Using old cheapies at the range?

[steviesouthpaw]

I got new irons last year and had them for the entirety of the season. My previous clubs were serious beginner cheaps that I'd been using for years. Being in cold New England the only way to swing a club is to go into an indoor range hitting off of mats. I don't want to expose my new irons to the abuse of hitting off of mats so I bring my old cheaps. Anyone think that it could screw me up going back and forth between clubs like this? I got a buddy who says I should stay away from this.

[GaijinGolfer]

It may screw you up a little because your new clubs likely have a different feel to them than your old ones, but I say that not swinging a club at all during the winter months would do more harm to your golfswing than hitting your old clubs.

[goblue107501]

It may screw you up a little because your new clubs likely have a different feel to them than your old ones, but I say that not swinging a club at all during the winter months would do more harm to your golfswing than hitting your old clubs.

+1 on this advice. I will add to make sure you get plenty of practice time with you good set when the weather warms up before you play anything too serious.

[VOX]

I believe it was Harvey Penick who suggested practicing with blades (at least part of the time). Once you can hit those tiny sweet spots, you will be able to pure the golf "improvement irons.

[mrserv0n18]

I believe it was Harvey Penick who suggested practicing with blades (at least part of the time). Once you can hit those tiny sweet spots, you will be able to pure the golf "improvement irons.

Thats actually a really good tip

[Razorhog]

Are the mats really that much harder on clubs than grass?

[steviesouthpaw]

Are the mats really that much harder on clubs than grass?

I'm a bit of a freak about my new irons I guess. To answer your question probably not. But I feel like using the mats puts unnecessary mileage on them. I agree with the idea that using the old ones is better than not swinging at all during these hellish winter months.

[DaveLeeNC]

Are the mats really that much harder on clubs than grass?

I spent one winter and then a couple of months in the spring (range rebuilding) 100% on the mats. I was using forged blades and I altered the loft of my wedges by 2 degrees and the leading edge (sole) of my pitching wedge ended up looking like you had taken a grinder to it.

dave

[steviesouthpaw]

I spent one winter and then a couple of months in the spring (range rebuilding) 100% on the mats. I was using forged blades and I altered the loft of my wedges by 2 degrees and the leading edge (sole) of my pitching wedge ended up looking like you had taken a grinder to it.

That's what I'm saying man. Thanks for the validation Dave.

[microcrayfish]

I spent one winter and then a couple of months in the spring (range rebuilding) 100% on the mats. I was using forged blades and I altered the loft of my wedges by 2 degrees and the leading edge (sole) of my pitching wedge ended up looking like you had taken a grinder to it.

Forged clubs would be a lot more susceptible to being damaged from hitting of mats because the metal is softer. I'd think your clubs would hold up pretty well but there's no reason to take the risk if you don't want to.

I often practice with an old blade that I found lying around to work on my ball striking and don't feel it hurts my hitting with my regular clubs.

[steviesouthpaw]

My older clubs are such cheapies that I feel like I can argue that they will make me better when I finally grip the new ones in the spring. The grips are different, shaft very similar but man, are they lousy clubs. Spalding!

[TheReadGreenShow]

As long as you don't have to change your swing from set to set I think you'll be fine. Sadly I noticed brush marks from the mats shortly after I got my new club a couple of months ago and I was pissed.

[flopdarock]

what kinda mats are some of you guys hitting from? sounds like its basically astroturf laid down on concrete... sheesh... the ranges ive been to that have mats are all cushioned and all i get is sore wrists and plastic burns on the soles of my clubs... now alot of the grass driving ranges seem more brutal to my clubs due to rocks an pebbles in the dirt

[DaveLeeNC]

what kinda mats are some of you guys hitting from? sounds like its basically astroturf laid down on concrete... sheesh... the ranges ive been to that have mats are all cushioned and all i get is sore wrists and plastic burns on the soles of my clubs... now alot of the grass driving ranges seem more brutal to my clubs due to rocks an pebbles in the dirt

When I pretty much wore out a PW after 6+ months on mats, it was pretty good quality mats (on concrete pads - pretty standard in my experience). I've hit off a few mats that were softer, but WAY more mats that were harder/thinner.

But cast clubs would be different, I think. dave