Which projector fits your golf simulator? Enter your room, your screen and your launch monitor, and the GSV projector calculator checks every projector in the GSV Sim Builder: whether it fills the screen straight on, how far from the screen it hangs, how high the lens sits, whether it needs a drop mount and whether it ends up over the golfer. It runs the same rules as the 3D Sim Builder, from each maker's published throw ratio, offset and lens shift. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has mounted and reviewed projectors in GSV's own simulator builds, and his rules of thumb are built into the calculator.
Free GSV tool
Golf simulator projector calculator
Enter your room and screen to see which projectors fit, where the best one mounts and how big the picture is.
Loading the calculator. Or open the 3D Sim Builder.
How the calculator works
A projector has to do three things in a simulator: fill the screen, hang where the golfer cannot hit it, and keep its lens at the right height for the picture to land on the screen. The calculator checks all three for each projector.
- Throw ratio. How far the lens sits from the screen for each foot of picture width: throw distance = throw ratio x picture width. A lens of about 0.5 hangs close to the screen, and one of 0.69 to 0.83 hangs about over the golfer with the tee 10 ft from the screen.
- Picture shape. Most projectors make a 16:9 picture and many enclosure screens are closer to 4:3. To fill a tall screen from top to bottom the full picture has to be wider than the screen, so the calculator works from the screen's height, and checks whether the projector lists the screen's shape under its screen fill settings.
- Offset and lens shift. The offset says how far above the top of the picture the lens sits when the projector hangs from the ceiling. A projector with a fixed offset has one height that lands the picture; one with lens shift can hang higher or lower and move the picture to suit.
- Mount and ceiling. The calculator allows for a low-profile ceiling mount, uses a drop pole or an adjustable mount when the lens has to come down, and hangs the projector from an enclosure's bar where that is closer.
- The launch monitor. A ceiling-mounted launch monitor can sit in the projector's light. The calculator checks the shadow it would throw on the screen.
The figures are the makers' own, from each projector's specification page, and the GSV Sim Builder lists the source for each one.
Reading the results
- Fits straight on: the picture fills the screen with no tilt and no keystone, which keeps it sharp and bright.
- Fits with a small tilt: the projector tilts a few degrees and keystone squares the picture up, which costs a little sharpness and brightness.
- Fits, with a caution: it works, but something needs a look: the picture starts a few inches below the top of the screen, the launch monitor throws a shadow, or the lens sits close to the swing.
- Won't fit: the lens cannot reach the height or the distance the picture needs in this room.
Open any result in the 3D Sim Builder to see the projector, the picture and the golfer's swing in the room, and to move the projector by hand.
Can the projector hang over the golfer?
Yes. GSV has many projectors mounted over the golfer with no trouble. What matters is that the club cannot reach the projector, so the GSV Sim Builder checks the top of the swing against the projector body, and the calculator says where the lens sits compared with the tee. Before the mount goes up, take a slow practice swing with a driver under the spot.
GSV's projector picks
The best golf simulator projectors guide has GSV's tested picks and the throw tables for the SIG10, the SIG12 and Carl's Place enclosures. GSV's code GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order at Shop Indoor Golf, which sells most of the projectors in the calculator.
Golf simulator projectors
- BenQ AK700ST5% 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.
- BenQ AH500ST5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- BenQ LK936ST5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Golf simulator projectors5% 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.
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Not sure the projector, the screen and the ceiling work together? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure the projector, the screen, the launch monitor and the room fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, DIY packages, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
Golf simulator projector calculator questions
How far from the screen does a golf simulator projector go?
The throw distance is the throw ratio times the width of the picture. To fill a tall screen from top to bottom, a 16:9 projector makes a picture wider than the screen: an 8 ft tall screen needs a picture about 14.2 ft wide, so a projector with a 0.5 throw ratio hangs about 7.1 ft from the screen. The calculator does the sums for every projector.
What throw ratio is best for a golf simulator projector?
It depends on where the projector can hang. A lens of about 0.5 hangs close to the screen, and one of 0.69 to 0.83 hangs about over the golfer with the tee 10 ft from the screen. The calculator checks each projector's own throw ratio against the room.
Can a golf simulator projector be mounted over the golfer?
Yes, as long as the club cannot reach it. The GSV Sim Builder checks the top of the swing against the projector body, and the calculator says where the lens sits compared with the tee. Take a slow practice swing with a driver under the spot before the mount goes up.
What is lens shift, and does a golf simulator projector need it?
Lens shift moves the picture up or down without tilting the projector, so it can hang higher or lower and still fill the screen straight on. A projector without it has one height that lands the picture, set by its offset, and a drop mount brings it down to that height.
Does the launch monitor affect the projector?
A launch monitor on the ceiling can sit in the projector's light and throw a shadow on the screen. The calculator checks the shadow for the launch monitor picked.
What if no projector fits the room?
The calculator says why: usually the lens cannot get far enough from the screen or low enough. A smaller screen, a drop mount or a projector with lens shift often fixes it, and the 3D Sim Builder lets you try each one. GSV's partner builders can also look at the room in a free consultation.
Where do the projector figures come from?
From each maker's own specification page: the throw ratio, the offset, the lens shift and the screen fill settings. The GSV Sim Builder lists the source for each projector.
More free GSV tools
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.