Connect them together using PVC elbows. Then you'll build the net support in a similar fashion. Once the framing is built, you will need to drill holes on the inside of your framing so that you can screw in your screw hooks. You want the net to have a little give so that it doesn't act like a trampoline and shoot the balls back at you. Typically spacing the hooks every 8-12" works out well. Lastly, you will want to find some netting. Ideally you can find some netting that perfectly matches the size of your frame. If not, you can cut your net to size using something as simple as a box cutter. Attach you net to the screws on the inside of your frame and you're done!
The next thing you will need for your setup is a golf mat. This choice mostly comes down to how much you are willing to spend for quality. Quality mats will last a lot longer, provide a much more realistic strike through the turf, and be easier on your joints. With mats, there aren't many brand names so you pretty much get what you pay for.
Continue reading for our recommendations. You can even build your own DIY Golf Mat to save some $$$.
One of the best things you can do to make your driving range at home feel more like an actual driving range is to add-on a launch monitor to your setup. The biggest downside to hitting into a net is that you must rely on "feel" to determine how good you are swinging. This is why you can practice at home and think you're swinging great, only to get out on the course and find yourself hitting 30 yard push slices all day long.
Launch monitors will give you the correct feedback you need to assess how you're hitting and make adjustments. The best launch monitors will even show your actual ball flight just like you would see out on the real driving range.
Launch monitors can range quite a bit in price. On the low end you'll find units between $300-$600. These systems will typically tell you how far you're hitting it, your ball and swing speed, and a few other shot metrics. Units $2,000 and up will give you more data as well as typically provide your actual ball flight.
A good way to go about setting up your own home driving range is to purchase a kit, or package, that includes everything for the setup. One for a low-cost basic setup, and the other for a premium setup with golf simulation:
For a simple setup that includes everything you need for an at home driving range, you can find a good sized net and a hitting pad for relatively cheap out the door prices. The only downside to this kit is that the hitting mat is a pad only, and not a stance mat. So your feet will be slightly lower than the hitting pad unless you use something to put under your feet.
For the home driving range of all home driving ranges, this is the way to go. It comes with the best net on the market, the SwingTurf Golf mat, the Mevo+ launch monitor and golf simulator, and even the E6 Connect golf simulation software.
With this kit, you get a high-quality launch monitor and the ability to play 18 holes virtually at home.
In the end, building a home driving range can be a relatively inexpensive way to satisfy your golf itch. The setup you go with can vary from having a simple net and mat setup to a full golf simulator. Rain or Shine Golf prides ourselves on being the best resource for all your home golf needs! Check out our recommendations below to help find the best products for your needs:
This is our #1 Recommended Golf Net. It's durable, can be used indoors or outdoors, collapsable, easy to setup, and it's only $199. There are not a lot of cons to the net. If you are planning on being outdoors with lots of space then you might want to opt for a larger net for the added protection. Our top recommendation for a large outdoor net is below!
If you have a lot of space on your hands, than going with a large net will be a nice luxury - and provide a little piece of mind on mis-hits. This net from GoSports gives you 8' of width to play with. Overall, it will get the job done at a great price. This net also features add on side barriers for extra protection. It features a very sturdy metal frame as opposed to a flexible pvc type material on a lot of nets.
Our #1 recommendation for a golf mat is the SwingTurf Golf Mat. It is right in between the cheap amazon golf mats, and the premium golf mats. It provides very realistic fairway-like feel and is pretty forgiving on your body. It also accepts real tees which is a huge plus!
We give the nod for the best cheap golf mat to the DURA-PRO Residential Golf Mat. It's just $109 and comes with a small golf ball tray. It's a little on the thin side. So isn't the sturdiest or most durable golf mat out there. But for the price, it's a solid hitting mat.
Mentioned at the beginning of the guide in our "quick picks" section, the Rapsodo MLM2Pro Launch Monitor is our #1 recommendation for a budget-friendly launch monitor for your at home driving range setup.
It offers a lot of extra features compared to other launch monitors near its price point. Like automatic club recognition, shot tracers, and shot mapping. The Rapsodo MLM2Pro measures Distance, Ball Speed, Club Speed, Smash Factor, Launch Angle, and Launch Direction.
If you want a step up from the Rapsodo MLM, then SkyTrak is the way to go. For an extra $2,000 you'll get a ton of extra features and data points. SkyTrak's virtual driving range will show you your exact ball flight on each shot as well as about 10-15 more data points than the MLM. But the best part about SkyTrak is that you can also use it as a golf simulator. SkyTrak integrates with some of the top golf simulation softwares out there. So with an added subscription you can play real courses like Augusta or Pebble Beach!
It is portable and requires less space than many launch monitors allowing it to fit nicely even in small spaces or garage setups.
Read our full SkyTrak Review for more info.
While SkyTrak is a fantastic launch monitor, it works best indoors. If planning on an outdoor setup, then the Mevo+ is a better option.
What SkyTrak and Mevo+ offer is largely the same. However, they use slightly different technology. SkyTrak's photometric technology requires less space and is best suited indoors. While Mevo+ uses doppler radar which requires a bit more space but works well indoors and outdoors.
If you're not sure whether your space will be indoors or outdoors, then read up on our SkyTrak vs Mevo+ article to help you decide!