DIY Real Feel Golf Mat for only $271.50

[Mike80]

I wanted to share the latest golf sim project I just finished. I wanted to make my golf mat feel a little softer and more like hitting down in the ground creating a divot. So you could spend $750 for a TrueStrike golf mat with a gel insert or you could do what I did for 1/3 the cost...and actually I think it's better.

I have the 5' X 5' ULTIMATE PAR COMMERCIAL DRIVING RANGE GOLF MAT from AllTurfMats.com. Cost $199.
Link: http://www.allturfmats.com/product-p/utpq6060.htm

I bought a 18 in x 16 in Ultra Gel Pad from OnlyGel.com. Cost $72.50
Link: https://onlygel.com/index.php/motorc...stock-232.html

I flipped my turf over and cut out a section of the foam bottom and placed the gel pad below the turf. I didn't glue it or anything. This gel pad is 5/8 in thick and that was exactly the thickness of the foam padding below my turf. So it fit perfect.

This feels so much better now. You can hit down and compress the ball and it feels like actually making a divot. Doesn't have any hard feel like before. I definitely recommend others doing something similar. You won't regret it. I also like this method because you don't have any insert and everything looks clean on top with no cut outs or mismatching turf colors.

The biggest tip is to use a oscillating multi-functional power tool (see what I mean in picture). This was the easiest way to cut out the foam. It only took about 30 minutes to cut it out.

If anyone else does this post back your results and how you like it! But definitely recommend others trying this!!!

See attached pictures!

[bbjr]

I've been using this turf over gel from Menard's for the past 3-4 months: https://www.menards.com/main/floorin...4444713076.htm. I am not seeing where they sell it by the foot anymore, but I was able to buy 1'x12' for $45 when I purchased it. It is 56oz, 1/2" pile height, and has held up really well (I hit ~1k shots a week on average). The only thing worth mentioning is that the pile in the area where the club strikes the turf becomes "softer" over time as it gets broken in. I actually prefer it now that it has broken in as I can feel the gel during strikes.

[cspin]

Here's a few that look to be very well made. They are all nylon turf, which is what most all commercial range mats are made from.

http://syntheticgrasspros.com/wp-con...16/07/PT50.pdf

[inorkuo]

cspin the turfavenue stuff looks promising. what did you end up doing? my cheap maxfli mat has already worn through. is there a reason you prefer the putting turf vs the fairway turf? what do you think of the double eagle ii 3/4"? http://turfavenue.com/proddetail.asp?prod=73PPR

[cspin]

Here is an example of a type of closed cell foam that is readily available and comes in various thicknesses.

http://www.rubbercal.com/closed-cell-rubber-epdm.html

[inorkuo]

i ended up using a scrap piece of a cheapo maxfli hitting mat that i had left over after making my stance platform. the foam is relatively thin so i left it in tact. it feels plenty squishy and seems to work well. i'm just not sure how long it's going to last.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/maxfli-3-x-5-hitting-mat-ss14mxfl35mat/ss14mxfl35mat

[inorkuo]

is there any reason not to drill a hole through the gel so that a tee holder could be installed?

[Godfather]

is there any reason not to drill a hole through the gel so that a tee holder could be installed?

Well it will allow dust and dirt to get on the gel and limit your hitting zone footprint.

[inorkuo]

I was wondering more along the lines of if it would compromise the integrity of the gel and allow it to tear more easily.

[cspin]

inorkuo,
Responding to your comment #107.1 above. I think 3/4” turf pile height is too long for putting on unless it has infill in it. And you obviously don’t want to use infill indoors as it would be a mess.

I requested samples of a few turfs, one of which I know was the starpro turf, but it has not arrived. I would order samples before doing anything. I ordered a roll of turf that came with a 5mm foam backing on it and wish I hadn’t. It does not lay down well because there is tension memory in the foam and wants to curl up at the edges. This is a problem if you are planning on cutting an area out and recessing a stance and/or hitting mat into it. I want my setup to be flush with the surrounding turf so when I putt the balls rolls right from the hitting area onto the putting turf, without dropping off and bouncing.

[inorkuo]

I called the turfavenue guy and told him what we're trying to accomplish and he recommended the fairway turf.

http://turfavenue.com/proddetail.asp?prod=52NDN&cat=16

he said that he and his sons use a strip of it in on top of a piece of foam with two pegs in front so when you hit down and through the turf slides forward on top of the foam, the flops back down. I went ahead and ordered a piece to go on top of the gel. it should be here next week.

[cspin]

inorkuo,
Posts some pics and let us know how the Turf Avenue 3/4" product works out for you. I know the 1/2” product looked well constructed with high density nylon turf. Hopefully the 3/4” product is manufactured the same way.

[inorkuo]

I have been hitting on the turfavenue fairway surface for a few days and so far so good. it's pretty thick so not good for putting but with gc2 I can put the ball close to the front of the mat so it doesn't spend much time on the slow fairway turf. it also seems to have a sideways grain but that's probably due to how it was rolled up for shipping. over time it might straighten up.

[NovaGolfer]

Hi, just wondering if you ever completed this build and if you had any long term feedback? Thanks!

[cspin]

That turf looks very durable. Can tell it is designed for outside applications because it has drainage holes in the backing. Certainly doesn't mean it can't be used indoors.

How do you secure that section of turf so it doesn't go flying when you take a divot? Is it glued or stapled down to the hitting base around the gel?

Thanks for the pics and info!

[inorkuo]

it is glued around the perimeter. I didn't put any glue directly on the gel. I drilled a hole for a tee holder just in front of the gel and hit irons from near the middle. with the thicker turf you lose a little of the gel feel but it still feels good.

[ATROVARIOUS]

Has anyone tried this with a higher end mat like the Real Feel Golf mat for example? I'm a little leery of modifying a $500 mat.....

[Champ11]

I ordered this piece from onlygel.com (

https://www.onlygel.com/products/ult...d-stock-series

) and used half of if for my mat, it works great. If anyone wants the other half, it is 8"x18", $35 plus shipping.

[Alphaseekr]

This looks like a great idea.

Only concern is whether u can truly feel the gel given the ATM/CCE type mat is pretty thick and punishing with or without the under pad on fat shots. The ATM Ultimate Super Tee I think is basically a CCE for less cost. I have it in 4x5 but think I just prefer their premium residential mat but now u have me thinking if I should break it back out from hibernation? I felt like I lost distance and spin, better numbers and results with the premium residential from ATM.

Anyone else try this sort of idea?

[wbond]

Alphaseekr I could not feel the gel pad at all when using the CCE mat. I could definitely feel it with a mat that was about a 1/2" thick. It was about 1/4" turf and 1/4" silicone/rubber base.

[fraserjr]

Hey guys! I'm the original poster of this thread with the gel idea below your turf. I see lots have tried this and wanted to provide some updates.

Haven't been on here in awhile. Bought a new house and haven't had my golf sim in awhile. I'm in the process of building a new and better setup!

I see cspin is recommending to put a foam bottom backing below turf and above gel. Based on my experience using the gel for over a year I would not recommend having any foam padding between the gel and turf. You will lose all the benefits of the gel. What you want is a thin high quality turf directly above the gel with no foam backing on turf.

The Allturfs mat I originally posted worked pretty good with the gel. But this new setup I am wanting an even thinner high quality turf to get more gel effect. So here is what I'm doing in the new sim setup!

1) Flooring: Putting DRIcore 7/8" 2'x2' flooring down (easy installation with snapping each piece together). 10 ft x 10 ft cost $149.50.
Available at: https://www.menards.com/main/buildin...0783479&ipos=5

2) Gel: Will cut out section to insert the gel. Will have a thin board at bottom of cut out to push the gel higher up to surface to press against turf tightly.
Source 1: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRAGEL-Mot...torefresh=true
Source 2: https://www.onlygel.com/collections/...-pad-rp-series
Source 3: 16"x18" gel: https://www.onlygel.com/collections/...d-stock-series

3) Turf: I have found a very durable turf that is thin and allows you to feel the gel during impact of the club. I saw samples of this turf at Menards and it is very dense and high quality. This is not the cheap turf sold at many hardware stores. This is a special order they sell.
- I am getting a 15 ft x 10 ft roll and then putting on top of the DRIcore flooring and over the gel section in the middle. This will give a solid 1 piece turf floor and have the soft gel in the hitting area.
Source: https://www.menards.com/main/floorin...946-c-6542.htm $3.65 sq.ft. So very cost effective because it does not have the foam backing like the expensive turf mats sold by many others.

4) Another benefit of using this turf. Since it is a dense turf also made for putting, I am going to cut out multiple holes for practicing putting.

The online pic of turf on Menards website doesn't look as good as it does in person. I saw it in the store and it is very nice turf. I'm attaching a pic of the real turf I saw in the store.

I'm also probably going to cut out a section of the turf to go over the gel and keep it separated from the main flooring. This way I can replace it as it wears. Also think it will allow the gel to work better with it compressing down into the gel. Otherwise have the entire turf over the gel is restricted from dropping down on a strike by the stretched resistance of the under lament glued to the turf. Meaning it only can drop down so far. By having the turf above gel separate will not have any restriction.

Mike80 - Did you ever end up building a new mat? If so, I would be interested in seeing what supplies you ultimately used?

[Mike80]

Hey! I used the DIY gel mat that I posted in this forum for a couple years. I moved to a new house and built a new sim build. I am not using the gel in my setup at the moment. I have a huge 15’ x 12’ turf that is 1/2” thick and over interlocking padded tiles.

I did test the gel below my new turf. It feels really good. It works much better on 1/2” thick turf so you can really feel it. I bought my turf from TurfAvenue.com similar to what cspin posted above. I might add my gel permanently in my setup but haven’t decided yet. So far liking how my 1/2” turf feels compared to my old really thick monster tee turf.

[fraserjr]

Mike80 Thanks for the response. Do you think the 1/2" with a gel insert will work on just laid over concrete?