Standards
How we work
Sources, evidence labels, calculations and rankings — the rules behind every page.
Sources
Product figures are transcribed from the manufacturer's own store where one exists, otherwise from specialist golf-simulator retailers' product listings. Each product page lists the pages we used and the date we retrieved them.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer store | Published on the maker's own store page for the exact product |
| Retailer listing | Published on a specialist retailer's page for the exact product |
| FOREference calculation | Our arithmetic from published figures; the formula is shown |
| Not verified | Reported, but we could not confirm it from a product page |
Room calculations
We use one method for every launch monitor so the numbers are comparable:
- Depth, camera and overhead units: 1 ft screen gap + 8 ft (minimum) or 10 ft (comfortable) from ball to screen + 4.5 ft behind the ball for the backswing.
- Depth, radar behind the ball: 1 ft screen gap + the seller's ball-flight distance (8 ft if not stated) + the stated distance behind the ball + 1 ft behind the unit. Where a seller states a larger figure, we use theirs.
- Ceiling: golfer height + driver length (45.5 in) × sin 45° + 1.5 in mat + 6 in safety margin. Upright swings need more.
- Width: 10 ft minimum for one-handed use, 12 ft for shared left- and right-handed use, plus 1 ft for side-of-ball units.
Projector distance = throw ratio × full frame width; when the screen is squarer than the projector, the frame height is matched to the screen and the width is masked. Brightness in foot-lamberts = lumens × share of the frame on the screen × screen gain (assumed 1.0) ÷ screen area.
Rankings and comparisons
Every best-of list states which products qualify and the single criterion that orders them. Comparisons pair products of the same type and similar price or placement class, and every difference we state comes from the published figures. Commissions never affect inclusion or order.
Prices and links
Prices are the lowest configuration listed by the lead seller on the date shown. Product buttons open the product page for that exact model; our link system rejects search, category and home pages. Links are rechecked before publication.
Images
Product photographs come from the product's own store listing and are used to identify the exact model. Each image's source page is recorded. If we can't show an exact-model image, we say "Product image unavailable" rather than substitute another product.
Corrections
Found an error? Email contact@foreference.com with the page and the source. We correct factual errors promptly and update the retrieval date.