Mats give you 10% more distance which offsets the 10% loss from range balls from under 170 yards?

I have observed that irons go about the same distance up to about 170 yards, and woods go shorter.

The reason why I think your 170 yard and under clubs go just as far on the range is primarily due to hitting off a mat. It seems like you can hit higher shots off a range mat, but it is offset by the range ball distances?

First of all there are many threads that seem to agree that range balls go something like 10% shorter. So, does that somehow imply that hitting off a mat you get 10% more?

So, from my experience I don't lose distance from 170 yards and in. Why do you think range balls differ at longer distances and not at shorter distances?

Most range balls have the dimples worn to some degree from the industrial ballwashers the range uses. Longer shots fall out of the sky because worn dimpes=not enough lift to keep in the air long enough. Shots with the lofted clubs have enough backspin to stay aloft a bit better. The range I frequent replaces their balls much more often than most other places so it isn't an issue.

Found this Trackman blog..

never noticed that mats would give greater distance.

I do use both, mats and turf and the result is the same. the spin on mats maybe a bit higher.

You possibly hit the ball before your club hits the mat and the ball is off the club face before the club bottoms out on the mat?

Nice find. Proof of how important is is to be fitted outdoors off of real grass.

So true, also the dispersion off the mat seemed much higher as well. I'm kind of thinking that the +2 doing the test was not that happy with his performance off the mat?

Or perhaps the +2 doing the test had a club membership and was used to hitting off grass and not mats, and was uncomfortable hitting off the mat. This is something we do not know either. There are other factors involved. You could have someone who is used to hitting off mats and has a high accuracy there then goes to hitting off grass and has a wide spread there as well.

But I have noticed the distance difference with hitting range balls with irons off mats makes up for the lesser quality of the range rock and it goes about the same distance as a real golf ball. Hitting it off the tee? Not so much. I notice a 10 - 20 yd difference in carry with my driver: shorter with the range ball - even with a new range ball. They're just not as good as a Callaway Chrome Soft - 215 to 230 carry vs 190 to 210 with the range ball.