Quick Answer: The BenQ TK710STi is the best golf simulator projector for most home bays in 2026 — $1,899 for a 4K laser short-throw with 3,200 ANSI lumens, a 0.69–0.83 throw ratio, and 4.2 ms input lag. It replaced the long-recommended TK700STi, which BenQ discontinued in April 2025. For rooms you can’t darken, the ViewSonic LS711HD is the value pick at $1,299 with 4,200 lumens and a built-in Golf Mode. The Optoma GT1090HDR is still excellent but was discontinued in 2022 — buy the GT1090HDRx instead.
Updated for 2026
- BenQ discontinued the TK700STi in April 2025; the direct replacement is the TK710STi at $1,899 — a 4K laser short-throw rated 3,200 ANSI lumens, 600,000:1 contrast, a 0.69–0.83 throw ratio with 1.2× zoom, 4.2 ms input lag at 1080p/240Hz, and up to 20,000 hours of light-source life, per BenQ’s specifications. Swapping the lamp for a laser is the real upgrade: no lamp replacements over the life of the bay.
- The ViewSonic LS711HD lists and streets at $1,299, not the sub-$900 it once did, and ProjectorCentral rates it at 4,200 lumens with a 0.49 short-throw ratio — it also ships with a dedicated Golf Mode and took a Best of Show award at InfoComm 2024, making it the most sim-specific projector on this list.
- The Optoma GT1090HDR was discontinued in December 2022. Remaining new stock is third-party and has drifted up — around $1,445 in 2026 versus its $1,399 launch price — so buy the current GT1090HDRx rather than paying a premium for old inventory.
- Sizing rule worth re-checking: per Shop Indoor Golf’s lighting guide, plan on a 3,000-lumen minimum for a 10-foot-wide screen and 4,000–5,000 lumens once the screen is 12 feet or wider. Room light matters as much as the spec sheet — see our golf simulator lighting guide for the zoning that keeps ambient light off the screen.
Prices, models, and discontinuations re-verified July 2026. The projector is what turns a hitting bay into an immersive course. Get it wrong — too dim, wrong throw distance, washed-out image — and the whole setup feels cheap. We compared the projectors golfers actually mount in their home simulators, focused on brightness, throw ratio, and value — and how they line up against the simulator enclosure you’ll project onto and the room size you have to mount in.
Golf simulator projectors by the numbers
- 3,000 lumens is the practical brightness floor for a sim bay — the BenQ TK710STi’s rated 3,200 ANSI lumens (per BenQ’s specs) covers a dim-to-moderate room, while bright rooms want 4,000+.
- 0.49–0.5:1 throw ratios on the ViewSonic LS711HD and Optoma GT-series fill a roughly 100-inch screen from only a few feet back — short-throw optics are what stop you from casting a shadow on the screen.
- 16:10 or 4:3 aspect ratios suit a tall sim image better than standard 16:9, because most golf-sim simulator software (GSPro, E6) renders a near-square hitting view rather than a widescreen movie frame.
Our top picks at a glance
| Projector | Best for | Resolution | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BenQ TK710STi | Best overall | 4K laser short-throw, 3,200 lm | ~$1,899 | ★★★★★ |
| Optoma GT1090HDRx | Best value short-throw | 1080p laser, 4,200 lm | ~$1,400 | ★★★★½ |
| ViewSonic LS711HD | Best brightness | 1080p laser, 4,200 lm, Golf Mode | ~$1,299 | ★★★★½ |
| BenQ LK936ST | Best premium | 4K laser short-throw | ~$3,500 | ★★★★★ |
| Optoma HD146X | Best budget | 1080p standard-throw | ~$450 | ★★★★☆ |
1. BenQ TK710STi — Best Overall
BenQ TK710STi (replaces the discontinued TK700STi)
- 4K laser short-throw: 0.69–0.83 throw ratio with 1.2× zoom fills a 12 ft screen from a normal bay depth.
- 3,200 ANSI lumens and 600,000:1 contrast for crisp course graphics.
- 4.2 ms input lag at 1080p/240Hz — the fastest response of anything on this list.
- Up to 20,000 hours of laser life: no lamp replacements for the life of the bay.
The TK710STi is the projector most golfers should buy in 2026, and it’s the reason this guide changed: BenQ discontinued the TK700STi in April 2025, so the unit half the internet still recommends is no longer sold new. The replacement swaps the lamp for a laser light source — same forgiving short throw, brighter at 3,200 ANSI lumens, and rated for 20,000 hours, which in a home bay means you will never buy a lamp. It costs more than the TK700STi did at ~$1,899, but the eliminated lamp cost and the laser’s stable brightness over time close most of that gap. Sharp 4K on an impact screen still looks the part.
2. Optoma GT1090HDRx — Best Value Short-Throw
Optoma GT1090HDRx (successor to the GT1090HDR)
- Short-throw 1080p laser — fills a wide screen from just a few feet back.
- 4,200 lumens keeps the image punchy even in lit rooms.
- Lamp-free operation rated around 30,000 hours.
- Ideal when ceiling space is tight or you want to mount low and close.
Buy the GT1090HDRx, not the original GT1090HDR — Optoma discontinued the HDR in December 2022, and remaining third-party new stock has drifted up to roughly $1,445 against its $1,399 launch price, which makes old inventory the worst deal on this page. One correction while we’re here: this is a short-throw (0.5:1) projector, not an ultra-short-throw. That’s still close enough to tuck behind the tee in most bays, and its 4,200 lumens make it a brighter choice than a 4K unit at a similar price.
3. ViewSonic LS711HD — Best Brightness
ViewSonic LS711HD
- 4,200 lumens from a laser light source — built for rooms you can't darken.
- 0.49 short-throw ratio suits most garage and basement bays.
- Dedicated Golf Mode; Best of Show winner at InfoComm 2024.
- Long-life laser means no lamp replacements.
For rooms you can’t fully darken, the LS711HD’s 4,200 laser lumens keep the screen vivid, and it’s the only projector here with a Golf Mode built in — a picture preset tuned for the flat green-and-sky palette of sim course graphics. It won a Best of Show award at InfoComm 2024 on the strength of that brightness-per-dollar. Note the price has settled at $1,299 MSRP and street, not the sub-$900 it once carried. If ambient light is your enemy, fix the room lighting first — it’s cheaper than buying lumens.
4. BenQ LK936ST — Best Premium
BenQ LK936ST
- 4K laser short-throw with 5,100 lumens — stunning, durable image.
- Maintenance-free laser engine rated for 20,000+ hours.
- Overkill for most, perfect for a showpiece bay.
If you’re building a forever room to match a Foresight or SkyTrak bay, the LK936ST is the projector that does it justice — bright, sharp, and effectively maintenance-free.
5. Optoma HD146X — Best Budget
Optoma HD146X
- Affordable 1080p with solid brightness for darker rooms.
- Standard throw — needs more distance, so plan placement carefully.
- The cheapest way to get a real projected image instead of a monitor.
On a tight budget, the HD146X gets you a projected course image for a few hundred dollars. Just confirm you have the throw distance, since it isn’t a short-throw model.
How to choose a golf simulator projector
- Throw ratio matters most. Measure the distance from your mount point to the screen, then pick short-throw or ultra-short-throw to fit. This is the #1 mistake buyers make.
- Brightness (lumens). Aim for 3,000+ lumens; go higher for rooms with ambient light.
- Resolution. 1080p looks great on a sim screen; 4K adds sharpness if your budget allows.
- Input lag. Lower lag keeps the swing-to-screen feel responsive during play.
The bottom line
The BenQ TK710STi is the best golf simulator projector for most home bays in 2026 — sharp 4K, short throw, 3,200 laser lumens, and the direct replacement for the TK700STi that BenQ discontinued in April 2025. Save with the Optoma GT1090HDRx short-throw, fight ambient light with the ViewSonic LS711HD and its built-in Golf Mode, or go all out with the BenQ LK936ST. Measure your throw distance before you buy anything else — and make sure the computer driving the image has a graphics card that can feed the projector at its native resolution.