TV vs Projector for Sim: Which Is Right?

---

Yes. You can use a TV instead of a projector for a golf simulator. It’s cheaper, sharper, and zero maintenance. A lot of guys do it.

But it changes the experience. A TV is a screen on a wall. A projector filling an impact screen is a window onto a golf course. They’re different things.

Here’s when each makes sense, and why the forum has strong opinions about this.

The TV Setup: How It Works

You hit balls into a net. Behind or above the net, you mount a TV. Your launch monitor connects to the TV (directly via HDMI on the Garmin R50, or through a PC/tablet on other units). You see your ball flight, your data, and your course on the TV.

No impact screen. No projector. No enclosure. Just a net, a launch monitor, and a TV you probably already own.

Total display cost: $0 (if you have a TV) to $400 (for a new 65-inch).

The Projector Setup: How It Works

You hit balls into an impact screen. A projector behind you (or above, if short-throw) projects the image onto the screen. The ball hits the screen, the image fills the screen, and it feels like you’re standing on the tee box.

Total display cost: $400-800 (projector) + $300-800 (enclosure and screen).

Where the TV Wins

Price

If you already own a TV, your display cost is zero. Even buying a new 65-inch 4K TV runs $400-600. A projector setup (projector + enclosure + impact screen) runs $700-1,600. The TV saves you $300-1,000.

Image quality

A 4K TV has better contrast, sharper text, and more vibrant colors than a $400 projector. Projectors struggle with contrast — especially budget models in partially lit rooms. A TV looks great in any lighting. Your data readouts are crisp. Course graphics pop.

Zero maintenance

No bulbs to replace. No projector to mount and align. No screen to clean or replace. A TV is plug-and-play forever. Projector bulbs burn out after 2,000-4,000 hours ($100-200 replacement). TVs just… work.

Space efficiency

A TV on a wall mount takes up zero floor space. A projector setup needs an enclosure that’s 8-10 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep. If your space is tight — an apartment, a small basement, a shared room — the TV is the practical choice.

Dual-purpose

Your simulator TV is also your regular TV. Watch football, stream movies, play games. The projector setup is simulator-only (unless you want to watch movies on your impact screen, which some guys do, but the image quality is worse).

Where the Projector Wins

Immersion

This is the big one. A projector filling a 10-foot impact screen puts you INSIDE the golf course. The image is life-sized. You look at the fairway and it stretches out in front of you. You hit and the ball flies into the screen.

A TV — even a 75-inch — is a window. You’re looking AT a screen, not INTO a course. The experience is fundamentally different.

Forum quote, real guy: “I did a 65in TV setup and just wasn’t a fan of hitting into a net with a TV setup. It mentally messed me up cause rather than hit through and look forward, I started to not finish my swing and look over to the TV.”

That’s the TV problem in one sentence. You look at the TV instead of looking through to the target. It messes with your swing.

Ball impact feedback

With a projector and impact screen, the ball hits the screen. You feel the impact. You see the ball hit the image. It’s satisfying in a way that hitting into a net and watching a TV cannot replicate.

With a TV setup, the ball hits a net. The net catches it. You look at the TV to see where it went. It’s disconnected. Functional but not satisfying.

The “wow factor”

When your buddies come over, a projector setup filling a 10-foot screen is impressive. It looks like a commercial simulator. A TV behind a net looks like a guy hitting into a net in his basement. Both are fun. One is cool.

The Hybrid: Best of Both Worlds

Some guys run both. A projector and impact screen for the immersive experience, plus a small TV (32-43 inch) mounted to the side for data readouts. The projector shows the course. The TV shows your numbers. You get immersion and clean data.

This is the premium setup. It costs more (projector + screen + TV). But if you have the budget, it’s the best experience. The course fills your vision. Your stats are a glance to the right.

Which Launch Monitors Work with a TV?

Any launch monitor that outputs to a screen works with a TV:

• Garmin R50: Direct HDMI output. Plug into any TV. No PC needed.
• SkyTrak+: Connects to a PC, tablet, or phone. Cast to a TV via HDMI cable, Apple TV, or Chromecast.
• Bushnell Launch Pro: Connects to a phone or tablet. Cast to TV.
• Uneekor EYE XO / EYE MINI: Connects to a PC. PC connects to TV via HDMI.
• FlightScope Mevo+: Connects to phone/tablet. Cast to TV.
• Rapsodo MLM2PRO: Phone-based. Cast to TV (clunky but works).

The R50 is the cleanest TV experience — direct HDMI, no middleman. Everything else needs a PC or tablet in the chain.

The Verdict

Use a TV if:

• Budget is tight (you already own one)
• Your space can’t fit an enclosure
• You want dual-purpose (simulator + regular TV)
• You’re testing the waters before committing to a full build
• Image quality matters more than immersion

Use a projector if:

• You want the immersive “I’m on the course” experience
• You want ball-impact feedback (hitting into a screen, not a net)
• You have space for an enclosure
• You want the “wow factor” when friends come over
• You’re building a dedicated simulator space

The TV is the practical choice. The projector is the dream choice. Most guys start with a TV, realize they want the immersion, and upgrade to a projector within six months. Some guys are happy with the TV forever.

If you’re not sure, start with a TV. It costs nothing if you already own one. If you love simulator golf, you’ll know — and then you buy the projector. If you don’t use it, you’re out $0 instead of $800.

Not sure what projector to buy? Check out our projector guide. Building a full enclosure? Our DIY build guide walks you through it.