Wrestling mats - To Soften the Thud

Mats are pieces of fabric or any flat material that are placed on a floor or any other flat surface and serve a range of purposes. Thus, Wrestling mats are those on which wrestling is conducted. Excellent shock absorption, resistance to wear and tear and superior compression qualities are what that make good wrestling mats, thus, PVC rubber or nitrile foam are given an upper hand over spring, cotton or coir wrestling mats. However, if not operating on a tight budget, closed cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam mats covered in vinyl with non-woven polyester support would be the best. These are manufactured by Dollamur (Speith Anderson) and are the lightest wrestling mat available.

While trocellen closed cell polyethylene foam and the protective vinyl covering forms the core and the top part respectively, the bottom side comprises needle punch carpet for extra durability and non-slip traction. 5/8, 1.25, and 2-inch thickness wrestling mats are the most common types.

Polyvinylchloride or PVC foam wrestling mats range in thickness between 1 and 1.25 inches. Pinnacle Athletics and Resilite being the best manufacturers for these types, it is also heavier than polyethylene foam offering a higher density per square inch area. This helps in greater shock absorption and increased life of the wrestling mat. These are also easily repairable and support reconditioning. But if carrying around is in question, then nothing can perhaps beat the polyethylene foam variety.

Though lightweight, a polyethylene foam-wrestling mat takes up additional storage space when rolled. But proper care and maintenance can make it last for as long as 10-15 years; for a PVC foam wrestling mat, fixing the gouges or marks or reconditioning on a regular basis prolongs its life to even a few decades. Moreover, these can handle a lot of rough usage.

Wrestling mats can be sized according to individual preferences if the regular sizes do not suffice. However, the NCAA standard is 42' x 42' mat with a minimum-wrestling circle of 32', while High school wrestling mats have a 38' x 38' dimension with a wrestling circle of 28'. For home practice, there are two standard sizes; 10' x 10' and 12' x 12', but if you need to go for a custom size, take into account the shrinkage (between 2% and 6%), especially if it’s laid from wall to wall.