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Inspired by @mike80's great DIY gel pad mat for $271, I thought I'd share my version which came to around $175 (with $32 of gel pad and some lumber left over) and requires no cutting away of mat padding with a special tool.
I was motivated to try something different after owning a 3' x 5' Ultimate Matzilla Mat ($180) for 18 months, and it was 1) just a little too small; 2) was so thick and plush that my stance felt too squishy and my feet were making permanent indentations; and 3) the thick fibers grabbed the clubhead too aggressively, especially on slightly fat shots. Fairway woods in particular were difficult to pick cleanly from the mat without it slowing down the clubhead. I had some friends over recently for a round on TGC, and they were hitting everything about 3/4th as far as normal due to not picking the ball clean enough.
I decided to try a far cheaper mat (see below) with only 3/8" nylon fibers, and all clubs skim through it like butter or a nice moist fairway. It has virtually no padding (5mm foam backing), so the gel pad is a must, and feels awesome under the hitting area. Fat shots are not nearly as much of a shock to the elbows, have better distance, but still give enough feedback that I don't think I'll have a problem of drilling myself steep. I've only been hitting on it for a day, but I seem to be getting a little higher average distance from all shots, especially my 3W. It's also better for putting in TGC, as the short nap is closer to green speed and the ball rolls truer than on the thick stuff. Haven't noticed any green marks on my clubs yet, either.
I have no idea how long the mat or gel pad will last, but I'll update this post as the months go by. I'll be able to rotate the mat once, replace the gel pad once, and also move the SkyTrak around somewhat targeting maybe 4-6 different sections of the pad area. For now I'm quite satisfied with having a firm footing that doesn't leave indentations, along with a very forgiving hitting area.
PARTS:
1. UltraGel 18" x 16" x 5/8" gel pad from eBay - $64
2. 4' x 8' x 3/4" plywood sheet (MDF or particle board should work, too) - $25
3. 4' x 5' Premium Residential Golf Mat from AllTurfMats - $75
4. 1" wood screws and/or carpet tape
Cut plywood sheet to 4' x 5', then cut out 9" x 16" hole for gel pad at desired position (for SkyTrak, I used 4" from edge and 12" from front)
Cut gel pad in half to make two 9" x 16" pieces (you'll use one and have a spare to save or resell)
Put plywood in position, then lay in gel pad on top of the thin foam padding it was shipped with. (You may be able to use 5/8" thick wood and skip the foam padding layer.)
Put mat in position, and secure with a 1" wood screw at each corner and halfway points on long edges. Carpet tape is optional, but screws are easier to remove when it comes time to exchange pad or rotate mat.
Enjoy!
I was motivated to try something different after owning a 3' x 5' Ultimate Matzilla Mat ($180) for 18 months, and it was 1) just a little too small; 2) was so thick and plush that my stance felt too squishy and my feet were making permanent indentations; and 3) the thick fibers grabbed the clubhead too aggressively, especially on slightly fat shots. Fairway woods in particular were difficult to pick cleanly from the mat without it slowing down the clubhead. I had some friends over recently for a round on TGC, and they were hitting everything about 3/4th as far as normal due to not picking the ball clean enough.
I decided to try a far cheaper mat (see below) with only 3/8" nylon fibers, and all clubs skim through it like butter or a nice moist fairway. It has virtually no padding (5mm foam backing), so the gel pad is a must, and feels awesome under the hitting area. Fat shots are not nearly as much of a shock to the elbows, have better distance, but still give enough feedback that I don't think I'll have a problem of drilling myself steep. I've only been hitting on it for a day, but I seem to be getting a little higher average distance from all shots, especially my 3W. It's also better for putting in TGC, as the short nap is closer to green speed and the ball rolls truer than on the thick stuff. Haven't noticed any green marks on my clubs yet, either.
I have no idea how long the mat or gel pad will last, but I'll update this post as the months go by. I'll be able to rotate the mat once, replace the gel pad once, and also move the SkyTrak around somewhat targeting maybe 4-6 different sections of the pad area. For now I'm quite satisfied with having a firm footing that doesn't leave indentations, along with a very forgiving hitting area.
PARTS:
1. UltraGel 18" x 16" x 5/8" gel pad from eBay - $64
2. 4' x 8' x 3/4" plywood sheet (MDF or particle board should work, too) - $25
3. 4' x 5' Premium Residential Golf Mat from AllTurfMats - $75
4. 1" wood screws and/or carpet tape
Cut plywood sheet to 4' x 5', then cut out 9" x 16" hole for gel pad at desired position (for SkyTrak, I used 4" from edge and 12" from front)
Cut gel pad in half to make two 9" x 16" pieces (you'll use one and have a spare to save or resell)
Put plywood in position, then lay in gel pad on top of the thin foam padding it was shipped with. (You may be able to use 5/8" thick wood and skip the foam padding layer.)
Put mat in position, and secure with a 1" wood screw at each corner and halfway points on long edges. Carpet tape is optional, but screws are easier to remove when it comes time to exchange pad or rotate mat.
Enjoy!
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