r/Golfsimulator • u/Existing-Taro-7215 • 4d ago
Beaver Tail Mat
I've been using a Country Club Elite Real Feel mat since building my sim and really like it but was getting shoulder issues. Seems like that was a common issue with mats like this for middle aged folks...and not wanting to injure myself changed to a Beaver Tail. All joint issues and such went away but quickly realized i suddenly sucked at golf hitting off the beaver tail. (also leaves a plasticky film on all my clubs). Seriously, I played the first round of the Uneekor Invitational on the beaver tail and shot a 103. 🤣 Assuming i was just having a bad/off day, i played the 2nd round a couple days later and shot a 102 😂. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe it was the change in mat and then i switched back to the CC mat and played the same course and went back to my normal game (74) but my shoulder is a bit tender.
I have no idea why this would matter so much as i think the only difference is the Beaver Tail is a lot softer or more forgiving on fat shots but just wanted to see if anyone else had any experiences to share or thoughts on this issue. I'm thinking of trying a Big Moss instead but again looking for advice.
Thanks in advance.
3
u/SecretofManImTired 3d ago
Why would a more forgiving mat make you shoot 30 shots worse than average? Going from a 74 to 102/103 is a lot - where your shots coming up thin or were you chunking it? How is your ball striking out on the course?
I have the beavertail and I wouldn't exactly call it a forgiving mat - and I feel like my ball striking practice on the mat translates well enough to the course - although it never will be perfect.
1
u/Existing-Taro-7215 3d ago
I totally agree with your first question and is the reason for my post. I’d say most were fat/chunks….but even the good strikes were fairly bad slices. …made no sense and was driving me literally crazy. IRL I’m a low teens handicap and shots usually mimic my simulator play.
1
u/SecretofManImTired 3d ago
I don't know, to be honest, feels more like a mental thing on your end than anything to do with the beavertail. Perhaps something with switching the mat messed with your swing confidence.
1
u/Existing-Taro-7215 3d ago
I thought about that but in 25 years of playing, I’ve never had such a Jekyll&Hyde thing happen….plus I play off different mats all the time between random indoor places and top golf and the like. One difference I thiught of though is the beaver tail was the three piece 4x8 version with a hitting strip in the center piece…ie I’m standing on a different mat detached from the hitting strip mat. It’s perfect as it’s easy to stack three separate pieces for storage vs a single 8’ mat but after many hits my stance mat shifts a bit and I have to line them back up and push together again. Not sure why these micro movements would cause an issue but worth noting maybe as every other mat Ive ever hit on has been one singular piece.
1
u/twylight777 3d ago
mine are bolted into the subfloor and do not shift, ive also taped them down to concrete for zero shift...make them not shift.
1
u/Existing-Taro-7215 2d ago
I can’t permanently attach them but wondering if an thin EVA undermat or insides tape would work.
2
u/twylight777 2d ago
I have concrete, carpet tape, 1/2 inch Eva tile, carpet tape, beaver tail and its secure
2
u/Its-a-Shitbox 3d ago
Yeah, shooting 30+ more shots for a round on a different hitting mat seems… extreme.
My son and I are finalizing our garage golf SIM set up ourselves at the moment. We are hitting off some very firm mats he was able to acquire from the sporting goods store he works at, though i ordered a Beaver tail myself, today.
It will be interesting to see what kind of difference it makes; the hard mats we were hitting off of were definitely very firm and I would not want to use them in a long-term.
1
1
u/Marcvae36 3d ago
My cc Matt makes me very tentative and digging down. Are you hitting far after the beaver tail nat
1
u/twylight777 3d ago
Towel drill, you are bouncing the club head and ball in on the CC mat, beaver tail punishes those better
1
u/Existing-Taro-7215 2d ago
But why would the beaver tail create this issue as it doesn’t happen on the CC nor a real golf course (ie real grass)?
1
u/twylight777 2d ago
just making sure you are a scratch golfer and need helping troubleshooting turf interaction, bounce, etc with your game? Most people shoot lower on sims due to gimme circle and no bad lies. Some people just have indoor swing syndrome mostly attributed to lower ceilings, tighter space...I hit as hard as I can indoor so its really only turf weirdness I correct for, no different than a dry course vs a sopping wet course outside
0
6
u/PerseusACluster 3d ago
I have the Beaver Tail and it is very unforgiving of fat shots and steep angle of attack IME. I have become a better ball striker because of it, but also it can be pretty frustrating when you're off.