Choose the HomeCourse arm configuration and usable image rectangle before choosing the BenQ projector. AH500ST and LK830ST suit closer fixed lens positions; AH700ST and AK700ST offer a longer zoom range; LK936ST adds a different throw range and optical lens shift. None is universally best for every ProScreen 180 installation.
The screen’s flexibility creates a specific buying challenge: a narrow, tall golf picture and a wide 16:9 picture can need unexpectedly similar or even reversed lens distances.
Establish which surface you will project onto
The HomeCourse ProScreen 180 has a nominal 8 × 8-foot central screen. Its arms can extend outward to create a wider arrangement. Our listing’s diagram gives 13 feet 8 inches overall extended width; that is not a promise of an edge-to-edge usable projected rectangle.
Measure your chosen state after accounting for margins and the actual screen configuration. Record the width and height of the image you intend to display, not simply the width of the housing or the maximum arm span. Also determine how side protection will work in that state.
Two hypothetical images that expose the geometry
The following are planning examples, not guaranteed HomeCourse image sizes. Both require confirmation against the actual installed screen and its margins.
Example A: a 7 × 7-foot square picture. Assume the source places that square inside a native 16:9 raster and uses the full raster height. The optical raster is therefore 7 × 16 ÷ 9 = 12.44 feet wide. The active square occupies the middle of that wider raster.
Example B: a 12 × 6.75-foot widescreen picture. This is native 16:9, so the active image and the optical raster have the same 12-foot width.
Under these assumptions, the narrower square picture actually needs a slightly wider optical raster than the widescreen picture. That is why multiplying “8-foot screen width” by a throw ratio can give the wrong answer for a tall square image.
Lens distances for the two examples
| BenQ model | Example A: 7-foot square in 16:9 raster | Example B: 12-foot-wide 16:9 image |
|---|---|---|
| AH500ST, 0.499 | About 6.21 ft | About 5.99 ft |
| AH700ST, 0.69–0.83 | About 8.59–10.33 ft | About 8.28–9.96 ft |
| LK830ST, 0.496 | About 6.17 ft | About 5.95 ft |
| AK700ST, 0.69–0.83 | About 8.59–10.33 ft | About 8.28–9.96 ft |
| LK936ST, 0.81–0.89 | About 10.08–11.08 ft | About 9.72–10.68 ft |
Distances are measured from the lens. These calculations apply only to the stated image pipeline and must be checked against each projector’s supported image size, mounting orientation and installation instructions. A different source-resolution or image-sizing method can change the result.
Also check where the unused raster falls in Example A. The surrounding area may still receive projected light. A physically correct throw distance is not by itself proof that the final image presentation will be acceptable.
Which model should you put on the shopping list?
AH500ST, $1,999: a logical 1080p candidate when the required lens position is close and fixed. It suits a buyer who has already settled the screen configuration and does not need optical zoom to compensate for a changing layout.
AH700ST, $2,299: a 1080p alternative for the longer range, with golf-oriented automatic screen setup. Its zoom range can be useful when the final mount must be adjusted within a workable area.
LK830ST, $2,499: the close-mount 4K candidate. Choose it because you have a suitable 4K source and a layout matching its fixed lens, not simply because the retractable screen can become wide.
AK700ST, $2,899: the 4K option with the longer zoom range and golf setup features. It is worth evaluating when you want more source detail and some optical placement flexibility.
LK936ST, $4,899: the higher-cost candidate when its 5,100-ANSI-lumen specification, optical lens shift or different placement range meets a measured requirement. Lens shift can help with certain off-center installations; it does not make every obstructed mounting point viable.
Compare the AH500ST, AH700ST, LK830ST, AK700ST and LK936ST against the measured lens locations available in your room.
Retraction adds a second clearance check
Inspect the complete screen travel path and the arm movement, not just the deployed picture. A projector that fits above the hitting area may still interfere with the screen housing, movable arms, garage-door hardware or service access.
A ceiling-mounted projector generally remains in place when the screen retracts. A floor projector adds a separate storage task unless it has a protected permanent location outside the room’s other use. Confirm the exact protective housing, ventilation and cable route rather than assuming “short throw” makes floor placement safe.
If you regularly change arm positions, document a repeatable setup for each state. Automatic screen alignment is a convenience feature, not a guarantee that one fixed mounting point will produce every desired image size without compromise.
Questions to resolve before checkout
Can I use the full nominal 14-foot width in my calculation?
Only after verifying the actual usable image rectangle for your installed configuration. Marketing width, overall arm span and usable projection width are not the same measurement.
Is 4K necessary because HomeCourse can make a wide image?
No. It depends on source resolution, image size, viewing distance and the detail you want. A 1080p source remains a 1080p source even when displayed by a 4K projector.
What measurements make a recommendation possible?
Provide the selected arm position, usable image width and height, source resolution/aspect ratio, permissible lens locations, ceiling obstructions and hitting position. Include the screen’s stored state so retraction is part of the fit check.
The best purchase is the least costly model that satisfies your actual image and placement requirements. Start with the intended HomeCourse state, then select the projector. For the larger system, see the HomeCourse, VTrack and BenQ build.
Calculation sources
HomeCourse manufacturer information, BenQ screen-distance guidance, AH500ST specifications, LK830ST specifications, and LK936ST specifications. Model prices are Indoor Golf Kit USD listings checked October 28, 2026. All worked image sizes are explicit examples requiring a fit check.
Cover: HomeCourse manufacturer detail showing the screen and arm structure.
