Really Need Some Help Choosing Projector for New Sim

[Lombo]

Impact screen is going to be 10wx8h - ceiling is 12' height
Hitting distance to screen will be about 10 ft - I could move that up a couple feet if necessary.
If projector has to be hanging to a distance of 8 ft high (as I have been reading - I could go higher (up to almost 12 ft) if it could work
The projector either has to be a distance of about 7.5ft from screen or I have to move it back to 12-13 ft (so the projector isn't hanging directly over the hitting area and could get hit with a club. My concern with a projector behind the hitting area will create shadows onto the screen

I'm reading the the BenQHT2150ST is a popular choice but I'm confused in using the distance calculator for a screen that is 120" wide. From the looks of it, a 4:3 aspect ratio would yield a 90"x120" image - so that is the most utilization I will get for my 8x10 screen. The projection calculator for the BenQ2150ST appears to state that I must have the unit no closer than about 10', which does not seem like it's going to work as that is just about the distance I will be hitting from the screen as well.

Any advice and guidance would be most helpful and appreciated. given the dimensions of the area - what do you think are my best options. I can provide a photo of the room if necessary.

[Kent]

The Optoma GT1080Darbee should work. It would mount 6'8" from the screen and the 14" vertical offset would have it mounted over 9' off of the ground.

[aja]

You are not taking advantage of all the height that your space is giving you.

You don't have to limit the height of your impact screen just to make it conform to a given projection ratio, say 4:3.

Even with a 10 foot high impact screen the short irons, wedges will be hitting at the very top of the screen (and definitiely much higher than the top of an 8 foot high screen). That's point number one - make the impact screen as high as reasonably possible, given your room's limitations. Impact screen material also imposes some limitations in that it's usually just 10 feet wide so making a screen more than 10 feet high is an issue.

Point number two, the place where your short throw projector is least at risk is above the place where you hit. The golf swing is "rotary", you don't swing vertically above your head (where the projector will be located if it's centered over your hitting area). The follow through is above and behind you. A projector above the hitting area (and not too much in front) is out of harm's way.

The only issue with a projector above your hitting area is if you also need that area for overhead lighting or cameras (That's the case if you are using a ProTee sim).

[Lombo]

thanks for the replies guys and I thought I would include a photo of the area I have to help visualize the area.

As you can see I have plenty of height where I am swinging so no problem there. Directly in the center of the room I have a ceiling fan that is 11ft from the floor - so plenty of clearance. The projector recommended by KENT above OptomaGT1080Darbee. The projector calculator allows me to choose a 4:3 ratio option - want to confirm that this model can indeed do the 4:3.

Let me also say that I am lefthanded and don't anticipate any problem hanging the projector in front of the hitting (hanging from ceiling) area but centered in the room (as I'll be hitting from an offset position) - I will have plenty of clearance even with a driver and the ball will not threaten the unit.
thanks for the replies guys and I thought I would include a photo of the area I have to help visualize the area.

At 16:9 my 11 ft wide screen (gotta figure that one out because most screens are only 10 ft wide as AJA pointed out) will yield a 6ft high image with the projector 5'2" from the wall, whereas a 4:3 ratio will yield about an 8 ft height at the essentially the same width with the projector about 7 ft away.
In everyone's opinion, should I now be solely focused on the 4:3 ratio? If so, does that hurt me in terms of any real image quality. What about sizing for the simulator image - will it have a "skinny" look to it? I wish I had a couple more feet in width and the 16:9 ratio working out, but as you can see there is really nothing I can do about that at this point.

I'm going to either use TGC or JNPG (have not decided 100% yet). Also, as you can see, I have a TV hanging on the wall that I plan to utilize as well - Can I project a 4:3 ratio on the projector but still use the 16:9 ratio on the TV (using as a monitor)?

Much appreciated for anyone's help here in the 4:3 ratio decision.

[Oyttdogg]

What did you work out? 4:3 or 16:9?