Frame Rate, Resolution and Graphics Settings

Smooth play comes from the PC finishing each frame before the projector needs it. When it can't, you can lower the work per frame, and resolution is only one of several ways to do that.

Four terms

Frame rate, counted in frames per second, is how often new still images are captured or shown.¹ For a PC, it's the speed at which the graphics chip can make frames.¹

Refresh rate is the frequency at which a display shows completed frames.¹ The two numbers are separate. The PC sets one and the projector sets the other.

Resolution is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed.² Common projector resolutions include 720p (1280×720 pixels), 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) and 4K UHD (3840×2160).³

Graphics settings are the sliders inside the golf software: shadows, textures, grass detail, anti-aliasing and the like. Their names differ from program to program.

Why native resolution matters

Most recent screens are fixed at one resolution. Lowering the resolution on these screens will greatly decrease sharpness, because the picture is stretched to fit.²

So set Windows and the game to the projector's native resolution, which is on its spec sheet. Cut other settings before you touch it.

What to lower first

Try these in order, testing a few shots after each change:

1. Shadow quality and distance.
2. Grass, trees and other detail far from the camera.
3. Effects such as blur and reflections.
4. Anti-aliasing, which smooths jagged edges.
5. Resolution, as the last choice.

Each step cuts the work the graphics card does for every frame. Check the software's help pages for the names it uses.

Refresh rate and V-sync

Tearing is a visible split in the picture. The artifact occurs when the video feed to the device is not synchronized with the display's refresh rate.⁴

Vertical synchronization, or V-sync, is the usual fix. It has a cost. Because it causes input lag, it can interfere with games that need precise timing.⁴

Some graphics drivers offer an adaptive option that turns V-sync on only when the software's frame rate exceeds the display's refresh rate.⁴

In a golf simulator, the swing is read by the launch monitor, so input lag matters less than in a shooting game. Still, a laggy menu or a delayed ball can be annoying, so try both settings.

Setting the refresh rate

Windows commonly starts with a conservative default of about 60 Hz.⁵ Check which rates your projector accepts in its manual, and match the setting to a rate it supports. Some displays show a notice that the video signal uses an unsupported refresh rate.⁵

The refresh rate still decides the highest frame rate that can be displayed.⁵ A PC that makes more frames than that gains nothing you can see.

If it still stutters

• Close other programs, especially browsers and video apps.
• Check that the projector is the display the software is using. The notes on the second screen show how.
• Look at the cable and port. A weak link can limit the picture. See the page on cable types.
• Compare your parts with the maker's list, as explained in reading the requirements.
• Think about the graphics card, discussed in how much card is enough.