BenQ Golf Simulator Projectors: Why Short-Throw Matters
- 17 hours ago
- 5 min read
A short-throw golf simulator projector can fill a 100-inch impact screen from roughly 6 to 9 feet away. That distance matters because most indoor simulator rooms, including garage builds, spare rooms, and commercial bays, have limited depth once you account for the hitting area and swing clearance.
A standard-throw projector requires 13 to 15 feet of projection distance for the same screen size, which is simply not available in most setups. BenQ builds its entire golf projector range around short-throw optics specifically to solve this constraint.
How Throw Ratio Determines Placement Distance
Throw ratio is the relationship between projection distance and image width. A projector with a throw ratio of 1.0:1 needs 10 feet of distance to produce a 10-foot wide image. A projector with a ratio of 0.70:1 needs only 7 feet for the same width.
For a 120-inch impact screen (approximately 10.5 feet wide), the placement distances work out like this:
Standard throw (1.5:1): approximately 15.75 feet
BenQ TK700ST (0.9-1.08:1): approximately 9.5 to 11.3 feet
BenQ TK710STi (0.69-0.83:1): approximately 7.2 to 8.7 feet
BenQ AK700ST (0.69-0.83:1): approximately 7.2 to 8.7 feet
In a real simulator room you need roughly 5 feet behind the hitting position for a full swing, plus the projection distance, plus the screen itself. A room that is 16 feet deep can comfortably fit a setup using the TK710STi or AK700ST. The same room becomes very tight with a standard-throw projector and may not work at all.
Short-throw projectors are typically ceiling-mounted above and slightly behind the hitting area, projecting forward and down toward the screen. This placement keeps the projector out of the swing path and out of the shadow zone a golfer creates when standing at address.
Why Brightness Requirements Are Higher in a Simulator Bay
A golf simulator enclosure is designed to block distracting light, but the impact screen itself is a matte diffusion surface rather than a standard projector screen. Matte diffusion screens scatter light in all directions, which reduces effective brightness at the viewer's eye compared to a gain screen used in a home cinema. For a clear, high-contrast image on a typical 120-inch simulator screen in a semi-enclosed bay, 3,000 ANSI lumens is a practical minimum. 4,000 lumens gives additional headroom when the room has any ambient light, from a gap in the enclosure, room lighting left on during a session, or a larger screen size.
All three BenQ golf projectors meet or exceed the 3,000-lumen threshold. The AK700ST at 4,000 lumens is the strongest option for larger screens, commercial venues, or any space where full light control is difficult.
Lamp vs Laser: What It Means for Long-Term Use
The TK700ST uses a lamp light source. BenQ rates its lamp at approximately 4,000 hours in normal mode, after which brightness drops and the lamp requires replacement. Replacement lamps for golf projectors typically cost $150 to $300 USD. For a commercial venue running multiple sessions per day, lamp replacement becomes a recurring maintenance cost and a logistical consideration.
The TK710STi and AK700ST both use laser light sources rated at 20,000 hours. At 4 hours of daily use, that is roughly 13 years of operation before significant brightness degradation. Laser projectors also maintain colour accuracy more consistently over time, since the laser spectrum does not shift the way a lamp filament does as it ages. There are no replacement components required.
For home use where the simulator runs for a few hours per week, a lamp projector is a practical entry point. For commercial installations or heavy residential use, the laser models reduce total cost of ownership and operational complexity.
The BenQ Golf Projector Range
TK700ST
The TK700ST is a 4K UHD lamp-based projector with 3,000 ANSI lumens and a throw ratio of 0.9 to 1.08:1. It supports HDR10 and has a 16ms input lag at 4K, which keeps simulator software running smoothly without visible display delay. The 1.2x optical zoom provides some flexibility in ceiling mount height. The TK700ST is the entry point in BenQ's golf lineup and suits smaller rooms and home setups where projection distance is not the tightest constraint.
TK710STi
The TK710STi steps up to a laser light source at 3,200 ANSI lumens, with the shorter throw ratio of 0.69 to 0.83:1. The laser source extends operational life to 20,000 hours and eliminates lamp maintenance. Connectivity is via two HDMI 2.0b ports with HDCP 2.2, supporting 4K 60Hz and HDR10 content. The unit also includes an Android TV interface, which is not relevant to simulator software but does make the display usable as a general screen in the room when the simulator is not in use. The TK710STi weighs 3.1 kg and has dimensions of 304 x 112 x 254mm, compact enough for a standard ceiling mount. US retail price is approximately $2,199.
AK700ST
The AK700ST is BenQ's purpose-built golf projector. It shares the 0.69 to 0.83:1 throw ratio and 20,000-hour laser source with the TK710STi, but increases brightness to 4,000 ANSI lumens and raises contrast to 3,000,000:1. The additional brightness is measurable on larger screens and in spaces with any ambient light. The AK700ST includes Auto Screen Fit, a feature that automatically detects and adjusts the projected image to the aspect ratio of the impact screen, 16:9, 16:10, 4:3, or 1:1, which simplifies initial setup and realignment after the projector is moved. It is designed with a low lens offset that works with standard ceiling mount positions in simulator bays. US retail price is approximately $2,899.
Which Setup Suits Which Room
The short-throw category covers all three BenQ golf models, but the right choice depends on room size, usage frequency, and screen dimensions.
The TK700ST is appropriate for rooms with 14 to 18 feet of depth and smaller screen sizes up to around 100 inches, particularly for home users who want 4K quality without the cost of a laser unit. The TK710STi works well in rooms that need tighter projector placement (14 feet or less from screen to back wall) and where ongoing maintenance needs to be minimal. The AK700ST is the strongest choice for larger screens above 110 inches, commercial or semi-commercial use, or any installation where brightness consistency over years of daily operation is a priority.
All three models support standard 4-bolt ceiling mounts and work with the VESA mount accessories commonly used in simulator installations.
Cero Golf
All three BenQ projectors above are available through Cero Golf for both custom simulator installations and as part of the Anywhere Golf Simulator Bundles. For a custom residential or commercial build in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the Cero Golf team advises on projector selection, ceiling mount position, and throw distance based on your specific room.
