Fiberbuilt vs Divot Action and musculoskeletal injury

[Gazpacho]

I’ve had the fiberbuilt 4x10 mat for two years. Right medial epicondylitis became so bad I needed a platelet rich plasma Injection to fix it. Thankfully it worked. I continued with the fiberbuilt broom brush strip for the past six months and have a mild case of left medial epicondylitis which would become mildly apparent after 30 fiberbuilt balls. I just received the Divot Action yesterday for Christmas. 30 balls yesterday and 90 today, no symptoms. On a fat or steep swing, the Fiberbuilt grabs. The Divot Action does not at all, it is far superior feeling more like damp Bermuda. Very smooth and no grabbing and twisting of the club face, none.
I am a physician and a six handicap so have a good idea what I’m talking about. Early impression on comparing Skytrak numbers is that the DA is more accurate but need more time. I got the 12x18” strip with two 12” inserts for $200.
Ive used the true strike at my club, it’s awful, and the fiberbuilt is actually punishing compared to the Divot Action.

[Golfallday1983]

Where did you buy yours

[Gazpacho]

I called the number on the website and ordered what they suggested

[FirGir]

What characteristics of the TrueStrike mat led you to deduce it is awful, Doctor?

[Gazpacho]

FirGir
From an injury, biomechanical, musculoskeletal standpoint, the unnecessary shock one’s body takes from the true strike Is problematic. The fiberbuilt is better in this regard and the Divot Action even better. Try all three and see what you think.

[FirGir]

While I understand every golf swing is different, I have an aversion to medial epicondylitis along with platelet rich plasma injections so I will take your word for it on the Fiberbuilt I'm using the TrueStrike now and have avoided injury and think it will ultimately improve my ball striking, but on anything other than a flush hit it has a firmer/harsher/tight lie type impact than I anticipated considering the gel insert. I'm intrigued by the DivotAction but thinking it might be too forgiving on a fat or steep swing as you somewhat alluded to and that it won't require a crisp strike for an excellent result. Anyway, finding the perfect mat seems to have Ark of the Covenant similarities and not getting injured is a top priority, so thanks for the feedback and please keep posting about it as you spend more time with the DivotAction and maybe how things ultimately transfer to the course.

[Alex.Morgan]

Divotaction insert in action below - i love it and pain free now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jYgPLaEK0o&t=194s

[Adrenaline]

How does the soft strike compare to the divot action?

[Golfallday1983]

I’m going to get a divot action and a fiber built thanks for the info!

[Sixmudd]

I’ve had the fiberbuilt 4x10 mat for two years. Right medial epicondylitis became so bad I needed a platelet rich plasma Injection to fix it. Thankfully it worked. I continued with the fiberbuilt broom brush strip for the past six months and have a mild case of left medial epicondylitis which would become mildly apparent after 30 fiberbuilt balls. I just received the Divot Action yesterday for Christmas. 30 balls yesterday and 90 today, no symptoms. On a fat or steep swing, the Fiberbuilt grabs. The Divot Action does not at all, it is far superior feeling more like damp Bermuda. Very smooth and no grabbing and twisting of the club face, none.
I am a physician and a six handicap so have a good idea what I’m talking about. Early impression on comparing Skytrak numbers is that the DA is more accurate but need more time. I got the 12x18” strip with two 12” inserts for $200.
Ive used the true strike at my club, it’s awful, and the fiberbuilt is actually punishing compared to the Divot Action.

Just say golfers elbow 🙄

[Gazpacho]

I posted this in another thread but copied it for a follow up:
I wasn’t going to reply, but noticed the fiberbuilt add stating it prevents injuries. This is not true as I developed terrible golfers elbow in one arm and a mild case in the other. The Divot Action strip with the two matching panels creates a 12”x46” strip that is far superior. I’ve hit from it for six strait days with absolutely no golfers elbow symptoms. There is none of the grabbing and twisting that one experiences on the broom strip fiberbuilt that my wife for two years refused to use because of that unnatural action. Buy any old mat and cut a strip in it for the Divot Action, false advertising ticks me off.

regarding ball flight, I think this strip is more like real golf as well, especially for long irons.if on real turf one takes a divot, then I think for the shallower long iron the fiberbuilt has more of an opportunity to grab your club and affect the swing and flight. I’ve played a couple of rounds since having this and my 5 and 6 iron fly like they do off the divot action. More to follow regarding performance

[Shiggidy112]

I'm a big fan of my DA insert as well. I feel like it doesn't grab the club and cause shanks and is way more forgiving on my wrist and elbow. The only thing I'd recommend, is to make sure you hit from the middle/back portion of the insert. I hit a ball that was more towards the front, and with taking a natural divot, came into contact with the lip of the stance mat, which stopped my swing dead in it's tracks. My wrist was in pain for weeks, and I ripped the edges of my stance mat...

[Golfallday1983]

I ordered the divot action I was also going to order the fiberbuilt to compare what do you guys think will it be a waste of money

I haven’t heard anything bad about the fiberbuilt aside that it feels like the ball is tee’d up

the divot action has less info but I have read some have gone from da to fb

I guess there’s only one way to find out lol

[968Cab]

I’ve got both, and switch between the two regularly....I simply can’t decide which I like better. If I was to rank, it would truly be a 1a/1b situation.

I’m a divot taker, so get frustrated with the grabbing/twist of FB. The DA is louder (my room is small-ish), and I can see some significant wear in 12 months, using it 50% of the time. Neither cause me pain/injury, unlike every other option I’ve tried.

I’d recommend trying both and deciding (or not LOL) for yourself. There is a used market for both if you decide on one or the other.

Lastly, regardless of FB/DA choice for full swing, I HIGHLY recommend the split-rough DA insert for short game work. I use it and the QED training complex A LOT. It’s VERY realistic, IMO.

[RAH5]

I was contemplating both as well. I went with FB though I really like the Divot Action concept.

Very happy with FB so far. If I get too steep (which I am very prone to do) it grabs and I lose major distance. Seems realistic. Moreover, the feedback is excellent. A well struck ball provides a similar type of satisfaction as on the course—I don’t get the sensation of the ball being “teed up” like I’ve seen from others.

And, while it grabs, I haven’t noticed any pain or discomfort yet. It’s just jarring and noticeable like with real turf.

My only dissatisfaction with the FB comes not from the strip itself but the 5x4 mat that came with it. Functionally it’s fine but it’s somewhat challenging to move around when needed (though I’ve found just where to grab it to minimize that). That’s something to know but I don’t hold it against them because it doesn’t affect the play at all. And the weight/inertia helps keep it steady during play.

All in all I’d give it at least a 4.5/5, maybe a 5/5, for function. Maybe would be nice to hold a tee but I got the Birtees so that’s not really an issue. Overall very happy.

Hope that helps.

[968Cab]

Just an update, since somebody liked my post and it showed up in my notifications….


I switched (again!!) to the Holy Grail insert, from Gung Ho Golf. It’s a direct replacement insert just like the Divot Action, however…

It’s available in a 46ish inch length, so no fore/aft filler required for the FB tray

It’s “shock absorbers” are full length strips of foam—not metal clips/springs—which SIGNIFICANTLY lower the amount of noise in my smallish sim room.

I’ve been using it for a couple months now (testing graphite shafts for new clubs this winter), and would choose it over anything else if I was starting over. It’s fantastic.