So I bought a basket, and now I've got a problem

[Greg Layton]

I bought an Innova Discatcher Sport basket over the weekend and set it up this morning. I've got it in a warehouse with a concrete floor. I bought a few new Aviars to throw at it and I'm starting to figure out that DX discs and constant contact with concrete do not mix. If I keep up at this pace, these new discs will be completely worn out by the time the week is over.

So what do I do to remedy the situation? I'm thinking of some kind of 10x10 or so square of astroturf or something similar to put underneath the basket. Is that financially feasible? I don't want anything fancy, I just want something to soften the impact on my discs. Where do you buy such an item? Any other suggestions?

[Greg Layton]

Now that I think about it, 10x10 is probably a little big, but you get the main idea.

[nosajeel99]

You may be able to go to a carpet store and buy a scrap piece for pretty cheap. That is what I did for my college dorm room back in the day.

[SimonCarr]

I have used cardboard and canvas before, and it worked well. I had my basket in the corner of my garage, and misses would slam into the wall. I covered the walls and it helped protect the disc and reduce the noise.

[ERicJ]

Any other suggestions?
Stop missing your putts ;)

But seriously... maybe disassemble some big cardboard boxes, lay them flat, and tape them together. If it's in a warehouse you may have the boxes laying around already.

[Greg Layton]

Stop missing your putts ;)

But seriously... maybe disassemble some big cardboard boxes, lay them flat, and tape them together. If it's in a warehouse you may have the boxes laying around already.

It's a funny setup here. Our office space is in an abandoned warehouse, so there's a 650 sq. ft. room with our desks in it and then probably 10,000 sq. ft. of empty space.

I hadn't thought of cardboard, that'd be by far the cheapest solution, I just don't know where I'd get any. I remember in college that folks always said that you could go to a grocery store in the middle of the night when they're stocking the shelves and walk out with all the boxes you could carry, but I don't know if that's true or not.

[JCthrills]

yeah the stock people at a grocery store would be very pleased if you come & pick up a binch of boxes. Or if you have any business near Hartland I happen to have a large peice of carpet & pad (separate) in my garage I've been meaning to get rid of for a while now...

[DWill]

I hadn't thought of cardboard, that'd be by far the cheapest solution, I just don't know where I'd get any.

Try the dumpsters at your local office supply stores. Also, if you have a recycling center in your area, you could check there.

[discgolforegon]

Your cheapest option and best bet for large area coverage would be an old painters drop cloth... which can either be bought new for a few dollars, or used for free i imagine.

if you get like a 20 x 20 you can duck tape it down and put the basket in the middle and that should save your dx putters from getting beat to death.

The problem with cardboard is the overlaps on smaller pieces... you will have a disc go under the cardboard at one point, then you gotta pull that crap up to get your disc. not to mention that a bunch of random cardboard will look like crap.

if you cannot get a canvas drop cloth, then try a big ass tarp.

[Fore]

You can also get cardboard from home improvment stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. These places compact it all down and bail it. Most of the time they have pcs in the machine waiting to complete a bail. If you ask them for spare cardboard they will normally give it to you.

[Robert Scott]

If you had a little money, just go to lowe's or home depot and git some of the green outdoor carpet like they use at a mini golf plays. I seen a photo on one of the courses back east that uses this as a tee covering plywood.

[solomon.trenton]

You may be able to go to a carpet store and buy a scrap piece for pretty cheap. That is what I did for my college dorm room back in the day.

my son wanted his room in bright red carpet lasdt month., i went to a few stores and ended up finding a store that had some leftover from a special order and just wanted to get ri of it. so i got his room carpeted fro free. maybe youll be so lucky.

[Greg Layton]

Lots of good ideas here guys. The drop cloth in particular sounds great; if the price is right that'll be what I go with. Next up will be hitting up the big-box stores for cardboard. I think the outdoor carpeting is probably going to be a bit out of my price range.

[Donovan]

Hey Greg,

I loved all these ideas, but if you can, combine them. Some drop cloths are not thick enough to prevent the cement from still doing some damage. SO do the box thing first and then cover it with the drop cloth!

[Lewis]

Your goal is to dampen the impact, so I'd favor scrap carpet over the drop cloth or the cardboard. The cardboard is certainly the cheapest way to go, but it's not nearly as soft as carpet, and will wear out quicker.

[borndasaur]

You can get a large, heavy duty canvas tarp at Home Depot for about $15. They are also waterproof.

[vettekrazy]

my son wanted his room in bright red carpet lasdt month., i went to a few stores and ended up finding a store that had some leftover from a special order and just wanted to get ri of it. so i got his room carpeted fro free. maybe youll be so lucky.

Hey Solomon - you know as parent you could have said no to BRIGHT RED CARPET:p - I'm just kidding, as parents we want to give our kids everything, huh? Bright Red kind of made me laugh.:)

I will have a practice basket this year! New Years resolution.:D

[trifocal]

If you want to go with carpet....go to a carpet store and check out the dumpster behind the store. When the carpet layers finish a job they bring back the old carpet to that dumpster. Free.

[swellerdiscgolf]

How about using those workout mats. You can pick up a package of 8 2'x2' squares from Sam's Club for $20. They are made of rubber and are pretty durable, also would look better than cardboard.

[zud00]

Get some sod from outside-------it's free.

[Geoffro]

I would use plastic tarps over cardboard. I have more tarps that I know what to do with - don't even know where they all came from. They're super cheap, and will last forever. The even come in green...

[PanicKJ]

I putt in my basement all the time. It also has a concrete floor. I just hung a heavy blanket behind the basket so misses would hit it before hitting the ground. Any thing that spits out from the front doesn't hit the ground with too much force anyway.

I am not too worried about beating up my discs though. I throw my new ones in to trees on purpose!