While Bunker Mate may appear to be a simple device, the design process was not simple at all. The design challenge was to create something that simulated the feel and ball flight of a typical bunker shot without actually using sand to propel the ball. We experimented over many months with numerous combinations of different materials and ultimately had to develop our own fabric with a specific yarn, pile height, texture, and weight per square meter.
The fabric is laminated with an internal polymer “bounce” layer with just the right amount of resistance to digging, and a bottom rubber layer for weight, traction, and durability. This combination proved to not only feel like a sand shot, but also provided enough feedback for the user to know if they hit the shot properly or fat or thin with both a real golf ball and a foam golf ball. After dozens of iterations, we are very pleased with our patent pending, final design and we think you will be as well.
If the preceding two paragraphs sounded like an effort to preempt all skepticism about the Bunker Mate's utility and effectiveness, you are spot on. Let's now explore its benefits.