If you’ve spent any time building or upgrading a home golf simulator, you already know the hitting strip is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It affects feel, realism, injury risk, and how much you actually enjoy practicing. I’ve tested a lot of popular options over the years, and after reviewing seven different hitting mats and strips, I chose the SIGPro Softy as my personal gamer.
I’ve now used the original SIGPro Softy for about a year. Recently, two new versions were released to address specific concerns players had: the SIGPro Softy Lite and the SIGPro Super Softy.
In this article, I’ll briefly reference why the original worked so well for me, but the real focus will be on how these two new versions compare, who they’re for, and whether they’re worth considering for your setup.
This is written from real use, not just spec sheets.
Quick context: why the original SIGPro Softy worked
Before diving into the new versions, it’s important to understand what made the original SIGPro Softy stand out.
The original strip uses a layered design:
- A long, dense artificial turf on top
- A thick layer of very soft foam underneath
- A rigid plastic base with air holes to let the foam compress naturally
That combination mattered. The long turf gave me a sense of turf interaction that most mats simply don’t have. The foam absorbed impact well enough that I could hit down with irons without worrying about elbow or wrist pain.
I use the 4×7 single-sided mat version, which comes in two puzzle-fit pieces. It’s light enough to move if needed but solid enough to stay put. The only real drawback for some people is height. At roughly 2⅜ inches thick, it sits higher than many other hitting strips and mats, which can complicate full simulator flooring builds.
That specific concern is what led to the first new variation.
SIGPro Softy Lite: built for low-profile simulator floors
The SIGPro Softy Lite exists for one main reason: height.
Thickness and construction changes
The Softy Lite measures about 1¼ inches tall, making it much easier to integrate into a simulator floor where everything needs to be flush. If you’re running putting turf from your hitting area all the way to the screen, this matters a lot. Sourcing 1-inch underlayment is cheaper, easier, and more flexible than trying to match something over 2 inches thick.
To achieve that thinner profile, some changes were necessary:
- The long artificial turf is replaced with a putting-style turf
- The foam layer is thinner, though still compressible
- The rigid plastic base with air holes remains
You can easily squeeze the Softy Lite with your hand, which tells you there’s still real cushion there. It’s not just a thin mat pretending to be soft.
How it feels in actual use
I installed the Softy Lite inside my existing SIGPro mat cutout so it sat perfectly flush. To achieve this I had to add some extra layers of scrap material underneath the Softy Lite to raise it up…
I used it for several days, played multiple rounds in GSPro, and did plenty of practice sessions.
From a pure comfort standpoint, they got it right.
- It’s not too firm
- It’s not overly soft
- Grounding the club feels stable
- Hitting down with irons doesn’t feel jarring
One of my concerns going in was whether it would wobble like some ultra-soft foam designs. It doesn’t. Even when contacting near the edges, the strip stays stable.
The biggest difference: turf interaction
This is where expectations matter.
The putting turf on the Softy Lite feels different from the original Softy’s longer fibers. With the Lite, the club tends to slide across the surface rather than interact with the turf. That’s not necessarily bad. In fact, many hitting strips use this exact style of turf.
But it does feel more like “hitting off a mat.”
With the original Softy, especially on chips and pitches, you can feel a subtle interaction with the turf fibers. That realism was a big reason I liked it so much. On full swings, the difference is less noticeable. On shorter shots, it’s more apparent.
So no, the Softy Lite is not just a thinner version of the original. It’s a different experience.
Softy Lite on the left and original on the right.
Who should choose the Softy Lite
The SIGPro Softy Lite makes sense if:
- You’re building a full simulator floor and need everything flush
- You prioritize compatibility and clean installation
- You want good impact protection without excessive height
If realism at the turf level is your absolute top priority, the original still wins. But as a low-profile hitting strip, the Softy Lite does exactly what it was designed to do.
SIGPro Super Softy: bigger, heavier, and more permanent
The SIGPro Super Softy goes in a completely different direction.
Instead of getting thinner, it gets bigger, heavier, and more stable.
What actually changes
There are two major differences compared to the original Softy:
- Uses the SIGPro Softy XL Hitting strip
- Original: 12 × 28 inches
- Super Softy with XL Hitting Strip: 12 × 48 inches
The materials are identical. Same turf. Same foam. Same feel. You just get more usable hitting area. - It sits inside a heavy rubber base
The Super Softy includes a rubber tile base with interlocking connectors, similar in concept to Fiberbuilt-style mats. These tiles are thick, dense, and heavy. Each one feels like it weighs somewhere in the 25–30 pound range.
Once assembled, this mat is not moving. At all.
Stability and durability
If mat movement has ever bothered you, the Super Softy solves that problem immediately. This is a set-it-and-forget-it solution. It’s designed to live in one place permanently.
The rubber base also adds durability and a premium feel underfoot. It’s solid, quiet, and confidence-inspiring when swinging hard.
Height considerations
The downside to that rubber base is added height.
The hitting strip itself is the same height as the original Softy, but once it’s placed into the rubber tray, total height increases to roughly 2¾ inches or more. There’s also a perimeter lip around the mat.
If you’re planning to recess this into a custom subfloor, it’s doable, but it’s more complex than with the standard Softy. If your priority is seamless integration into a simulator floor, the original Softy or Softy Lite is easier to work with.
Launch monitor placement issues
One important thing to understand with the Super Softy is how launch monitors fit into the setup.
The mat includes a 12-inch strip area next to the hitting strip where you might place a launch monitor. In practice, this can be limiting.
- With a GCQuad, usable hitting area starts near the center of the strip
- With Uneekor Eye Mini, usable width is even more limited
- SkyTrak works best in this configuration
In most cases, you’ll likely want to place your launch monitor on a separate platform next to the mat at the same height. That allows you to fully use the width of the hitting strip.
An 18-inch-wide strip would have solved this more cleanly, but that’s not what’s offered.
Why the longer strip matters
This is where the Super Softy really shines.
All hitting strips wear over time, especially ones with realistic turf. On the original Softy, I noticed visible wear within the first month. Not because it’s poorly made, but because repeated impact frays the tips of the turf fibers.
After about a year of use:
- The wear is mostly cosmetic
- Feel remains consistent
- There is a slight dip in the main strike area
I’m replacing my strip now, not because it feels bad, but because I prefer realism over eternal durability.
With the Super Softy’s 48-inch strip, you can rotate strike locations. That spreads wear across a much larger area and significantly extends lifespan.
Final thoughts: which one should you choose?
Each version of the SIGPro Softy exists for a specific type of golfer and simulator build.
Choose the SIGPro Softy Lite if:
- You need a low-profile hitting strip
- You’re building a flush simulator floor
- You want comfort and injury protection without extra height
Choose the SIGPro Super Softy if:
- You want maximum stability
- You don’t want the mat to move, ever
- You like the idea of a longer hitting strip that lasts longer
Stick with the original SIGPro Softy if:
- Turf interaction realism matters most
- You don’t mind the extra height
- You want flexibility without a heavy base
None of these options are cheap, and I know it’s hard to buy something like this without trying it first. That’s exactly why I focus on what it’s actually like to use and own these products, not just how they look on a website.
All of these versions are available through The Indoor Golf Shop, and they can be purchased as standalone hitting strips or full mats in different configurations, including center-hitting options for left- and right-handed players.
If you care about realism, joint protection, and long-term usability, the SIGPro lineup is still one of the strongest options out there. I’m sticking with it for a reason.
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