Best Projector for Golf Simulator 2024 – Realistic Golfing Experience

To recommend the best projector for golf simulator, we have tested 17 short-throw projectors and selected only 6. We took throw ratio, input lag, color, contrast, blacks, budget, and overall picture quality into consideration.

For a quality golf simulator in a compact room, a decent projector is extremely necessary. Check out our reviews to select the best model for yourself.

Golf simulators are becoming popular, advanced, and modern for golfers to improve their golfing skills, play favorite golf courses or practice on the range during winter and bad weather.

But, to that, a decent projector with decent image quality and low input lag is extremely necessary if you want to reap all the benefits from your golf simulator.

Low-quality projectors struggle to produce decent blacks, colors, ball flight, and simulation onto the screen will lag.

A projector is the heart and soul of a golf simulator. That is we have compared and reviewed the best projectors for golf simulators which are also preferred for gaming.

To complete your golf simulator setup, check out the following things that are necessary for a golf projector to have.

Requirements for the Golf Simulator Projector

HDMI Connection and Easy Installation:

An HDMI port is a must for quality projection. Golf simulator projectors without HDMI look dull and stupid. All modern projectors come with 1 or 2 HDMI ports but always check the specifications.

Easy installation is also necessary. We don’t want to tangle with wires and screws. The voice assists remote would be a bonus.

USB ports will also come in handy to connect steaming devices or other stuff.

Good Lumens and Contrast:

For the golf simulator setup, the room will be a bit brighter than a normal home theater setup. We need a minimum of 3000 ANSI lumens to tackle sunlight.

The brightness of the projector’s image is directly proportional to the ambient light. Anything below 3000 or 2500 ANSI lumens is not recommended.

The contrast ratio distinguishes between the darkest and brightest parts of the image. A good contrast ratio will boost the image quality.

Throw Distance – Throw Ratio:

The ratio between the diagonal distance of the screen and the distance between the screen and projector is the throw ratio.

Throw ratio tells us what image size we project from a certain distance. The smaller the throw ratio, the large the image will be.

For a golf simulator, short-throw ratio projectors are preferred because they will be close to the screen and they are perfect for small spaces.

90% of the people purchase short-throw projectors for golf simulator setup.

Low Input Lag and Good Refresh Rate:

Gaming projectors are always preferred for simulators. Low input lag is very important to have a smooth playing experience without any motion blur. Anything between “10 – 20ms†is considered ideal for golf simulators.

If you don’t know about gaming, remember to go for low input lag and good refresh.

All the models in my article have low input lag. This is a very detailed and accurate list of projectors for golf simulators. I researched so you don’t have to.

Without waiting, let’s get to the products.

Top Best Projectors for Golf Simulator

1. Optoma GT1090HDR Golf Simulator laser Projector – Short Throw

 

Optoma GT1090HDR is one of if not the best affordable gaming laser projectors in the market with dual-core lasers to prolong the lamp life up to 30,000 hours on ECO-Mode.

With a 4200 lumen rating and 300,000:1 contrast ratio, this projector can deliver bright images even in a fully lit room.

Optoma GT1090HDR comes with HDR10 and HLG support with shaper and realistic colors, deeper blacks, and blur-proof images.

For a true golfing experience, this projector projects a 4K UHD image in natural colors with 8 different modes.

It doesn’t take much time to heat up and start thanks to the dual-core laser lens. It is also capable of reproducing Rec.709 color gamut realistic cinematic colors.

You can now experience full HD 3D performance although I don’t recommend 3D gaming.

For gamers, the display is 120Hz with flicker-free images and ultra-smooth frame rates.

It has all the modern connections and controls needed for streaming devices, gaming consoles, and golfing devices.

The short-throw technology delivers an impressive 120-inch image from 4 feet away with no dead pixels.

Another great advantage is the auto keystone correction. It might not seem a great detail but trust nobody likes to dangle with buttons to set the image on the projector screen. I like default settings.

According to my tests on ECO-mode, it creates about 32dB noise which is a standard for gaming projectors.

Optoma GT1090HDR is a beautiful-looking projector with a sleek and compact design, adjustable legs, and dials to adjust zoom, focus, screen, and buttons for manual settings.

The overall performance of Optoma GT1090HDR is amazing. The best features are dual-core laser, impressive contrast ratio, and brightness, decent blacks, and realistic color thanks to a wide color gamut, and HDR10 and HLG support.

With low input lag and 120 Hz display, Optoma GT1090HDR is one of the absolute best gaming projectors which can also be used as a golf simulator.

Connections and Controls

• Remote control.
• Two HDMI ports (HDMI 1.4 and HDMI 2.0).
• 3D sync.
• 2 Audio output of 3.5 mm
• 2 audio inputs of 3.5 mm
• 3.5 mm Mic input
• RJ 45 Ethernet port
• VGA input and output.
• Composite to connect composite cables.
• 12 v trigger
• RS-232
• Mini USB

2. Optoma UHD30 Golf Simulator Projector

 

The best projectors for gaming are the best projectors for golf simulators because the requirements for both are the same.

Optoma UHD30 is one of the elite gaming projectors which is popular as a golf simulator as well. It offers a 240Hz refresh rate, the latest DLP chip with 8 segments color wheel, and a brilliant display.

The input lag is limited to 15.7 to 16ms on 1080p mode and 24ms on 4k mode. Even 24ms at 4K is nothing if you use this projector, especially for golf simulation only.

One of the biggest selling points of Optoma UHD30 is that you don’t have to sacrifice image clarity and brightness for lag-free content.

The 240Hz processor eliminates blurring and gives smooth on-screen transitions.

Even on a large screen, you are not going to feel muted colors, dull blacks, and colors, because of the 3400 ANSI lumens, and 500,000:1 contrast ratio.

Anything above 3000 lumens and a 16:9 aspect ratio are considered a standard for golf simulators, and Optoma UHD30 fulfills all the requirements.

The lamp life of this projector on ECO-MODE is 15,000 hours. It can easily project an image of 302 inches on a plain wall or projector screen.

It supports both HDR10 and HLG mode with decent input lag, balanced shadow details, and deeper blacks.

Optoma UHD30 can support full HD 3D which is a big plus for golf simulation.

The design is portable, it contains two decent speakers with nice enough sound. I won’t compare it with a dedicated sound system, but something is better than nothing.

You have to remember the keystone setting because you will lose it during enhanced gaming mode.

The best thing about this projector is the low input lag, refresh rate, fantastic colors and image quality, and brightness with punchier details.

I would 100% recommend a budget golf simulator projector for bright rooms.

Connections and Controls:

• A fully functional remote control, a bunch of buttons, and dials on the top to control the whole unit.
• HDMI 2.0.
• HDMI 1.4a.
• Audio Input/output.
• USB 5V 1.5A
• USB for service only.
• RS-232.
• VGA input.
• S/PDIF
• 12V trigger.

3. BenQ TH671ST Short Throw Golf Simulator Projector

 

BenQ’s TH671ST is a great golf simulator projector because it is a fantastic gaming projector with a broader color gamut and low input lag.

The lag is only 16.7ms with a microsecond DMD response time. The refresh rate is high with little to no motion blur for a budget 1080p projector.

Even in a bright room with plenty of ambient light, BenQ TH671ST delivers an impressive brightness, decent contrast ratio, and beautiful colors.

The average throw ratio is between “0.69 to 0.83â€, ANSI lumens are 3000 with high native contrast ratio, and it can projector 100-inch images from 5 feet away. It is an ideal golf simulator.

One of the main selling points of BenQ TH671ST is that it comes with 92% Rec. 709 color coverage to projector 1.07 billion colors to eliminate rainbow effects.

It comes with preset gaming and video modes with professional calibration. The lens life is close to 15,000 hours on ECO-MODE.

It has full HD 3D which is impressive, and the 5-watt speakers deliver average sound quality which is kinda OK for golf simulation.

Its design is sleek, compact, and portable. It is not that heavy and easy to carry. Setup and installation are also easy, just follow the manual instructions and you will get it done by yourself.

Noise is 33dB in full mode, and 29dB in Eco mode. For peaceful golfing, quietness is necessary and BenQ TH671ST is one of the quietest projectors around.

Unlucky most gaming projectors, this one doesn’t release that much heat so you can use it in a room without AC.

Connections and Controls:

• A bunch of buttons and dials on the top to control the whole projector.
• 2 HDMI ports one with MHL.
• Audio input and output.
• USB type A1.0
• VGA input and Out port.
• Rs-232.
• Mini USB port

4. Viewsonic PX706HD – 1080P Golf Simulator Projector

 

Viewsonic projectors are optimized for small rooms to get a massive picture from a few feet away.

This ultrashort projector has a very low input lag with an ultra-smooth frame-by-frame gaming experience.

With 3000 ANSI lumens, 22,000:1 contrast ratio, and an industry-leading DLP chip, Viewsonic VX706HD delivers realistic colors even in a bright room.

The short-throw lens can project a 104in the image from 1.4 meters away. It is perfect for a tiny gaming room.

The low latency mode for gamers and golfers is appreciable. The input lag is as low as 16ms at moderate settings.

Due to the wide color gamut, there won’t be any rainbow effect. Realistic colors are the heart and soul of this projector. You can’t get any better than this at an affordable price tag.

The lens can easily last up to 15,000 hours on ECO-Mode. It has 3D blue-ray HDMI ports, you can play 3D content on it, and even connect chrome cast, fire stick, and other streaming devices.

Viewsonic VX706HD’s 3X fast input feature makes gaming more responsive, and it has automatic vertical keystone correction.

The USB-C type port is also handy for modern devices. The built-in speakers are decent for golf simulating, but I would recommend a proper sound system if you are a dedicated gamer like me.

Viewsonic VX706HD comes with 60% brightness uniformity only which is less than desired, but there is no flaw in the color department and the blacks are decent as well.

The fan of this projector is very quiet and it doesn’t release any heat which is not expected from a budget projector.

The design of Viewsonic VX706HD is simple, beautiful, and portable. It got adjustable legs and a ton of buttons to adjust settings manually.

There are some flaws as well like the remote is not backlit, there is no horizontal keystone and USB-Type A, but nothing significant.

I would recommend this product to dedicated gamers and people with limited space.

Connections and Controls:

• 2 HDMI 1.4 input.
• USB 3.1 type C.
• RS-232
• 3.5mm audio input/output.
• VGA input.
• Mini USB port for service only.
• Composite RCA video in.

5. VAVA 4K UST Golf Simulation Projector

 

VAVA 4K may be known as a lesser brand in terms of popularity, but their 4K UST projector is one of the best projectors home theaters, and golf simulators.

The compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for small rooms, and it can projector a 100-inch image from 7.2 inches away.

With 2500 ANSI lumens and 85%+ NTSC color accuracy, VAVA is built to provide eye-pleasing images with motion detection technology.

Even the SDR quality of VAVA 4K is fantastic with decent color uniformity and blacks.

VAVA 4K has its app and built-in 7.1 Android technology that helps connect Android phones with the projector effortlessly.

It comes with a decent remote control but with the smart app, you can maneuver through using your phone if you want to.

VAVA 4K comes with Worlds leading ALPD 3.0 laser light source technology to give you a theater-like experience at home.

This technology is used for high brightness image display by doubling the light efficiency of the projector without compromising the colors in the high ambient light situation.

The HDR10 performance is decent. The colors do feel a bit muted but the details in the image cover all the flaws.

The black levels are pretty decent but the contrast ratio is only 3000:1 which is the lower side.

VAVA 4K has built-in 60W Harmon Karadon speakers with awesome sound quality. You may not need a sound system.

The design of VAVA 4K is beautiful, sleek, compact, and modernish. It has all the necessary buttons needed for manual setting and an infrared sensor for protecting the eyes from the laser.

The projector doesn’t heat that much, it has a decent ventilation system.

VAVA 4K uses pixel-shifting technology to project 8.3 million pixels to get pseudo 4K resolution. Native 4K will perform better, but you are not going to get native 4K at an affordable price.

Its input is higher than most projectors I have reviewed in this article, but it won’t be a problem once you see the display quality. However, it is not for hardcore gamers.

The VAVA app is the best feature of this projector, you can connect your phone and cast the whole screen. Those Harmon Kardon speakers are fine too.

The colors are a bit muted in HDR10 mode, but the brightness, sharpness, blacks, and overall picture quality is excellent. A normal user won’t spot a difference between muted and normal colors.

Connections and Controls:

• A remote control and VAVA app to control with a cell phone as well.
• 2 HDMI 2.0 Ports.
• HDMI 3 ARC.
• USB port.
• 5mm audio and video input and output.
• LAN Ethernet port.
• An AC socket.
• Optical audio output port.

6. BenQ TK700STi 4K HDR Golf Simulator Projector

 

BenQ TK700STi is a dedicated gaming projector that is also ideal for a golf simulator as well.

This projector is built for small rooms. It can project a 100-inch image from just 6 feet away.

3000 ANSI lumens and 100,000:1 are more than enough to display a bright and saturated picture in the living room.

So BenQ TK700STi is known for its gaming powers. The input lag is close to 14-15ms at 4K 60Hz. The input lag drops down to 4-8ms at 1080p 120Hz. It is insanely fast. It doesn’t have 4K mode at 120Hz which could have been great.

It has three different picture modes for FPS, RPG, and SPG gaming modes.

The dedicated picture modes smooth out the image and optimize the display quality according to the game type.

I have tested this projector on my Xbox and PS5. I played COD which is a pretty fast-paced game and I didn’t notice any lag or blurring issues.

I am extremely impressed with the input lag, the picture quality in the FPS mode is fantastic, and the input lag cuts in half if you drop the resolution to 1080p.

BenQ TK700STi comes with its own Android TV 9 stick. There is a bulge on the back of the projector, remove the cover and plug and stick.

You are not going to get those super deep black because it is not made for movie theater rooms. It has been designed keeping gaming and golfing in mind.

This model is a very good movie projector with decent HDR performance and accurate colors in cinema mode, but it dulls brightness.

During sport and gaming mode, the brightness is fine but the colors are muted.

So won’t recommend it as a dedicated home theater projector, but it works fine in a living room.

The RGBW RGBW 8 segment color wheel helps to reduce input lag and makes the picture super bright.

The fan doesn’t make much noise but it releases some heat which means the fans are doing their job.

Controls and Connections:

• HDMI-1 2.0b HDCP 2.2
• HDMI-2 2.0b HDCP 2.2 Audio return
• Audio out
• USB-A
• 5A power delivery
• Port of Android TV stick

Who is This Projector For?

This projector is best for gamers or for gold simulators considering it has minimum input lag and incredible picture quality.

Final Words

Golf simulators are becoming more popular and easily accessible. They can even be installed in cramped and compact spaces like a garage.

The key to a quality golf simulator setup is a decent short-throw projector with a bright and crisp image and low input lag.

Optoma UHD30, Optoma GT1090HDR, and BenQ TK700STi are some of the highest selling gaming projectors that are being used for golf simulators are well.

Optoma GT1090HDR is the recommended Golf Simulator Projector.

Thanks for reading this article, leave a comment below if you have any questions.