“Do you actually need a projector for a golf simulator?” No — a TV works fine for practice. But a short-throw projector gives you 120+ inches from 4-6 feet away, which transforms the experience. The BenQ AK700ST ($1,499) and Optoma GT1080HDR ($999) are the go-tos. Rule of thumb: don’t buy a projector until you’ve confirmed you’ll use the sim weekly for at least 30 days.
Do You Need a Projector for a Golf Simulator? Best Options 2026
Short answer: no.
Long answer: you don’t need one, but you’re going to want one.
Let me explain why, and more importantly, when to prioritize something else.
When You DON’T Need a Projector
Three scenarios where a projector is a waste of your money right now:
You’re hitting into a net. No impact screen means nothing to project onto. Your phone on a milk crate works fine. Do that.
Your total budget is under $1,500. Every dollar below that number should go to the launch monitor. The launch monitor is your setup. The projector is the frosting. Frosting on a bad cake is still a bad cake.
You’re in month one. Get the basics working. Prove you’ll actually use the thing. If you’re hitting balls four times a week after 30 days, then we talk about adding a projector. Not before.
What you use instead: your launch monitor’s app on a phone, tablet, or laptop. You’ll see ball data. Shot traces. Sometimes basic course views. It’s functional. It’s just not immersive.
That’s fine for now.
When You DO Want a Projector
Here’s the moment when a projector goes from “nice to have” to “I can’t believe I waited this long”:
You have an impact screen and enclosure.
That’s the threshold. The second you own an impact screen that can handle ball strikes, a projector changes everything. The course appears on the surface you’re hitting into. The fairway stretches out in front of you. Your ball flight matches what you see on the screen.
It’s the difference between looking down at your phone to see where the ball went, and watching it fly down the middle of 18 at Pebble Beach.
That’s the whole game.
Also worth knowing: a projector + screen setup doubles as a home theater. Movies. Sports. Gaming. The wife approval factor on this is real. You’re not building a golf simulator — you’re building the garage entertainment center that also happens to let you drop your handicap.
What Kind of Projector Do You Need?
Not the expensive one. Let’s kill that myth right now.
You do not need 4K. You do not need a $3,000 laser projector. The forums are full of guys with $400 projectors who are perfectly happy.
Here’s what actually matters:
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumens | 3,000 | 3,500+ | Your garage has ambient light. Fight it. |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 4K is wasted at simulator distances and screen sizes |
| Throw type | Short-throw | Short-throw or UST | You standing in front of the projector = shadow = bad |
| Inputs | HDMI | HDMI | Standard. Works with everything. |
| Price | $300–$500 | $400–$800 | BenQ and Optoma own this range for a reason |
The lumen number matters most. A dim projector in a garage with any light looks terrible. 3,500+ lumens and you’re golden. Below that and you’re fighting your own garage.
Projectors Worth Your Money
| Projector | Price | Lumens | Resolution | The Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ TK710STi | $700–$900 | 4,000 | 1080p | Most recommended by the community. Everyone ends up here. |
| Optoma GT1080HDR | $500–$700 | 3,800 | 1080p | Solid budget short-throw. Zero complaints. |
| BenQ LW600ST | $400–$500 | 4,000 | 720p | The cheapest that’s actually usable. 720p is fine for golf. |
| ViewSonic PX703HDH | $300–$400 | 3,500 | 1080p | Entry level. Works. Nothing fancy. |
The pick: BenQ TK710STi. It’s what most guys end up buying after they tried something cheaper and realized brightness matters. Just start there. Save yourself the upgrade cycle.
How to Mount Your Projector
Three ways to do it. Two of them are right.
1. Ceiling mount (the right way). Mount above and behind your hitting area. Ceiling mount kit costs $30 on Amazon. Run an HDMI cable. Done. No shadows. No tripping. Permanent.
2. Floor mount (the temporary way). Place on a table behind your hitting area. Easier to set up. Takes up floor space. More shadows. Do this for the first month while you figure out where everything goes. Then ceiling mount it.
3. Ultra-short-throw behind the screen (the expensive way). UST projectors sit inches from the screen and project upward. No shadow at all because you’re never between the projector and the screen. Costs $1,500+. Looks incredible. Worth it if you have the money. Overkill if you don’t.
The shadow problem explained: If you stand between the projector and the screen, you cast a shadow on the image. It’s physics. Ceiling mount solves it. Short-throw projectors reduce it. UST eliminates it.
Don’t overthink this. Ceiling mount. $30 kit. Saturday afternoon. Done.
Projector vs. TV: Which Is Better?
This is not a debate.
| Factor | Projector + Screen | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Image size | 100“+ | 65–85“ |
| Immersion | You’re ON the course | You’re watching a TV |
| Can hit balls into it | Yes (impact screen) | No (broken TV) |
| Cost | $400–$900 | $500–$1,500 |
| Multi-use | Home theater + golf | Home theater only |
| Setup | Medium (mount, cable, mount) | Low (plug it in) |
A TV behind a net gives you a bigger picture than your phone. That’s true. But you cannot hit into a TV. And the moment you add an impact screen that you can hit into, the TV is useless because the screen blocks it.
Projector wins. It’s not close.
Here’s the honest take:
You don’t need a projector. A Rapsodo, a net, and your phone on a milk crate is a completely functional golf simulator. You’ll get ball data. You’ll improve. It works.
But the difference between that and a setup where the course appears on a 10-foot screen right where your ball is flying — that’s not a technical difference. It’s an experience difference. It’s the difference between “I’m practicing” and “I’m playing.”
Prioritize the launch monitor first. That’s the brain of the setup. Buy the SkyTrak+ or the Garmin R10. Get the net. Hit balls. Prove the habit.
Then add the projector. You will. Everyone does.
Here’s the BenQ TK710STi. It’s the one. Buy it on Amazon →
Want the full projector lineup? Read my best projector for golf simulator guide — 15 models from $799 to $5,999 with full comparison tables. Or see how the TK710STi stacks up against the AK700ST in our head-to-head comparison.
Or start with the launch monitor first — that’s the right order — and come back for the projector when you’re ready. Find your launch monitor →
Browse all our projector guides → Projector Hub — 7 guides covering 4K, laser, short-throw, Optoma, BenQ, and installation for every build.