Eric Benzenberg March 17, 2022 Equipment, News Leave a Comment

If you really want to elevate your game, it’s essential to practice—driving, approach shots, chipping, putting, etc. And in order to do that effectively, you need to replicate your playing conditions. And while we’d all love to hit off fresh sod, that isn’t exactly budget friendly or, in most cases, seasonally feasible. So the very next best thing is finding a golf mat that closely resembles actual grass.

Monster Mats is proudly made in the United States, and offers a level of design and construction quality that easily sets itself apart from other options.  Starting at its base, the Monster Mats is basically 2″ of cushioning that is topped off by the artificial turf that resembles the bent and curved blades you’d find at the center of your favorite fairway.

The brand dates back about 50 years.  After Monsanto refused an attempt to collaborate and develop a more realistic turf for football fields, Monster Mats’ founders decided to go it their own way with the sole focus being to develop the very best turf on the market.

Decades of research and development has resulted in the polypropylene construction Monster Mats sells today.  By combining the proprietary construct with Monster Mats’ Low-Slide Resistant (LSR) material, that better duplicates real grass, you get a mat that is literally a cut above the rest.

You see, one of the greatest downfalls of artificial turf is the extra wear and tear it puts on your joints.  Chances are you’ve heard of “Turf Toe” or, more likely, “Golfer’s Elbow.”  Well, the sad truth is that hitting repeated iron and wedge shots of lower quality turf can really put some abuse on your wrist and elbow. The Monster Mats, conversely, is built upon a Patented Backing System with Premier Shock System that simulates pure sod.  The benefit of this is not only can hit significantly more shots during your offseason and rainy day practices without fear of straining or injuring yourself, but it also provides a more realistic simulation of the quality of strike—thin, fat, or pure—that you’d experience on an actual fairway. In sum, a Monster Mats means more, efficient practice.

Monster Mats’ Commitment to Quality Goes Below the Surface

Traditionally, softer padding would lead you to believe that the Monster Mats has a shorter shelf life. Ironically, it’s just the opposite.

Whereas the mainstream mat is rated for 21,000 cycles taber abrasion wheel (think a metal wheel that is repeatedly rolled on a surface to test for durability), the Monster Mats is rated for 66,000—about three times more—than the competition.  What this ultimately means is the Monster Mats not only better replicates playing conditions, but it’ll also last significantly longer than the subpar alternatives.

This commitment to a higher quality, better made, and longer lasting product is why Monster Mats can routinely be found at some of the best private and public golf facilities around the world, including Augusta, Pinehurst, and Glen Eagles, to name a few.

A post shared by Eric B. (@hozel_rocket)

After comparing my old, Amazon mat to the Monster Mats, its evident which one is higher quality and better resembles the conditions I hope to be playing from in early spring.  Regardless if I’m wearing sneakers or spiked golf shoes, the Monster Mats feels much more like real grass when you stand it. When you shift pressure between your feet, you can feel the Monster Mats compress and then rebound as you shift your weight. And as you whip the club around to make impact with your irons and wedges, you can feel the club connect and then drive down as you compress the ball. Unlike other mats, you don’t get immediately penalized and feel like you’re hitting concrete when you hit down into the ball.

This is ideal, because it makes the transition from practicing in the garage to playing on a course significantly easier by reducing the frequency of thinning the ball by removing the constant fear of hammering your club face into the unwelcoming concrete floor.

Monster Mats’ higher quality, more realistic product is backed by a 1-year unconditional warranty. Add in the fact that it’s made in the United States, and it’s a no brainer that a Monster Mats should be a fundamental piece of your practice setup.

Cover Image Via Monster Mats

Ever since golf became a competitive outlet, nothing brings Eric more joy than a well struck 4 iron. And despite living in NYC, Eric makes it a priority to work on his game and fitness during the week, along with a round or two over the weekend. Fortunately, he’s got a very understanding fiancé who (for the time being) accepts him and his obsession. Follow Eric on IG @hozel_rocket.

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