“I’m setting up a golf simulator system in my basement with the HomeCourse retractable screen, and I spent a fair amount of time researching complementary golf mats. I had considered pros and cons of several options, and ultimately determined having a single, larger mat that could serve dual purpose as both a realistic practice putting surface, and provide a good experience when playing on simulator courses with friends was the most important criteria to me. I settled on the Net Return Pro Turf for the 10’x6’ size and cost.
The mat was shipped promptly with no damage. I rolled out the mat and let it settle on the floor for a few days, and was able to use as a practice putting surface quickly with no bumps in the roll.
The Pro Turf mat as a practice putting surface is excellent. I’m planning to buy an automatic return putting cup to place directly on the back edge of the mat, and the Pro Turf also offers a cool Putting Flag and Cup accessory for ~$20 that can be easily installed and give the mat a custom look. The only reason I haven’t purchased the accessory yet is that once the cup shape is cut out of the mat, it limits my ability to occasionally rotate the mat to reduce wear in a single area. I’m also not planning to cut holes in the mat for the rubber tees for the same reason. I’m hoping I’ll be able to place the rubber tees directly on the mat, instead, although I haven’t attempted hitting any Woods with either of the 2 provided tees in this manner.
The width of the mat is large enough that my SkyTrak launch monitor can sit directly on the mat with a Driver stance and not have to worry about having to elevate the device to the same level as the ball. The only consideration with a large mat, however, is that it’s more difficult for me to set aside/conceal when the HomeCourse screen is retracted into the housing and the ping pong table needs to come out.
I’ve hit about 100 balls with the mat including with shorter wedge irons, and I’m very happy with the performance and feel. I have a fairly flat swing, so the mat feels like any other Commercial mat I’ve used at driving ranges and golf clubs. There are no signs of wear or concerns with durability to this point.
My only negative feedback is that we have a shedding dog, and I’ve noticed the mat seems to catch a lot of dog hair and other floor particles, so keeping it clean might be difficult. I’m hoping I can roll a sticky lint brush over it every once in a while to keep it looking good.”
Patrick, we're glad to hear you're enjoying your new golf mat. If you have any questions or want more information on how to get the most out of your practice area feel free to join the Rain or Shine Golf Clubhouse at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rainorshinegolf/
-Rain or Shine Golf Team
Brian,
We're glad you're enjoying your full hitting mat area! If you have any questions or want more information on how to get the most out of your practice area feel free to join the Rain or Shine Golf Clubhouse at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rainorshinegolf/
-Rain or Shine Golf Team
“Three months of practicing about an hour a day five days a week indoors with the high density foam pads under the mat as recommended in the video instructions and I just tore a 6 iron sized swath clear through the green turf. I thought I was being smart by using the same area on the mat, thinking that I would rotate that spot when it showed signs of wear so that I would get a long life out of the product but today I busted right through. I have a down and through strike but this seems a bit too soon to me. So, buyer beware of the durability claims. Otherwise the mat is fine, nice for putting. If you are hitting off of a hard surface, the foam pads are a must if you care about your wrists so factor in that extra $50-$100 they don't tell you about in the item description. I'd be happy to share photos if that was possible. Would not recommend unless you are willing to buy a more expensive, thicker mat to hit off of, but then the only real asset of the Net Return Pro is the large surface area for putting and ball return from the net, which I think could be replaced by turf or carpet scraps from a carpet store at a fraction of the price. If I was building my kit all over again that is the direction I would head.”
Hi Tom, we are really sorry to hear about your issues and appreciate the feedback on the Pro Turf. We have had issues finding a golf mat under the $349 price range of this size that can withstand the usage that you are speaking of. If you want more durability and forgiveness, we would encourage you to take a look at the Country Club Elite Golf Mat (more durable and forgiving than the Pro Turf) and the Fiberbuilt Golf Mats (best in class durability and forgiveness) that we offer. We've run some tests on all three and would be happy to answer any specific questions you have.
-Rain or Shine Golf (1-888-831-9489)
