Do I Need to Upgrade My Golf Simulator Projector to 4K?

So you want to upgrade your golf sim projector? Here is what you need to know. Based on a conjoint analysis survey of 406 golf sim owners and avid golfers we found that:

- 69% of golf sim users upgrade projector after their initial purchase

- 84% of golf sim owners prefer TRUE 4K resolution

- 72% of golfers surveyed preferred BenQ’s TK700STI 4K golf sim images vs Optoma’s GT1080 Darbee 1080p

If you're an avid golfer or are just getting started with golf sims, you've probably noticed that there are many different types of projectors available. The question that almost always pops up is: do you need 4K?

The answer: it depends!

It depends on whether your simulator software supports it. If it does, then yes—you should upgrade to 4K. Why? Because 4K technology allows for a more realistic recreation of the environment in which you're playing.

It means that when you're at the tee box, you can see each blade of grass and the sway of the trees as intended by the software designer. This helps you become more familiar with your surroundings so that when you go out to Pebble Beach or Whistling Straights, you'll already be familiar with what it looks like before taking your first shot.

But if your simulator doesn't support 4K resolution yet (and some don't), then no—you shouldn't worry about upgrading right now. However, keep in mind that 69% of golf sim owners surveyed upgraded their projector after their initial purchase. As new versions of golf sim software become available, like GSPro V2, they will support higher resolutions such as 4K.

Similar to golf pro lesson, your launch monitor does the calculations and allows you to measure and analyze ball flight data and track your shots so that you can understand how your game needs to improve.

But without a projector, its more of a driving range scenario and less of a simulation. The projector makes the golf simulation feel real rather than just practicing in the backyard and hitting into a net.

When you’re standing at the tee box, you want to see the detail of the course. As you increase the size of your screen the detail will decrease, and you will need more pixels to replicate what the course actually looks like.

With the newest GSPro V2 software, course designers spent countless hours replicating Whistling Straights, Trune and Pebble Beach to give you the best experience for your simulation.

Just like you wouldn’t pair an expensive meal with a cheap wine, your golf sim software is only as good as the display / projector you are using. 

To decide what projector you need for a golf simulator, you must consider your resolution, throw ratio, size of screen, and brightness requirements for your space. Generally speaking, you will use a short throw projector with 3000+ lumens for the best experience to be bright enough to fif off ambient light abd be close enough to the screen to keep players and clubs from casting shadows.

Also, golf courses have so many elements that depend on color accuracy to look good, from grass and trees to sand traps, bodies of water, and even sky boxes above. With over 90% Rec.709, the industry-wide standard for color reproduction in HD video and movies, not only do your golf sim locales appear realistic and immersive, but movies are depicted as cinematographers and directors planned. 

While a 4k projector will give you better resolution, the questions are can it provide a more enjoyable experience and does your software support 4K resolution?

Based on a recent study, the answer is yes. With over 84% of golf simulator owners preferring TRUE 4K resolution for 16:9/16:10 impact screens AND more than 69% upgrading their projector since their initial golf sim purchase, the proof is in the numbers.

With technology advancing every day, a 4K projector used to be out of many home golf simulator owners price range, are now more affordable than ever.

o   BenQ TK series is under $2,000  with 3000 ANSI lumens

o   BenQ LU series is under $4,000 with 5500 ANSI lumens

o   BenQ LK series is under $5,000 with 5100 ANSI lumens

o   And then it jumps to Sony’s $90,000 with 10000 ANSI Lumens

To get a proper 4K golf simulator experience, you need quality software. Different software solutions can produce 4K resolution that will be compatible with a 4K projector.

To get the best simulation experience, it is key to be sure your software and projector components match up accordingly. 

BenQ has trained staff to help you find the perfect golf simulator projector – within your room size and budget. To help you make the best decision, you can reach out to one of our experts to set up anything from a chat to a complete online demo, to help you find the right projector for your needs.