Abstract: A golf simulator is provided with an improved trajectory sensing and spin detector. The trajectory sending system includes a first row of light sensors located adjacent to a tee and receiving light from a first light source directly above the tee. Second and third rows of light sensors are positioned away from the tee. The second row receives light from a second source directly overhead. The third row receives light from the first light source where a plane of light is defined between the first light source and the third row of sensors. The time intervals between a golf ball passing from the tee to the first plane of light and to the second plane of light, where the second plane of light is defined by the second light source and the second row of sensors are detected by the first, second, and third rows of light sensors. The angle of elevation of a golf ball is determined as a function of the ratio of the first and second time intervals.

Abstract: An improved golf simulation system for two players is contained in a single booth, which has a single screen on which are projected various views of simulated golf holes and into which two golfers independently but concurrently hit golf balls from within the single booth, a dual-player golf simulator system. Each player uses a portion of a golf tee area. Ball flight sensors sense the flight of the two independently, concurrently hit golf balls. A computer concurrently computes the flight and landing location of the first golf ball on the simulated hole and the flight and landing location of the second golf ball on the simulated hole as a function of the sensed velocity, trajectory, and spin of each of the respective golf balls. The simulated golf hole can be viewed as a single view of as a split view when each player has a different viewing location.