If installing a golf simulator has been on your mind for so long, you have landed at the right spot.
Remember the time you could not go golfing due to the weather? But with a reliable golf simulator, it’s no more a problem for you. You can not only enjoy golfing indoors anytime and it also helps in improving your golf skills. Golf simulators also let you enjoy the sport at the courses where you might not play in reality. But no Golf simulator is complete without a reliable projector. The onus of your golf simulator setup largely owes to the projector you install.
But which projector to use for the best experience?
Golf simulator projectors are present in plentiful out there, which is one reason why your choice could be a little baffling. You can find them at as low as under $500 or $600 to as high as $2000.
Well, don’t worry, we have got your back. Check out some of our recommended projectors below and go through their pros and cons to make a wise choice.
If you don’t have enough time to get through the entire review, we have listed the best 3 gold simulator projectors based on their specific features:
Table of Contents
Editor’s Pick
Enjoy the brightest and most near-to-life golfing experience with remarkable colour accuracy.
It comes with all the features that are essential for smooth gameplay within budget.
Delivers an incredible 4K experience with a minimum input lag of 4.2 ms, which is the lowest on our list.
Best Projector for Golf Simulator (2022) – Review (H2)
1.BenQ MW632ST Short Throw Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: VGA, USB, HDMI
- Mounting Type: Wall Mount, Ceiling Mount
- Wattage: 5 watt_hours
- Image Brightness: 6000 lux
- Image Contrast Ratio: 3000:1
- Item Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.9 x 3 inches
- Item Weight: 3.13 lbs
Having a throw ratio of 0:9:1, this projector will deliver a 1280×800 resolution and a crisp image in a compact space as well. With 3200 lumens of brightness rating, you will be able to enjoy the golfing experience in a well-lit room without any hassle. This device offers an auto +/-30° vertical keystone correction that lets a user set it up conveniently. Since the contrast ratio is 13000:1, you won’t face any difficulty in viewing small details on the screen.
The lamp life of this model is 10000 hours, which means it will keep your company for a long time. With 2 HDMI ports connecting it to any external device is a cakewalk. Also, the projector comes with a 10w inbuilt speaker, so the sound is clear and will let you experience true-to-life golfing anytime, anywhere with ease. This model is also equipped with all the significant accessories you might need like 3D glasses, lens cover, carry bag, anti-dust filter, etc., so if you are worried about the post-purchase cost, get relieved already.
2.Optoma EH412 Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: HDMI
- Mounting Type: Ceiling Mount
- Wattage: 305 watts
- Brightness: 3200 Lumen
- Image Contrast Ratio: 13000:1
- Item Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.15 x 4.5 inches
- Item Weight: 5.70 lbs
Optoma projectors are well known for their combination of brightness and contrast, and this model is no different. With a brightness of 4200 lumens and a contrast ratio of 50000:1, the projector can live up to all your expectations. If you have been looking for a projector that offers a 4K resolution, this is one of the primary considerations for you. However, what catches our attention the most about Optoma EH412 is its colour accuracy. With sRGB and Rec.709 colour profiles, there’s nothing more one can ask for.
There are many modes you can use on this projector. More importantly, all these modes use different amounts of power, which means you can save some cost while using the Eco mode than the normal mode. The lamp life too could be extended up to 15000 hours. Hence, no early replacements are required. When it comes to using a projector for a golf simulator, it must have less input lag. This device offers a lag time of 35 ms, which will let you enjoy smooth gameplay.
3.BenQ TH671ST 1080p Short Throw Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: USB
- Mounting Type: Ceiling Mount
- Wattage: 320 watts
- Brightness: 3000 Lumen
- Image Contrast Ratio: 10000:1
- Item Dimensions: 11.65 x 4.6 x 9.5 inches
- Item Weight: 5.90 lbs
BenQ TH671ST has an excellent short throw that lets you project an image of 100″ from 5ft. It comes with advanced LumiExpert Technology that detects the room’s lighting and sets the most appropriate brightness for you. With 16 ms of low input lag, you will practically be able to project the image in real-time and experience no annoying blurs at all. Since the colour accuracy offered by this projector is impeccable with 92% Rec 709, you will have no problem in sports watching and speculating your shot in well-lit rooms.
Many golf projectors make a lot of noise that could distract furthermore while playing and cause loss of focus, but this is something you won’t have to worry about with Ben TH671ST as the noise level is merely 33/29 dB. With a lamp life of 10000 hours, this model will need no lamp replacement for almost 10 years, even if you use it for 2 hours per day. Isn’t that just awesome? Lastly, this piece weighs just 5.7 pounds and thus is exceptionally portable, and anyone can set it up with ease.
4.ViewSonic PS600X Projector
Key Features
- Image Brightness: 3500 lumen
- Item Dimensions: 4.53 x 11.5 x 9.29 inches
- Item Weight: 5.73 lbs
- Lamp life: 15000 hours
- Warranty: 3 years manufacturer warranty
Featuring a user-friendly design, ViewSonic PS600X is a very cost-efficient purchase for you. The 0.61 short throw ratio lets the user project large images in a small room, and the 3500-lumen brightness just suits any lighting set up perfectly. The lamp life offered in the Eco mode of this projector is nearly 15000 hours, and you will not need to replace it anytime soon. Furthermore, since it comes with all the necessary accessories like power cable, remote control, VGA cable, etc., you will not have to splurge over anything extra.
Remember how we started with this unit being user-friendly? Well, that isn’t just a baseless assertion! This projector includes features like horizontal and vertical keystone correction, seamless network management, and corner adjustment that makes installation a child’s play. If you think this unit will only serve you when coupled with a golf simulator, you might be wrong. Not only would it enhance your indoor golfing experience but also be of greater use for other purposes like watching movies in a theatre-like environment, gaming, etc.
5.Optoma GT780 Short Throw Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: VGA
- Mounting Type: Front, rear, ceiling mount, table top
- Wattage: 10 watts
- Image Brightness: 3800
- Image Contrast Ratio: 25000:1
- Item Dimensions: 9.61 x 12.44 x 4.25 inches
- Item Weight: 6.60 lbs
First of all, this projector is ideal for a compact space as it can project 120″ of the image from 4.5 feet only. Offering a contrast ratio of 25000:1, it delivers crisp and clear visuals, enriching your overall experience. The best part about this device is that it could be used for multiple purposes, and it will easily fit your small bedroom. Be it for golfing, watching movies, or virtual gaming, Optoma GT780 will never disappoint you.
Being 3D compatible will bring your gameplay to life. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, the protection would be seamless and flicker-free. Understandably, you want a projector that delivers the brightest visuals in daylight since golf can’t be played with the lights off. Well, 3800 lumens of brightness would be enough to cater to your requirements. This model will allow you an easy setup process with +/-40° vertical Keystone correction and 2x digital zoom if it’s your first time installing a projector.
6.Epson Pro EX9210 1080p Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: HDMI
- Brightness: 3400 Lumen
- Control Method: App
- Item Weight: 6.2 Pounds
- Image Brightness: 3200 lumen
- Item Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.8 x 3.4 inches
- Item Weight: 6.20 lbs
- Resolution: 1920×1200 (WUXGA)
The 3LCD projector comes power-packed with 3400 lumens of brightness and a super portable design, weighing only 6.2 lbs. This unit supports a wide range of resolutions from 800×600 to 1920×1200. Using 10-bit colour processing, you won’t be compromising on the picture quality at all, and with 1.2x zoom and manual focus, installing it is easier than ever. In addition, the LCD design sets this projector apart from the rest as it makes it impossible to show rainbow effect and so no eye-straining even with extended use.
Epson Pro EX9210 could be used with any other devices, which means the model serves multipurpose requirements. If you get back to the golf course again, it will continue existing in your bedroom or living room, projecting your favourite movies. Talk about the reliability, and there are indeed hundreds of projectors available for golf simulators out there. Why should one choose Epson pro, then? The answer is credibility. Epson is a well-established brand for projectors and offers some of the finest products, due to which it has amassed uncountable fans across the world. A projector isn’t something one buys every day. Why not invest in one that’s the most trustworthy?
7.ViewSonic True 4K UHD Projector
Key Features
- Hardware Interface: HDMI, USB 2.0
- Wattage: 290 watts
- Brightness: 3200 Lumen
- Controller Type: Remote Control
- Image Contrast Ratio: 12000:1
- Item Dimensions: 12.28 x 8.74 x 4.25 inches
- Item Weight: 6.20 lbs
Enjoy ultra HD resolution with ViewSonic PX701 and have a real-life golfing experience without even stepping out of your house. Supporting 4K and featuring H/Z vertical keystone correction, if you are perplexed about setting it up, leave your worries behind today. This projector is anything but complicated. The most eye-catching aspect of this model has to be its 4.2 ms input lag, which is too rare in any of its competitors, and the 240 Hz refresh rate makes your gaming experience much smoother than you can imagine. In a way, it is the best gaming projector on our list with such a high refresh rate.
Coming to the lamp life, it’s 20000 hours in eco mode, which means it will continue working for 10+ years even when used for 5 hours a day. Projecting an image of 300″, this short-throw projector has an inbuilt speaker as well to offer crisp audio every time. Heard of “maximum bounce for the ounce?” Well, ViewSonic PX701 is a perfect example of this saying.
Buying Guide: Factors to be considered while buying Golf Simulator Projector
Here are some of the key features one should look at while buying a Golf Simulator Projector:
HDMI Connectivity
To work well with any golf simulator, the projector must have HDMI input. As most of the new projectors come with HDMI input, it is highly recommended to check it before buying one.
Throw Ratio
Short throw or ultra-short throw projectors are considered best for your golf simulator. An aspect ratio ranging from 0.3:1 to 1:1 is best for the projection without any shadow showing up when hitting your screen. Divide the distance between projector and motorized projector screen with the diagonal width of your projector to find the throw ratio. If the projector is 6 feet away and the projector screen is 12 feet wide, the throw ratio will be 0.5: 1 (6 feet/ 12 feet)
Lumens
The brightness that a projector display is measured under lumens. The brighter the room, the higher the lumens required to make the projector display images effectively. For the best golf simulation experience, you need a projector above 3000+ lumens.
Resolution and Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio is the ratio between the length and width of the image while the resolution defines the number of pixels inside the image. For better image quality, one requires higher pixels.
An aspect ratio of 4:3 with XGA & SXGA is available in most of the low-cost options. Here the resolution is lowest with a square off image.
An aspect ratio of 16:10 with WXGA & WUXGA presents the rectangular image with a higher resolution than XGA & SXGA.
To procure the highest resolution, opt for standard HDTV or1080p with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a short-throw projector for the golf simulator?
Yes, short-throw projectors ranging from 0.3:1 to 1:1 are best as golf simulator projectors. If you don’t use the short-throw projectors, you may deal with shadow appearing on your screen and the image produce may also be larger from the short distance.
What is the best aspect ratio for a golf simulator?
The best aspect ratio for a gold simulator is 16:9. It is an ideal screen size to provide enough space to swing the golf ball without any fear of hitting a wall. The golfers enjoy best at this aspect ratio.
Where do you put a projector on a golf simulator?
To put up a projector on a golf simulator, first, you need to be sure about its aspect ratio. After placing the screen at the desired position, ensure that it should be the centre of the golf simulator. Install ramp system below the projector and you are all set to enjoy an enthralling game.
Where do you put a projector on a golf simulator?
If your projector has a throw ratio of 2, you need the projector to be 2 feet away from the screen to get the right image width. Say, if you have a 100-inch image projector with a throw ratio of 2, the right placement of the projector shall be 16 ½ away from the screen.
How many lumens does a golf simulator need?
For a bright room, generally, projectors higher than 2000 lumens are appropriate but for golf simulator, projectors higher than 3000 lumens deliver the best-golfing experience.
Conclusion
With these projectors the dream of having a life-size golf simulator setup is easy to pursue. Low quality projectors poses a hassle by producing the darker images and lowering down the overall experience. If you want to extract full potential of your simulator, it is highly recommended to choose the best projector for golf simulator. The projectors we have listed in our article are capable of delivering outstanding performance for their respective prices.
Go hurry up, get the best projector for your gold simulator before they get out of stock!
Hi Guys! My name is Mark and I am editor for Projectorpick.com. My extensive experience of over 30 years in Home theatre has paved my way as a senior editor for Projectorpick.com. My vision is to empower people with the right set of knowledge in home theatres that helps with right purchases.
