anybody ever make a catcher mat?

[n10sivern]

I really don't want to spend $200-400 on a indoor catcher mat for my DD. Anybody ever made one with some type of foam/rubber backing? If so, how did you make it?

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I believe that you can just use a mat for a tread mill. Amazon has them for $45.00. And I would ask at Home Depot.

 

[chazbz1]

The training center we used for the videos that we made for The New England Catching Camp (Left Hander Tagging at the Plate) and Advanced Catching Concepts (Catcher Blocking from the No-Runner On Stance) used a very short-loop tight weave carpet that did pretty well as a dirt substitute. There was a little more cushion and slightly more friction than dirt.... but it was an excellent material for drop blocks and slide (side to side) blocks. Bounce from pitches in the "dirt" was pretty close to a dirt-like experience too. You can find this carpet most everywhere.