8 Good Projectors for Golf Simulators in 2026 (Short Throw and Budget Picks)

The BenQ TH671ST is the projector most simulator builders land on because it solves the two problems that sink cheaper units. Its short throw lens throws a 100-inch image from roughly four to five feet, which means you can mount it high and close so your body and club never cast a shadow across the screen mid-swing. That single trait rules out most standard living-room projectors.

It wins best overall because it balances everything a simulator needs rather than chasing one spec. The 1080p resolution is sharp enough for a hitting screen at normal viewing distance, the 3,000 lumens holds up in a dimmed garage or basement, and the low input lag keeps the on-screen ball reacting the instant your launch monitor reports a shot. With a big base of verified owner reviews behind it, it is also a known quantity rather than a gamble.

The real limitation is the lamp. Unlike the laser Optoma and BenQ picks here, the TH671ST uses a traditional bulb that dims over time and eventually needs replacing, which adds a small running cost if you play daily. It is also Full HD rather than 4K, so pixel-peepers stepping right up to the screen will notice.

Buy the TH671ST if you want a proven, fits-most-rooms projector without overspending. Step up to the BenQ TK710STi if you want 4K and a laser light source, or drop to the GooDee if budget rules everything.

The GooDee 4K is the pick for anyone who wants a simulator screen lit up without spending simulator money. At around $270 it is the cheapest projector here by a wide margin, and its large base of owner reviews shows it delivers a genuinely big, watchable image once the lights are off.

It earns best budget because it clears the bar that matters most for a starter rig: a bright enough, sharp enough picture in a controlled room. The native 1080p panel accepts a 4K signal, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth are built in, and the streaming apps mean the same unit doubles as a home theater when the mat is put away. For a first build you are testing before committing thousands, that flexibility is real value.

Its biggest limitation is the throw. This is a standard-throw LED projector, not a short throw, so it has to sit well back from the screen. In a short garage bay that either is not possible or forces a floor or low ceiling mount where your swing casts a shadow. Its LED brightness also fades fast the moment any ambient light creeps in.

Choose the GooDee if you have a dark room, a bit of depth behind the hitting area, and a budget that rules out the BenQ and Optoma picks. If your bay is short or bright, the extra money for a short throw unit like the ViewSonic PS502X pays off quickly.

The ViewSonic PX700HDH is the pick for golfers who want serious brightness without paying dedicated-simulator prices. At roughly $549 it undercuts the BenQ TH671ST while pushing more lumens onto the screen, which is why it is the best-value option for anyone whose room can accommodate a standard throw projector.

It takes best value on a simple calculation of light per dollar. The 3,700 lumens beats several projectors here that cost more, so the image holds up better in a slightly-lit room, and the 1080p panel is sharp enough for a hitting screen viewed from normal distance. The 1.1x optical zoom and vertical keystone make it forgiving to position, and a solid base of owner reviews backs up the picture quality.

The limitation is the throw distance. This is a standard throw lens, not a short throw, so it needs to sit farther back from the screen than the Optoma or BenQ short throw units. In a deep room that is a non-issue, but in a short bay you either cannot fit it or end up mounting it where your swing casts a shadow.

Buy the PX700HDH if you have depth behind the tee and want the most brightness for your money. If your room is short front to back, spend up for a short throw projector like the Optoma GT2000HDR instead.

The Optoma GT2000HDR exists for the room where you simply cannot get the projector far back from the screen. It is an ultra-compact short throw laser, so it produces a full-size simulator image from a fraction of the distance a normal projector needs, which quietly solves the hardest constraint in a lot of garage and basement builds.

It wins best short throw because its lens geometry is more aggressive than the standard short throw BenQ, letting you mount it closer to the screen and higher out of the swing path. The laser light source is a bonus that the lamp-based picks cannot match: no bulb to replace and brightness that stays put. It also takes a 4K HDR signal and keeps input lag low, so the on-screen ball tracks your shot cleanly.

The trade-off is resolution. The native panel is 1080p, not 4K, so if you press right up to a large impact screen you will see softer detail than the TK710STi delivers. It is also a mid-to-premium price rather than a bargain.

Pick the GT2000HDR when your room is short on depth and you want a maintenance-free laser that mounts close. If you have the room to sit a projector back and want to save money, the BenQ TH671ST or a standard-throw ViewSonic is the more economical route.

The ViewSonic PS502X is the budget answer to the short throw problem. Most projectors that fill a screen from close range are lasers costing four figures, but the PS502X does it for about $530, which makes it the best fit for a small room where you cannot place the projector far back.

It wins best for small spaces because it pairs the geometry that shallow bays need with brightness they can use. The short throw lens fills a large image from just a few feet away, so you can mount it high and close and keep your swing out of the light path, while 4,000 lumens keeps the picture bright enough to survive a little ambient light. For a cramped garage or spare bedroom, that combination is hard to match at the price.

The compromise is resolution. The native panel is XGA, well below the 1080p of nearly every other pick here, so the image looks softer and blockier as you approach a large screen. For golf graphics viewed from the tee it is acceptable, but it is a clear step down in sharpness.

Choose the PS502X when your room is short, your budget is tight, and getting a bright image from close range matters more than pixel sharpness. If you can fit a projector farther back, the 1080p ViewSonic PX700HDH gives a much crisper picture for a similar price.

The BenQ TH575 is the easy on-ramp projector. It does not have the short throw lens or laser engine of the pricier picks, but it nails the fundamentals a first simulator needs: a bright, sharp 1080p image, fast response, and a setup process that forgives mistakes.

It earns best for beginners because it lowers the stakes on your first projector purchase. The 3,800 lumens and Full HD panel produce a clean picture in a dimmed room, the 16ms input lag keeps ball flight tight to your swing, and auto vertical keystone plus a three-year BenQ warranty mean you can get it aligned and protected without expertise. It is also a genuine dual-purpose unit, so the same projector handles console gaming and movies when you are not practicing, which softens the cost of committing to a simulator.

The limitation is the throw. Like the ViewSonic PX700HDH, this is a standard throw projector, so it has to sit back from the screen and does not fit a shallow bay. In a short room your swing can drift into the light path unless you mount carefully.

Pick the TH575 if you are new to simulators, have some depth in the room, and want a versatile projector that is not a big gamble. If your bay is short, choose a short throw option like the Optoma GT2000HDR or the ViewSonic PS502X instead.

The Optoma GT2400HDR is the answer to the most common complaint about simulator projectors: the image looks great until someone opens a blind. At 4,200 lumens it is the brightest unit on this list, and Optoma markets it directly at golf simulation, so it is engineered for exactly this job rather than repurposed from home theater.

It earns best for bright rooms because brightness is the spec that decides whether a projector survives ambient light, and this one has the most of it. The short throw laser engine lets you mount it high and close over a hitting screen, the laser source means no lamp maintenance, and it accepts 4K HDR while keeping input lag low enough that shots feel immediate. If your simulator lives in a room with windows, a garage door, or overhead lighting you cannot kill, this is the pick that stays watchable.

The main caveat is that it is a newer model with a thinner base of verified owner reviews than the long-running BenQ TH671ST, so there is less collected long-term feedback to lean on. It also sits at a premium price for a 1080p panel.

Choose the GT2400HDR if you cannot control the light in your space and want maximum brightness with a golf-first design. If you play in a properly dark room, a cheaper projector will look just as good for less money.

The BenQ TK710STi is the projector for the golfer building a room they intend to keep. It is the only true 4K unit here, and it pairs that resolution with a laser light source and short throw optics, which is exactly the combination a permanent simulator wants.

It takes best premium because it removes the compromises the cheaper picks accept. The 4K panel resolves course textures and grain lines that a 1080p projector smears, and it holds that sharpness even when you stand close to a large impact screen. The laser engine means there is no lamp to dim or replace, so brightness stays consistent over years of daily use, and BenQ’s very low input lag keeps ball flight glued to your swing.

The limitation is simply cost. At roughly $1,899 it is close to double the TH671ST and many times the GooDee, and much of that premium goes into image quality that casual players will not fully use. It is also a heavier, more permanent install than a grab-and-go unit.

Buy the TK710STi if you are building a dedicated room and want the sharpest, lowest-maintenance image available here. If you play a few times a week or watch the budget, the TH671ST gives you most of the experience for far less.