Practice on (real) grass whenever possible!

[Anand]

I spend a lot of time on the range and, increasingly, more and more time with my wedges, grooving my 'finess swing' and working on distance control from 100 in.

My technique, consistency, feel and confidence has improved and I'm really starting to groove a good pitching stroke - with all 4 wedges. However -- until now all my wedge practice has been off the mats.

Today I went to the local pitch and putt when it was deserted. I hit 10 balls each from 100, 75, 45 around a loop of 3 holes. I did that twice. The difference off the grass was remarkable. A night and day change from the range mats. I hit some fat, some thin and some very well. And I got instant feedback with each shot - big divots, small ones, ones that pointed at the target, others that didn't ... and so on. I fluffed a couple as well.

The point I'm making is that off the mats, I must hit 80% of them 'perfect'; off the real stuff, maybe 40-50%. What a difference and an eye-opener showing how much practice I really need.

Never off the mats again with wedges! Unfortunately my range doesn't have grass bays, so the long game doesn't get the same privilege.

//Anand

[crawf061]

I've noticed that hitting balls fat on driving range mats have a minimal effect on the ball. When I chunk it, I might lose 15yds and still straight at the target. In real life (or on real grass rather), my chunked shots rarely go halfway to the target. I think the plastic mats just let the clubhead slide right over them, while the grass likes to grab on.

[tm22721]

A golf range is bad for my swing, not much better than a simulator.

I need to practice on a real golf course with grass, bad lies, hazards and the exertion of carrying a bag up and down four miles of hills.

So I go to work at 5 AM, sneaking off to the club every afternoon.

Because life is too short and no day job is that important.

[TourSpoon]

The range that I have been practicing at lately has some ugly lies. It builds character and makes you a better ball striker. After all, the course doesn't put it on a tee for you...

[nevets88]

I think this is especially true for beginners. Or maybe not, if one has good instincts and a sense that the club is bouncing off the mat on fat shots. After I figured out how to hit the ball first, divot in front of the ball on grass, I started going back to mats.

You can always look for bristle mats, mats that have artificial "blades" of grass. Or you can use a very short tee.

[Shindig]

So I go to work at 5 AM, sneaking off to the club every afternoon.

I got really excited this weekend when I got a (summer) job offer three blocks from my favorite executive course. Plenty of daylight and real grass tees on the course.

You can always look for bristle mats, mats that have artificial "blades" of grass. Or you can use a very short tee.

Very short tee on a range mat helps how?

I'm not being sarcastic ; if this will help me when I use a mat, I'll do this. Please tell me how it helps.

[roverT7]

A golf range is bad for my swing, not much better than a simulator.

Amen, regarding day jobs. Life is important, though. "Sufficient unto the day..." - Rob

[nevets88]

Very short tee on a range mat helps how?

It's easier to tell if you hit it fat when you tee it up a little. Just a centimeter or less. You'll get a popup and/or you'll feel the clip of the tee (assuming you use the regular rubber tee) if you hit it fat. If you bounce the clubhead off the mat on a fat shot, the ball won't go as far too because contact is being made on the higher part of the clubface, so you won't be fooled, distancewise. This was my experience, with wedges, mid irons and long irons.

[Shindig]

It's easier to tell if you hit it fat when you tee it up a little. Just a centimeter or less. You'll get a popup and/or you'll feel the clip of the tee (assuming you use the regular rubber tee) if you hit it fat. If you bounce the clubhead off the mat on a fat shot, the ball won't go as far too because contact is being made on the higher part of the clubface, so you won't be fooled, distancewise. This was my experience, with wedges, mid irons and long irons.

That is awesome. Now I just have to find a very small tee, or cut one down. I'll give this a try next time I'm at a mat range. Thanks!

[nevets88]

That is awesome. Now I just have to find a very small tee, or cut one down. I'll give this a try next time I'm at a mat range. Thanks!

Good luck. I just thought of this - you don't want to groove this too much - then you'll start hitting everything thin on the course. The main thing I thing of when I do this is to hit the ball first, then then ground. I think this encourages the hands ahead of the ball at impact, not the weak, flippy impact position.

Another way to tell if you hit the ball first, assuming a wet mat from rain or dew, you can see your "divot" on the mat.

[crawf061]

The wet turf is a good point. It may be ideal to just pour a little bit of water on the turf when you start hitting.

[marpr]

i rarely hit from the astro turf rangemats. i always try to use to (very crowded) grass areas.

i have seen a few ranges in both tokyo and australia that use a synthetic grass that looks and feels like grass.

i've been told it is too expensive to use at public ranges, as it wears out quite quick. also some stores us it too.

[Salty Dog]

Will put a towel 6 inches behind the ball help? If you hit it fat, you will hit the towel first. Anyone tried this duirng their pratise and can feedback?

[Zeph]

I don't have any courses nearby with grass range, so I'm pretty much stuck with the mats. I don't like them, would love to hit off real grass, but it's better than not practicing anyways. I've gotten used to them and don't have a problem working on my swing on them. I play a lot and by doing so makes it easier to transfer the swing to the grass and don't develop bad habits on mats.

[gills]

Even though a fat shot on a mat will still go far, it is still easy for me to tell how the shot I hit on a mat would transpire onto grass. I guess i'm just used to it.

[Chas]

I agree. Having hit a lot of wedge shots on mats over the years I think I know when I would have chunked it had I been hitting on grass. It's a very different feel, compared to a clean ball-then-plastic stroke ...... But I agree, practicing on grass is much better. Sadly I don't get many opportunities to do it.