DIY Divot-Action Mat?

[zamundan]

I saw that there's a great thread on how to make a DIY Gel mat.

I'm hoping to create a thread on how to build a DIY Divotaction mat.

Right now, the 12" x 24" Divotaction is $125 and I've heard it wears out after a year of use. With a DIY setup, I would hope that after a year all you need is a new piece of plexiglass (~$10) and a new piece of turf (~$20).

Has anyone taken apart a Divotaction mat apart to how it's constructed? Are there any descriptions/specs/pictures/etc out there of what the inside looks like?

As I understand, there's a piece of plexiglass that flexes until it bottoms out on some foam. I'm wondering:

• What the length/width of the plexiglass?
• What is the thickness of the plexiglass?
• How much empty space is underneath the plexiglass before it bottoms out?
• What does it bottom out on? (i.e. type of foam/thickness)
• How is the plexiglass supported? (4 corners? All edges? Solid support or foam support?)

Any info you have would be super helpful!

[MainStGolf]

Here is the one that I built recently. Again just snapped off the little triangle pieces to give it more flex which was needed.

[cspin]

Maybe I missed it, but why did you leave the black foam rubber on the CCE and just glue the mat to the lexan? It's not going to flex anything like the DA which has the turf glued directly to the lexan. There is obviously a thin backing on the bottom of all turf, that is then glued/bonded to what is typically 5/8" thick closed cell foam like you see on most all driving range mats. I would have found a way to remove the mat portion of the CCE, and then glued the turf to the lexan. You could then use taller foam strips on the bottom of the lexan and still flush it up to the surface of your mat. Sounds like you have a DA mat so you know what I am getting at. I can see where it might be difficult to skin the foam off the back of the CCE in a uniform manner and also not cut into the turf backing. I saw how guys used a tool to core out a mat for the DIY gel insert. Perhaps that would work to remove the mat foam.

[MainStGolf]

I was just trying to get an end product with the least amount of effort to be honest with you :-). It was just an experiment. Now that I look at the pics I do see that layer, but yes I would be afraid of an uneven removal leading to an uneven finished product.

[Vincent_Vega]

Here is the one that I built recently. Again just snapped off the little triangle pieces to give it more flex which was needed.

Very cool. I have a 10" x 30" CCE strip and I may try this as well. I'm having a little trouble finding the foam pieces online though. Your triangle pieces look exactly like the ones on the actual divot action. You don't happen to have a link to where you bought your foam pieces do you?

[MainStGolf]

I just tore them off my divot action mat :-).

[Ironstrokes]

Here is the one that I built recently. Again just snapped off the little triangle pieces to give it more flex which was needed.

That looks great! Didnt think it would look/work that good with the thickness of the CCE, nice work

[MainStGolf]

Thanks. Yeah it came together quite nice. But in order to use it I'm going to have to purchase another piece of plywood and cutout a space for it because it's thicker now than the original mat. That's what I had to do when I switched to the CCE mat in my old mat. Works out pretty well.

[Vincent_Vega]

I just tore them off my divot action mat :-).

Haha. Welll that explains it then.

[Michael303]

Can someone share with me a couple details about this mat? I'm hoping to know the thickness of the blocks on the bottom side of the ends, the thickness of the polycarbonate used and the total height of the assembly. Thanks!

[Michael303]

I threw this together for about thirty bucks with stuff from home depot. It's 12" x 24" and has about an inch of deflection. I have no idea how long it will last so we'll see how it goes. It was cheap though.

I tried to upload an action gif but it didn't work so here's a link to it. https://imgur.com/SWSKayQ

[jerry3]

what did you use to make it?

[Michael303]

Here's everything I bought.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/LEXAN-12-in-x-24-in-x-093-in-Clear-Polycarbonate-Sheet-GE-33/202038063

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Elevations-Color-Leaf-Green-Texture-6-ft-x-Your-Choice-Length-Carpet-7PD5N620072HO/203469226

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Contractor-6-7-16-in-Thick-6-lb-Density-Carpet-Pad-150553466-33/204414823

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Waddell-36-in-x-3-4-in-Hardwood-Square-Dowel-8312U/100536762

https://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-7-1-2-in-x-5-1-2-in-x-1-7-8-in-Extra-Large-Grouting-Cleaning-and-Washing-Sponge-70005Q-24/202329543

After looking at my receipt it doesn't look like they charged me enough for the carpet because I only paid about 3 bucks. It should have been about 15 bucks. I've got enough left over to make 3 or 4 more. I was also able to buy the carpet pad by the linear foot at my HD but it's not listed as available by the foot on the HD website so YMMV. I glued it all up with some silicone adhesive that I had. I'd probably pick up some spray adhesive if I put another one together.

I hit a few chips off it last night. I don't have much to compare it to but it worked well enough. I think once I make a stance platform and drop it in the cutout it will look less chintzy and homemade.

[Tytow]

Michael303, how'd your homemade DA mat work out? I'm going to make my own this weekend and I'm modeling it after what you did. Anything you'd do differently in retrospect? Do you think the carpet pad is really necessary? How would it work with the mat adhered directly to the Lexan?

Thanks!

[Michael303]

Michael303, how'd your homemade DA mat work out? I'm going to make my own this weekend and I'm modeling it after what you did. Anything you'd do differently in retrospect? Do you think the carpet pad is really necessary? How would it work with the mat adhered directly to the Lexan?

Thanks!

Sorry I just saw your post. If I had to do I over I would skip the pad and glue the turf directly to the lexan. The carpet stretched quickly in the impact spot due to the pad I believe. I might try the artificial turf they have at HD too instead.

I bought a 12x24 hitting pad of Amazon for 14 bucks to replace the carpet and pad but it didn't want to flex when glued to the lexan so I had to cut the lexan in a couple spots. It's working pretty good now but I might still try the turf/carpet on the lexan.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QBEUJQO

[Tytow]

Thanks, that's helpful. I just picked up some indoor/outdoor turf from home depot. They sold me a 10' x 12' remnate for 10 bucks. I doubt it will be any good but for that price and that amount I figured I'd give it a try. I just adhered it to the lexan tonight using a spray on adhesive. I'm letting it dry overnight. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm skeptical in two areas: 1. I'm not sure the adhesive will work (if it doesn't, I'll use gorella glue); 2. I think the turf will shread pretty quickly. More later...

[franks62591]

Has anyone found a type of glue that works well bonding lexan to wood? I've tried my golf epoxy and it broke loose. Also tried some two sided carpet tape and that didn't work perfectly well either.

Thanks!

[kalcormier]

I've tried the 77 spray adhesive. That lasted about a week.

[Miura Mario]

I used silicone for all the connections - working like a charm...

[BrappySailor]

I made one tonight. Instead of cutting a 12x24 section out of my mat, I cut from the bottom to leave he top turf layer intact. Used a sheet of Lexan, some Super 77 spray adhesive, and sections of exercise mat for the pads. Works great!

[wbond]

What thickness of lexan did you use?

I made one tonight. Instead of cutting a 12x24 section out of my mat, I cut from the bottom to leave he top turf layer intact. Used a sheet of Lexan, some Super 77 spray adhesive, and sections of exercise mat for the pads. Works great!

[BrappySailor]

What thickness of lexan did you use?

12x24x.093”

[LEO MODE]

Great work guys. So as long as its DIYed like Divot Action mat (even with using CCE turf), you shouldn’t be having any elbow/wrist problem? I recently changed my setup from CCE to Divot Action and the joint pain is definitely gone but if you can replace it at a cheaper price that should be a good idea too. I don’t want to be paying $150/yr.

[wjf67]

Hi,

I am late to this. Very late.

I have been researching hitting pads / mats to reduce the chances of impact injuries. It is the great thread above which has informed my design and this is to incorporate the DA (flex board system) and the TrueStrike (impact gel) concept.

My design will have a 1cm thick silicon spandex gel pad affixed under an artificial turf, which will be glued onto the plexiglass/ perspex.

I will then attached the compressed foam footings, but I will play around with their height, with the aim of reducing the height because of the ‘give’ in the gel pad.

My idea is that by incorporating both, but modifying them, that I can retain, but reduce, the movement of the board, and use the ‘ruckable’ quality of the gel to produce the optimal feel of a real golf shot.

Any comments are welcome as I embark on this.

I will update you on my prototyping.

It might take longer than intended due to lockdown affecting access to materials.

[Albie999]

Hi,

I am late to this. Very late.

I have been researching hitting pads / mats to reduce the chances of impact injuries. It is the great thread above which has informed my design and this is to incorporate the DA (flex board system) and the TrueStrike (impact gel) concept.

My design will have a 1cm thick silicon spandex gel pad affixed under an artificial turf, which will be glued onto the plexiglass/ perspex.

I will then attached the compressed foam footings, but I will play around with their height, with the aim of reducing the height because of the ‘give’ in the gel pad.

My idea is that by incorporating both, but modifying them, that I can retain, but reduce, the movement of the board, and use the ‘ruckable’ quality of the gel to produce the optimal feel of a real golf shot.

Any comments are welcome as I embark on this.

I will update you on my prototyping.

It might take longer than intended due to lockdown affecting access to materials.

Did you complete your divot action mat?