How We Rate Golf Gear
Our ratings come from two sources: satisfaction surveys of people who own the gear, and our own hands-on testing. Every review says which one it rests on, or whether it uses both. We have been researching buyer satisfaction on golf equipment for more than 7 years, and this page explains how we do it.
Two sources for every rating
Each review is labeled as based on owner survey data, our own testing, or both. The two sources answer different questions, so we keep them separate.
| Source | What it tells you | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Owner surveys | How a product holds up over months of real use, and whether owners would buy it again. | Scores on a 1 to 10 scale, a composite score, a buy-again percentage, and the number of responses. |
| Our own testing | How a product sets up, how it compares with the alternatives, and how it fits a real space. | Our photos, our numbers where the product produces them, who tested it, and how long. |
Where the survey data comes from
We collect responses from the r/golfsimulator and r/golfgear communities, the Sim Weekly newsletter, and the Yardstick Golf audience. Every respondent owns the equipment they are rating. We publish the survey results, so you can see the numbers behind any score.
What owners rate
For each product, owners rate their satisfaction on a 1 to 10 scale across the characteristics that matter for that type of gear. A launch monitor, for example, is rated on characteristics such as accuracy and putting performance, while other gear is rated on what matters for that gear.
We average the ratings for each characteristic and build a composite score for the product overall. We also ask whether owners would buy the same product again and report that as a percentage. Scores are shown with the number of owner responses behind them.
Prices
Where we show prices, we use what owners actually paid, not the list price.
Minimum sample size
We aim for at least 5 owner responses before we recommend a product. At times we may recommend a product with fewer reviews if there is not a good one in the category or one with at least 5 owner reviews.
We may recommend a product with fewer responses if we have used it ourselves or if there is no other option in the category. When we do, the review says so and shows the response count, so you can weigh it accordingly.
Our own testing
We have played golf for more than 40 years and have been reviewing golf simulators for more than 10. Owner surveys show how a product holds up over months of real use. Our testing covers what surveys cannot: how a product sets up, how it compares with the alternatives, and how it fits a real space.
When we test a product, the review says who tested it, how long we used it, and what we used it with. It shows our own photos instead of manufacturer images, and our own numbers wherever the product produces them. We keep what we measured separate from what owners reported, and when the two disagree, we say so.
Every review lists the drawbacks we found, not just the strengths. If we have not used a product, the review says that and rests on owner ratings alone.
How we make money
Some links on this site are affiliate links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them. Commission rates do not affect our scores or rankings, and we do not take payment for placement.
An affiliate disclosure appears above the first affiliate link on every page.
Corrections
If you spot an error, email [email protected].
Last updated September 24, 2026.