Foam board insulation under turf??

[Tigerbass]

Hi all, new guy here. I have lurked around and picked up some good info from you guys on trying to put together my sim.

I bought a Sigpro Softy hitting strip based on some recommendations for joint safety/comfort. Only issue is that it is 2 3/8” thick. I want to put putting turf on my entire floor and would like for everything to be flush/level. I can’t seem to find gym mats 1.5 or 2” thick. I am thinking about 1.5” hard foam insulation panels with 1/2” carpet pad on top, then a 3/8” putting turf. Does anyone have thoughts or concerns on the rigid foam board?

[Stetson]

That is crazy thick! I am not sure about the carpet pad but the rigid foam will be fine under there.

[COgolfengineer]

There are 1.5" thick foam mats. I've used these on multiple sim builds and work great.

Meister X-Thick 1.5" Interlocking EVA Foam Mats - 2X Cushion for Wrestling, MMA Takedowns & Gymnastics - 2'x2' Tiles https://a.co/d/aIT3yoZ

[Brettster]

COgolfengineer - those are nuts thick! I have 1/2" thick and it seem sufficient. If you wanted to get a certain thickness - I have no doubt they would be worth it, but wow, $569 for 144 sq. feet!

[COgolfengineer]

Brettster haha yeah they're expensive but they work really well. Firm with a slight give. Some foam pads can be a bit too squishy. And the thickness is great because once you add turf that's usually about 1/2" thick, then you can incorporate just about any hitting strip you want that's up to 2" thick. There's no perfect hitting surface so it's common to try multiple different hitting strips. I've tried 4! So I figure, I can always increase the thickness of a hitting strip but can never reduce the thickness so I prefer to make the subfloor thicker. The thinnest subfloor I've done is 1" eva foam tiles.

[Brettster]

I see your point COgolfengineer - I have several hitting strips as well... But yet to try them as I'm hitting off of my Fiberbuilt strip built into the ProTee sensor mat. I plan on eventually dropping in to one side, or the other of this mat: Holy Grail, SIG Softy, or my homemade. You might want to start a separate thread on Hitting Strips and show the different ones you have tried, and how you matched them to the thickness of your subfloor?

[Tigerbass]

There are 1.5" thick foam mats. I've used these on multiple sim builds and work great.

Meister X-Thick 1.5" Interlocking EVA Foam Mats - 2X Cushion for Wrestling, MMA Takedowns & Gymnastics - 2'x2' Tiles https://a.co/d/aIT3yoZ

Thanks for the info. I want to cover my entire floor area (approx 12”x18’…..220 SF) to have as much putting/chipping area as possible. I can get the foam rigid insulation boards for under $300, so that’s another reason I was leaning towards them.

[COgolfengineer]

Tigerbass Understood. I've never used the foam insulation boards. I'm curious how they hold up to being walked on a bunch or possible stomping. Or is it best to add plywood or osb on top of it? If you have to add wood on top, will it be comfortable to walk on? If it works and people like it, that's all that matters. The 1.5" foam pads can take any abuse and are firm but have just enough give to make it comfortable. But yeah, they're pricey. I covered a 17' x 24' area with them.

[Stetson]

Tigerbass Understood. I've never used the foam insulation boards. I'm curious how they hold up to being walked on a bunch or possible stomping. Or is it best to add plywood or osb on top of it? If you have to add wood on top, will it be comfortable to walk on? If it works and people like it, that's all that matters. The 1.5" foam pads can take any abuse and are firm but have just enough give to make it comfortable. But yeah, they're pricey. I covered a 17' x 24' area with them.

Those rigid foam boards are rated to be used under concrete slabs without compressing, there is no risk of compression with them no matter which offensive lineman stomp on them. But if they aren't covered up they can be brittle and flake apart.

[COgolfengineer]

Those rigid foam boards are rated to be used under concrete slabs without compressing, there is no risk of compression with them no matter which offensive lineman stomp on them. But if they aren't covered up they can be brittle and flake apart.

Cool, good to know! So covering it with just the turf is good enough?

[Stetson]

Cool, good to know! So covering it with just the turf is good enough?

From a compression standpoint it is. If we are talking putting then it is all good. If it is the hitting mat it won’t be because it’ll flake with the forces of the golf club at impact.

[Tigerbass]

From a compression standpoint it is. If we are talking putting then it is all good. If it is the hitting mat it won’t be because it’ll flake with the forces of the golf club at impact.

I have a hitting strip that I will cut in, so it’s just for the putting and stance area. If/when the putting carpet wears out where I stand I will cut out a bigger area and drop in a stance mat (I expect that to happen at some point, just don’t know how long). And you are correct that the foam boards can be used UNDER concrete slabs. They actually come in different density (psi) ratings. I still think a high density carpet pad over them will help disperse any point loading on the foam boards and add a level of comfort as well. And as I previously mentioned I need to build up 2 3/8” ! I may opt for a 5mm backing to the putting turf instead of the carpet pad.

[PFinnegan]

Following up here as I a had the idea of doing the same thing, I am glad to see that some one did too.

Did you end up completing this? Can you send me some pointers or tips as well as any complications you ran into?

Thanks!

Patrick

[JT789]

PFinnegan I just did a build somewhat like this, but I put plywood on top to ensure the foam does not get compressed. Here is what I did. The floor is built around the 4x7 SigPro hitting mat. It is a floating floor on top of original concrete built with 1.5" sheets of foam, 3/8" plywood glued on top, 1/8" foam underlayment, then Petgrow pro putting turf to match the height of the hitting mat. I just recently posted a pic of my build in the simulator forum. So far after 1 month of use it seems to be holding up well and a has a soft, firm feeling when walking on it.

[Brettster]

JT789 - SigPro hitting mat, is it the Softy? I have the Softy strip, not installed yet... but ready for me to make up my mind on.

[arborry]

PFinnegan I just did a build somewhat like this, but I put plywood on top to ensure the foam does not get compressed. Here is what I did. The floor is built around the 4x7 SigPro hitting mat. It is a floating floor on top of original concrete built with 1.5" sheets of foam, 3/8" plywood glued on top, 1/8" foam underlayment, then Petgrow pro putting turf to match the height of the hitting mat. I just recently posted a pic of my build in the simulator forum. So far after 1 month of use it seems to be holding up well and a has a soft, firm feeling when walking on it.

Im copying your idea on my build. Curious what kind of 1/8 matting you used between wood and turf? thx for the idea! Hows it been working for you?

[DaveyRockit]

Curious if there are any progress photos? Did it work well?

[TGNgolf]

Hi all, new guy here. I have lurked around and picked up some good info from you guys on trying to put together my sim.

I bought a Sigpro Softy hitting strip based on some recommendations for joint safety/comfort. Only issue is that it is 2 3/8” thick. I want to put putting turf on my entire floor and would like for everything to be flush/level. I can’t seem to find gym mats 1.5 or 2” thick. I am thinking about 1.5” hard foam insulation panels with 1/2” carpet pad on top, then a 3/8” putting turf. Does anyone have thoughts or concerns on the rigid foam board?

Thanks for posting this, had the question!

[Stetson]

I would avoid carpet pad if possible. Perhaps 1/2” OSB and then 3/8” putting carpet.

obviously you can do carpet paid but it will be squishy. I have no carpet pad and 1/8” putting carpet and I like the solid feel. The 3/2” foam board under OSB doesn’t give much but it does fractionally which is nice.