Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 61 anonymousDiscussion: STRIKE MAT
| Posted | Discussion |
| Aug. 5, 2018 45261 29 posts | STRIKE MAT I am aware that several Senior Softball Leagues use a strike mat that has been constructed to allow players to hear the clunk of the pitched ball hitting the strike mat. Love the sound ! I would like to construct a similar strike mat. My concerns are: The thickness of the strike mat. Will players trip ? Will the strike mat slide under foot when stepped on ? Will the player's foot slide on the strike mat when there is a play at the plate and the player taking the throw home slips ? What material creates the loudest "thunk" or "clunk"? Wood ? Plastic? Metal ? Other ? I am seeking advice from those of you who have constructed strike mats and those other creative individuals who have suggestions. Thank you |
| Aug. 5, 2018 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | I found the easiest to make was wood. You make it with the V cut out so as you can slide it right up to the plate. With a little grounds keeping it is level with the plate and under normal conditions doesn't move. |
| Aug. 5, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Fred, I have zero talent in making things. I was just curious why you wouldn't just make a rectangle like the strike mat? It just seems easier to me than cutting the plate out. |
| Aug. 5, 2018 B.J. 1106 posts | we went to wood about 5 yrs ago when we put in turf batters boxes.. we have 11 fields and they have worked out great.. we use 1/4" marine plywood and mat size is 19"x 34.5" .. we paint the whole mat white with black foul lines and use a gritty mixture of paint .. we replace them about every 6 mos because they just wear out.. as far as safety we have not had a problem |
| Aug. 6, 2018 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | It is not that hard. Anyone who knows how to handle a saw can do it for you. Where you purchase the material will do it for little or no cost. The main reason is it eliminates all four of your concerns mainly the mat sliding around, Locked up against the plate it dosen't move. |
| Aug. 6, 2018 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | Fred, thank you. That makes sense, and I didn't know that they would do that for a person. See, I learned a couple of things from you today. Is a wood mat that they use in Canada for what I have been told is an unlimited height pitch? I am going to have to go with my young friends and see it for myself some time. |
| Aug. 6, 2018 45261 29 posts | Great idea ! Any particular type of paint/brand ? |
| Aug. 6, 2018 DCPete 409 posts | The best thing about the wood mat is the sound it makes whenever a (strike) pitch hits it. This eliminates the arguments about the pitches landing right in front of the mat or just on either side since a ball hitting just dirt won't make the sound. It's seems surprising we've only ever had 1 team make one to use in our league games; maybe they warp too much? |
| Aug. 7, 2018 infoblocked 10 posts | I've played with rubber mats, wood boards and pvc/plastic boards and the pvc is the best IMO. You get a loud sound with the plastic board and they hold up well. The rubber mat is a good, cheap mat that's easy to transport...You can buy a rubber cargo mat at Walmart and cut to size. Wood is cheaper than the plastic but needs replaced a lot more often. |
| Aug. 7, 2018 DaveDowell Men's 70 4315 posts | Fred S and DCPete ... Not a bad idea on wood, but not practical for us ... What would be your suggestion on how best to fold or roll them up for packing and shipping from venue to venue most efficiently and cost effectively? ... [grins] ... |
| Aug. 7, 2018 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | One way is to cut them in half and then hinge them together so it folds. That would make it half the size. The only problem that may be the two pieces that extend up the slide of the plate. |
| Aug. 7, 2018 DaveDowell Men's 70 4315 posts | Now it's getting too complicated! .. And I suspect Rube Goldberg may have the patent on that already for creating a machine (or contraption or invention or device or apparatus) that uses a chain reaction to accomplish a very simple task in a very complicated manner ... Thanks! ... |
