Golf Simulators Are More Than Technology: The Textiles Behind the Experience

Golf simulators have changed how people play, practice, and experience the game. What was once a niche way to work on your swing indoors has become a growing part of the golf industry, with simulators now found in homes, golf facilities, training centers, entertainment venues, and businesses.

Much of the attention surrounding this growth goes to the golf simulator technology. Launch monitors track the ball and club. Cameras and sensors capture swing data. Projectors create virtual courses, while software turns that information into a digital round of golf.

But there is another part of the simulator that has a direct impact on the experience: the golf simulator textile materials surrounding it. The impact screen is not simply a surface for displaying an image. It has to absorb the force of a golf ball traveling at high speed, provide a clear projection surface, limit sound and bounce-back, and hold up to repeated use. Perimeter netting and surrounding fabrics have their own jobs to do as well. These performance textiles and technical textile materials play a key role in the durability and functionality of a simulator. As golf simulation continues to grow, these materials deserve more attention.

Golf Simulators Are Growing in Popularity

The growth of golf simulators is more than a trend in equipment. It reflects a change in how people play the sport. According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of simulator and screen-golf users in the U.S. increased from 3.8 million in 2015 to 8.1 million in 2024. The NGF also found that 51% of simulator users were non-golfers. That means simulators are serving not only experienced golfers, but also people who may not regularly play golf. The appeal is easy to understand. A simulator can provide access to golf regardless of weather, season, or location. It can be used for practice, entertainment, lessons, competition, or simply a round with friends.

The business side is growing as well. The NGF reports that 70% of facilities with simulators say their installations have had a positive financial impact. Golf Genius reports that it has mapped more than 2,500 simulator venues across twelve countries, with thousands of simulator bays represented in its research.

Market research points in the same direction. Fortune Business Insights estimates that the global golf simulator market was worth $1.92 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach approximately $4.7 billion by 2034. As more people and businesses invest in golf simulator spaces, the equipment inside those spaces becomes increasingly important. And that equipment extends beyond electronics.

Technology Gets Most of the Attention

When people think about a golf simulator, they usually think about the technology first. The launch monitor is one of the most visible examples. Depending on the system, cameras, radar, and sensors measure things such as ball speed, launch angle, spin, clubhead speed, and other aspects of a shot. Software then processes that information and displays the results.

The projector and simulation software are another major part of the experience. High-resolution images and accurate ball-flight modeling help make an indoor space feel more like an actual course.

These components are important, but they do not operate in isolation. The screen sits directly between the golfer and the projected image. Every shot interacts with it. That makes the screen part of both the visual and physical experience. A simulator can have an excellent launch monitor and a high-quality projector, but if the impact screen is not suited to the application, the overall experience can suffer.

The Textile Behind the Screen Matters

An impact screen has a difficult job. It needs to display a bright, clear image while also handling repeated impacts from golf balls. It needs enough strength and durability to withstand those impacts without tearing or wearing out prematurely. At the same time, the screen material needs to behave properly when struck.

Screen construction can affect several parts of the simulator experience, including image quality, sound, bounce-back, durability, and the appearance of the enclosure. For example, the fabric needs to be smooth enough to provide a consistent projection surface. Its construction also needs to account for the force of repeated impacts. Different applications may call for different levels of fabric density, weight, or construction depending on how the simulator will be used.

The width is another consideration. Larger screens can create a more immersive viewing area, but the impact screen fabric must be manufactured in widths that support the size of the installation without unnecessary seams.

Jason Mills golf simulator impact screen fabrics are available in heights of at least 120 inches, with heights up to 132 inches currently in development. Different constructions are designed to balance durability and visual clarity. The product range includes materials intended for different simulator requirements, from lighter-weight options to heavier-duty fabrics designed for long-term use.

The fabric behind the screen also matters. A backing material can help absorb residual energy from the ball and reduce wear on the impact screen. Acoustic textiles can help absorb sound and reduce echoes. These details may not be obvious when a simulator is in use. That is partly the point. But when the materials are doing their job, the golfer can focus on the game rather than the enclosure.

Perimeter Netting Plays a Role, Too

The impact screen is not the only textile in a simulator. Perimeter netting helps contain shots that miss the screen. In a space where golfers are repeatedly hitting balls at high speeds, durable reliable netting is an important part of the overall setup.

Jason Mills offers solution-dyed polyester perimeter netting designed specifically for indoor golf and sports simulator applications. Using a solution dyed material helps prevent dye from transferring onto the golf ball when it comes into contact with the black perimeter material. This helps keep the ball clean while also reducing the potential for dye transfer and staining on the screen.

Other fabrics can be used for side panels, curtains, acoustic treatment, and other parts of an enclosure. Each serves a different purpose, but together they contribute to the safety, durability, appearance, and overall feel of the golf simulator enclosure.

Choosing Materials for the Application

A home setup used occasionally has different requirements than a commercial golf simulator where several groups may use the same bay every day. A training environment may prioritize different characteristics than an entertainment venue. The right performance textile is part of designing the simulator around its intended use rather than treating the enclosure as an afterthought.

Questions worth considering include:
•    How frequently will the simulator be used?
•    How much impact will the screen material need to withstand?
•    How large does the projection surface need to be?
•    How important are image clarity and color?
•    Does the space need additional sound absorption?
•    Will the enclosure require perimeter netting or side curtains?
•    Are fire-resistant materials required for the installation?

Expanding Textile Capabilities for the Simulator Market

The growing simulator market also creates opportunities for textile manufacturers to bring more capabilities to the industry. In 2025, MMI Textiles acquired Jason Mills, a manufacturer of knit textiles. The combination brings Jason Mills' experience with knitted impact screens and sports simulator materials together with MMI Textiles' broader range of textile capabilities.

As part of MMI Textiles, Jason Mills can now offer additional materials and components for sports simulator applications, including woven fabrics and hook-and-loop products alongside its existing impact screens, perimeter netting, and other knitted materials.

For simulator manufacturers and enclosure builders, having access to a broader range of textile materials can make it easier to address the different requirements of a complete system.

Experience Starts Before the First Swing

Golf simulator technology gets more attention because it is what makes the experience possible. But the technology is only a part of the system. The simulator screen has to take the impact. The enclosure has to contain the ball. The surrounding materials can help manage sound. The projection surface has to display the image clearly. And all those materials need to withstand the demands of repeated use.

As simulator golf continues to grow, the details behind the technology will become increasingly important. The right textiles can contribute to the performance, durability, and overall experience of a simulator. From impact screens and perimeter netting to other materials used throughout the enclosure, these components play an important role in building a simulator designed for its intended application.

At MMI Textiles and Jason Mills, we provide technical textile solutions designed to meet the demands of golf simulators and sports applications. Contact us to discuss your application, request samples, or learn more about our golf simulator textile solutions.