Short-Throw Projector

A projector designed to produce a large image from a short distance to the screen — typically 4 to 7 feet for a 100-inch image, compared to 9 to 12 feet for standard projectors.

Short-throw is essentially mandatory for golf simulator use because the projector is mounted close to the screen (often above the player's head or just behind them) to avoid casting shadows when the player swings. The throw ratio describes this relationship: a 0.9 throw ratio means the projector needs to be 9 feet from the screen for a 10-foot wide image.

Common short-throw projectors for golf simulators: BenQ TK700STi (0.9–1.08 throw ratio, 4K, $1,499), BenQ LK936ST (laser, 4K, $3,499), Optoma GT1080HDR (1080p budget, $700).