Top Three Projectors for Use With a OptiShot Golf Simulator

The first option is a floor mounting system where the projector is in a protected enclosure on the floor.  The best projectors for these are “short throw” projectors that have a throw ratio between .5 and 1.0.   This will enable you to fill your screen without having the projector too close to the hitting area.   The $600 BenQ MX825ST is an excellent short throw projector for golfers wanting to use the 4:3 aspect ratio hitting bay.   It has a special SmartEco lamp mode that enables the lamp to last up to 15,000 hours, and 3300 lumens for a brighter image than the standard projector sold in a pre-configured kit. It also uses the same DLP technology used in a digital cinema and supports over 1 billion colors.

If you are looking for a widescreen setup or want to use your playing area for home entertainment, a ceiling mount enables you to significantly upgrade your resolution and image quality.  The most exciting options are the new laser projectors which generate brighter images, dramatic color, unsurpassed realism, and turn on in just seconds.   The best projectors have lens shift that enable you to move the projector to the side of the playing area while still showing a stunning image.  BenQ makes a nice 4000 lumen simulation laser projector with a shorter throw ratio (just over 1.0) and vertical/horizontal lens shift that costs just $1499– and eliminates having to buy replacement lamps.

While TV’s and monitors typically come in only 1080p or 4K, selecting the right aspect ratio and resolution for your golf simulator is one of the biggest choices for your investment.  Why?  A home golf simulator projector will display the course on a large impact screen.  The larger your screen – the more important resolution is to enable an immersive experience. 

If you are space-constrained or on a tight budget, a square screen using a 4:3 XGA projector is an easy and inexpensive way to start playing courses.  Many XGA projectors were designed for classrooms – and have the right throw ratios and over 3000 lumens of brightness to make them perfect for entry level home golf simulators. 

For Optishot customers looking to the more advanced Ball Flight system, you will probably be looking to get a higher resolution system to provide a more immersive experience.   With the widescreen hitting bay such as Optishots 12 foot bay – you can have a more realistic and immersive experience.  A higher resolution WUXGA projector has well over 2 million pixels, and the latest 4K models have over 8 million pixels - enabling you to see every detail of the course. 

One other benefit widescreen is that it will enable your impact screen to double as an amazing home theater for movies or watching the Masters.

If you are space-constrained or on a tight budget, a square screen using a 4:3 XGA projector is an easy and inexpensive way to start playing courses.  Many XGA projectors were designed for classrooms – and have the right throw ratios and over 3000 lumens of brightness to make them perfect for entry level home golf simulators. 

Brighter projectors in the 4000 and 5000 lumen range are becoming more popular for home golf simulators, since they use lasers – and are much more affordable than in the last two years.  They also use the new higher resolution chipsets from DLP, have lens shift, and most use lasers instead of lamps.   Also keep in mind that while a traditional lamp will be at the rated lumens at the beginning of use, it will decay faster than a laser powered projector – so after a year or two of regular use you may see a big difference in brightness on your screen.