Transition from hitting off mat to real grass.

[newbiegolfer]

I started to play golf last August, went to the driving range for a couple months and learned how to hit the ball off the mat.

While I was there, I realized that I was hitting the ball a lot better on the softer mat (newer ones, as the older ones are used a lot more and are a lot harder). I thought this was because I was more confident hitting on the softer mat as my mis-hits will be less painful.

This year I started going to the local pitch and putt courses and did fine there since they have these tee boxes with the plastic grass mats as well. Then a couple weeks ago I went to play on a real course with a friend, I noticed that I was hitting all the shots fat into the ground, taking a huge divot with the ball going nowhere.

My friend suggested that I use tees for my iron shots (pressed into the ground) to get the ball to be level with the ground. This helped me a little bit on the par 3s, but on a longer hole where I would need to hit a 7 iron as my 2nd shot, I can't use the tee anymore.

I am just wondering, if there are any suggestions or helpful hints regarding the transition from hitting balls off the mat to hitting them on a real course.

[Zeph]

One of the big problems with mats is that you can hit the mat before the ball, bounce the club into the ball and still hit a somewhat OK shot, though nothing close to a perfect struck ball.
There are different things that can cause a fat shot, here are a few tips that might help.

[Msokol13]

try practicing on real grass.

Also, like the video says: If you are trying to kill the ball and you have a lot of tension there are going to be a lot of inconsistencies in your golf swing.

[kris]

yeah, those mats are very good at covering up bad shots sometimes. They are very forgiving. Try finding a range with grass tees instead and practice there if you can.

[Zeph]

You could also look up weight shift and reverse pivot. If you start out with the weight evenly distributed, but at impact have more on the back foot, the bottom of the swing will be behind the ball. You want the weight to shift forward so the bottom of the swing is in front of the ball. Try making some swings where you emphasize the weight shift. Make them nice and slow so you get the right feeling.

[NativeTxn]

You could also look up weight shift and reverse pivot. If you start out with the weight evenly distributed, but at impact have more on the back foot, the bottom of the swing will be behind the ball. You want the weight to shift forward so the bottom of the swing is in front of the ball. Try making some swings where you emphasize the weight shift. Make them nice and slow so you get the right feeling.

One thing I've found recently working with my instructor to achieve the proper weight shift is to use an impact bag. It not only helps you feel and see the proper weight shift, but with that it helps you attack the ball on a downward angle, which should help prevent (or at least reduce) the fat shots.

You can pick one up for about $20 and stuff it with old shirts and towels. Pretty easy to use, and surprisingly effective.

[Zeph]

One thing I've found recently working with my instructor to achieve the proper weight shift is to use an impact bag. It not only helps you feel and see the proper weight shift, but with that it helps you attack the ball on a downward angle, which should help prevent (or at least reduce) the fat shots.

I hit some balls, thinking about an imaginary impact bag some time ago and struck the ball really well. I have seen different uses for the impact bag, but I assume you refer to putting the bag where the ball should be and make small swings where you swing the club into the ball.

You can use any old sack or bag, filling it up with rags. Just make sure there are no hard parts in it like metal or hard plastic.