Grass Ranges

[kafka01]

I couldnt live without grass ranges - but unfortunately our grass area is too small, and if a lot off people use the range intensively the greenkeepers might just shut the grass area down till everything is regrown and we have to hit off mats during that time. Also if the grass isnt growing well like in early spring or late autumn the grass area is also closed..

[nevets88]

Maybe that's why golfers haven't gotten all that better. The mats make for bad practice make for bad swings.

There's quite a number of past threads where everyone agrees grass is way better than mats because mats "hide" your fat shots and there's nothing like real turf.

In the NY metro area and suburbs, there are few grass ranges within say an hours drive of the Empire State building available to the general public. Private clubs have them, but these are very exclusive clubs, like Winged Foot. Even in Long Island, there are very few. New Jersey is much better in this regard.

[kafka01]

Maybe that's why golfers haven't gotten all that better. The mats make for bad practice make for bad swings.

Mats dont really hide your fat shots - first of all the shots are shorter, different trajectory to a properly struck ball, and after all you feel it if you hit mat/ball or ball/mat.

[joshtpa]

and lets just face the facts. Mats are cheaper to maintain.

[ScottRempel]

Very thankful my course offers both mats and grass. Now if we could only find a way to keep the snow off the course!

[Harry Longshanks]

Maybe that's why golfers haven't gotten all that better. The mats make for bad practice make for bad swings.

I disagree. You can still learn a good swing on a mat. And you can still practice effectively on a mat.

and lets just face the facts. Mats are cheaper to maintain.

That's the bottom line (no pun intended). Its the difference between real house plants and plastic one.

Although, from what I hear, the VJ Singh THE Golf Mat is about the same price as regular commercial mats. So I don't know why ranges aren't going to those. Maybe not as durable.

[kafka01]

Although, from what I hear, the VJ Singh THE Golf Mat is about the same price as regular commercial mats.

Anybody used THE Golf Mat? Since i´m planning on buying a mat&net; i would love to have some feedback about that product if its worth it?

[Harry Longshanks]

Anybody used THE Golf Mat? Since i´m planning on buying a mat&net; i would love to have some feedback about that product if its worth it?

Somewhere here in a thread, I asked the same question and got 1 or two response (1 favorable, 1 not favorable). I have no idea where that was though. And I can't remember any words that I used that would be unique enough to help with a search.

I'll try a search though, and I'll edit if I find it. EDIT: Well crap, that was easy. The discussion starts at post #23 of thereabouts: http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthr...t=15974&page;=3

[joshtpa]

So Harry, when are you coming to this nice warm weather to visit?

[CoolBreeze20]

I personally do not like hitting off of mats. I will avoid them at all costs. Because they are much more forgiving than real ground/grass, they tend to hide swing faults and instill a "false" sense of confidence. Of course thats just my opinion, but I have countless buddies who look like Tour Pros off of mats, and do good to duff there way around a real, grass course.

[chrt396]

I go to the driving range and git off a mat and do great!! THEN...I get to the course and find myself hitting fat. I prefer to hit off grass. Real time and real life swings. Like previously stated...great to burn a proper swing into muscle memory...but be careful what you burn in...it could get you in trouble.

[RemyM]

Private clubs have them, but these are very exclusive clubs, like Winged Foot.

Actually Winged Foot has a small short range that has mats for member use. During the Open they used the 9th hole of the East Course as the driving range.