Projector - overhead or floor

[JeepKing39]

Hi all,
New here, first post. I'm contemplating a cheap sim experience for myself and the wife. I've bought an R-motion and have basic TGC set up on a gaming laptop. It's perfect for now. (Next year probably upgrading to skytrak). I actually have enough funds for a skytrak now, but want to make sure a year from now the wife and I still enjoy golf. This summer will be our 1st one with full memberships.

My basement space is 11ft wide, but I have a poker table to the left which leaves 7.5 usable ft. We're all right handed and the poker table is 2-3 feet behind us so don't think it will be a problem. Ceilings are
7.5 ft high so not planning on using drivers or woods.
9 feet distance from stance to hitting wall.

I want to create a diy enclosure with hitting screen. About 7.5 x 7.5. Probably 3 ft deep.

My question is, given this info, what projector would you recommend? And would you recommend ceiling flush mount over my hitting mat, or floor mount in front of my hitting mat?

I appreciate any other comments as well.
My playing buddy has a very spacious wide garage with high ceilings so my setup will be moved there sometimes for the full experience with drivers, woods etc.

Fyi: To test my viewing area I borrowed a friend's cheap $100 Amazon projector which is what you see in the pic. At 4:3 ratio, 13 feet distance, mount3d 6.5 ft high, TGC is showing up on wall as an image 7.5 ft wide and 70" high. I'm hoping a more expensive projector could do similar size from 9 feet away above the hitting mat to eliminate the player's shadow. Or from in front of them.

Thank you!

[JeepKing39]

Any projector recommendations or tips? Am I doing the right thing by worrying about the projector 1st and foremost?

Btw I realised I could build the enclosure the full width about 10 feet to have a nice 16:9 image even if I'm hitting a bit to the right side of the screen.

(I read going 4:3 can lose resolution.)

[3on3putt]

With low ceilings and a hitting spot that is offset, a floor mount may be better suited. If you ceiling mount something it's likely to be in the way of a backswing or follow through. And putting it far enough back to get out of harm's way then introduces the possibility of a shadow.

You say you are planning on going 7.5x7.5 because "4:3 can lose resolution." But what aspect ratio are you going to use on a 7.5x7.5? 1:1? That will be worse.

I would recommend going 9.5x7 for the screen. That's a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 1080p projector will get you 1440x1080 resolution, which is solid.

This would go 9'7'' away to fill your screen = https://www.projectorcentral.com/Ben...ulator-pro.htm

Same with this one = https://www.projectorcentral.com/Ben...ulator-pro.htm

You could put those on the floor centered to the screen while you would be hitting a little to the right of it. It's not ideal, but it's a very small space you're working with so options are going to be limited.

You could try putting those on the ceiling, but I think they would likely be in the way of your club path.

If you went with a screen size of 7.5x7.5 as planned, a 4:3 aspect ratio would cast an image 7'6'' wide by 5'7'' high. The bad news is that leaves some blank space on your screen. The good news is that blank space gives you some more projector options.

For example, this one (happens to be the projector that I have) could mount just 5 feet away on the floor or ceiling. = https://www.projectorcentral.com/InF...ulator-pro.htm

It has 11 inches of vertical offset at that distance, which means the bottom of the image would be 11 inches higher than the lens when mounted on the floor (so roughly 14 inches off the floor). You would then have another 8 or so inches of blank space at the top of the screen. At only 5 feet away, it would be much more out of your way than the BenQ's would.

If you put it on the ceiling, it again would only be 5 feet away and you could mount it flush to the ceiling. The top of the image would be roughly 14 inches below the ceiling (leaving some space at the bottom). And again, with a 5 foot mounting distance that will probably be safe from the club path.

Serious question though .... can you even swing a wedge at 7.5 feet??

[Stre]

I have ceilings just over 9 ft and need to be offset, so i opted for floor mounted projector and made a DIY case for it out of plywood and acrylic.

[HWC]

fyi I have connected the app VOICE BOT 3.5.1 to the TGC so you can give voice commands instead of walking to your PC to change from clubs. I have two sonsors that are already bad functioning and Rapsodo discontinued the R motion. SO I am stuck and I have to buy something else; I have a load of clips that are useless now

[JeepKing39]

Thanks for the feedback 3on3putt, Stre and @HWC.

I've been hitting my short irons and wedges just fine daily for the last week or two. BUT you just made me rethink the basement option.

While "I" have no problem, I kind of forgot I have a mobility issue with both shoulders. I do not have a full back or down swing.

We've recently diagnosed my shoulder issues and my treatments are improving my mobility / range of movement. So eventually my half swing will become fuller. Plus I never gave a thought that my playing buddy has a full swing compared to me.

Seems silly I never gave this a 2nd thought now.
Sometimes the obvious does have to be pointed out lol.

Sounds like the garage (mine or his) will need to become the primary and only space we use.

I appreciate the projector info as we'll still be moving forward. But now I'll need to go measure how much bigger our garage location will be. We have higher, wider, and deeper so that changes things.

[Lucas MacEwan]

I have a short throw. It is directly overhead and I have 10 foot ceiling. There is the odd time when I come really close to hitting it while trying different shot shapes. I was considering putting mine on the floor but I don't think it'll work because it would have to be in front of my matt, but that would make it too close to my screen. You really have to try and figure out everything and hope that where you mount it the first time is where it will stay, and it will work. With limited space, the options are few.
good luck.