Rectangular piece of green golf simulator turf with two precut holes near the far edge, on a white background

Golf Simulator Flooring and Turf: Subfloor, Layers and Hitting-Strip Height

Golf simulator flooring is a stack of three layers: a cushioned subfloor, turf across the bay, and a hitting mat or strip set into it so the top surfaces are flush. Carl's Place describes that combination as the best setup for most home golfers. The decision that causes the most trouble is height. Every layer has a thickness, the hitting surface has to line up with the turf around it, and most launch monitors that sit beside the ball must be level with the hitting surface. Plan the heights first and choose materials second.

Quick Answer

  • Subfloor: foam tiles for an easy, removable floor, or a framed wood subfloor for a permanent, fully flush inset mat.
  • Turf: runs across the bay for appearance, ball roll-back and noise. Putting turf is not a hitting surface.
  • Hitting mat: pick it first, because its thickness sets the height everything else must match.
  • Concrete: add cushioning, and consider a moisture barrier in a basement or garage.

The Three Layers and What Each Does

This article covers the room floor system. For choosing the mat itself, see our hitting mat guide.

Layer What it does Published thickness examples What to check
Foam tile subfloor Cushions the floor, reduces bounce and noise, lets a mat sit recessed Carl's Place floor tiles: 1.25 in. Big Moss builds its bay floors on 0.75 in EVA foam Tile density. Carl's Place notes lower-density foam can compress in high-traffic areas
Wood subfloor A permanent base that allows a perfectly flush inset mat Typically 2x4 framing with 0.75 in plywood on top, per Carl's Place Ceiling height lost, and a vapour barrier over concrete
Turf Finished surface, roll-back toward the tee, quieter ball landing Big Moss V2 putting turf: 5/16 in. Big Moss Commander: 5/8 in Whether it is putting turf or general turf, and how edges are secured
Hitting mat or strip The only surface made for full swings Fiberbuilt Player Preferred Studio Mats: 1.75 in. Fiberbuilt Grass Series Studio Mats: 2 in Finished height against the turf beside it

Getting the Hitting Strip Flush

Carl's Place calls recessing the hitting area, so it sits flush with the surrounding turf, one of the biggest upgrades to the feel of the room. It also tells you how to get there: account for the thickness of your hitting mat when planning floor height, and consider the total stack height when pairing turf with foam tiles.

The arithmetic is simple. Add the subfloor and turf thickness beside the mat, and compare it with the mat's height from the slab.

  • A 1.75 in mat sitting on the slab, next to 1.25 in tiles, leaves 0.5 in for the turf to make up.
  • If the mat ends up low, raise it. Big Moss sells a 0.25 in rubber underlay for raising hitting mats to turf height in a built-in system.
  • If the mat ends up high, the stance area needs raising instead, so your feet are not below the ball.

The Fiberbuilt Player Preferred Series studio mat includes its own stance mat on a modular rubber base, which solves the feet-and-ball height match inside the mat. You then only need to decide how the surrounding floor meets its edge. Fiberbuilt asks for a firm, level surface underneath and says its mats can be installed indoors on concrete or carpeted floors.

Floor Height and Your Launch Monitor

A raised hitting surface changes where the launch monitor has to sit. For units that stand beside the ball, the makers are consistent:

  • Foresight GC3: if you use a hitting mat, raise the unit to the same level as the hitting surface.
  • Bushnell Launch Pro: place it on the same level as the ball. Bushnell says placement below the hitting surface causes ball-lock and accuracy issues.
  • SkyTrak: position it on the hitting surface or at the same height.
  • Uneekor EYE MINI: ensure it is level with the hitting surface.

The Garmin Approach R10 sits behind the ball and has a different rule: on a golf mat, the bottom edge of the unit must sit above the mat. In every case, build the platform for the launch monitor into the floor plan, not as an afterthought. A raised floor also takes height from the room. If the ceiling is already tight, read our low-ceiling guide before adding a framed subfloor.

Flooring Over Concrete

Most simulators go into garages and basements, which means a slab. Carl's Place describes bare concrete as hard, loud and a cause of unpredictable bounce when the ball drops from the screen. Its guidance for concrete:

  • Foam tiles or a built subfloor reduce noise and control ball roll. Foam under turf is common but not required.
  • In a basement or garage, a moisture barrier can be a smart precaution.
  • Under a wood subfloor, a simple vapour barrier helps protect the lumber and turf, because concrete can transmit humidity even with no visible moisture.

We found no manufacturer guidance on moisture and hitting mats or turf beyond this, so ask the maker before gluing turf directly to a slab you know is damp.

Turf: Coverage, Edges and the Screen

Turf in front of the screen is more than decoration. Big Moss says its simulator greens act as a landing pad that rolls balls back toward the hitting area and quiets ball impact noise. Carl's Place recommends letting turf acclimate, then securing edges and seams with carpet tape or an appropriate adhesive. One detail to plan: Carl's Place warns that if the screen rests on thick turf, balls can squeeze under it, so decide where the turf stops in relation to the screen's bottom edge.

The Big Moss Golf Simulator Turf is cut to fit specific enclosure sizes, so match it to your enclosure before ordering. It doubles as a putting surface, and our guide to adding putting to a simulator covers that use. Other options are in the golf mats and turf collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best flooring for a golf simulator?

For most home bays, Carl's Place recommends a cushioned subfloor, a recessed hitting mat or strip, and turf across the hitting bay. Foam tiles are the easier route. A wood subfloor is more permanent and gives a perfectly flush inset mat.

Can I put golf simulator turf directly on concrete?

You can, but concrete is hard and loud and makes the ball bounce unpredictably. Cushioning underneath helps, and a moisture barrier is a sensible precaution in basements and garages.

Can I hit full shots off simulator turf?

Not off putting turf. Carl's Place states that putting turf is not designed to replace a hitting mat for full swings. Use a hitting mat or strip set into the turf.

How thick should golf simulator flooring be?

Thick enough that the turf surface meets the top of your hitting mat. Start from the mat's height, then choose a subfloor and turf whose combined thickness matches it.

Start With the Mat Height

Choose the hitting mat, note its height, then build the subfloor and turf up to it and plan the launch monitor platform at the same time.

Shop Golf Mats and Turf

Sources

Previous Next