The short answer
In rooms under about 13.5 ft deep, choose a launch monitor that reads the ball at impact (beside or above it), accept a shorter ball-to-screen distance or a net, and expect to limit club selection if the ceiling is 8 ft.
Depth first
Radar units behind the ball need the most depth because they watch the ball fly. Camera units beside the ball and overhead units read it at impact, so the only depth you need is for the golfer, the ball-to-screen distance and the screen gap.
The small-room list shows every model whose FOREference minimum depth is 13.5 ft or less.
The trade-offs
| Compromise | What you gain | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Net instead of a screen | Stops the ball closer | No projected course play |
| Ball-to-screen under 8 ft | Fits a shorter room | More bounce-back; use a quality screen and baffles |
| Shorter clubs only | Fits under a low ceiling | No driver indoors |
| Offset hitting position | Fits a narrower room | One-handed use only |
Products mentioned
Figures marked as FOREference calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work