Understanding Projectors for Golf Simulators

TO WATCH A VIDEO ON PROJECTORS FOR GOLF SIMULATORS CLICK THIS LINK:  http://www.golfsimulatorguys.com/pages/video

Most people think that any projector will work for golf simulators.  This is NOT the case.  The reason is that standard projectors are not meant to produce large images from short distances.  The feature in projectors that determines how far you need to be away from your screen is called THROW RATIO.  So to determine how far away a projector has to be away from a screen is to multiply the diagonal dimension of your screen by the throw ratio.  Now to get a very close ballpark if you don't have the dimension, you can just multiply the width of the screen by 1.25 and then by the throw ratio.

So for example if you have a 12 foot wide screen.  To determine how far your projector has to be away from your screen.

width x 1.25 x throw ratio = distance projector has to be away from screen

Now lets work on a standard throw ratio of projectors which is between 1.8 and 2.1

So lets do the math:

12 x 1.25 x 2.1 = 31 feet 

So you can see the issue with a standard projector.  For just a 12 foot wide screen you have to hang the projector 31 feet away from the screen.  Many people may not have the room depth to hang the projector  31 feet away.  In that case your projected image will be much smaller than you want it.  In most cases the projected image will be the same size as a flat panel tv.  This doesn't give you the feel of a real golf simulator.  Now even if you do have the room depth, the projector will be so far behind you that the only thing you see on the screen is YOUR SHADOW.   At 31 feet away, you will lose a lot of light over that distance.  

 

So now that you can see the problem with STANDARD PROJECTORS.  However, there is a solution.  You need to get an ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTOR.  Ultra short throw projectors have very small throw ratios so that you can produce a large image from short distances.  In the case of projectors for golf simulators, you need a throw ratio of .61.  Now lets use this ratio in the above formula.

12 x 1.25 x .61 = 9.15 feet

In other words for a 12 foot wide screen, a short throw projector needs to be hung approximately 9 feet away from the screen.  Now we have the projector in a place where we don't have room depth problems, cast a shadow on the screen or lose any light from the projection.  

 

Now outside of throw ratio need to look at a few other issues:

- Look at the ports on back of the projector to ensure that it will connect to your PC.  

- Most projectors are HD.  But make sure you get one that is so you can enjoy the beautiful HD graphics of the OptiShot.

- Lumens determine the brightness of the projected image.  If you buy a projector with 2000 lumens or less, you will have to limit the lighting in your room or the projected image will be very faint.  

Here is a website to get a nice projector suitable for golf simulators:  

http://www.golfsimulatorguys.com/