This is how they do it in Australia and NZ. Many games are played on fields also used for soccer, rugby, cricket, and other things so to prevent holes in the ground, they put a mat down. And to keep it even across the board, all the fields use this (except when hosting international competition). I used metal cleats. Hopefully they fixed the mat into the ground so it doesn't slide like on a gym floor or turf facility. It was very hard to get used to at first. NOTHING to push off.
They were made from hard rubber, not like the pic above with a pitching rubber attached to a turf mat, like used in gyms and indoor places. So, were tough and sturdy . But, if you're asking the OP about his mats, I bet they would take a beating from metals.
You in Plano? My DD damn near broke her ankle on those stupid mats. She's 6' so she's got a longer stride then most and she landed right at the end of them. The dirt is piled up under there like a pond dam (from other pitchers landing short of the end) with no way to smooth it out because you can't lift the darn mats up. The other pitcher (also 6') rolled hers so bad she left the game and had to go to the hospital for XRays.
