Garage Sim Build - Flooring build

[mattg70]

I'm redoing my garage sim build. I have a Fiberbuilt Grass Series Hitting mat 5x4. The thickness is 2". I want to put down turf in this section of the garage that is larger than my 8' H x 15' W Carl's Premium Hitting Screen. It seems like I have two options:
1) Build up the garage floor area to cover the 15' W x 15' deep area so that the hitting mat is flush and have the ability to putt
2) Don't worry about the build up, but have turf covering the area so that balls don't bounce all over the place.

I have a SkyTrak launch monitor and I've seen mixed reviews on putting accurately, vs setting up gimmie putts. I may look to upgrade the launch monitor without breaking the bank. If so, are there ideal options for optimal putting, or just forget about that piece of it?

For option 1, what is the best choice on building up this area? Rubber mats, fiberboard or other between the concrete floor and the turf.
For option 2, again what is the best option under the turf?

Thanks,
Matt

[Yrrdead81]

I'm currently wrestling with the same thing. My initial plan was some form of gym flooring. But I'm currently looking at cheap EPS sheets....my thinking is my fiberbuilt mat is almost 9 years old zero issues in the stance area. The stance area is just mat over eps foam direct on concrete. So I'm figuring I'll just copy what they do. I may get some rolls of very thin rubber flooring for some friction elements but I think the EPS foam is going to work fine considering my fiberbuilt stance mat experience.

I will say this if you check out TripleBogey golf on youtube he has a pretty detailed flooring video. He used XPS foam for his buildup and its pretty clean. Just a bit more expensive but it does have higher compressive strength.

For option 2 there are turfs out there with like 5mm of a softer backing , that's what I've been looking at. Another alternative is carpet/turf underlayment. Here are some links;

https://turffactorydirect.com/product/tfd-batting-cage-padded-second-quality/

https://www.homedepot.com/p/FUTURE-FOAM-StepAhead-with-Nike-Grind-Premium-Green-7-16-in-Thick-8-lb-Density-Carpet-Pad-with-SpillSafe-Moisture-Barrier-150553408-33/202616234

[COgolfengineer]

I own 365 Golf Design and we sell just about everything for golf sims. Our 1.5" thick gym tiles are perfect to build up your turf to 2" height, plus they're firmer than thinner gym tiles. We also have many turf options. You can see our gym tiles and turf here.

https://365golfdesign.com/product-category/flooring/

Putting in a golf sim is extremely underrated. The feedback you get with speed and direction is great and important, compared to going outside, it's hard to know if we pushed or pulled a putt. Most camera based LMs are quite good at putting, overheads are probably the best. We sell many LM brands as well.

[Simgolf503]

I have 1” puzzle mats over entire floor and cut in fiber built insert along with two 1” putting cups. I use 2021 Mevo+ and always putt out each hole, never set to gimme. I also putt the break in the sim, and never use straight line putting. 5yrs and over 1000hrs, works excellent

[mattg70]

Simgolf503 - can you share some more details around this process? Putting in the fiber built insert and the putting cups. Thanks in advance

[mattg70]

Thanks for some of this feedback. I'm guessing with either option, I'm likely to go with the thicker floor mat over foam board - I know more expensive, but trying to build for long term. My first build, which has been up for about 3 years now, was always meant to be temporary. Now the debate is more about needing/wanting a full putting area or just putt off the fiber built onto whatever turf option I go with?

[Cavs]

I created a DIY with a similar situation you are working with. I built up the floor with 1x1's, 3/4" plywood, 1/2" gym matting and finished off with outdoor turf. It was built up for the old Protee light sensor units on the floor. Since I switched over to the Protee VX, I filled in the missing floor sensors with the same build but put in a thick chef/kitchen gel mat for the hitting area to absorb shock.

The VX is spot on with putting but I had to experiment with putting green settings to get the video game settings to match the actual real world ball speed/distance (my turf is a little fuzzy). The VX only measures the first few inches of putting and calculates it from there. If you want to keep the same pace from your hitting mat to your turf, get some samples where you are looking to get your turf and match them as close as possible.

One more suggestion for putting. I also have an Explanar putting mat. This (or any other putting mat) will make putting consistent over a transition from swing mat to turf). Again, you will have to experiment with green settings to make putting realistic from game play to real world.

[mattg70]

Thanks for that feedback. I'm likely going the build up routine and they may look at Protee VX or other mounted from ceiling for longer term success.