Golf simulators are comprised of a lot of different components. The launch monitor, the projector, the impact screen and more all need to come together just right to make your simulator build a success. One easy to overlook item in building your golf simulator is your turf.
It can’t be that hard, right? Buy some synthetic turf or a mat, place it on the ground where you want to hit from, and start enjoying your golf simulator. Not so fast. There are some key factors to consider when choosing your simulator’s surface.
Zones
When selecting your turf, think about the whole golf simulator rather than just the section you’ll hit from. Your launch monitor is stationary, maybe overhead or perhaps alongside your hitting area, and there will be some sort of impact zone your ball has to be played from for the monitor to pick it up. That’s the area you’ll need to select a hitting surface for, but your needs go beyond that. You’ll also need a putting surface with a reasonable Stimp rating that will hold up to foot traffic as well. You’ll also need to ensure you have a constant height between those two zones for a high quality and seamless appearance as you transition between these zones. Large foam-supported hitting mats are tempting in that they represent a true easy button, lay it out and go, but they may not be the right solution for your setup. Read on, sim newbie.
Protect Those Joints
Golf simulators can bring a golfer a lot of joy. With the opportunity to work on your game just steps away at any time, you’ll suddenly have a pathway to significant improvement. But that means reps. If all goes according to plan, you’re going to be getting in a lot more swings and bashing a lot more balls than ever before. That can be a good thing, until it suddenly isn’t. If you’re not careful, golf simulators can bring a lot of pain too.
The sudden spike in golf swings can be a lot to ask of your wrists and elbows. Like any activity, a significant surge in reps can prove to be too much to handle even in the case of swinging a light implement like a golf club. The potential for golfer’s elbow or wrist pain from overuse is real. Simulator owners need to take care to slowly build up the volume of swings rather than dive in all at once. This potential for overuse injury also means you need to be smart when selecting the hitting surface.
Fortunately, there are hitting mats available from great brands like Fiberbuilt that are specifically designed to go easy on your joints. Supported with foam or even gel, these surfaces provide realistic impact while minimizing wear and tear on your joints. Don’t skimp here; invest the funds in one of these surfaces to make sure your ability to practice doesn’t get derailed by injury.
Golf Simulator Turf Versus The Real Thing
Buying a quality hitting surface is about more than injury prevention, it’s about your simulator’s performance too. The name “simulator” means you’re trying to get as close to the real experience of golf as possible, after all. The problem is that most mats and turf do not behave like the grass you’ll play actual golf on.
Ever have that experience where you’re striping it on the range, then you get on the course and can’t replicate the results? That can be caused by several factors, but a common one is that your range session on mats gave you inaccurate feedback on how well you were hitting it. An artificial mat will often deflect a club, rather than allow the club to dig in like you’d experience on real grass.
That means that if you end up striking a mat well behind the ball, the club will be deflected back into a serviceable position, and you’ll still hit a respectable shot. Not so much on grass, where the same strike will have you laying the sod over it. Again, spend the extra few bucks to buy a reputable mat or hitting surface. You want a mat that allows you to hit down and through the ball to replicate on-course play.
Pro Tip
A quality hitting mat can run north of $1K very easily, depending on the type and size, and there’s still the matter of the putting surface. A more cost-effective solution: get a hitting strip. Get on social media and find some sim install reels, and you’ll find this increasingly common hack being used:
Get a roll of synthetic turf from your local hardware store. Lowe’s, for instance, offers “SYNLawn” in cut to length sizes for $1.99 a square foot. Once you’ve ordered your turf, now start searching for one-inch-thick foam gym floor tiles, and buy enough to support the turf roll from corner to corner. Lay down your tiles, roll the turf over it, and congratulations: you have your simulator flooring. Now, buy a hitting strip (not a mat) and cut out a space in your turf so the strip will sit flush. You’ve now got a cost effective hitting area, and you’ll be able to replace the strip alone rather than an entire mat when it finally wears out.
Don’t skimp on the turf folks. You’re going to be excited to use your new simulator, and it things go according to plan you’ll end up using it a lot. Make sure you’re taking the steps to avoid injury and creating the most realistic impact conditions possible for a true simulated golf experience.