Need a Sim Projector? No, But You'll Want One
No, But Here's Why You'll Want One
TV works for practice. Short-throw projector (AK700ST $1,499, GT1080HDR $999) gives 120+ inches from 4-6 ft. When it's worth the upgrade.
The Short Answer
TV works for practice. Short-throw projector (AK700ST $1,499, GT1080HDR $999) gives 120+ inches from 4-6 ft. When it's worth the upgrade.
Here’s the honest take:
You don’t need a projector. A Rapsodo, a net, and your phone on a milk crate is a completely functional golf simulator. You’ll get ball data. You’ll improve. It works.
But the difference between that and a setup where the course appears on a 10-foot screen right where your ball is flying — that’s not a technical difference. It’s an experience difference. It’s the difference between “I’m practicing” and “I’m playing.”
Prioritize the launch monitor first. That’s the brain of the setup. Buy the SkyTrak+ or the Garmin R10. Get the net. Hit balls. Prove the habit.
Then add the projector. You will. Everyone does.
Here’s the BenQ TK710STi. It’s the one. Buy it on Amazon →
Want the full projector lineup? Read my best projector for golf simulator guide — 15 models from $799 to $5,999 with full comparison tables. Or see how the TK710STi stacks up against the AK700ST in our head-to-head comparison.
Or start with the launch monitor first — that’s the right order — and come back for the projector when you’re ready. Find your launch monitor →
Browse all our projector guides → Projector Hub — 7 guides covering 4K, laser, short-throw, Optoma, BenQ, and installation for every build.