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What Are the Best Projectors for a Garage Golf Simulator?


According to a national survey of golf simulator owners and buyers, the garage was the second most popular location for their playing area. Whether it's setting up a dedicated simulator in a single bay or creating a parking space that can be converted into a golf sim, getting the right projector for your setup can be a challenge. So, what makes a great golf sim projector for the garage – and which ones do you want to avoid? Here are five key features to look for in a garage golf simulator projector.

 

  • Toughness – can it handle the heat/cold/dirt in a garage?
  • How easy it is to set up a Show Throw Lens?
  • Offset – what does it mean and why is it important in a garage simulator?
  • How to tell if it is a color-accurate model for realistic courses?
  • Brightness-how bright does it have to be?

 

Keep in mind that when you are using your garage for golf simulation, the right projector can enable your impact screen to double as a giant 11-foot-wide television – perfect for watching the Masters, so the ability to use it as a television or movie projector may be important to you. 

 

Let’s look at the options around each factor.

 

Is the Projector Tough Enough to Live in the Garage?


Garages can be a hostile place for projectors. They get dirty, are colder and hotter than the rest of the house, and typically don’t have humidity control. Not all projectors can handle this, so here are three things that determine if a projector is tough enough to live in a garage. 

 

  • Sealed Light Engine to keep dust out of the projector. Many classroom and conference room projectors still use paper filters – where a dusty environment can void the warranty.
  • Ability to operate in above-average heat or below-cold environments. For example, the new BenQ LH820ST can be used in temperatures up to 104°, and as low as 32°.
  • Can handle high humidity and freezing temperatures. Look for a model that can handle up to 90% relative humidity and can be stored in a garage – even if the temperature drops to -4° Fahrenheit. 
The BenQ mount can support up to 33 pounds and has an adjustable height feature.
The BenQ mount can support up to 33 pounds and has an adjustable height feature.

Easy Setup with a Short Throw Lens

Unless your garage ceiling is higher than average, a “short throw” projector lens is the easiest way that will fill the entire screen without the risk of creating a shadow on the screen when you are hitting.  Short-throw lenses are more expensive but make mounting a projector in the ceiling much easier. 

 


There are different short-throw lenses that will enable you to mount the projector in a safe place. For example, the BenQ LH820ST has a throw ratio of 0.5 – which can fill a 12-foot-wide screen from just six feet away – which will be safely above the hitting area. Other models such as the LU935ST are designed with a 0.81 throw ratio to go a little farther back – and are good for bigger screens where you can create a 14-foot-wide screen from just 12 feet away. A normal throw projector would need to be mounted about five feet or farther back and could create a shadow with a standard ceiling.

Offset – why is it important in mounting garage simulators?

For a garage golf simulator, the projector image must cover the entire impact screen down to the floor – but not be blocked by the enclosure. Most classroom or conference room projectors are not designed for this, so they may require a lot of tilting and correction to make it work. The best golf simulation projectors have specific offsets to get the image under the top wall of the enclosure – while extending the image all the way to the floor. For example, the BenQ LH820ST combines a shorter throw (.50 ratio) lens with a 9° offset that gently bends the picture down to the floor while enabling the projector to be mounted closer to the screen. The BenQ LK936ST has a neutral offset – since it is farther back and has lens shift capability.

Why is Color Accuracy Needed for Realism?


One important aspect of a golf simulation projector is color accuracy. Why? Many high-brightness projectors are designed to show spreadsheets and PowerPoint slides where a bright image is more important than the shade of green in a pie chart. Using one of these models can result in fairway grass having a glowing radioactive look instead of the muted dark greens of the Bermuda fairways at TPC Scottsdale. A projector that has a “Rec. 709” color specification at or above 90%, will have realistic color for a garage golf setup to show off your courses the way they are designed to look on the screen.

How Bright Does the Projector Need to Be?

A typical home theater projector has 100% Rec. 709 color accuracy – but usually is about 2000 lumens, while a conference room or classroom projector is brighter – 4000 – 5000 lumens, but often has no Rec. 709 color accuracy specifications. For a garage golf simulator projector – look for a projector that has both brightness – and Rec. 709 color accuracy. The table below has several options for you to choose from at different resolutions and price points.

Best Projectors for a Garage Golf Simulator


If you are looking for a projector that fits your budget and works in your garage, then check out the table below for some popular models that might be right for you. All these models use laser light instead of a traditional mercury based lamp, which is being discontinued in 130+ countries in a few years.

  BenQ LW500ST BenQ LU710 BenQ LH820ST BenQ LU935ST BenQ LK936ST
 
Sealed Dustproof Engine
BenQ LW500ST
Yes
BenQ LU710
Yes
BenQ LH820ST
Yes
BenQ LU935ST
Yes
BenQ LK936ST
Yes
 
Min/Max Playing Temperature
BenQ LW500ST
32°/104°  
BenQ LU710
32°/104°  
BenQ LH820ST
32°/104°  
BenQ LU935ST
32°/104°  
BenQ LK936ST
32°/104°  
 
Short Throw Lens
BenQ LW500ST

Yes

.72-.87

BenQ LU710

No

1.1

BenQ LH820ST

Yes

.50

BenQ LU935ST

Yes

0.81 - 0.89

BenQ LK936ST

Yes

0.81 - 0.89

 
Color Accuracy
BenQ LW500ST
98% Rec 709
BenQ LU710
92% Rec 709
BenQ LH820ST
90% Rec 709
BenQ LU935ST
92% Rec 709
BenQ LK936ST
92% Rec 709
 
Brightness
BenQ LW500ST
2000 Lumens
BenQ LU710
4000 Lumens
BenQ LH820ST
3600 Lumens
BenQ LU935ST
5500 Lumens
BenQ LK936ST
5100 Lumens
 
# of Pixels
BenQ LW500ST
< 1 Million
BenQ LU710
2.4 Million
BenQ LH820ST
2.1 Million
BenQ LU935ST
2.4 Million
BenQ LK936ST
8.3 Million
 
Lamp Type
BenQ LW500ST
LED
BenQ LU710
Laser
BenQ LH820ST
Laser
BenQ LU935ST
Laser
BenQ LK936ST
Laser
 
Est. Street Price
BenQ LW500ST
$799
BenQ LU710
$1699
BenQ LH820ST
$1899
BenQ LU935ST
$3999
BenQ LK936ST
$4899

Want Some Expert Advice?


With over 75 projector models to choose from, our golf simulation experts can help you find the right projector for your setup. You can call us at 888-818-5888 or simply drop us a note below and we’ll get one of our experts to work with you to find the best projector for your setup – and budget.