Hitting Off Mats

[SEMI_Duffer]

Could try this: Izzo Flatball Training Aid

What would otherwise be a thin hit will be no hit at all.  A fat shot will tend to have you bouncing over the top, also resulting in bupkis.

I have a set, though I haven't worked with them much. They do seem to work as-advertised.

Plus, like The Floppy ball: You can hit 'em indoors if you're careful :)

[Mkgrady]

Thanks for all the good ideas. I’m current practicing on a new Top Tracer range at our course. The mat does seem softer than many I have used at regular driving ranges. But still you can tell if you hit it really fat. It hurts.

The data it gives for each shot isn’t very informative. It shows carry, total distance, height and how much it curves. I think we can tell most of that without the feedback. 

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 8/14/2022 at 7:10 PM, Mkgrady said:

The mat does seem softer than many I have used at regular driving ranges. But still you can tell if you hit it really fat. It hurts.

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I have a golfing friend whose entire body is pretty beat up from multiple injuries.  Hits down on the ball a lot.  He's close to a scratch player.  A true range rat.  He finds 4 pine cones to put in a rectangle under the mat aligning with his hitting area.

[WillieT]

This is a neat idea: 

  On 8/14/2022 at 3:06 PM, ChetlovesMer said:

I suggest bringing a playing card (or a whole deck). You can put the playing card behind the ball. If you hit the playing card, you hit behind the ball. Easy peasy. 

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Also have the Izzo Flatball Training Aid…have hit off grass with them, now may step up in using on the mat. 
 

Most of the courses I play locally have grass ranges, some do have mats.  I hit 95% of my shots at home and the range off grass.  Mats do punish if you hit fat and can force you to pull out of the swing and thin to avoid the impact.  I do like to use super short rubber tees to allow for easier ball first turf second impact. 

[mohearn]

  On 8/14/2022 at 8:27 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

He finds 4 pine cones to put in a rectangle under the mat aligning with his hitting area.

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I keep thinking there must be some deep hidden meaning I'm missing here...

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 8/15/2022 at 12:12 AM, mohearn said:

I keep thinking there must be some deep hidden meaning I'm missing here...

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😃 Well, he does communicate with the mothership before every shot.  And divines water hazards with a forked stick before teeing off.

Edited August 15, 2022 by Double Mocha Man

[Big Lex]

I have a mat which is much thicker than most mats (probably about 2.5 inches thick), and there is a 1 x 2' section which is replaceable for when the repeated swings start wearing out the fake grass. The added padding partially solves some of the issues mentioned in this thread, like damage to irons, increased shock of the swing causing injury, and the firmness of the mat masking the effect of fat shots. I got it from the Indoor Golf Shop. 

[SEMI_Duffer]

  On 8/15/2022 at 12:12 AM, mohearn said:

I keep thinking there must be some deep hidden meaning I'm missing here...

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Creates an air gap under the mat so if (when?) he hits it, there's move give, would be my guess.

[nevets88]

I think when you hit it fat, but ball first, mat and grass is about the same? Maybe you dig into the grass more so higher in the face contact.

There is a photo of Tiger Woods' worn out mat he used in his garage during his junior days. It it's good enough for the goat, it's good enough for the rest of us. But this being today, mats have improved, so splurge more for the better ones.

[ShaftFarmer]

The only thing I could add is hitting off mats could scratch your irons up. I think it depends a lot on the material of the iron though. It tore up my Mizuno JPX 900 7-iron and have since starting using my dad's old Tommy Armour irons and it's been fine with those. 

[Jeremie Boop]

There aren't any ranges close to me that have a good grass area and I also notice that mats seem to give me a false sense of improvement. I have gotten better at recognizing when the mat maskes a bad swing, but I really wish I had range with a good grass area within driving distance to practice on.