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!

[vadawg]

The link to the onlygel site in the OP doesn't work anymore.
Does the company/site exist anymore?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Try this. It's on sale

https://www.onlygel.com/collections/motorcycle-seat-gel-pads/products/ultragel-motorcycle-seat-gel-pad-pad-stock-series

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[wbond]

Thanks for the heads up, just ordered mine.

[taylor310]

How is the gel when you hit fat on the ball? It seems the penalty is pretty high when you just have a all turf mat and hit it fat. I thought my skytrak was broken with the low distances i was getting!

[brnixon]

It depends on how fat you hit it. Seems to take off what I would expect (20-50%).

[vadawg]

I agree, no worse than the CCE.

[wbond]

Well i got mine in the mail today. I have an older thin mat that i'm going to use. In just taking a few shots off of it, it seems like this is going to be way better than the CCE. I intentionally hit some fat shots and it seems like there will be less wear on the arms/elbow for sure. I dont know how much is due to the shorter nap of the hitting mat vs CCE or the impact of the gel or a combination of both, but it didn't seem nearly as harsh. Once i get the mat built up and get some more use, I'll be able to tell for sure. I'm curious if there will be a difference in spin as well.

[Mike80]

wbond Awesome! Take some pics and post. I placed a very thin board below the gel in the cut out to help push the gel tight to the top turf. It made a big difference. I think you will like the gel!

[wbond]

Here are a couple pics of what I did with the gel. I had an old mat, about a 1/2" thick overall that has a 3/16 urethane backing. I used 1/2" plywood for bottom, then 5/8" particle board which i then cutout a section in the middle for the gel to sit in. My gel appears to actually be 5/8 as it sits pretty flush with the top surface. If I decide i like this better, i will go the route of getting the 5 x 5 mat and doing what others have done.

[Godfather]

Where did you get the turf? I'm experimenting and would be interested in a thin urethane backed turf.

[wbond]

I don't remember, i've had it for at least 5 years or so, just wasn't using it. I figured I would give it a try just to see if i liked it.

[Mike80]

wbond Looks great! Nice job. How do you like using the gel so far. Don't you think it feels much better and more realistic. If you get the turf to bubble up above the gel then add a thin board below gel to push it up tight. That worked great for me!

[wbond]

I am liking the gel better than the CCE so far. It seems like the elbow isn't hurting as much. The CCE would grab quite a bit whereas this seems like it may be a little more forgiving vs hitting it fat IRL. So far I have no issues with bubbling up. Since my mat has the thin urethane base, i don't have anything separating the gel from the mat and the gel is very tacky so it sticks right to it quite well.

[Godfather]

Can the gel be cut to a different size? I'm wondering if it could be cut to the same shape as a hitting mat insert. My 4x5 mat is showing wear and I'm thinking of going the hitting strip route by cutting a hole in my 4x5 mat and just replacing the strip when it starts wearing and affecting my putting.

[andygg1986]

You could cut the gel but my concern with what you are saying is that if the entire strip is sitting on the gel, the turf might not stay in place. I tried gluing the gel to the mat with spray adhesive and it didn't seem to stick that well (although I think I let it get tacky too long).

This is just an idea, but if you already have a 4x5 mat, I would consider getting the 11" x 4' strip for $25. You could cut out the foam from the middle 18". Then trim the gel so it is 11" wide and fit it under the cut out in the mat so you have a long strip with gel under the middle. Then you could use carpet tape or something to hold the whole strip to the end of your existing mat, giving you a 4x6 one (or cut a foot off your existing mat). I think that the foam backing is always going to be bonded to the turf better than the gel, so if you can secure your current mat to the foam you will be better off.

[Godfather]

Thanks that is definitely something to think about. Perhaps trimming in the gel to be wider than the hitting strip would be wise.

[wbond]

Yes, you can cut it no problem. It was designed to be cut to size so you can shape it however you want.

[brnixon]

Just wanted to post an update on this. I started to get some bubbling so I flipped my mat over and pulled the gel out. The plastic backing of the mat underneath the gel has started to disintegrate I believe from the golf club hitting it(too many fat shots?) I don't think this will last long term so I rotated my mat and not just hit from the standard part of the mat until I can figure something else out. It sounds like I am the only one who has had this problem so maybe not an issue for others but wanted to post my results. I have only had it for about a month so didn't last very long. I am a player who hits down on the ball and so maybe others won't have this problem.

[Dan McWhirter]

I think two-sided carpet tape can fix anything!

[Godfather]

I am experimenting with several 12x24" hitting strip inserts. I think I'll try this, too. I'll cut the gel from 16x18 to 8x18 and fit it into a matching cavity. Then replacing the surface is only $15 and I'll have a backup gel.

[Jtangm04]

Looking at ebay for gel inserts. They sell smaller pieces so it cuts the costs a little bit. What thickness are you guys buying. Seems to range from 3/8 to 1 inch thick. It is possible to have too thick a gel pad?