Monster Mat 2.0 Review

The Monster Mat 2.0 is a 59-inch square hitting mat made of polypropylene fibers that stand up instead of lying flat, with a shock-absorbing backing underneath. I use it in the IGR Office on our Carl’s Place DIY Golf Simulator, where I hit a lot of shots testing clubs. The turf holds its body, the ball sits up nicely, and it feels closer to real turf than standard nylon turf.

I’ve played simulator golf fairly regularly for about 15 years, including weekly indoor rounds in Minnesota winters at a local facility. At first glance all turf looks the same, but there are real differences from one brand to another.

Polypropylene versus nylon turf

Golfers talk about bentgrass, Zoysia and Bermuda on real courses, and the same goes for the fake grass we hit off. Standard turf is made of nylon fibers that are directional. Over time they get crushed down by use, and they tend to break and shed after thousands of hits.

The mat uses polypropylene fibers in its Z-Pro LSR Fiber turf. The fibers are non-directional, which is more realistic, and Monster Mat says the crimped fibers spring back instead of lying down. The ball sits up nicely, and so far the turf has held its body without matting or shedding.

Shock absorption

Hand and elbow pain is a common problem when hitting off turf, because turf doesn’t divot or give the way real grass does. The mat has a Premier Shock System in its backing, built to reduce the wear and tear on your body.

Monster Mat describes the backing as a patented quad system with a closed-cell support layer. That matters to me because I hit a lot of shots while testing golf equipment indoors.

Why the square size helps

“Square” usually means uncool, but the 59-inch by 59-inch square shape is a real advantage. I’ve had the mat for some time and it doesn’t have a wear pattern yet. Eventually every mat gets one from your feet or your shots, no matter what it’s made of.

Because the mat is square, I can turn it 90 degrees to change my hitting and standing spot. I can do that three more times over the life of the mat, which spreads out the wear.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you hit a lot of balls in a simulator or net and want turf that stays upright and is easy on your body. The Monster Mat 2.0 gave me a surface that is closer to real turf, and I’m impressed by how the fibers hold up. Monster Mat also makes 5 by 7, 5 by 8 and 5 by 10 sizes if you want a bigger surface.

Skip it if you only hit a few balls now and then, since a basic mat will do. If you want a teaching mat with an alignment grid, see our GIT Hybrid Golf Mat PRO review.

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