Golf Simulations Compared: VR Golf vs. Home Sims - Your Ultimate Guide
- FOG Rob
- Jan 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 10, 2024
Real Golf Realism on the Horizon?
As indoor golf gains momentum, enthusiasts face a crucial choice between two popular options: Home simulator golf and Virtual Reality (VR) golf. In this guide, we'll dive into the key aspects of realism, immersion, club performance, and cost to help you make an informed decision based on your preferences and budget.
Keep in mind that each of these has its pros and cons, but you can simply say, the more budget you have, the more realistic it gets. You will probably never, or at least not in the near future, be able to fully replicate a real golf course experience, with different weather and wind conditions, varying seasons, and, of course, the beautiful nature – something which you can't replicate virtually. At least, I hope that we get closer to replicating the beauty of this magnificent sport we all love.
So now, let's compare Home Sim and VR Golf in the following categories: 1: Realism, 2: Immersion, 3: Golf Clubs, and 4: Setup cost, and see which one is best for you.
1: Realism to Real Golf (Ball Positioning, Bunker and Rough, Physics)
Before delving into realism, it's important to note that we won't explore virtual wind, bunker penalties, or ball bounce physics. While these elements contribute to making virtual golf feel realistic, they are mostly software-based and can vary across different programs. Our focus will be on aspects that differ between holding a real golf club and a VR Golf handle, aiming to highlight those distinctions.
Home Simulator Golf:
Replicating real golf scenarios is continuously improving, especially on high-budget Home Sims, including challenging lies, bunkers, and rough shots. The accuracy of ball and club tracking enhances the realism of the training environment, yet it may not capture dynamic lie angles as effectively as VR. It's important to note that without a high budget Home Sim setup, shots feel same as you hit from a mat.
VR Golf:
Offers an immersive experience with dynamic lie angles, convincingly replicating various terrains. However, it falls short in simulating shanking, thin, or fat shots—essentially, anything involving contact with the ground or shaft. The absence of physical feedback, such as hitting the ground with your club or feeling the force of hitting a real ball, slightly diminishes the realism and simplifies VR Golf.
The achievable realism with mid-budget virtual golf setups:
Winner: Home Simulator Golf: 90%
VR Golf: 70%
2: Immersion Factor (360-Degree View in VR vs. a Home Simulator)
The immersion factor measures how realistic golf feels with these technologies. A basic Home Sim with a cheap launch monitor, where you hit balls into a net and check your phone screen, has almost no immersion and costs a few hundred bucks already. But for just around $350, the most budget-friendly VR Golf setup offers much better immersion, putting you on a course with a 360-degree view, making VR noticeably superior in this aspect.
Home Simulator Golf:
Relies on screens or enclosures, delivering a confined visual experience once you invest in a projector and a screen. While high-end simulators aim to boost immersion, they may fall short of the real feel provided by VR. Budget Home Sims without a screen and projector cannot compete with VR at all.
VR Golf:
Dominates in immersion with a 360-degree view, transporting users to a different world. Even with potential graphic limitations, which you'll quickly adapt to, the VR headset offers an unparalleled golfing experience. The possibilities for VR Golf in the future are promising and a bit intimidating, considering its impressive current state. VR Golf is something that's hard to explain; people have to experience it to understand it fully.
The achievable immersion with mid-budget virtual golf setups:
Winner: VR Golf: 100%
Home Simulator Golf: 50%
3: Different Types of Clubs Breakdown (Driver, Irons, Putter)
Woods (Driver, etc.)
Home Simulator Golf:
Very realistic in replicating the accuracy of woods, offering a reliable experience. This is due to the fact that woods are most often used off tees or in good lie conditions, which is always the case in a Home Sim.
VR Golf:
Fast swing speeds can impact wood accuracy, presenting a potential limitation. Overall, it delivers a solid performance, though.
Irons and Wedges
Home Simulator Golf & VR Golf:
Generally similar for irons and wedges. They are easiest to hit in both home sims and VR golf sims.
Putter
Home Simulator Golf:
Generally accurate but considered a weak spot in home simulators.
VR Golf:
Putting in VR has a clear advantage. VR provides super-accurate putting due to slow movements, making it an excellent training tool. It's important to note that in VR, you don't have to aim like in most Home Sim setups. Everything is the same as in real golf, allowing you to pull and push the ball easily, making it a great tool for learning how to putt better.
Ball and Club physics with mid-budget virtual golf setups:
Winner: Tie
VR Golf: 75% (better for short game)
Home Simulator Golf: 75% (better for off the tee)
4: Cost Comparison
Home Simulator Golf:
A launch monitor alone (ranging from $150 to over $70,000) is just the tip of the iceberg. To build a complete simulator experience, you'll need a hitting mat, projector, screen or enclosure, a powerful PC, software, and golf clubs. Quality setups for serious improvement average around $10,000, but costs can exceed $70,000 for high-end options. Even a super budget-friendly DIY version with a simple launch monitor, an old eBay projector, and a bedsheet screen might run you around $1500, but don't forget you'll still need a decent PC for the software, adding to the overall cost. Thus, even a DIY home sim won't be under $3000, and this budget version sacrifices immersion, realism, and fun compared to a $10,000 setup.
VR Golf:
Requires a powerful PC, similar to a home simulator, but instead of a projector, you only need a VR headset (ranging from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars), additional accessories, and software, typically priced between $10 and $40. In total, you can spend around $2500 for a decent VR golf experience (PC+VR Headset+accessories), but as little as $350 for the most affordable setup, where you don't even need a PC. This budget-friendly setup with a Quest 2 and Golf+ is more for casual fun and doesn't quite reach simulation territory, though.
Winner: Tie
VR Golf: Costs way less than a mid budget Home Sim.
Home Simulator Golf: More expensive but more accurate in physics.
Conclusion:
For those entering the virtual golf realm, both Home Simulator Golf and VR Golf offer unique experiences tailored to different preferences and budgets.
For beginners, high handicap golfers, or occasional players, the VR experience emerges as a top recommendation. Its immersive nature, quick setup, and convenience make it an accessible choice for those embarking on their virtual golf journey.
Home Simulator Golf, conversely, becomes truly captivating with a significant investment, rendering it more suitable for dedicated enthusiasts with aspirations to become scratch golfers. Without a sufficient budget, be prepared for hitting balls into a net while analyzing data on a small monitor. This path is worth considering only for those deeply committed to the sport, seeking an in-depth training tool.
Although VR Golf is slightly behind in realism, its overall immersive and convenient gameplay makes it a superior choice for most golfers venturing into the virtual realm.