Optoma's golf simulator projectors for 2026 are three short throw lasers: the GT2400HDR, a 1080p model, and the ZK431ST-B and ZK521ST-B, both 4K UHD. The GT2400HDR and ZK431ST-B hang close to the screen, ahead of the golfer. The ZK521ST-B has a longer lens, hangs further back, and is the only one of the three with lens shift. This page sets out what each one needs to fill a golf screen: how far from the screen it hangs, how high the lens has to be, and what that means in a SIG or Carl's Place enclosure. Every specification is from Optoma's own spec pages, datasheet and manuals, and the room figures are from the GSV Sim Builder. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has asked Optoma for review units, and GSV's video reviews will be linked here once they are done.
Quick buy
- Optoma GT2400HDR5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- Optoma ZK431ST-B5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Optoma ZK521ST-B5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Buying through GSV's links and codes helps support the channel: GSV earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you still get every saving available.
- 0.496Throw ratio, GT2400HDR and ZK431ST-B
- 0.79Throw ratio, ZK521ST-B, with lens shift
- 4,100 to 5,000Lumens, by Optoma
- 8.4 to 8.6 msInput lag at 1080p 120Hz
Check your room for any of the three in the GSV Sim Builder
The short answer
The GT2400HDR is the 1080p model, at 4,200 lumens. It hangs about 6 to 8 ft from the screen, ahead of a golfer standing 10 ft back, with a fixed lens and a fixed offset.
The ZK431ST-B hangs in the same place with the same 0.496 lens, and gives a 4K UHD picture at 4,100 lumens. Its offset is a little lower, 114% against the GT2400HDR's 116%.
The ZK521ST-B is 4K UHD at 5,000 lumens, the brightest of the three. Its 0.79 lens hangs it about 10 to 13 ft from the screen, over or just behind the golfer, and its lens shift lets the picture land straight on in a SIG enclosure, where the other two land low.
None of the three has a zoom lens: each one fills a given screen from one distance only. That makes the room the first thing to check.
Optoma GT2400HDR vs ZK431ST-B vs ZK521ST-B
| Projector | Resolution | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| GT2400HDR | 1080p, 1920 x 1080 | 4,200 lumens |
| ZK431ST-B | 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160 | 4,100 lumens |
| ZK521ST-B | 4K UHD, 3840 x 2160 | 5,000 lumens |
| Projector | Throw ratio | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| GT2400HDR | 0.496, fixed lens | 116%, give or take 5% |
| ZK431ST-B | 0.496, fixed lens | 114% |
| ZK521ST-B | 0.79, fixed lens | 106% to 125%, with vertical lens shift |
| Projector | Input lag | Picture correction |
|---|---|---|
| GT2400HDR | 16.7 ms at 60Hz, 8.4 ms at 1080p 120Hz | Keystone, 15 degrees each way |
| ZK431ST-B | 16.7 ms at 60Hz, 8.6 ms at 1080p 120Hz | Keystone, 15 degrees each way, and Four Corners |
| ZK521ST-B | 16.7 ms at 60Hz, 8.6 ms at 1080p 120Hz | Keystone, 15 degrees each way, and Four Corners |
All three are laser projectors rated by Optoma at 30,000 hours in Eco mode, all three are 16:9 with 4:3 and 16:10 settings, and all three can be mounted at any angle. Brightness is Optoma's figure, measured to ISO 21118. The figures are from Optoma's GT2400HDR datasheet and its ZK431ST-B and ZK521ST-B spec pages and manuals, read on October 11, 2026. The product photographs are Optoma's.
How far from the screen each one hangs
Throw ratio is the distance from the lens to the screen divided by the width of the picture. A 0.496 lens fills a picture 10 ft wide from just under 5 ft. Most golf screens are 4:3 and these projectors are 16:9, so the picture is sized to the height of the screen, and its shape is set to the screen in the simulator software. The GSV Sim Builder works out the distance for each enclosure from Optoma's throw ratios, and Optoma's projection calculator gives the same distances and lens heights for these screens, at 16:9, 16:10 and 4:3:
| Enclosure and screen | GT2400HDR or ZK431ST-B | ZK521ST-B |
|---|---|---|
| SIG8, screen 7 ft 7 in x 7 ft 7 in | 6 ft 8 in | 10 ft 8 in |
| SIG10, screen 10 ft 1 in x 7 ft 7 in | 6 ft 8 in | 10 ft 8 in |
| SIG12, screen 11 ft 5 in x 8 ft 7 in | 7 ft 7 in | 12 ft 1 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 10, screen 9 ft 3 in x 6 ft 11 in | 6 ft 1 in | 9 ft 9 in |
| Carl's Place DIY 7.7 x 13, screen 12 ft 5 in x 7 ft | 6 ft 2 in | 9 ft 10 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8 x 10.5, screen 9 ft 10 in x 7 ft 5 in | 6 ft 6 in | 10 ft 5 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 11, screen 10 ft 5 in x 7 ft 10 in | 6 ft 11 in | 11 ft |
| Carl's Place Pro 9 x 12, screen 11 ft 2 in x 8 ft 5 in | 7 ft 5 in | 11 ft 10 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 10 x 13, screen 12 ft 2 in x 9 ft 2 in | 8 ft 1 in | 12 ft 10 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 8.5 x 14.5, screen 14 ft x 7 ft 10 in | 6 ft 11 in | 11 ft 1 in |
| Carl's Place Pro 10 x 15.5, screen 14 ft 8 in x 9 ft 2 in | 8 ft 1 in | 12 ft 11 in |
Distances are from the screen to the lens. With the tee 10 ft from the screen, the GT2400HDR and ZK431ST-B hang ahead of the golfer and the ZK521ST-B over or just behind the golfer. The builder checks that the club clears each one.
How high the lens goes
Offset sets the height. Hung from a ceiling, a projector with a 114% offset has its lens 14% of the picture height above the top of the picture. For a picture 7 ft 7 in tall, as in a SIG8 or SIG10, that is 13 in above the picture for the ZK431ST-B and 15 in for the GT2400HDR. Optoma gives the GT2400HDR's offset as 116%, give or take 5%, so on a given unit its lens can need to sit up to about 5 in higher or lower than that.
The ZK521ST-B's lens shift moves the picture up and down between a 106% and a 125% offset. Optoma's spec page gives the bottom of that range as 104%, and Optoma's projection calculator stops at 106%, so this page and the GSV Sim Builder use 106%. For the same 7 ft 7 in picture its lens can sit anywhere from 5 in to 23 in above the picture, so it can hang flush under a lower ceiling or come down to clear something in the way. Its lens shift does not move the picture sideways: like the other two, it hangs on the center line of the screen.
In a SIG enclosure
Shop Indoor Golf's SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 are 5 ft deep, and all three projectors hang further from the screen than that, so the light has to pass under the top bar at the front of the enclosure. With a fixed offset, the lens height that puts the picture at the top of the screen sends the top of the light into that bar. The GSV Sim Builder hangs the projector just low enough for the light to clear the bar, and the picture then lands low:
| Projector | SIG8 or SIG10 | SIG12 |
|---|---|---|
| GT2400HDR | 8 in low, or tilted up about 6 degrees | 8 in low, or tilted up about 5 degrees |
| ZK431ST-B | 7 in low, or tilted up about 5 degrees | 7 in low, or tilted up about 4 degrees |
| ZK521ST-B | Straight on, with its lens shift | Straight on, with its lens shift |
Tilting the projector up and squaring the picture with keystone puts it back on the screen, at some cost in sharpness and brightness, and the ZK manuals switch keystone off in Low Latency mode (below). The ZK521ST-B lands straight on: its lens shift lets it hang where the light clears the bar with the picture where it should be.
Carl's Place DIY and Pro enclosures leave more room above the screen. In the builder all three fill them straight on, or within an inch of it.
Ceiling height and mounting
The lens height sets the mount. Under a 10 ft ceiling, over a SIG12, the builder hangs the ZK521ST-B with its lens 9 ft 6 in up, under the enclosure's top bar. Optoma's ZK521ST-B manual asks for a gap of at least 4 in between the ceiling and the projector, and M4 screws at least 0.4 in long for a ceiling mount that is not Optoma's own. Under a higher ceiling, a drop pole or an adjustable mount brings the projector down to its height.
Put your own room in the GSV Sim Builder: pick any of the three and it shows the picture, the lens height, the drop if one is needed, the light cone and the swing under it. A low ceiling has its own guide: golf simulator for a low ceiling.
Keystone, Four Corners and Low Latency mode
Optoma lists keystone correction of 15 degrees each way, up and down and side to side, for all three, and Four Corners on the ZK431ST-B and ZK521ST-B. Optoma's GT2400HDR page lists geometry correction in its Smart Control app.
For a golf simulator the catch is input lag. Optoma rates all three at 16.7 ms at 60Hz, and at 8.4 ms for the GT2400HDR and 8.6 ms for the ZK431ST-B and ZK521ST-B at 1080p 120Hz. The user manuals Optoma links from its ZK431ST-B and ZK521ST-B pages say all geometry settings, keystone and Four Corners among them, are switched off while Low Latency mode is on. Optoma's GT2400HDR datasheet and product page do not say either way.
So plan the mount to land the picture square with no correction: on the center line of the screen, at the height the offset asks for, or inside the ZK521ST-B's lens shift. That is how the GSV Sim Builder places each one, and it says when a room asks for a tilt.
Picture shape
All three are 16:9, and Optoma lists 4:3 and 16:10 as compatible. Most impact screens are 4:3. Size the picture to the height of the screen and set its shape in the computer's display settings and in the simulator software, and nothing is cut off or stretched.
Where to buy and the GSV code
GSV sends buyers of all three to Shop Indoor Golf. Code GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order there. Every GSV code is on the golf simulator discount codes page.
Optoma golf simulator projectors at Shop Indoor Golf
- Optoma GT2400HDR5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- Optoma ZK431ST-B5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Optoma ZK521ST-B5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Prices are on the shop's page. Codes last checked October 9, 2026.
GSV reviews
GSV has asked Optoma for review units of all three. When GSV has set them up and filmed them, each review will be linked here. Until then, GSV's BenQ LK830ST review covers a 4K short throw with the same 0.496 throw ratio and the same 114% offset as the ZK431ST-B.
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Choosing a projector for your room? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure you have the right fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages to put together yourself, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
Optoma golf projector questions
Which Optoma projector is best for a golf simulator?
It depends on the room. The GT2400HDR (1080p) and the ZK431ST-B (4K UHD) hang about 6 to 8 ft from the screen with a fixed offset. The ZK521ST-B (4K UHD, 5,000 lumens) hangs about 10 to 13 ft back and has lens shift, so it lands the picture straight on in a SIG enclosure. Put your room in the GSV Sim Builder to see which fits.
How far from the screen does the Optoma ZK431ST-B go?
Its throw ratio is 0.496, so it hangs about half the picture's width from the screen: 6 ft 8 in for a SIG8 or SIG10 and 7 ft 7 in for a SIG12, by the GSV Sim Builder. The GT2400HDR has the same throw.
How far from the screen does the Optoma ZK521ST-B go?
Its throw ratio is 0.79: 10 ft 8 in from the screen for a SIG8 or SIG10 and 12 ft 1 in for a SIG12, by the GSV Sim Builder. With the tee 10 ft from the screen that is over or just behind the golfer, and the builder checks that the club clears it.
Do the Optoma golf projectors have lens shift?
Only the ZK521ST-B. It has vertical lens shift between a 106% and a 125% offset, by Optoma's projection calculator (its spec page says from 104%). The GT2400HDR (116%, give or take 5%) and the ZK431ST-B (114%) have a fixed offset and no lens shift, and none of the three has a zoom lens.
Can you use keystone or Four Corners in Low Latency mode?
Not on the ZK431ST-B or the ZK521ST-B. The user manuals Optoma links for them say keystone and Four Corners are switched off while Low Latency mode is on, so plan the mount to land the picture square without them. Optoma's GT2400HDR datasheet and product page do not say either way.
Do Optoma projectors work with a 4:3 golf screen?
Yes. All three are 16:9, and Optoma lists 4:3 and 16:10 as compatible. Size the picture to the height of the screen and set its shape in the computer's display settings and in the simulator software.
What is the input lag of the Optoma golf projectors?
Optoma gives 16.7 ms at 60Hz for all three, and at 1080p 120Hz 8.4 ms for the GT2400HDR and 8.6 ms for the ZK431ST-B and the ZK521ST-B.
Is there a GSV discount code for Optoma projectors?
Yes. GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order at Shop Indoor Golf, which sells all three.
Is there free help choosing a golf simulator projector?
Yes. Jay offers a free consultation with GSV's partner master builders, hand-picked by Jay, who get on a call quickly and make sure everything fits. They offer package deals, DIY packages, full installation and more. Use the free consultation button on this page.
More from GSV
Build the rest of your sim
- Enclosure and screen$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
- Carl's Place enclosure5% off, code sent by emailShopGet the code
- Hitting mat$20 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
- Simulator computerSurfThing: $100 off applied automatically, no codeShop
- TouchscreenGSV code for TouchscreenGuruShop
- Complete package$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
GSV earns a small commission on these links, at no extra cost to you. Shop Indoor Golf takes one code per order.