Excelsior bails are best, because they hold up hold your arrows straight and do not burn your finish. I shoot large bag targets, soy bean seed crates stuff with silage plastic, while they do not hurt the arrows individually, they do not always stay stuck and straight, I am always amazed how easy it is to hit an angled arrow. This causes bad language at times in my back yard. Makes me miss living in western Wisconsin, where a short drive could get me all of the excelsior bales I wanted. The Saunders four foot mats work, but the shipping is crazy now days for them.