Need practice mat suggestions

[PlayerJason]

Do you have a home practice area? DIY?

In an attempt to save money over constant range visits, I'm interested in making my own practice area at home and part of this is finding a suitable hitting mat. Since nothing beats hitting off grass, I'm trying to find one that replicates grass as closely as possible so here I turn for suggestions.

Also, who has their own practice area at home and what does hit consist of? Mat, net etc.

I don't want anything *too* expensive but I want it to be realistic. Let's hear what you've got!

Thanks!

[Yeah, Yeah]

yes i have a par three behind my house and a GOOD mat that has fairway, your typical mat cut, and then rough, I think i my dad got it off parbuster. great custom mats!!! you get to choose from all sorts of types

[otto6457]

In an attempt to save money over constant range visits, I'm interested in making my own practice area at home and part of this is finding a suitable hitting mat. Since nothing beats hitting off grass, I'm trying to find one that replicates grass as closely as possible so here I turn for suggestions.

 

Also, who has their own practice area at home and what does hit consist of? Mat, net etc.

 

I don't want anything *too* expensive but I want it to be realistic. Let's hear what you've got!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Truestrike Mat.......Nothing else is even close.

 

http://www.truestrike.com/pgapro2.php

 

My home set-up:

[Yeah, Yeah]

In an attempt to save money over constant range visits, I'm interested in making my own practice area at home and part of this is finding a suitable hitting mat. Since nothing beats hitting off grass, I'm trying to find one that replicates grass as closely as possible so here I turn for suggestions.

 

Also, who has their own practice area at home and what does hit consist of? Mat, net etc.

 

I don't want anything *too* expensive but I want it to be realistic. Let's hear what you've got!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Truestrike Mat.......Nothing else is even close.

 

http://www.truestrike.com/pgapro2.php

 

My home set-up:

 

ya actually there is. plus you an get rough and all that. I checked the websight and it is parbuster.com they have sodbuster mats like that plus you can get rough and all that with it

[TD22057]

Here's the one I use:

 

http://www.realfeelgolfmats.com/

 

I think it works just as they've advertised it. Great for hitting down on the ball and seems very durable. i bought the 3x5 mat and it's more than big enough for all of my clubs. I've had two friends buy this one as well after trying out mine.

[JOSEPHLB]

In an attempt to save money over constant range visits, I'm interested in making my own practice area at home and part of this is finding a suitable hitting mat. Since nothing beats hitting off grass, I'm trying to find one that replicates grass as closely as possible so here I turn for suggestions.

 

Also, who has their own practice area at home and what does hit consist of? Mat, net etc.

 

I don't want anything *too* expensive but I want it to be realistic. Let's hear what you've got!

 

Thanks!

 

 

Truestrike Mat.......Nothing else is even close.

 

http://www.truestrike.com/pgapro2.php

 

My home set-up:

 

What kind of cage is that setup?

 

Looks like a nice deal!

[Spoe]

Truestrike Mat.......Nothing else is even close.

 

That whole silicone gel system is very intriguing. How often would you say it requires replacement?

[otto6457]

ya actually there is. plus you an get rough and all that. I checked the websight and it is parbuster.com they have sodbuster mats like that plus you can get rough and all that with it

 

 

Actually.....no. The sod buster is not close. The sod buster allows you to hit fat shots all day and still have a good contact because just like every other mat, the club just glides along the mat to the ball. The sodbuster rough is not "rough". It's slightly longer polypropelene. It wouldn't turn a 2 iron over. Plus, when you wear out the hitting area of the sodbuster mat, you get to buy a whole new mat. With the Truestrike you simply snap out the worn hitting surface and snap in another one. If you have ever been to the PGA show, you will notice that most of the manufacturers use the Truestrike to demo their clubs. Not the sodbuster.

[otto6457]

What kind of cage is that setup?

 

Looks like a nice deal!

 

 

Mine is from Sportnetting.com. The back net is very heavy and the cage is only 4 feet from the wall. Even with a full driver, the back of the net barely moves 6 inches.

[otto6457]

Truestrike Mat.......Nothing else is even close.

 

That whole silicone gel system is very intriguing. How often would you say it requires replacement?

 

 

I have never replaced the gel system in the two years I have had my mat. I have worn out 2 hitting surfaces in that time. IIRC, the replacement surfaces were less than $30. I use my home setup at least two times a week in the summer, and almost every day in the winter.

[PlayerJason]

Excellent responses so far, thanks everybody. I'm saving the mat links to my favs for later review and am surprised at the different materials each manufacturer uses.

 

Here's a link to "Net Return" that actually sends the ball back to you! Found it a couple of days ago but am not convinced it's worth the price.

 

http://www.thenetreturn.com/

 

otto6457, is your hitting area sitting on a concrete slab? Considering building a frame for mine but that is a good idea (yard size permitting) :beach:

[adkima00]

most of my home practice is on the short game....chipping to a target anywhere from 15 to 40 yards away. Any long game practice that I do is with wiffle balls. I'll probably get a net sooner or later, but for now it's just my wedges.

 

Matt

[mrq]

I always thought hitting it into nets could create bad habits, since you really can't see the ball flight.

[otto6457]

otto6457, is your hitting area sitting on a concrete slab? Considering building a frame for mine but that is a good idea (yard size permitting) :beach:

 

 

I poured a concrete slab only because I had a bunch of "Sackrete"left over from another project. It does keep everything nice and level. I also had to build a cover for the mat. Not because of weather or sun, but because all of the neighborhood cats decided to sleep and shed all over the blasted thing.

[otto6457]

I always thought hitting it into nets could create bad habits, since you really can't see the ball flight.

 

 

I can see where that could be an issue. The back of my net is 16 feet from my mat. I have added a vertical target line on the back of my net that lines up with the strike surface of my mat. I can tell if my ball starts on my target line every time. It is like the old drill of putting an old golf shaft straight up in the ground out in front of you on the range, and trying to hit it. You're not going to hit it very often, but it reinforces aiming at a target.

 

I use my home set-up mostly for shooting video when I work on something specific. It is very handy to be able to hit a few balls and walk 30 feet into the house and load up my swing on CSwing. I can make adjustments very quickly and get feedback on my adjustments very quickly. Often it "feels" like I am doing something, when I am actually "not" doing it.

 

My home set-up will never replace the time I spend at the range. I use it as an additional tool that helps me stay sharp and is fun to use.

 

In a perfect world I would have my set-up indoors so that I could use it when the weather outside is awful.

[TD22057]

I always thought hitting it into nets could create bad habits, since you really can't see the ball flight.

 

From what my teacher has said and what I've seen in a few books - the opposite is true (of course it depends on what you're trying to practice). I think the net is for working on drills. The point of many of the drills is not to hit a good shot, it's to groove a certain swing motion into your muscle memory. You have to make a certain motion (correctly) and do that many, many times. The proper motion won't always equate to a good ball flight (especially at the beginning as you change things) so seeing the ball can actually be detrimental to your practicing. I don't think you can use a net exclusively, but it does help.

[smittysbar]

Good thread! I have a practice green and hit out of the grass. Then fill my divots.