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Best Golf Simulator Impact Screens: $180 to $590

By Golf Training Daily · August 21, 2026 · 7 min read

Best Golf Simulator Impact Screens: $180 to $590

I built a home simulator in my garage last year. I bought a $500 launch monitor, a $300 projector, a $100 hitting mat, and a $160 practice net. Then I projected the simulator image onto the net. It looked like a weather map viewed through a shower curtain. The image was blurry, the colors were washed out, and I could not read the yardage numbers.

The problem was the screen. A practice net stops golf balls. An impact screen stops golf balls and displays a clear projected image. Those are two different jobs, and a net does only one of them.

I spent the next month testing impact screens from three brands at three price points. Carl’s Place won at every tier, and Amazgolf is not worth your money.

What an Impact Screen Actually Does

An impact screen is a multi-layer polyester mesh that absorbs the energy of a golf ball at full driver speed while producing a clear projected image. More layers means better image quality and durability. Fewer layers means cheaper and rougher image.

The key spec is ball speed rating. Most screens from reputable brands handle 200 to 250 mph. If you swing harder than 120 mph clubhead speed, check the rating before you buy.

A practice net and an impact screen are not the same thing. I wrote about this in my simulator enclosures guide. For pure practice, the net wins. For simulator play, the screen wins. Decide which one you are building before you buy anything.

1. Carl’s Place Standard Impact Screen: $180

Best for: The budget simulator builder who wants a real projected image without spending $400.

Carl’s Place Standard is the entry-level screen. Single-layer polyester mesh, rated for 200 mph ball speed. The image quality is functional. You can read yardage numbers and follow your ball flight. It is not crisp. Text has a slight fuzz and colors are muted compared to the Premium. But it works, and at $180 it costs less than a single round at a decent course.

The Standard comes in sizes from 5x5 feet up to 10x10 feet. You choose the finish: classic (grommets), classic with flaps, or classic with loop fasteners. The loop fastener finish is the easiest to mount on a frame with bungee cords.

What does not work. The image is noticeably rougher than the Preferred or Premium. A 4K projector does not help because the screen material is the bottleneck, not the resolution. The Standard also stretches over time. After 500 driver shots, expect slight sagging at center. Tighten the bungees to compensate.

Verdict: Buy it for your first sim build. If you are not sure whether you will stick with simulator golf, the Standard at $180 is the lowest-risk entry point. You can upgrade the screen later without changing your frame.

2. Carl’s Place Preferred Impact Screen: $300

Best for: The simulator builder who wants noticeably better image quality without doubling their budget.

The Preferred is the middle tier. Double-layer polyester mesh, rated for 250 mph. The image quality jumps significantly. Text is sharper, colors are brighter, and the projected image looks like a video game instead of a weather radar. If you have a 1080p projector, the Preferred is the sweet spot. The material can keep up with what the projector puts out.

The double-layer construction also resists stretching and wear better than the Standard. After 1,000 shots, the surface still looks tight. The Preferred is the screen I ended up buying for my own setup, and it is the one I recommend to anyone building a sim with a launch monitor.

What does not work. If you are not using a projector, the Preferred is wasted money. It only matters if you are projecting an image onto it. The Preferred is also heavier than the Standard, so your frame needs to be sturdier. A lightweight PVC frame will sag.

Verdict: Buy it if you have a projector. The Preferred is the best value in the Carl’s Place lineup. The image quality jump over the Standard is immediately visible.

3. Carl’s Place Premium Impact Screen: $590

Best for: The serious simulator builder who wants the best image quality available.

The Premium is triple-layer polyester with a spacer mesh backing. It is the screen that commercial simulator facilities use. Text is crisp, colors are vivid, and the projected image looks like a TV screen. If you have a 4K projector, the Premium is the only Carl’s Place screen that can display the full resolution without the material being the bottleneck.

Rated for 250 mph ball speed with the best durability of the three tiers. After 2,000 shots, mine still looks new.

What does not work. At $590, the Premium costs nearly twice the Preferred. The improvement over the Preferred is real but incremental. You are paying $290 more for sharper text and brighter colors. Most home builders should get the Preferred instead. The Premium is also heavy. You need a sturdy metal or wood frame, not PVC.

Verdict: Buy it if image quality is your top priority. The Premium is the best impact screen you can buy for a home simulator. But it is 50% more than the Preferred for a 20% improvement in image quality.

4. SIGPRO Premium Impact Screen: $450

Best for: The builder who wants the SIGPRO Premium screen inside a pre-built enclosure kit.

SIGPRO is the other major player. Their Premium screen is triple-layer polyester with spacer mesh, comparable in construction to the Carl’s Place Premium. Rated for 250 mph, sharp image with 1080p and 4K projectors.

The difference is in how you buy it. Carl’s Place sells screens as standalone products for your own frame. SIGPRO screens come as part of enclosure kits from the Indoor Golf Shop. If you want a pre-built enclosure, SIGPRO is the path. If you want to build your own frame and save money, Carl’s Place is the path.

What does not work. SIGPRO only offers standard sizes. Carl’s Place lets you customize dimensions to the inch. If your room is 8 feet 3 inches wide, Carl’s can make a screen that fits. SIGPRO rounds to standard sizes.

Verdict: Buy it if you want a SIG enclosure kit. If you are building DIY, Carl’s Place gives you more options for less money.

5. Amazgolf Hitting Screen: $190

Best for: Nobody. Skip this and buy the Carl’s Place Standard.

The Amazgolf costs about $190 for a 118-inch screen. Single-layer polyester mesh. The image is rough. Think standard-definition TV projected onto a bedsheet. You can see the golf course shape and follow your ball, but text is blurry and colors are flat.

What does not work. The durability. The Amazgolf stretches faster than the Carl’s Standard. After 300 driver shots, expect visible sagging. White scuff marks appear after the first session. And the image quality is significantly worse than the Carl’s Standard at the same price point. You are saving $0 and getting a worse screen.

Verdict: Skip it. The Carl’s Place Standard at $180 costs less and performs better. There is no scenario where the Amazgolf is the better buy.

What I Would Actually Buy

If you are building your first simulator: the Carl’s Place Standard at $180. Pair it with a budget projector ($300), a Garmin R10 ($500), a hitting mat ($75), and a DIY frame from 1-inch EMT conduit ($60). Total: $1,115 for a working simulator.

If you have a projector and want better image quality: the Carl’s Place Preferred at $300. The image quality jump from Standard to Preferred is the biggest bang for the buck in this category.

If image quality is your top priority: the Carl’s Place Premium at $590. This is the screen for a 4K projector and a serious sim room. If you are not sure whether you need it, you do not.

Buy Carl’s Place. The Amazgolf costs more than the Standard and performs worse, and the SIGPRO only makes sense if you are already buying their full enclosure kit.

Where to Buy

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