Projector Placement Issue

[EPendy]

Hello Everyone! I am new to the forum as well as new to the golf simulator world. I just received my SkyTrak simulator and also purchased TGC 2019. I wasn’t expecting my Skytrak until February based on the timeline given at the time of purchase, however to my surprise UPS showed up with it on Saturday. I am now working through the remaining items to complete the simulator and I am running into an issue with my projector placement. I have not yet purchased a projector, so I am open to options, however I would like to keep the price point below $1000. In this picture below you will see the area I am planning to build the sim. The ceiling height is 9’-0, and the area is approximately 14’-0 wide. I have plenty of space behind me to adjust the setup.

The issue I am experiencing is projector placement, due to the steel beam that runs across the space. The beam is appx. 9.75” down from the ceiling, and 7’-9” (center) off the back wall. I was really hoping to mount the projector behind the beam from the hitting area in order to protect the projector, but the more I shop short throw projection, it just doesn’t seem far enough back. I am not opposed to mounting the projector further back but I am worried that the beam will cause a large void in the top of the screen. I currently have a 12X9 screen planned.

If I were to mount the projector further back, and place the lens below the beam, is it possible to project the image upwards beyond the beam? If so, any insight into how low it would have to be? At some point I fear it will be too low and cause an issue with the swing path.

Is this a situation where a floor mount projector would fit better? I wasn’t really excited about a floor mounted projector, but I suppose it is all the same if the screen is utilized correctly. Any pros or cons to a floor mount that anyone would care to share? I apologize if all of this has been answered on the forum before.

I appreciate any help!

[DavidU]

Do you have enough depth behind you to move back and place the screen where the beam is? Or you may need to do a floor mount. I believe you will have issues due to your height limitations if you try to hang the project behind the beam but there are many more knowledgeable people in the forum so maybe they have other suggestions. Love the space. Wish my ceilings in my basement were that high. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out

[EPendy]

I do have a lot of room behind me to move back if needed. I was trying to keep it in the space pictured because its a nice spot that is kind of cut out from the rest of the basement. I am going to order a short throw projector today and start placing it down there and see what I can make work. Floor mount may be the way to go. We just bought this house a couple of months ago, but I have been set on building a sim in the basement since the day we looked at the house! The 9ft ceilings are a huge benefit; I live in Michigan so the winter months are long and cold. I will post pictures of the completed project. I am planning to finish it up over the next two weeks.

Thank you for your input!

[3on3putt]

1. You can not have the image project upwards. With a ceiling mount, all of the image will be below the lens.

2. As DavidU said -- do you have room to move back and put the screen in front of the beam? How deep is the room?

3. One thing you need to consider is this = You have 9 foot ceilings and are trying to put in a 9 foot screen. So you're talking about a screen that goes from ceiling to floor. Even with no beam, you won't be able to completely fill that screen with a ceiling mount. Even with a projector that is mounted flush against the ceiling, the middle of the lens will be a few inches below the ceiling. Then the vertical offset kicks in from there which will lower the image at least a couple inches more. There are projectors with vertical offsets of 0, but they are few and far between. Best case scenario, you're probably looking at an image height of about 8.5 feet.

So that being said, I don't think the beam is really an issue because the image is likely going to be under the beam anyway (or at least very close to it) due to mounting + vertical offset.

A floor mount may not be the worst thing in the world in your situation. Since you have a Skytrak, I'm guessing you're not particularly worried about accommodating both righties and lefties. So if you offset your hitting spot by a foot or so, you can center the projector on the floor but then hit slightly to the right of if (if you're a righty) and that way it's out of the way for putting and chipping.

[3on3putt]

Just an FYI, that optoma is one of their lower resolution options. It will take a 1080 feed but only project it in 720. Depending on what you paid for it and what your budget is, it may not hurt to look at some holiday deals on a full HD projector. It's worth the extra cost and you may be able to find one that is similar in price.

[EPendy]

I was reading up on the projector after I ordered it and realized that it said 720p. I was frustrated to say the least, so I cancelled that order and bought the GT1080HDR.

[3on3putt]

Good purchase. That's a popular sim projector and should serve you well.

[DavidU]

Here is the projector I use.
Panasonic PT-VZ580U 5000-Lumen WUXGA 3LCD Projector


BH #PAVZ580U • MFR #PT-VZ580U

13 reviews
6 Questions, 11 Answers

Authorized Dealer


It was recommended by Par2Pro. I just finished my garage build out and used them for all my screens. The projector was purchased from B&H since it was a bit less expensive than Par2Pro. It has the ability to correct for offset, as well as corner adjustments and height adjustments. Here is a pic from last night. I was hitting some practice shots with my daughter while watching the game on split screen. This is only the second day of full use. I still don't have my screen bungi chord that will tie down the bottom corners so don't judge me on the fold in the bottom corner. hahaha... Also waiting on a second bungi to string though the middle of my ceiling panel so I can get a touch more height out of my picture...

The room is lit with a soft white spot which shines on the hitting mat as well as a couple table lamps, but even with my 4 foot led lights on the picture is good. I do love the projector.

[bulldogbrad]

Don’t want to hi jack the thread but how do you setup your split screen that way?

[EPendy]

Awesome setup! Can I ask what turf you used outside of your hitting mat? I will check out your projector suggestion. If the Optoma isn’t working for me I can always return it and try another out! Thanks for the input!

[DavidU]

I purchased the turf from Home Depot. It comes in 12' widths and I needed 16 across so it extends 12 feet from screen to hitting area and 16 from left to right across the screen. I will attach pic below.

As far as the split screen, I am running my spectrum app on my computer. I size that window on one half and then I can run the Skytrak software on the other half. I want to do it with my TGC19 but I have yet to figure nor have I spent time trying to figure out how to play TGC in anything but full screen.

[DavidU]

Love the furniture by the way. Think we have the same set at our house!

[EPendy]

I believe that was a Home Depot purchase...wherever the wife ordered me to pick it up!

[DavidU]

Here is the turf I chose. They had about three choices that seems to be realistic. All about the same price. It does a nice job not letting the ball bounce. I am very happy with it.

Good luck

[EPendy]

Well the build is underway. I currently have everything pretty much assembled and running. I’m still planning to do a full turf from the screen through the hitting mat and line everything up. I am still struggling with the projector, however. I mounted the projector after holding it overhead and walking back to where it fills the screen. I followed the YouTube video that is often passed around this forum. I am a little discouraged with the placement and position. According to the calculator on projector central, I should be able to mount the projector at 8ft away to fill my screen. But when I held the projector at that distance, it wasn’t full. It is now mounted back around 11’-6” to fill the screen. Also, you can see in the pictures that it is angled upward in order to fill the screen. I am thinking I must have ksomething wrong in the settings, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what. The projector is also mounted way too low forn
me to be comfortable. I am swinging directly under it and it seems okay, however I am 5’-8” tall and when I have friends over that are taller or not so experienced, I am concerned it will be hit. If this is the best it can get I think I will change the setup to a floor mount and build a protected enclosure.

thanks in advance for any advice.

[devildog1205]

Well the build is underway. I currently have everything pretty much assembled and running. I’m still planning to do a full turf from the screen through the hitting mat and line everything up. I am still struggling with the projector, however. I mounted the projector after holding it overhead and walking back to where it fills the screen. I followed the YouTube video that is often passed around this forum. I am a little discouraged with the placement and position. According to the calculator on projector central, I should be able to mount the projector at 8ft away to fill my screen. But when I held the projector at that distance, it wasn’t full. It is now mounted back around 11’-6” to fill the screen. Also, you can see in the pictures that it is angled upward in order to fill the screen. I am thinking I must have ksomething wrong in the settings, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what. The projector is also mounted way too low forn
me to be comfortable. I am swinging directly under it and it seems okay, however I am 5’-8” tall and when I have friends over that are taller or not so experienced, I am concerned it will be hit. If this is the best it can get I think I will change the setup to a floor mount and build a protected enclosure.

thanks in advance for any advice.

If that’s a GT1080HDR. From 8’ it should throw a 16’W x 9’H image. With center of projector lens mounted 17” above top of image. Are you not getting that? Is your video card displaying in 16:9?

[EPendy]

It is the 1080HDR. The issue I have is the steel beam that sits about 7’ 9” from the screen. Also I have a 9’ screen in a 9’ tall basement. So I can’t get the lens above the image. After playing another round tonight I shifted my hitting mat a little further away from the projector and I think it is going to work out okay. If any left handed golfers come over they will have an issue, but I only know one. Lol.