If you’re building a golf simulator, there’s one part of the process that most people absolutely dread. It’s picking a projector.
I get it. You just want to hit golf balls. You want to play Pebble Beach from your garage. You want to invite your buddies over and show off your sweet setup. You want to work on your swing and actually see those beautiful ball flights on a massive screen.
But this projector decision is holding everything up. Most people don’t have a clue as to what separates the right projector choice from the wrong one.
The problem is that if you don’t get this step right, the whole experience falls flat. You can have the best launch monitor, a premium hitting mat, and a rock-solid enclosure. But if your projector doesn’t deliver, you’re going to be disappointed every single time you step into that space.
The right projector is absolutely critical to achieving your dreams of a perfect golf simulator. You’ve got to nail this part.
Good news. The BenQ AK700ST takes all the guesswork and frustration out of the equation.
This thing was designed specifically for golf simulators. It’s got features that eliminate the setup headaches that drive people crazy. It delivers stunning 4K visuals that make courses look incredible. And it’s built to handle the unique challenge of a golf sim environment.
So if you’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis trying to figure out which projector to buy, here are five reasons why the BenQ AK700ST is the no-brainer right choice.
Elevate your home setup with the BenQ AK700ST Laser Golf Simulator Projector. Features 4K UHD resolution, 4000 lumens, and easy installation for a stunning, life-like indoor golfing experience.
I’ve heard this story so many times. Someone buys a projector, gets it mounted, and then spends hours trying to get the image to fill the screen properly. They’re doing math calculations. They’re diving into graphics card settings. They’re walking back and forth between the projector and computer a hundred times trying to get everything dialed in.
It’s exhausting. And honestly, it’s a common enough nightmare scenario, that it scares away a lot of people who’d otherwise be down for some indoor golf.
The BenQ AK700ST solves this with something called Auto Screen Fit. And I’m not exaggerating when I say this feature is a game-changer.
Here’s how it works. The projector automatically detects your impact screen and adjusts the image to fit perfectly. It handles 16:9, 16:10, 4:3, and even 1:1 aspect ratios. You literally press one button, and the projector does the work for you.
The AK700ST also includes Quick Focus. You press the Quick Focus button on the remote control, make a couple of slight manual adjustments, and you’ve got a clear, sharp image.
BenQ even created a 3D planner tool that lets you simulate the installation process before you even mount the projector. You can figure out optimal placement and screen size virtually, which means when it’s time to actually install, you’re not guessing.
For first-time sim builders, especially, this stuff matters. This is a projector that’s designed to eliminate the frustration and uncertainty that so many people struggle with.
One of the biggest concerns people have when setting up a golf simulator is projector placement. Where do you put it so it’s not in your swing path? How do you avoid shadows when you’re hitting shots? What if a ball rebounds and smashes into it?
The AK700ST addresses all of these concerns with its short-throw lens design.
It’s got a throw ratio of 0.69 to 0.83, which means it can sit safely behind you while still projecting a massive image. The 102.5 percent low offset lets you place the projector behind the golfer, keeping it completely out of the swing path and away from potential pop-ups or rebounds. But most importantly, this low offset eliminates the need for tilting and excessive keystone adjustments, which ensures you have the clearest image possible.
That means you can swing freely without worrying about clipping the projector with your club or having a mishit ball destroy your expensive equipment.
And because the projector is behind you, you don’t get shadows interfering with your view on the screen. That’s huge for avoiding annoyance and for getting accurate reads from your launch monitor.
The AK700ST also supports up to a 200-inch display with its professional-grade motorized lens and 1.2x optical zoom. You can adjust screen size without having to reinstall anything, and there’s no loss in picture quality.
Basically, this is a short-throw projector that gives you flexibility.
Listen, once you experience true 4K resolution, it’s really hard to go back.
The BenQ AK700ST delivers genuine 4K UHD resolution. That level of detail means you can see all the little things like the blades of grass or every little contour on the ground, or the little individual leaves on trees. I mean, it’s sick!
But it’s not just about sharpness. The AK700ST uses laser technology paired with BenQ’s expert color calibration to faithfully reproduce golf course colors. They even built in a dedicated Golf Mode that’s optimized for different golf course environments.
Like I said earlier, this is a projector built for golf simulators. What that means in practice is that when you’re playing a famous course like Pebble Beach or St. Andrews, the colors look authentic. The greens look like real greens. The sand looks like real sand. The ocean looks like a real ocean.
The projector also pumps out 4,000 lumens of brightness with a 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio. That might sound like marketing jargon, but what it actually means is that you get vivid, detailed visuals even on a massive screen. And you can keep some ambient light on without washing out the image.
I’m telling you, if you’re going to go to the effort of building a simulator studio, and you’re going to invest in a great launch monitor, do not make the mistake of thinking that any projector will get the job done. There is a massive difference between good enough and something like the AK700ST.
Here’s something a lot of people don’t think about when buying a projector: durability.
A lot of projectors are designed for climate-controlled home theater rooms. But a lot of golf simulators get built in garages, which means temperature swings, dust, and less-than-ideal conditions.
The BenQ AK700ST is actually built for this. It’s got an IP5X dust-proof sealed engine that operates reliably in temperatures from 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. That means it can handle garage conditions without needing constant filter replacements or maintenance.
The laser light source is rated for up to 20,000 hours of life. To put that in perspective, if you used the projector for three hours every single day, it would last over 18 years. In reality, most people will get decades out of this thing.
That kind of durability means lower long-term costs. You’re not replacing bulbs every couple of years. You’re not dealing with frequent maintenance. You just set it up and it works.
And if you want to get really fancy, the AK700ST supports image warping for curved screens. It’s got four selectable matrix options if you want to take your setup to the next level with a curved impact screen for even more immersion.
I know we’re talking about golf simulators. But you’re probably not going to be hitting golf balls all day everyday.
The beauty of the AK700ST is that it’s a complete 4K entertainment system that effortlessly switches between golf sim mode and home theater mode.
With Auto Screen Fit, you can switch aspect ratios with just one button, play a round of golf at 16:10, then watch a movie at 16:9. Press a button, and you’re there, no digging through menus or fighting with settings. For single-screen setups, you won’t need Auto Screen Fit after the initial setup; just match the projector’s aspect ratio to your screen (like 16:10 or 4:3) and leave it, since changing it later can distort the image. But if you’re running two different screens, like a golf impact screen and a separate movie screen—this is where Auto Screen Fit really shines, instantly detecting which screen you’re using and adjusting to the correct, perfectly optimized aspect ratio without any hassle.
The projector supports HDR10 and HLG for cinema-quality viewing, and it offers multiple picture modes, including Cinema, Game, and Bright, so you can optimize for whatever you’re watching. But note that Bright Mode is designed for extreme lighting conditions where you need maximum brightness, and I would not recommend it for regular use because it doesn’t deliver the best color performance.
So yeah, you’re building this space for golf. But on movie nights, or for a big game, or when the kids want to play video games, this projector transforms your sim room into a legitimate home theater.
That means you’re getting way more value out of the space and the investment. It’s not just sitting idle when you’re not playing golf.
Elevate your home setup with the BenQ AK700ST Laser Golf Simulator Projector. Features 4K UHD resolution, 4000 lumens, and easy installation for a stunning, life-like indoor golfing experience.
Yes. It features an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate and low input lag (down to 4ms at 1080p), making it responsive enough for fast-paced shooters and sports games.
It is a short-throw model. You can project a massive 100-inch image from just about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away, which is perfect for small rooms.
Absolutely. It delivers True 4K UHD resolution and supports HDR10/HLG, providing sharp details and vibrant colors for both gaming and movies.
With 3,200+ ANSI Lumens of brightness, it performs well in rooms with moderate ambient light, so you don't need a pitch-black "theater" setup to see the screen.
Most versions come with an Android TV dongle or built-in OS, giving you native access to streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ right out of the box.
At $2,899, the BenQ AK700ST isn’t the cheapest projector on the market. That’s for sure.
But look how much you’re getting. A projector specifically designed for golf simulators that eliminates setup frustrations with Auto Screen Fit and Quick Focus. A short-throw lens that keeps your space shadow-free. True 4K resolution with laser technology that makes courses look absolutely amazing. Durability that’s built for garage conditions and rated for 20,000 hours. And the versatility to double as a complete home entertainment system.
That’s a pretty compelling package.
If you’re serious about creating a simulator space that you’ll actually use and enjoy, getting the right projector matters a lot.
The BenQ AK700ST takes what’s usually one of the most stressful and confusing parts of a sim build and makes it simple.
And honestly? That’s worth a lot.
What do you guys think? Anyone running the BenQ AK700ST in their setup? Considering it for your sim build? Let me know in the comments.
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Thanks for watching. I’ll see you out on the course.
