The Hitting Bay · Planning Guide

Golf Simulator for
Left & Right-Handed Players

Planning a shared simulator that works for both left and right-handed players involves more than just a wider room. Width requirements, hitting mat sizing, launch monitor placement, side clearance on both sides, side netting, and the offset strategy for narrow rooms all change when the setup has to work for both handednesses. This guide covers every decision — from room sizing to specific equipment choices — so the setup works without repositioning anything between players.

✓ Width requirements ✓ Side clearance by handedness ✓ Monitor placement guide ✓ Mat sizing for both hands ✓ Offset strategy for narrow rooms ✓ Side netting requirements

Minimum width (dual-handed)

14 ft

Centred hitting position · no mat repositioning

Ideal width

15–16 ft

Comfortable clearance for both swing directions

Mat width for both hands

12" × 46.5"

Holy Grail full-width strip covers LH and RH address

Best monitor for dual-handed

Camera-based

Side-mounted or ceiling — no repositioning required

What Actually Changes

What Changes When You Add a Second Handedness

A single-handedness simulator is designed around one swing direction. Adding the other handedness is not simply a mirror — the clearance requirements, safety containment, monitor placement, and mat needs all change in specific ways. Here's exactly what changes and what stays the same.

↕ What changes for dual-handed play

→Room width requirement increases. A single RH golfer needs 4–5 ft of clearance on the left (follow-through side) and 3–4 ft on the right (backswing side). Adding a LH golfer flips these requirements — both sides now need 4–5 ft of follow-through clearance simultaneously. Minimum width jumps from ~10–12 ft to 14 ft.
→Side netting requirement becomes bilateral. A single-handed setup protects one primary miss direction. A dual-handed setup must contain aggressive heel hooks and shanks in both lateral directions. Full side netting on both sides is required, not optional.
→Hitting mat width must cover both address positions. A RH address position is typically 6–10 inches right of centre. A LH address is the same distance left of centre. A 30-inch-wide mat covers one; the 46.5-inch Holy Grail strip covers both without repositioning.
→Launch monitor placement may need adjustment. Side-mounted camera monitors are designed for one side. Ceiling-mounted units (Uneekor EYE XO2) or behind-the-ball radar units that require no side relationship work without repositioning. Side-mounted units placed for RH may need to move for LH.
→Projector centering becomes more critical. An off-centre projector mount that works for a single handedness may cast a shadow for the opposite side. Centred ceiling mount is the cleanest solution for dual-handed setups.

✓ What stays the same

✓Enclosure size — the screen and frame don't change. The same enclosure works for both handednesses as long as the room width provides adequate lateral clearance on both sides of the hitting position.
✓Ceiling height requirement — the vertical swing arc is the same for a RH and LH player of equal height and swing plane. Same ceiling height works for both.
✓Room depth requirement — distance from screen to hitting position, and behind the player, is the same regardless of handedness. Ball-to-screen distance stays at 8–12 ft.
✓Impact screen — ball lands in the same position on the screen from either handedness at equivalent swing speeds. Same screen, same tension, same projection.
✓Software settings — GSPro, E6, and all major simulator software handle player handedness in software. Switch handedness in the software settings; no physical change to the enclosure or screen.

The Primary Constraint

Room Width: The Number That Determines Everything

Width is the deciding factor for dual-handed setups. Here's what each width allows, and the honest trade-offs at each tier.

Narrow — offset only

10–12 ft wide

↓ Mat repositioning required

↓Only one handedness can use the centred position — the other must offset toward one wall, reducing follow-through clearance
↓Mat must be repositioned between RH and LH players — or the 46.5" strip eliminates this if the room geometry allows
↓Follow-through clearance on the narrow side may be under 4 ft — marginal safety for aggressive swings
✓Can work as a dual-handed setup if both players accept the offset position and clearance is carefully verified for each

⭐ Dual-handed minimum — recommended

14 ft wide

Centred for both handednesses

✓A centred hitting position gives approximately 5 ft of clearance on each side — enough for a full follow-through from either direction without the wall feeling close
✓The 46.5" Holy Grail hitting strip sits centred in the bay — both RH and LH address positions fall within the strip width without repositioning
✓A 12 ft wide screen fits with adequate frame clearance on both sides (1 ft per side)
✓Side netting on both sides of the enclosure provides full bilateral containment without eating into the effective swing width

Ideal — comfortable for both

15–16 ft wide

Maximum comfort, no compromises

✓6+ ft of follow-through clearance on both sides — neither player feels the wall at any point in the swing
✓Wide enough to support a 12–14 ft screen with generous frame clearance
✓Supports a 16:9 aspect ratio screen (wider) rather than 4:3 — broader visual experience if the room allows
✓The most headroom for a projector centred on the ceiling without any shadow consideration for either swing direction

📏

Why 14 ft specifically — the side clearance arithmetic

A centred hitting position in a 14 ft room leaves 7 ft of total width on each side of centre. Subtract the enclosure frame width (typically 6–8 inches per side), the side netting (hangs inside the frame, adds no additional space loss), and the margin from the enclosure edge to the hitting position (typically 1–2 ft): the golfer has approximately 5 ft of free space from their body to the nearest hard surface on the follow-through side. 5 ft is the comfortable threshold — enough that neither the wall nor the frame is in the peripheral vision during the swing, and enough that a heel hook or shank is caught by the side netting before reaching the frame or wall. At 12 ft, this margin drops to roughly 3 ft on each side, which is the follow-through-limiting threshold where most players begin unconsciously restricting their swing arc.

The Equipment Decision

Hitting Mat for Dual-Handed Play: Why Size Matters More Than You Think

The hitting mat is the most directly impacted piece of equipment in a dual-handed setup. Here's what changes, why, and the specific solution.

The address position difference between RH and LH: A right-handed golfer's ball position for most clubs falls 6–12 inches right of the mat's centre. A left-handed golfer's ball position falls 6–12 inches left of centre. For both to use the same mat without repositioning, the mat needs to be wide enough to cover both address positions — approximately 36–40 inches of useful strike zone width. The Gungho Holy Grail Hitting Strip in the 12" × 46.5" size is the specific solution for dual-handed setups: it spans enough lateral width that both a right-handed and left-handed player can address the ball naturally within the strip without the mat needing to move.

Mark both address positions on your planned hitting area before ordering

Before purchasing any mat, have both the right-handed and left-handed player stand at the planned hitting position and mark where each would place the ball for a mid-iron shot. These marks show the required lateral spread of the hitting surface. Verify that the mat you're considering spans both positions. A mat that covers only one address position requires repositioning between players — which, in practice, means the convenience of a shared setup disappears within a few sessions.

Verify the mat is centred in the room — not offset toward one wall

The hitting mat should be centred laterally in the room — or centred within the enclosure. A mat that's offset toward one side to accommodate a single-handed player creates inadequate clearance for the opposite-handed player. In a 14 ft room, place the mat (and mark the intended hitting position) at the geometric centre of the bay, then verify that both the RH and LH address positions fall within the mat width from that centred position.

Test both players' swings before finalising position

With the mat positioned, have both the RH and LH player take full slow swings from their natural address position. Verify swing clearance to both walls and the enclosure frame on both the backswing and follow-through sides. The test should include driver (widest backswing arc) and gap wedge (steepest swing plane, highest follow-through arc). Both players' swings should clear all surfaces with a minimum 4 ft of free space on each side. Mark any constraints before ordering or building the final setup.

Equipment Comparison

Launch Monitor Placement for Dual-Handed Setups

The launch monitor's relationship to the ball changes with handedness for some monitor types. Here's what you need to know for each major monitor category before buying or positioning anything.

✅

No repositioning required

Radar behind the ball · floor-mounted

✓Radar behind the ball (Garmin R10, Mevo Gen 2): Positioned behind the ball on the centre line, these monitors don't care about player handedness — the ball launches toward the screen from the same position regardless. No repositioning needed when switching between RH and LH. Depth constraint (7–9 ft behind the ball) applies equally to both.
✓Ceiling-mounted (Uneekor EYE XO2): Mounts directly above the hitting position. Has no lateral relationship to the player — the camera system reads the ball and club from above regardless of handedness. The best dual-handed monitor solution, but requires 10–12 ft of ceiling height and significant upfront investment.

⚠️

Repositioning may be required

Side-mounted camera monitors

↓Side-mounted cameras (Bushnell LPi, GC3, SkyTrak ST MAX): These monitors sit beside the ball — typically on the trailing side (right side for a RH golfer). For a LH golfer, "trailing side" is the left side. If the monitor is in a fixed position, check the manufacturer's spec for whether it works from both sides without repositioning. The GC3 is designed to work from either side; the LPi requires placement on the right side for RH and must move for LH. Verify before purchasing for a dual-handed setup.
↓The workaround: A side-mounted monitor in a fixed position that only works from one side can still function in a dual-handed setup if both players use the same handedness convention for ball position, or if the monitor is on a quick-release mount that takes 30 seconds to swap sides. Not ideal but workable for occasional dual-handed use.

🏆

Purpose-built for dual-handed

Overhead ceiling mount · no lateral dependency

✓Uneekor EYE XO2: Ceiling-mounted 3.5 ft in front of the ball toward the screen. Has no left/right handedness consideration — it sees the ball from above. The most convenient dual-handed monitor at any budget tier. Price point ($7,000+) makes it a serious investment but it eliminates every handedness-related placement complication permanently.
✓Rapsodo MLM2Pro: Floor-mounted behind the ball at a fixed position. Camera + radar hybrid doesn't require handedness adjustment at the monitor. Does require Callaway RPT balls for full spin data. Reasonably priced ($699) for the dual-handed convenience it offers.

Before buying any launch monitor for a dual-handed setup: Verify explicitly with the manufacturer whether the monitor supports both handednesses from a fixed position. This is not always clear in the specifications. Manufacturer websites typically have setup guides showing placement diagrams — check whether a LH diagram exists and whether the position is the same as the RH position. If no LH diagram exists, assume repositioning is required and factor that into your purchase decision.

When You're Under 14 ft

Making a Narrow Room Work for Both Handednesses

Not everyone has a 14 ft wide room. Here are the specific strategies that make dual-handed play possible in rooms under 14 ft wide — with honest trade-offs for each.

↔️

Offset each player toward their backswing wall

A RH player shifts slightly right (toward their backswing side). A LH player shifts left. Each player gets adequate follow-through clearance on their lead side by sacrificing the same clearance on their trail side — which is less critical because the club decelerates through the backswing position. Requires different mat positions for each player, or a 46.5 in strip that covers both offset positions from a central placement.

→ Works in 12–13 ft rooms. Requires swing test for each player.

🎯

Use a radar monitor behind the ball — eliminates side placement issues

A radar monitor behind the ball has no lateral relationship to the player. In a narrow room, the depth behind the player is usually more available than the width. Place the monitor directly behind the ball on the centre line — both RH and LH players can use it without the monitor ever moving. This is particularly effective in narrow garages (10–12 ft) with adequate depth (17+ ft).

→ Best solution for narrow-but-deep rooms. R10 or Mevo Gen 2.

🔄

Accept single-session repositioning

For occasional dual-handed use (one primary player, occasional guests), a clearly marked "LH position" and "RH position" on the floor (painter's tape cross markers) makes repositioning the mat quick and accurate. The 46.5 in strip simply shifts 6–8 inches laterally. Takes 30 seconds. Acceptable for infrequent switching — impractical for daily switching between regular players.

→ For occasional LH/RH switching only.

📷

Choose a camera monitor that works from both sides

The Foresight GC3 is specifically designed to operate from either side of the ball. In a narrow room where the monitor can't be moved, this eliminates one major complication. Verify placement diagrams for both handednesses in the manufacturer's documentation before purchasing.

→ GC3 in a fixed position works for both LH and RH.

Projector Planning

Projector Placement for Dual-Handed Rooms

A dual-handed setup introduces specific projector challenges that a single-handed setup doesn't have. Here's what changes and how to solve it.

📽

The shadow problem doubles in a dual-handed setup

In a single-handed setup, the projector can be offset slightly toward the golfer's backswing side — the ball never passes between that position and the screen. In a dual-handed setup, the projector must be on the centre line overhead to avoid being in the shadow zone for either player. A projector mounted 12 inches right of centre may be fine for a RH player but perfectly positioned to cast a shadow from a LH player's backswing. The only reliable solution for dual-handed play is a centred ceiling mount — directly above the hitting position centre line, aimed at the screen. Any lateral offset creates potential shadow for one of the two swing directions.

Mount the projector on the room centre line — not offset

For a dual-handed setup, the projector ceiling mount must be on the geometric centre line of the room, running from the back wall to the screen. Any lateral offset positions the projector in the potential shadow zone for one of the two players. The centre line mount means the projector is equidistant from both sidewalls, projecting symmetrically at the screen. Both RH and LH players stand on either side of the centre line, with the projector beam always above and between them.

Verify shadow clearance for both swing directions

With the projector temporarily positioned (tripod or cart before drilling), have both the RH and LH player take full slow swings. An assistant stands near the screen and watches for any shadow crossing the projected image during the swing arc. Shadow testing is the definitive check — no calculation replaces it. If shadow appears for one player, raise the projector mount (shorter drop rod from the ceiling) — more ceiling height reduces shadow risk. Do not move the projector further from the screen to fix shadows; this makes them worse.

Check the software aspect ratio accommodates both swing views

A wider room with a 14–16 ft width often supports a 16:9 aspect ratio screen — which is the standard for wide rooms. This works well for dual-handed setups since neither player is offset and the wide screen is centred on the hitting position. For narrower rooms where 4:3 is the only viable aspect ratio, verify the software display for both handednesses gives an adequate field of view — some simulator software shows ball flight slightly asymmetrically depending on handedness, and a 4:3 screen may clip part of the visual for one direction.

Safety Requirements

Side Containment: Why Dual-Handed Setups Need Both Sides

Side netting requirements change significantly in a dual-handed setup. Here's what's needed and why skipping either side is a genuine safety issue.

🛡️

RH player — miss patterns

A right-handed golfer's most dangerous miss is a hard pull-hook that goes hard left — toward the lead side. This shot bypasses the screen and travels at nearly full ball speed toward the left wall or anyone standing there. The left side netting is the critical protection for a RH player.

🛡️

LH player — miss patterns

A left-handed golfer's hard pull-hook goes hard right — the opposite direction. The right side netting is critical for the LH player. In a single-RH setup without left-side netting, adding a LH player immediately creates an unprotected side on the right of the enclosure — which the LH player's aggressive misses will find eventually.

⚠️

The dual-netting requirement

The conclusion: a dual-handed setup requires side netting on both sides of the enclosure, not just one. A Gungho enclosure with the recommended or full protection package provides bilateral side netting as standard — this is the correct setup for any bay where both handednesses will be used.

📐

Clearance from enclosure edge to hard wall

The netting inside the enclosure catches the ball before it reaches the frame. But the frame itself must have clearance from the hard wall behind it — minimum 6 inches on both sides. A shank that goes through the side netting at full speed must not contact the wall or a person. Verify this clearance on both sides of the enclosure in the planned room position.

The most common dual-handed safety error: Building a single-sided protection setup (netting on the left only, because the builder is right-handed) and then letting a left-handed player use it. The left-handed player's equivalent miss pattern is to the right — the unprotected side. Any time you add a second handedness to a setup, audit the protection on both sides of the enclosure before the first session.

Before Your First Session

Dual-Handed Setup Checklist

✓

Room width verified at 14 ft minimum (or offset strategy documented)

Measure the actual usable width at the hitting position — not the room width. Enclosure frame, side netting, and any wall obstructions reduce effective width. Confirm 5 ft of clearance from hitting position to the nearest hard surface on both sides, or document the offset positions for each player if the room is under 14 ft.

✓

Hitting mat covers both address positions without repositioning

Confirm the 46.5 in Holy Grail strip spans both the RH and LH ball positions as marked on the floor. Both players should be able to step up and address the ball naturally without the mat needing to move.

✓

Launch monitor confirmed compatible with both handednesses from current position

Check the manufacturer's documentation or support team. Verify with actual test shots from both handednesses that the data is accurate and consistent. A monitor that reads accurately for RH but produces erratic spin data for LH from the same position needs to be repositioned or replaced.

✓

Side netting in place on both sides of the enclosure

Not just one side. Both sides. Walk the enclosure and physically verify that full-height netting is present and properly tensioned on both the left and right of the hitting bay. Check that the netting reaches the floor on both sides — a ball that passes under a netting panel that doesn't reach the floor has effectively bypassed the protection.

✓

Projector on centre line — shadow tested for both swing directions

Both players take full swings with the projector powered on, and a second person watches the screen for any shadow. Confirm no shadow at any point in either player's swing arc. If shadow appears, raise the projector (shorter ceiling mount drop) before drilling the permanent mount.

✓

Software handedness setting verified before first real session

In GSPro, E6, or your simulation software: confirm handedness is set correctly for each player profile. A left-handed player using a right-handed software setting will see shot shape mirrored — a straight shot will display as a draw in the wrong direction. This is a software setting, not a hardware issue, but verify it before the first session to avoid confusion about data accuracy.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but with compromises. At 12 ft, you don't have room for both players to use a centred position — one or both will need to offset toward their backswing side. The typical approach is: mark a "RH position" (slight offset right) and a "LH position" (slight offset left) on the floor, and use the 46.5-inch Holy Grail strip which can span both positions from a placement slightly to the right of absolute centre. The key verification is swing clearance: both players need at least 4 ft from their body to the nearest hard surface on the follow-through side. Have both players do a full swing test at their marked positions before committing to the setup. Radar monitors behind the ball work particularly well in this scenario — no side clearance consideration for the monitor, just the player's swing.

The cleanest options in order of cost and convenience: (1) Uneekor EYE XO2 — ceiling-mounted, no handedness consideration at all, the best solution but expensive ($7,000+). (2) Rapsodo MLM2Pro — sits behind the ball, no repositioning for either handedness, good indoor accuracy at $699. (3) Garmin R10 — also behind the ball, no repositioning needed, lower accuracy indoors but works for both handednesses from a fixed position at $499. (4) Foresight GC3 — side-mounted camera that works from both sides of the ball per Foresight's documentation. Side-mounted monitors like the Bushnell LPi that require placement on a specific side relative to the player are the least convenient for dual-handed setups and require position verification before purchasing.

No — the same hitting surface works for both handednesses. The difference is the lateral position of the ball on the mat. A right-handed player addresses the ball slightly right of mat centre; a left-handed player slightly left of centre. For both to use the mat without repositioning, the mat needs to be wide enough to span both address positions — approximately 36–40 inches of usable strike zone width. The Gungho Holy Grail Hitting Strip in the 12" × 46.5" size provides this coverage. The 12" × 30" and 12" × 35" sizes work for one handedness comfortably but may require repositioning for the other depending on how far each player's address position falls from centre.

Yes — the software handedness setting must match the player. In GSPro and E6 Connect, each player profile has a handedness setting. When a LH player uses a setup calibrated for RH, shot shapes appear mirrored: what the LH player hits as a draw will display as a fade. This is a software setting change, not a hardware change — it takes 10 seconds in most simulators. The best practice for dual-handed setups is to set up distinct player profiles for each person with their handedness pre-set, so switching players is a single profile selection rather than manually adjusting settings before each session.

Yes, with the correct side protection in place on both sides. The critical safety requirement is bilateral netting — side containment on both the left and right of the enclosure. A right-handed player's dangerous miss goes hard left; a left-handed player's goes hard right. If only one side of the enclosure has netting, the opposite player is unprotected on their primary miss direction. Any Gungho enclosure with the recommended or full protection package includes bilateral netting — this is the correct protection level for any dual-handed setup. Verify both sides before the first session, and re-verify periodically as netting can develop small holes or loose attachment points at the base over time.

Ready to Configure Your Dual-Handed Setup?

Use the free room configurator to check your room width against enclosure sizing — and see which mat and enclosure configuration works for both left and right-handed play in your space.

Use the Configurator → Shop the 46.5" Strip Browse Enclosures

Golf Simulator forLeft & Right-Handed Players