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Good afternoon, all. Awesome site that you all have here. I am new to this site and new to owning a golf sim and all that is included with it. I have recently converted half of my garage into a sim room. I originally started out with the basic setup, hitting net, hitting pad etc. I'm using a basic simulator right now as well, the SC4 and using my iPad connected to a 60" TV for viewing. This weekend my main build begins. I've ordered and received the following: 8x10 impact screen, enclosure kit and material for the sides and top. The measurements of the enclosure are going to be 10ft wide, 8ft high and 5ft deep. The measurements of the utilized portion of my garage are as follows: 12 ft wide with 9ft ceiling and 20ft long. No issues at all with a full swing. Due to building the enclosure I want to be able to use a projector to utilize the impact screen. For now, I will be connecting the iPad to the projector via Bluetooth or HDMI. I plan to upgrade to a new "real" simulator the beginning of the coming year along with the appropriate computer system to support the new sim and software. This is where i need help. There are so many different types of projectors out there and so many variables to consider. What I am looking for is a budget projector for now that will suffice until I upgrade the above-mentioned items. I do not want to mount it to the ceiling, and I prefer to mount it to floor in a protective case in front of the hitting area or off the direct side of the hitting area. Current budget for the projector would ideally be less than $250 but there is some wiggle room there. What would you all suggest for me to look for? I have no issue with used or refurbished units. What aspect ratio should I look for? 4:3 or 16:9? I do not plan on making the enclosure any larger or enlarging the impact screen. The amount of light can be controlled if the garage doors are down so I'm thinking 3000-3500 ANSI Lumens. Resolution? 1024x768? Short throw or standard throw? Hitting area will be roughly 10ft to the screen. I don't need top of the line, but I don't want junk either. This is just to get me by until I upgrade in the near future. Any suggestions on what to look for as far as brand and model? I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks a lot!
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A few comments here from someone who just finally pulled the trigger on a projector after at least 20 hours of research. Worry less about the resolution, and get the brightest projector you can afford. The brightness will have a far larger impact on your experience than the image quality. As far as aspect ratio, a 4:3 will utilize the most of the screen. You'll be able to project 10 feet wide and only have 6 inches of vertical screen unutilized (so 3" top and bottom). with a 16:9, you leave over 2 feet of screen un-used. Youll definitely want a short throw projector. A standard throw projector will need to be 20 feet away to project an image that large, which obviously poses an issue being behind the hitting area with shadows and all. A short throw projector could be anywhere from a foot for an ultra short throw to 10 feet for a short throw. Your budget might be an issue, $250 isnt much to get everything you need for a projector. If you can swing a little more you'd be better off to buy once cry once. I cant say for sure because I didnt look at anything less than $1000 but just be aware moving forward.
If I were you I'd proceed as follows:
Search for a short throw projector in your price range with no less than 3000 lumens (again the more the better).
Put that projector in the link attached. select the 4:3 ratio, and type in a screen width of 120" (make sure you change it to width, it defaults to diagonal).
That will tell you how far away the projector needs to be mounted to achieve that image size, youll have a little wiggle room due to zoom abilities and such.
That would be my advice. Good luck with the search and I hope you can find something in your budget. You can look used, but make sure you buy something that still has bulbs available so you dont buy something you cant maintain!
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