Fiberbuilt OK for garage if needs to be setup each time?

[kirkemg]

Relatively new to this. I've come to learn that FB is the most forgiving mat when it comes to preventing injury. To me that's a no brainer. My question is, my setup will be in the garage and will require putting everything away after each use. Is the FB not made to be stored after each session? Is it a huge pain?

Thanks

[frodaddy00]

FB studio mats are heavy. Furthermore they are awkward to move because its rubber so they flop around.. I've seen at least one person here build a wooden platform underneath the mat with casters on one side so they can lift up an edge and roll it away. I suspect that is the only feasible way to move it regularly.

I switched out from a 6x4 studio mat and just using 3 1x1 foot squares cut into my putting surface. I almost killed myself trying to get that studio mat into my basement. It's heavy and awkward!

Fiberbuilt also has a practice station that is more mobile you may want to look into. The fibers aren't quite as good as their square mats and the stance is a little narrow for some people's liking.

[kirkemg]

Damn, that's a let down. Not sure what I'm going to do now. Thanks for the reply

[CHansen157]

I had the flight deck practice station at first and it is portable and may work for you but still surprisingly heavy. You're going to have trouble finding anything larger of similar quality that is still portable since they need to have some weight and structure to be stable. I agree that the stance is a little narrow but it was tolerable for me for a good six months or so I was building out the rest of the set up. I love fiberbuilt though, now I have the 3x1 squares dropped into a larger turf surface as well.

[kirkemg]

practice station looks like an option. thanks for mentioning. Is the 4x5 simply "impossible" to lean against a wall after each session? Or possible just heavy and a pain?

[SkeetShooter]

I have it and its a bit of a pain in the butt to take out and put away, however I just slide it back and forth from one spot to the other. However, given that the garage space is my Wife's and this keeps her happy, I'll surely suffer through moving it in and out each time.

[kirkemg]

which one do you have? Also,. not sure i follow. You slide it to the other space? So you're not actually lifting and leaning against the wall? That's what I'm envisioning i'll need to do. Lean it against a wall. Is it able to do that?

Thanks for the reply

[SkeetShooter]

I have the 4x5 fiberbuilt. Have a crawl space directly in front of where the car parks and I slide it in and out of there... In order to lift and lean it against a wall, you would have to fix in place some sort of board or somethign on the bottom so the rubber and the foam blocks don't fall off, and even then the mat will fall off at that point.

[Lkdog]

The performance version of the 4 foot by 5 foot is different than the studio version that is 4 foot by 5 foot. I think people have stated that the performance mat which is sold on Amazon for 469 bucks does not lend itself to to be moved easy because of the way it's constructed on the bottom. The Studio version is pretty heavy I think.

I use a True Strike portable. Kind of weighty but easy to move.

It's a great hitting surface. You will need to find a stance mat of some sort that is even with the TRUE Strike Portable though. It's 2" in high.
See picture of my setup which I can move pretty easily.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uLT1FGfFvNWFy4ee7

[chriscwhite]

I was using a Country Club Elite mat, but I started getting some joint pain so I ended up buying a Fiberbuilt 3 x 1 that comes prebuilt in a metal holder. I set that next to my CCE mat and put some anti-slide rug stuff underneath it and the CCE mat and can set this up and tear it down in my garage very easily. The only thing I would have changed is I wish that I had bought the 4 x 1 which would be heavier. I have to occasionally adjust the CCE with the Fiberbuilt strip if they slip over several strikes. I could buy more rug gripper stuff and that would probably solve my issue, but I wish that I had started with the 4 x 1 which is slightly heavier.

[kirkemg]

Interesting option thanks. I didnt realize they made strips like that. I obviously dont already have another mat so i wonder what i could use in place of your CCE....

[Lkdog]

Lots of options for stance mats. You don't need a CCE necessarily. You want to make sure it is close to same height as your Fiberbuilt hitting strip and big enough to use a driver. I think I read somewhere here that it is around 1 3/4 inches high.

[Burtgolf]

I have the fiberbuilt practice station and without a doubt it was/is clumsy to move. I have to move the wifes car out of the garage then set my flooring and mat and skytrak and roll down the impact screen each and every time. It worked ok if you drag it from the back to wherever your going to stow it, but no way would it stand up against a wall or nothing like that. And taking it apart is quick but its 5 clumsy flippy pieces once you break it down.

I have since went to a 5x5 stance and hitting mat and set up and tear down time has improved by at least 3 minutes!

I will be selling my practice station soon

[kirkemg]

Do you still use a FB hitting strip? Do you just lay them side by side or did you connect somehow?

[kirkemg]

Thanks for the helpful reply. Per the suggestion above, i was about to default to the practice station but seeing someone like you with actual experience in a garage and it being tough is making me think twice. Any thoughts on the Gorilla Mat? They also claim no shock and "hit down/through the ball"

[Burtgolf]

I no longer use it as I have the 5x5 mat now. I looked into the gorilla mat but was very fortunate and there was a person on this forum local to me that was getting rid of the 5x5 they had and gave it to me for free. Not a clue what brand it is but its very nice and has padding under it. Makes it easy to slide away and leans flat against the wall.

I think if you did the 4x1 fiberbuilt panel and added a stance mat to go along with that then that would be your best option if your wanting fiberbuilt. Once the one I have starts wearing out (have 4 sides to wear out though so going to be a while) my plan is to do the fiberbuilt panel and just move it separately as others have mentioned.

[crazyhands911]

I was really surprised by how heavy the 4x6 performance tee mat is. I managed to drag it to the wall and somehow leaned against the wall, but that isn't going to work consistently. I could screw it to some 1/2" particle board, but that is just going to add even more weight to lug around. I'm going to attempt to liquid nail it to a thin hardboard I think, to just give it a little rigidity. I may also look to screw the seams together as well.