I'm Stuck! Help and Advice Needed!

[ThunderBear]

Well I believe I'm stuck a bit. I have been working on a garage simulator build for a couple of weeks and thought I was in the home stretch BUT I was wrong.

My main issue is the projector Benq 671ST:

1. Because the enclosure doesnt go to the ceiling, the projection hits the top of the enclosure. Cuts off about 6".
2. Based on where I am hitting, I'm terrfied I'm going to hit the projector. My ceilings are 9' tall and with clubs like wedges that have steeper swings, I've got to be getting really close.



So here is what I could do in my mind:
1. Get a new projector and move it back. Just not sure how far it needs to be behind me to be safe and whether that's a good idea
2. Move it closer to the screen. HOWEVER, since 6" are already cut off the closer I move it the more get's cut off. I'd need to reduce depth of the enclosure. It's currently at 5'. I'd need a new piece or just deal with the excess fabric.
3. Get a new project with horizontal keystone. No clue what projectors are good and could be pricey



I think my preference is to get a normal throw and move it behind but just have no clue if that will work with 9' ceilings. I'm 6' tall so it may not work out?

Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated. I've taken a picture and laid out a diagram of the room.

[SkeetShooter]

2 options I see.
You could floor mount the projector and put it in an enclosure.
Change out for a new projector, Recommend a Short Throw like a 1090HDR or something like that and put a protective cage around it.

If your ceiling is 9ft tall and you are 6ft. You are likely going to cast a pretty big shadow from your hitting area. I have 11.5' ceilings and have my projector mounted at 10 feet and I am hitting from around 8'ft away and do not cast a shadow with my projector mounted behind me

[ThunderBear]

2 options I see.
You could floor mount the projector and put it in an enclosure.
Change out for a new projector, Recommend a Short Throw like a 1090HDR or something like that and put a protective cage around it.

If your ceiling is 9ft tall and you are 6ft. You are likely going to cast a pretty big shadow from your hitting area. I have 11.5' ceilings and have my projector mounted at 10 feet and I am hitting from around 8'ft away and do not cast a shadow with my projector mounted behind me

I have a short throw with the Benq 671ST. The problem with the short throw is the enclosure cuts off some of the image because the projector is not low enough. If I drop the projector lower than I'm going to be really nervous

[Leo Spaceman]

Can you move the projector more over the hitting area? Then would need the projector to have enough horizontal offset to re-center on screen or maybe project at an angle and hope to true it up with keystoning? If the projector is over the ball the club shouldn't come anywhere near it.
I have the Optoma EH200 I think and it has a surprising amount of horizontal and vertical offset that let me fine tune placement.

[ThunderBear]

Can you move the projector more over the hitting area? Then would need the projector to have enough horizontal offset to re-center on screen or maybe project at an angle and hope to true it up with keystoning? If the projector is over the ball the club shouldn't come anywhere near it.
I have the Optoma EH200 I think and it has a surprising amount of horizontal and vertical offset that let me fine tune placement.

That's one of my ideas. The problem with the Benq 671ST is there is no horizontal offset or keystone so it has to be dead center of the screen

[AgileMike]

I haven't paid attention to any down the line swings with wedges, but I don't believe many players have a back swing or follow through that ends up with the club going directly over the ball at ~ 8'6" off the floor. Here are a couple to watch (no danger of hitting your projector)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XXY_9ozEl4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02imCuJAZCw

[GullLakeMi]

Any chance you can using longer poles on the front of the cage? It looks like the front, top horizontal bar could easily be a foot higher. That would put the ceiling of the cage at a slope that likely wouldn't impede the projector image.

I have a similar width, height in my sim, but more depth. My ceiling is 9'4" and my custom cage is about 8' 6" to get under garage door track. I hit from similar distance and my BenQ750 is about 13' back from screen.

[jpinkardvt]

How far do you hit from your screen?

I have also pondered making an angled top, but can’t seem to find connector pieces to make those angles work.

[GullLakeMi]

Can you raise the whole thing?

I hit about 11’ from screen.

[ThunderBear]

Can you raise the whole thing?

I hit about 11’ from screen.

Raise what? I hit from 10’

[adilgolf]

I think there is low risk of hitting the projector if it's right on top of your head.
Take a couple of swings and have someone film you from various angles and see how close you get to the projector.
I'd just leave it where it is and put a protective cage around it just to be safe.
Modifying or raising the enclosure is easier said than done.
Only viable option if you really want to change things is to buy a different projector that has a decent amount of lens shift.
My Epson short lens allows 18% of horizontal shift which is about 3 feet to either side and 60% vertical shift which translates to 7 feet of vertical offset that is available would one need it.