How many calories can you burn using a virtual golf simulator?

Widely recognised as one of the best forms of low-impact exercise around, many people around the world have picked up golf clubs to not only enjoy the game they love, but to burn a few extra calories and get fit too.

But if playing golf is your favourite form of exercise, you’ll likely be limited to tee time once or twice a week depending on your schedule - not many of us are lucky enough to play every day. If that’s the case, you may be looking for a way to incorporate some good golf exercise into your daily routine, without needing to squeeze in eighteen holes or a trip to the driving range on a busy work night.

Enter virtual golf simulators. With a golf simulator, you could enjoy taking as many shots as you’d like, while perfecting your golf swing, all from the privacy of your own home. But exactly how many calories can you burn using a golf simulator? Let’s discuss.

What is a virtual golf simulator?

A virtual golf simulator is an innovative and exciting tool that allows you to play golf from almost any indoor location. Popularly, people install golf simulators in their homes, garages, media rooms or even professional offices for recreation, though you can turn almost any room into a virtual golf enclosure as long as you have enough room. It is recommended to have a minimum depth of 4.57m for safety, as well as to give the launch monitors enough room to analyse your shot.

A large screen is raised in front of the golfer, presenting a view of any number of golf courses. Then, the golfer hits the ball (as they would in real life on the course) towards the screen. The screen then catches the ball - preventing damage to the surroundings - and, using a radar-based launch monitor, analyses the golfer’s swing and perceived ball flight from the contact made with the impact screen.

Using this ball data, the real ball is replaced with a virtual ball in-screen, landing where your real ball would have landed, had you been playing on a physical course. Utilising the latest technology, golf simulators are able to predict where your ball will land to a high degree of accuracy, allowing you to play golf to your heart's content, in a location that suits you.

Golfing legends - from Tiger Woods to Rory McIlroy - have all benefitted from golf simulators and have even had an input in their creation, making them the ideal home simulator for you to enjoy the great indoors like a pro.

How many calories can you burn swinging a golf club?

According to data featured in LiveStrong.com, the average 150lb male will burn around 136 calories during a 60-minute session at the driving range, while a 200lb male will burn around 182 calories under the same conditions. Given that using a virtual golf simulator is an identical activity motion-wise, those using the tool should expect similar results.

This may not sound like much, but we must take into account the freedom and consistency we can enjoy hitting golf balls in our own space, rather than at the driving range. Instead of being limited to only 60 minutes, or a certain number of balls per session, golfers using a golf simulator can strike as many balls as they like over as long of a period as they like. 

Using this logic, the average golfer could easily burn hundreds of calories in a quick 2-hour session, making for a light and low-impact yet impressive workout.

How many calories do you burn playing golf?

Though burning calories using a golf simulator is effective, players can expect to burn far more when on an actual golf course. This is because walking from hole to hole takes up the majority of our energy expenditure, with the average player burning anywhere between 200 and 400 calories per hour, depending on their size, weight and number of shots taken.

While the two are not comparable in terms of calories burned, if you are unable to get to the golf course or simply want to enjoy some relaxed exercise during a short time period, a golf simulator will offer you the enjoyment and laid-back exercise you need to drop a few calories and hopefully drop a few strokes from your golf game.

Try the Trackman Golf Simulator with Black Box Golf

If you’ve been seeking a way to incorporate more of the game you love into your daily routine, while also enjoying some much-needed exercise, the Trackman Virtual Golf Simulator is the perfect way to do it.

With unrivalled accuracy and shot analysis, along with hundreds of real-life golf courses to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Click here to learn more about the Trackman Virtual Golf Simulator, or get in touch with the Black Box Golf team for more information.