Bunker Practice Mat - Simulates Real Golf Course Bunker, Stainless Steel Base for Stable Indoor Golf Simulator Practice

use in opposite direction more realistic/ if used that way awsome training aid

After thinking about a way to make one of these for some time now, I find this on Amazon. This is such a good way to practice bunkers of different depths and it adds another level to the simulator!

So...I'm torn on this. I've used it a few times and for about 50 shots. Let's start with the good. I like that it puts the ball above your feet as it would be in a bunker as you dig in. The bristles provide feedback and resistance. While it's not like hitting out of a hard bunker, it is about the consistency of a soft, powdery bunker. It feels more like Southern sand than Midwest sand if that makes sense. It seems to be extremely sturdy. I haven't seen any deformation of the bristles or any bristles that have come out of the base. As for what I don't like...first, no matter how well you build this, you can't recreate the true feel of a bunker shot. This tool can't slow your blade down the same as sand, it doesn't bottom out and splash like sand...it's good but it is not the same. It's kind of like hitting fat shots on a mat. You know the real-world result would not be as good as what happened off of the mat. It feels like you can only play one kind of shot out of this as well. While you can bury your ball, you cannot chop down on the ball like you would in a bunker. Doing so would smash your club into the base and it won't provide any realistic result. Your primary play on this tool is a standard bunker shot of hitting a little behind it and having it explode out. I tried a few 8-irons trying to mimic a fairway bunker but it's not quite what I was expecting in terms of feedback and club interaction. I guess that leads me to why I'm being so picky, which is the price. I will state that the materials are heavy duty and the workmanship seems excellent. I just don't know if I could justify $100 for what this does. It's a very niche training aid, but then again, many training aids do focus on one area to improve. I'll leave it to you, but if bunker practice in your home or yard is something you need and you don't have a range to use this could be a good tool.

Not remotely like a real bunker. No actual usefulness. Returned it.

Picked this up to help practice the sand shots when at home outside or on the sim. This thing is really sturdy, I mean its got some heft, the feel of the bristles are surprisingly nice. This thing feels like sand, its super hard to explain but there appears to be a combination of short/harder bristles and long softer ones that create the overall feel. The ball sits in it correctly, seems to be the right lie, the base of the mat is metal and the underside comes covered but can be removed to have a velcro back. if you want this to stick to an existing mat.We have been using it at the simulator without the velcro piece, wanted to leave the mat in one piece, and it works great, the only thing worth noting is that if you do fat it a bit too much you can hit the metal base, so just something to watch out for. Overall super happy though and will continue to use on our sim at home.

I find myself in a bunker every round practically. My local course is a 30-minute drive and in the Texas summer, I am not in a hurry to go outside to practice. This bunker trainer is legit. It is heavy enough that when you set it down and swing, it doesn't budge. What's great about the bristles is that you can set the ball to different depths to mimic how deep you're hitting. It really works and helps. It's a great addition to any practice setup.

I always believed their was no way to practice hitting out of sand but hitting out of sand and this device changed my mind!

I saw this and was intrigued. I do not know what to expect and how someone had figured out how to simulate a sand trap. I wanted to see it and got it. It is a rectangle shape (important to know with the review here!)When I received it, it was heavy!!! Surprise one! It is design to be used with a hitting mat. I used it in my yard. First with a foam practiced ball, and the ball is too light to use it if trying to simulate a plugged ball and launches high out off the mat.To give a sense how the club goes thru, a lot easier that actually hitting out of a sand trap. I turned so I could try it both ways, length and width, to see if it has any effect on the club sliding thru. Nope! After using it for the first time was thinking that the ball is too much above the feet (not using with a hitting mat). Once I found a spot where I could have the ball be more true to my feet, it felt better. I did try this while rehabbing back with light golf swinging, and before getting out on the course again. Couple days later played my first round in about 2 weeks and had an actual bunker play, and had an excellent sand shot! So long in short, it did help with my sand game in the short term, and served its purpose.The price is a concern, but want to have something to practice in the off-season, worth it. There is not much else to practice sand shots without being in the bunker. I will be bringing it with me to my club to practice (we do have hitting mats available). The lost of the star is because without a mat the ball is above the feet, and does not give a truer club slide thru. One last thing, it has Velcro on the bottom to help hold in place for indoor use.