Quick Answer: The BenQ TK710STi is the best golf simulator projector for most home bays in 2026 — $2,199 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 roughly $1,300–$1,409 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.
What changed (September 2026): the BenQ TK710STi’s price rose from $1,899 to $2,199 per Shop Indoor Golf and Top Shelf Golf’s current listings, and the ViewSonic LS711HD’s street price has drifted up to roughly $1,409 at some retailers versus its $1,299 MSRP — both re-verified directly against current retailer pages this update. Last updated: September 20, 2026.
Updated for 2026
- BenQ discontinued the TK700STi in April 2025; the direct replacement is the TK710STi, now $2,199 (up from $1,899 earlier in 2026, per Shop Indoor Golf’s and Top Shelf Golf’s current listings) — 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 at $1,299 MSRP but streets as high as ~$1,409 at some retailers as of September 2026, 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 September 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. Not sure what screen width or throw distance you actually need? Our screen size calculator guide walks through the math before you buy.
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 | ~$2,199 | ★★★★★ |
| 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–$1,409 | ★★★★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, and its own price has climbed further since launch — from $1,899 to $2,199 at retailers like Shop Indoor Golf and Top Shelf Golf as of September 2026 — but the eliminated lamp cost and the laser’s stable brightness over time still close most of that gap versus lamp-based rivals. 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.