Ok, now I agree that hitting off mats sucks

I agree, I hate hitting off of mats too. I take divots with majority of clubs and it always takes me a few shots on the course to get dialed in again.

I used to be less sensitive on mats, like i couldn't really tell how good the contact was, but these days i can tell if i miss it even by the slightest little bit, clean contact is not a real issue for me. However; mats have been throwing off my timing lately because mats are firmer than most grassy surfaces we golf our ball from, it makes it easier for me to feel the weigh shift to my back foot and forward into my down swing. At times on the course (after warming up on mats) i loose that obvious feel and i hit the ball all over the the place for a few full swings, until i can find my tempo again, so what i was trying to say is: Pay close attention to your "feel" then practicing, and not just contact when your hitting off of mats.

 

Cheers,

Hit them Long and STRAIGHT!

I also have to wear wrist wraps and an elbow wrap when I hit off mats.  Otherwise I can feel the strain on my aging joints.  The wraps help.

 

This winter I have vowed not to do many full swings on mats with anything other than the driver.  I had really good ball contact last year on grass and don't want to develop any bad habits.

I hate the mats and if that's all that available to me before a round, I'll forego fullswing work and just putt/chip off to the side.

Agree with that.  In winter up north though, we don't have many options.

not only does it suck for all the reasons you listed, but it also assisted me in developing tennis elbow.  mats resist impact a little more than dirt, and that's not good on your tendons i've found out.  i simply won't play them anymore.  there is a top golf around here all of my friends like to go to.  i'll go but won't hit anything but a driver anymore.
 

That's is correct. However, I take very healthy divots with my short irons-wedges too, not so much with longer irons-woods, and I'm never affected with wrist pain/tennis elbow and mats have helped me flatten out my swing because my swing was sooo steep from really working on a hands ahead of ball for solid contact that I would tend to over do it on grass. Mats have thought me that I can shollow out my swing plane, but still have my hands ahead of the ball during impact without any negative side effects. On the course I always hit it flush from most fairway lies like hitting of mat, but only when I get my proper down swing sequencing. I lost my train of thought, I guess I like hitting off mats now (I can't believe I said that) and even tho you can't take a divot on mats, my swing doesn't change from one to another, also my divots are good when I play, even if it's after a range session from mats. Plus, I'm not driving 30 min to hit of grass. When there there's a range 2 min from my condo! Cheers!

Kind of depends on the quality of the mat doesn't it? The mats at our range are about 3.5" thick and feel pretty squishy. You can definitely get a club into them. Can actually stick a tee in it.

True, the mats at my range have roughly half hard mat and half soft (about 2in) of artificial grass, which makes a big difference and reduces pain when hitting down on the ball. In the winter it's either mats or nothing for me.

 

I bet your AoA on a mat is steeper than it is on dirt. I don't know that I agree with that statement.

 

Then again I've got a bunch of quality mats...

 

I dunno if I'm reading too much into your answer, but does it imply that some people alter their swings slightly because they're on mats? Perhaps subconsciously?

The thing about mats is that it is easy to keep your alignment, and the ground should be more level than what you get on a course.  Sometimes I think it is easier to get into a groove.  I feel like there's less friction, and you always have a perfect lie.

 

The problem with public grass ranges is they get pretty beat up.  They let the grass grow longer than it should.  The ground is lumpy from old divots covered over, and there's too many new divots.  If you're not in a club, you can be SOL for decent practice facilities depending on where you live.