Top 10 Reasons You Need To Upgrade Your Golf Mat + Why Fiberbuilt Is Your Best Option
Did you cheap out on your golf simulator hitting mat? Don't skip these 10 legit reasons to upgrade to the best. Our golf guy, Marc, tells you why it's gotta be a Fiberbuilt.
When it comes to indoor golf, there is one component you cannot afford to get wrong. And it’s probably not the first thing you think about.
No, it’s not the golf launch monitor. Choosing the right one is definitely important. But even the wrong choice will allow for indoor golfing fun.
It’s not the golf simulator software that’s most critical. Yes, some options include more realistic gameplay than others, but each choice has its advantages.
It’s not the projector. Or the impact screen. Or the enclosure.
The most important consideration for your indoor golf simulator space is… the golf hitting mat. That’s not the first thing that typically comes to mind. But if you want to get your sim setup right, you can’t afford to get this part wrong.
That’s because the right practice mat allows for the most realistic indoor golf experience and saves your body and equipment from the kind of damage that can make all of this go from fun to nightmare.
Let’s study the 10 biggest reasons you should consider replacing or upgrading your golf mat or just starting with the best-available option. And let’s find out why a Fiberbuilt golf mat really is the way to go if you want to do it right.
Your Misses Aren’t Missing Enough
I know, I know. Who would ever complain about missed shots not being severe enough? Well, if you’re serious about improvement, it would be you.
One of the most overlooked issues with the wrong kind of golf mat is that they can sugarcoat what’s wrong with your golf swing. They can make misses look like good shots.
The issue happens when your club hits the mat before the ball. A mat that is too hard and that doesn’t properly replicate actual live grass is going to allow the golf club to skip across the surface of the mat into your golf ball. The result might even be a pretty nice-looking golf shot.
But that’s not realistic. We know that out on the course if we chunk a shot, the results are not going to be pretty.
So, while it’s nice to protect your ego, do you really want a golf training mat that’s “lying to you”?
Your Distances Are Off
Speaking of getting the cold-hard truth out of your golf mat, accurate distances are critical. To take advantage of the incredible technology in these golf launch monitors and to get data that can inform your improvement, you’ve got to have a golf hitting mat that’s going to mimic outdoor golf course grass.
One of the easiest ways to determine if your golf mat is any good is to compare the carry distances you’re seeing in your indoor golf space with the distances you’re getting out on the course.
Poor-quality mats affect ball speed, spin rate, and launch angle, and all of that ultimately shows up in the distance numbers.
Remember, one of the big shot-savings advantages of having a golf launch monitor for indoor practice is that you can learn how far you hit each club. But if you’re getting the wrong information, you’re not helping your game at all.
You’re Getting Injured
Anyone who’s hit too many shots on a poor-quality golf mat knows that your body pays a price.
Too many of these cheap golf practice mats make for a surface that’s not much better than hitting off of concrete. The more times you make full-swing-force contact with these super hard surfaces, the more likely you are to feel it in your wrists, your elbows, your shoulders, or anywhere else where your body is susceptible to golf-shot-related pain.
Look, if you’re going to set up an indoor golf simulator, trust me, you’re going to use it a lot. Why wouldn’t you? So don’t make the mistake of cheaping out on a golf mat that’s going to turn one of the best things to ever happen to your golf game into one of the worst things to ever happen to your health.
Your Clubs Are Taking a Beating
Your body isn’t the only thing at risk when you use the wrong kind of golf mat. Your precious golf clubs can also pay a severe price.
But club damage can be a lot harder to realize than body pain. By repeatedly slamming your club down onto too hard of a hitting surface, you very likely are altering the loft and lie of your clubs. That’s obviously not good.
A great golf hitting mat is less expensive than a new set of irons. Don’t be shortsighted!
Your Golf Mat Is Sliding or Moving
Yet another problem with poor-quality golf hitting mats is that they don’t have the heft and tact to stay put when you swing your hardest.
Remember that you may have your expensive golf launch monitor positioned on the same mat that you’re hitting from. If your mat is slipping and sliding, not only is it bad for building a repeatable golf swing, it could also be disastrous for your golf launch monitor.
Nothing screws up an indoor golf experience more than a mat that won’t stay put. It’s a common frustration, but it’s one that you can avoid.
Your Golf Practice Mat Is Prematurely Wearing Out
Cheap is cheap. And as a rule, cheap usually doesn’t hold up over time. Golf mats are no exception.
You need a mat that is going to allow you to hit hundreds or even thousands of shots from the same place on the mat. Once you get your golf launch monitor properly aligned, you’re likely to stay in one spot for an extended period of time.
Yes, you can and should move around to different parts of your hitting mat over time. But a cheap mat is going to start showing wear spots or compacted areas after far too few shots. It’s like a divot that you can’t repair and that won’t grow back.
The Dreaded Creases!
This goes hand-in-hand with premature wear but is an issue unto its own. If you’ve had experience hitting off of cheap golf mats, you know how frustrating creases in the hitting surface are. Sometimes you can’t even get the ball to stay still in the spot where you want it because of these damn creases.
The best golf training mats don’t have that problem. That’s as much reason as you should need to just do yourself a favor and buy the best the first time.
Your Golf Practice Mat Doesn’t Look the Part
A janky-looking golf mat can detract from the overall aesthetics of your simulator setup.
Picture this: You’ve got that sweet golf launch monitor with a beautiful simulator course projected onto a big impact screen. And then… you’ve got some crap mat that’s sliding all over the place, has a bunch of wear spots and creases, and that hurts your body whenever you hit off of it.
You’ve come too far in building your dream golf simulator studio to cheap out now.
You’re an Instructor or Clubfitter
If you’re using an indoor golf space to make your living, you’re doing your clients a severe disservice by using a bad golf hitting mat.
You can’t honestly tell someone what clubs they should be playing based on faulty data. And you can’t help someone with their game to the best of your ability if the shot information you’re getting is inaccurate. And that’s to say nothing about introducing the potential for your clients’ injury if you opt for a cheap mat.
You’re Ready To Take Your Game to the Next Level
Ultimately, upgrading your golf mat is about maximizing your potential. An indoor golf studio is an incredible luxury. But it’s also an unbelievable opportunity for improvement. To be able to work on your game whenever you want, day or night, cold or hot, is amazing!
So why would you even consider a golf training mat that was going to limit that potential? Cheap mats just don’t reliably replicate the interaction between golf club and real turf well enough. If you spend all your time hitting off of a surface that doesn’t perform like real grass, you’re not preparing yourself to play on an actual outdoor golf course.
Plus, if you really want to get better, it’s going to take a lot of reps. But if you’ve got a mat that’s prone to causing injury, those reps aren’t going to be an option.
For all of these reasons and more, choosing the right golf hitting mat really does make all of the difference between having a golf simulator build that’s going to benefit your game vs. something that’s not much more than a novelty.
If You Want the Best, A Fiberbuilt Golf Mat Is the Only Option
Fiberbuilt golf mats are hands-down the very best when it comes to mimicking the feel and performance of real grass. And getting as close as you can to the real thing should be very high on your priority list when you build your indoor golf space.
Fiberbuilt mats eliminate the common complaints associated with traditional mats, from “turf shock” to inaccurate ball flight. Every one of the 10 points listed above is a non-issue with a Fiberbuilt mat.
One standout feature is Fiberbuilt’s bristle technology, used in their Grass Series, which allows golfers to strike down and through the turf naturally without jarring impacts. This innovation prevents joint injuries and ensures consistent, reliable performance.
The Fiberbuilt Player Preferred Series takes realism to the next level with Pure Impact Turf, incorporating a vibration absorption layer to deliver the most accurate launch monitor data available, perfect for serious players and teaching professionals.
Fiberbuilt hitting mats are also incredibly durable, with some models guaranteeing up to 300,000 swings from a single hitting area. These mats are modular and easy to assemble, fitting any setup with options like studio mats, combo mats with putting greens, and compact practice stations.
If you just want to remove all of the guesswork in wondering if you’re buying the right golf mat, just buy a Fiberbuilt. They really are the best in the industry. It’s a company that’s obsessed with accuracy and durability.
You’re going to pay more for a Fiberbuilt golf mat than you would for many other lesser-quality options. But the benefits that you’re going to get are going to be massive for your enjoyment, physical wellbeing, and game-improvement potential.
This really is the most important component to get right in your indoor golf setup.
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he's not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.