Guide
Golf Simulator Accessories and Gift Ideas
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The right golf simulator accessories make your setup safer, more comfortable and more fun, and many make great gifts for golfers who already own a simulator. The most useful upgrades are a better hitting mat or replacement hitting strips, simulator-friendly tees and premium balls, side netting and padding, a putting mat, and quality-of-life extras like an auto-tee, good lighting and a club rack.
Below are the golf simulator accessories worth buying, the order to buy them in, what you can skip, and gift ideas at every price for someone who has a golf simulator. It’s part of our at home golf simulator setup guide.
Key Takeaways
- Comfort and feel: premium hitting mat, replacement hitting strips, stance mat.
- Accuracy: clean premium balls, and marked balls where your launch monitor uses them.
- Safety: side netting, padding and a projector guard.
- Fun: putting mat, multi-sport software, extra TV for stats.
- Easy gifts: tees, balls, hitting strips, putting mats, or time at a local simulator venue.
Essential Golf Simulator Accessories
| Accessory | Why it helps | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement hitting strips | Keep the mat feeling fresh without replacing it | Varies by mat |
| Rubber or simulator tees | Hold the ball at a consistent height on a mat | Low |
| Premium golf balls | Clean, consistent balls give the most accurate readings | Low to medium |
| Side netting and padding | Catch mishits and reduce bounce-back | Low to medium |
| Stance mat | Keeps feet level with the ball | $50–$400 |
| Putting mat or green | Practice putting between shots; games for guests | $50–$1,000+ |
| Projector mount and guard | Secure, out-of-the-way mounting and protection | Low to medium |
| Auto-tee | Tees up the next ball automatically | Higher |
What to buy first
If you’re adding accessories over time, this order gives the most benefit for the money:
- Safety first: side netting and padding for anything a mishit could reach.
- The mat: a better mat or a spare hitting strip, because you feel it on every shot.
- Tees and balls: rubber tees in the right heights and clean balls of the type your launch monitor needs.
- Controls: a tablet stand or wireless keyboard, so you’re not walking to the PC between shots.
- Fun: a putting mat, a soundbar or a second screen for stats.
- Luxuries: an auto-tee, retractable screen or turf for the whole room.
Accessories for Comfort, Feel and Accuracy
- A better mat: the single biggest comfort upgrade. See the best golf simulator hitting mats.
- Replacement hitting strips: keep a spare so you can swap when the old one flattens.
- Stance mat: levels your feet with the hitting surface.
- Turf flooring: makes the bay look and feel like a real golf bay.
- Heating or cooling: a heater or fan makes garage simulators usable all year.
- Golf balls: clean, premium balls give more consistent readings. Some launch monitors use specially marked balls for full spin measurement; for example, Rapsodo sells marked balls for its MLM2PRO. Check your launch monitor’s guidance.
- Tees: rubber simulator tees in several heights for driver, woods and hybrids.
- Alignment sticks or a mat with alignment lines: help you line up to the target on screen.
- Launch monitor stand or protective case, where the maker offers one.
See balls, tees and clubs for simulators.
Safety and Tech Accessories
Safety
- Side and top netting to catch mishits.
- Wall and frame padding to reduce bounce-back.
- Projector guard or housing in tight rooms.
- Protected light fittings above the hitting area.
See the golf simulator safety guide for details.
Tech
- Active HDMI cable or HDMI extender for long runs from the PC to a ceiling-mounted projector.
- Surge protector for the PC, projector and launch monitor charger.
- Projector ceiling mount rated for your projector’s weight.
- Tablet stand or wireless keyboard so you can control the software from the hitting area.
- Wired network connection or a Wi-Fi extender for online play and course downloads.
- Cable trunking to keep wires tidy and out of the way.
See projector setup and PC requirements for details.
Accessories for Practice and Fun
For practice
- Impact tape or foot powder spray on the clubface shows where you’re striking the ball, which complements your launch monitor’s numbers.
- A phone tripod for filming your swing from face-on and down-the-line, if your launch monitor doesn’t record video.
- Alignment sticks for setup and swing path drills.
- A putting mirror or gate for start-line practice on a putting mat.
- A notebook or practice app to track sessions and goals.
For drills to use them with, see golf simulator practice routines.
For fun
- Putting mat or green: putting games while others hit.
- Extra TV: for stats, scores or the game on.
- Soundbar: brings course sounds to life.
- More courses or multi-sport software: keeps things fresh for golfers and non-golfers.
- Lighting: dimmable and LED lighting for atmosphere. See room design ideas.
Quality-of-Life Upgrades
- Auto-tee system: places the next ball for you, so you can hit without bending down. A luxury, but popular with older golfers and anyone practising a lot.
- Ball tray or return: keeps balls within reach.
- Club rack: keeps clubs tidy and on display.
- Retractable screen: frees the room when you’re not playing.
- Wireless keyboard and mouse or a tablet to control the software from the hitting area.
Shared simulators: if several people use a simulator, at a club, office or venue, prioritise durable hitting strips, plenty of rubber tees in different heights, left- and right-handed club sets, a ball tray, and a simple sign with safety rules by the hitting area.
Accessories by Budget, and What to Skip
| Budget | Best upgrades |
|---|---|
| Under $100 | Rubber tees, premium balls, padding for exposed frame poles, alignment sticks |
| $100–$500 | Replacement hitting strip, stance mat, side netting, putting mat, LED lighting |
| $500–$1,500 | Premium hitting mat, turf flooring, soundbar, extra TV |
| $1,500+ | Auto-tee, retractable screen, better projector, launch monitor upgrade |
Accessories you can probably skip
- Gadgets that duplicate your launch monitor’s data, unless they add something specific like swing video.
- Cheap thin mats sold as upgrades; they rarely improve on a decent mat.
- Lots of extra software before you’ve used what came with your launch monitor.
Best Gifts for Someone With a Golf Simulator
Under $50
- A pack of rubber simulator tees in different heights
- A dozen premium golf balls (check which brand they like, or which balls their launch monitor needs)
- A golf towel or club cleaning brush
- Course flags or a framed course map for the wall
$50–$200
- Replacement hitting strip for their mat (check the model first)
- A putting mat
- Alignment sticks and a training aid
- A wall-mounted club rack
- A gift card for hours at a local simulator venue (find one near them)
$200 and up
- A premium hitting mat or stance mat
- A soundbar or extra TV for the simulator room
- A year of simulator software or a launch monitor membership, if the provider offers gift options
- Lessons with a coach who teaches on simulators
- An auto-tee system
For someone who doesn’t have a simulator yet
A budget launch monitor makes a great gift. See cheap golf simulators and the best golf simulators. Before buying a big-ticket item, check what they already own and what their room can fit.
Maintenance Kit and Where to Buy
Keep a few things near the simulator: a soft brush for the screen and mat, a microfibre cloth for the launch monitor’s lenses or sensor, spare bungees or ball bungees for the screen, cable ties, and a spare hitting strip. Ten minutes of upkeep every few weeks keeps everything working and looking good.
Simulator retailers such as Carl’s Place, Shop Indoor Golf and Rain or Shine Golf carry accessories designed for simulators, and general retailers stock tees, balls and putting mats. For big-box options, see golf simulators at Costco, Dick’s and Amazon.
FAQ
What accessories do I need for a golf simulator?
The most useful are side netting and padding, a good hitting mat with replaceable strips, simulator tees and clean premium balls. A putting mat, extra TV and auto-tee are popular extras.
What is a good gift for someone with a golf simulator?
Simulator tees, premium balls, a replacement hitting strip, a putting mat, a club rack, or a gift card for a local simulator venue. Bigger gifts include a premium mat, software subscription or an auto-tee.
What tees do you use on a golf simulator mat?
Rubber simulator tees in different heights, or the tees your mat is designed for. Some mats accept real wooden tees; check the mat maker’s guidance.
Do I need special golf balls for a golf simulator?
Usually not, but clean premium balls give the most accurate readings, and some launch monitors use marked balls for full spin data.