Mat Design for Left and Right Handed Golfers

[Sully]

Hi Everyone,

I am in the process of designing a hitting mat that will work for both right-handed and left-handed Skytrak users. While I am left-handed, every sibling and friend that I have is right-handed. As such, it makes senses for me to design a mat to accommodate both orientations. I am finalizing a design and am seeking feedback as to whether it makese sense.

The design involves a 12' x 5' roll of 1/2" thick turf that will be underlayed with 5/8" thick foam tiles or plywood. There will be two hitting strips (one for each type of golfer), with a gel pad where the plywood or foam has been cut out. In the middle between the two hitting pads will be a swivel plate that can easily rotate the Skytrak between the two golfers. I attached a very basic illustration of what I am thinking.

Parts:

Turf roll $99: https://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Wide-Art...AoxAllXwDPIXKQ

Gel Pad (will be cut into two pieces) $66: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRAGEL-Mo.../321119558150?

or

$40 https://www.ebay.com/itm/LARGE-MOTOR...item2a61a1b453

Foam Tiles $78: https://www.rubberflooringinc.com/in...soft-tile.html

12" Swivel plate $10: https://www.amazon.com/Capacity-Bear.../dp/B0045DV04I

Total would be $253

Alternatively, I could buy two 5' x 5' mats and push them together or connect them for a similar result.

5' x 5' Mats $70 each https://www.ebay.com/itm/Backyard-Go.../152923603742?

or

4' x 5' mats $90 each https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premium-Res...t/321759516817

Or.....I am over-complicating this? I would love to get other ideas that would offer a sensible solution for left and right handed hitters.

Thanks in advance,

Sully

[Boerdoc]

I suggest you get a swivell that has a 180* stop. And upgrade the hitting mat. What you have is ok for stance but you will want a better hitting surface.

[Sully]

I suggest you get a swivell that has a 180* stop. And upgrade the hitting mat. What you have is ok for stance but you will want a better hitting surface.

Thanks for the link. That is definitely a better option than the one I found on Amazon. With regard to the mat, that is where I'm struggling the most. Given that there will be a gel pad under the hitting surface, any thoughts as to which mat would suffice?

[Boerdoc]

I currently use a Divot action mat that I like, not sure about the others. I just don't think that what you have will be durable enough and may be hard on impact even with gel.

[FaultyClubs]

Some random thoughts:

1) What does the swivel plate get you over just turning the Skytrak around?

2) Is your room wide enough?

3) Do you have a Skytrak already? If not, then maybe a Protee system would be better since it handles left and right handed golfers. Once dialed in the accuracy seems about the same and there aren't any ongoing subscription fees.

4) Instead of your makeshift gel pad maybe a mat insert from a well recognized brand (ie CCE, Truestrike, Fiberbuilt)? Personally I use a CCE insert and never felt the need to change.

[Sully]

Some random thoughts:

1) What does the swivel plate get you over just turning the Skytrak around?

2) Is your room wide enough?

3) Do you have a Skytrak already? If not, then maybe a Protee system would be better since it handles left and right handed golfers. Once dialed in the accuracy seems about the same and there aren't any ongoing subscription fees.

4) Instead of your makeshift gel pad maybe a mat insert from a well recognized brand (ie CCE, Truestrike, Fiberbuilt)? Personally I use a CCE insert and never felt the need to change.

1) Nothing, but I thought it might be helpful to eliminate the constant turning of the device. Not an issue when I'm playing alone, but with anyone else it would be constant.

2) It's a two and a half car garage with 10' ceilings so I should have ample room.

3) I purchased the Skytrak and TGC because two of my best friends have that very setup and I really like it. Plus, we will all be able to play tournaments, online matches, etc.

4) That's a good thought. I saw other threads in which people used the gel underneath the mat because it provides more realistic feedback when hitting ball-ground. The issue with some of the thicker mats is that it grabs the club head more on fat shots, which is not good on the elbows. Essentially the gel acts a DIY Trustrike mat.

[FaultyClubs]

1) Nothing, but I thought it might be helpful to eliminate the constant turning of the device. Not an issue when I'm playing alone, but with anyone else it would be constant.

But aren't you constantly swiveling the device then? Swiveling or turning, I don't really see any difference except added complexity but maybe I'm still missing something.

Anyway I've used those swivel devices for various projects...they are really sloppy unless preloaded. An issue might be repeatability and movement. It could throw off the Skytrak readings if the unit jiggles when you hit shots.

3) I purchased the Skytrak and TGC because two of my best friends have that very setup and I really like it. Plus, we will all be able to play tournaments, online matches, etc.

The Protee uses TGC also so tournaments, matches etc are the same. Anyway the Skytrak is good too...just threw it out there in case you hadn't bought something yet.

[andygg1986]

That swivel that has a 180* stop would be nice because you would just turn it until it stops and then you know that it is properly aligned, assuming there isn't much slop in it. Alternatively, you could mount a rail or something to push it up against so that you consistently line it up every time you have to turn it.

[FaultyClubs]

Yeah, I use a piece of wood for my GC2. Nothing more needed. Works perfectly.

A swivel plate would be cool if on a motor and TGC output a signal indicating Left/Right handed golfer!

[bionicboogerboy]

Concept already designed. The problem with the turntable is that it increases you’re width required by 2 feet with the SkyTrak and even more with the GC2