Best Short Throw Projectors for Golf Simulators, Compared

Why Simulator Projectors Are Different

Picking a projector for a golf simulator is not like picking one for a home cinema:

Someone swings a club in the room, so the projector must be out of the swing path.
The projector should sit where the golfer will not cast a shadow on the screen.
The screen is an impact screen that moves slightly when hit.
You often need some light near the hitting area so you and your launch monitor can see the ball.

Throw ratio, brightness and mounting position matter more than cinema features.

Quick Comparison

Projector	Price (checked 1 Oct 2026)	Resolution	Brightness	Throw ratio	Light source
BenQ TH671ST	$949	1080p	3,000 lumens	0.69 to 0.83 (zoom)	Lamp
Optoma GT2000HDR	$1,319	1080p	3,500 lumens	0.496 (fixed)	Laser
BenQ LK936ST	$4,899	4K UHD	5,100 lumens	0.81 to 0.89 (zoom)	Laser

1. BenQ TH671ST: Best Value

Price: $949
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 3,000 lumens
Throw ratio: 0.69 to 0.83 with a 1.2x zoom
Input lag: 16.67 ms

The most common starting point for home builds. The zoom lens gives you some freedom in where you mount it, and the low input lag keeps shots feeling responsive.

2. Optoma GT2000HDR: Best for Shallow Rooms

Price: $1,319
Resolution: 1080p
Brightness: 3,500 lumens
Throw ratio: 0.496 fixed
Light source: laser, rated up to 30,000 hours

With a very short throw ratio, it fills a 10 ft wide screen from about 5 ft away. That makes it a good fit for rooms where the projector has to sit close to the screen. The laser light source means no lamp replacements.

3. BenQ LK936ST: Best Premium 4K

Price: $4,899
Resolution: 4K UHD
Brightness: 5,100 lumens
Throw ratio: 0.81 to 0.89 with zoom
Lens shift: plus or minus 60% vertical and 23% horizontal
Light source: laser, rated 20,000 hours

The choice for high end rooms and venues. Optical lens shift lets you mount it off center, around beams or ducts, without the image quality loss of digital keystone correction. The extra brightness also helps in rooms with some ambient light.

How to Work Out Mounting Distance

Throw distance = screen width x throw ratio

Example: a 10 ft (120 inch) wide screen with a 0.50 throw ratio needs the lens about 10 x 0.50 = 5 ft from the screen. A zoom lens gives a range instead of a single distance.

Check your own screen size and shadow clearance with the free calculator:

Open the Projector Throw Calculator

Sources

BenQ TH671ST, Carl’s Place: https://shop.carlofet.com/benq-th671st-golf-simulator-projector
Optoma GT2000HDR, Golf Sim Depot: https://golfsimdepot.com/products/optoma-gt2000hdr-golf-simulator-projector
BenQ LK936ST specifications, BenQ: https://www.benq.com/en-us/projector/golf/lk936st/spec.html
BenQ LK936ST, Golf Sim Depot: https://golfsimdepot.com/products/benq-lk936st-4k-uhd-golf-simulator-projector

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do golf simulators use short throw projectors?↓

A standard throw projector has to sit far from the screen, which usually puts it behind the golfer and casts your shadow on the image. A short throw projector fills the same screen from a much shorter distance, so it can be mounted on the ceiling in front of the golfer, out of the swing path and out of the shadow zone.

How many lumens do I need?↓

In a dark room with controlled lighting, around 3,000 lumens is usually enough. If you have windows, a garage door that leaks daylight, or lights near the hitting area, more brightness (3,500 to 5,000 lumens) helps the image stay clear.

Is 4K worth it over 1080p?↓

It depends on your screen size and budget. You stand close to a large screen in a simulator, so 4K looks sharper, especially on wide screens. It also needs a capable gaming PC to run simulator software at 4K. For many home builds a good 1080p projector is the better use of money.

Laser or lamp?↓

Laser projectors start instantly and are rated for much longer life (the LK936ST is rated 20,000 hours in normal mode and the GT2000HDR up to 30,000 hours), with no lamp to replace. Lamp projectors like the TH671ST cost less up front but need a replacement lamp eventually.