When it comes to creating your home golf practice environment, the range of options is endless, from the simplest throw-down mat to the most exotic simulator setup. So how do you decide what hitting surface you should use? Well, a lot of it comes down to you… meaning that it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. Here are a few things to consider:
- What Kind of Player Are You? The players who are most serious about working on their games demand hitting surfaces that most accurately simulate real fairway turf. These players often use launch monitors to give them accurate feedback, so the turf they’re practicing on had better make the launch conditions as real as possible. That's what allows them to dial in their distances accurately and take that knowledge to the course.
- How Often Do You Practice? For those players who love to practice, especially at home, the type of hitting surface they use makes a difference for the investment they’re making. They want a high level of durability in their golf mats so they can practice to their hearts’ desire without worrying about how soon they need to swap their mat out.
- Do You Have Any Injuries? For many players, depending on their swing mechanics, frequency of play or practice, age and other factors, injuries can start to creep in. This is especially the case when practicing on harder surfaces, which can cause “turf shock” that often creates elbow, shoulder or wrist pain. So the surface they practice on should be forgiving enough for them to hit down and through without causing joint pain.
- Who Else Will Be Using the Mat? If you plan on having people over to your new practice setup, make sure your mat can accommodate everyone (even left-handed golfers). If your mat needs to allow for both right- and left-handed players, you might consider a single surface that allows for hitting anywhere on it, or you could use a configuration that has a center-hitting panel (so players can hit from either side) or a double-hitting configuration (with a hitting panel on either side of the mat).
- What Kind of Setup Do You Have? Premium setups demand premium hitting surfaces. Why would you make a big investment in your practice setup and then short change it with a sub-par hitting mat? (For that matter, why have any setup with a lower quality mat when that’s the whole connection both for your feet and your clubhead?) With that said, there are different hitting surfaces to address different needs and costs.
- Where Will You Be Using the Mat? Are you using the mat indoors our outdoors? Some hitting surfaces maximize durability to be used in any condition, while others focus on performance and are better suited for indoor use where launch monitor metrics are at a premium.
- What Kind of Tee Do You Prefer to Use? Some hitting surfaces use rubber or adjustable-height tees that are pushed up through the bottom of the hitting surface, while others use friction-fit tee holders to accommodate real tees. And still others allow for you to place real tees directly into the turf.
- What Are Your Cost Parameters? Whether you choose to go all in on your practice environment or it’s a little more of a casual approach, you should take a look at how your mat fits into your budget. The range can be pretty wide, from the simplest throw-down mats to the highest quality hitting surfaces and bases. Each unique hitting surface generally comes with a different level price tag.
With Fiberbuilt, you have choices for finding the hitting surface that works best for you, taking into consideration all of the above factors. Not to mention which types of products they're in and what sizes. We offer three premium hitting surfaces that span across a variety of sizes and configurations:
Player Preferred Series
If you're serious about improving your game, Fiberbuilt's Player Preferred Series delivers the ultimate hitting surface. Its Pure Impact Turf hitting panels are not only launch monitor tested to provide the most accurate launch conditions for simulating real fairway grass, but they also utilize a proprietary Vibration Absorption Layer to help provide the feedback in feel and sound that better players prefer. It allows for hitting down and through like true fairway turf and eliminates the bounce of the club or “mat effect” that’s often seen in other brands’ turf offerings. The Player Preferred Series is offered in Tee Lines, Studio Mats and Combo Mats, all of which are built on easy-to-assemble (tool-free), sturdy rubber bases.
Fiberbuilt Grass Series
Durability is at a premium with the Fiberbuilt Grass Series of mats, with unique fiber construction for the hitting strips that provides the longest-lasting hitting surface available. And we provide a 300,000 shot guarantee to back that up. Importantly, its unique construction also delivers maximum injury prevention, virtually eliminating the effects of "turf shock" often found in other mats. If you are dealing with golf-related injuries, this is the series for you. Nothing is easier on the joints, while still providing great feel and performance. The Fiberbuilt Grass Series is offered from the largest surfaces to the smallest, being used in Tee Lines, Studio Mats, Combo Mats, Practice Stations, Hourglass Pro Mats and Flight Decks.
Performance Turf Series
For the greatest simplicity in construction, the Performance Turf Series uses one uniform surface for both stance and hitting throughout the mats. And its tee-in-turf design lets you use real tees for any type of tee shot. The surface feels great underfoot and won’t crease or roll. For those players whose budgets factor significantly into their decision on mat purchases, the Performance Turf Series products deliver the most economical options amongst our lines of premium mats. The Performance Turf Series is available in Tee Lines, our more conventional Tee Boxes, and the small-footprint Hourglass Mats.
So, whatever your particular needs and requirements are for creating your unique practice environment, Fiberbuilt has the solutions that will offer the highest performance, durability, injury prevention and even value. For more guidance, you can contact our customer service experts directly at (833) 328-3218 or customerservice@fiberbuiltgolf.com.
