Projector Room-Fit Guide · Short throw 1080p laser
BenQ AH500ST for a Golf Simulator: Throw Distance & Mounting Guide
BenQ · 1920x1080 · 3000 lumens · Laser · 16 ms lag · Updated June 2026
The BenQ AH500ST has a 0.50–0.50 throw ratio, which means it needs 7′ 1″ of distance to fill a standard 8-foot-tall 16:9 impact screen. That short throw is what makes it sim-friendly: the projector mounts ahead of the hitting area, so your body never blocks the beam.
Throw distance by screen size
Lens-to-screen distance for common impact-screen heights (16:9 aspect).
| Screen height (16:9) | Image width | Lens-to-screen distance |
|---|---|---|
| 7 ft | 12.4 ft | 6′ 3″ |
| 7.5 ft | 13.3 ft | 6′ 8″ |
| 8 ft | 14.2 ft | 7′ 1″ |
| 8.5 ft | 15.1 ft | 7′ 7″ |
| 9 ft | 16.0 ft | 8′ 0″ |
Ceiling mount & lens drop
With a 105% vertical offset, in a 9 ft room with a 7.5 ft screen the lens sits about 2″ below the ceiling; in a 10 ft room with a 8 ft screen the lens sits about 7″ below the ceiling. Match your ceiling mount's drop length to that number — fixed 6″ drop mounts are often too long for high-offset short throws, which hangs the image below the screen.
Room depth check
Budget about 13 ft of total room depth for the BenQ AH500ST: maximum throw of 7′ 1″ to an 8 ft screen, plus 10–12 ft of ball-to-screen distance and swing room (throw and hitting space overlap with a short throw, which is why it fits tighter rooms). Behind-ball radar launch monitors add a further 7–9 ft behind the ball.
Frequently asked questions
How far should the BenQ AH500ST be from a golf simulator screen?
For an 8 ft tall 16:9 impact screen (14.2 ft wide), the BenQ AH500ST's 0.50–0.50 throw ratio puts the lens 7′ 1″ to 7′ 1″ from the screen. Measure from the front of the lens, not the back of the chassis.
Is the BenQ AH500ST good for a golf simulator?
BenQ AH500ST is a short throw 1080p laser model with 3000 lumens and 16 ms input lag. Its short throw keeps the mount ahead of the golfer, which minimizes shadows on the screen.
What room depth do I need for the BenQ AH500ST?
Plan on roughly 13 ft minimum: 7′ 1″ of throw to an 8 ft screen plus ball-flight and stance space. Radar launch monitors push the comfortable minimum higher — verify your exact layout in the free calculator.
Similar projectors
- BenQ LH820ST — Short throw 4K laser, 0.81–0.89 throw
- BenQ TH671ST — Short throw 1080p, 0.69–0.83 throw
- Optoma GT1080HDR — Short throw 1080p HDR, 0.49–0.50 throw
- Optoma UHD35STx — Short throw 4K gaming, 0.50–0.50 throw
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