Can hitting off range mats hurt your game?

Of course hitting off grass is ideal, but I want to hit into a net in my backyard and I have grass that can't be mowed short (St. Augustine).  So I want to make a mat to hit from, but am I risking problems with my swing, ball contact, etc., or would the extra daily practice outweigh any detriments from hitting off the mat?

I would worry more about problems with you elbows and shoulders. Be sure to get a high quility mat. Unless you will hit all shots from a Tee

I practice from mats regularly (~50 to 100 balls a day) - and don't have any issues.  As with anything, you get what you pay for.  If you want a mat that last - I'd spend a few extra bucks and get something that will hold up to weather.

I can tell you - just hitting balls consistently - you will improve your game.

The only thing is that hitting off of mats hides your fat shots.  Its still better than nothing though.

Yeah, and it really only masks it from ball flight standpoint.  You can still feel fat shots even on mats, they just don't look as bad.

When I'm hitting from a mat I work on feel. Whether you flush a ball from the mat or grass its still gonna be a flushed shot.

Do you have specific reasons for hitting off a mat?  For me, it's all about drills, building and reinforcing muscle memory while I try to retool my mechanics

Htting of mats is as good as hitting from grass. Grass on range is not really optimal either because on course there are  many different conditions, downhill uphill etc, not on range. It's just training and it will make you better if you try to fix your weaknesses.

I have a mat set up in my yard to practice chipping and pitching to short distances (10, 20, 30 yards)

I bought a few hula hoops and use these as targets.

I use drills to perfect my feel and technique.

Well a couple reasons, I'm practicing in my backyard into a net and hitting off St. Augustine grass is pretty awful.  It hates to be mowed short, plus my yard starts to look like a warzone after awhile.