Do mats give false feedback as opposed to grass?

[soloredd]

Just curious about this. The driving range I go to alternates between mats and grass, and honestly, their grass is crap anyway, they keep a sandy base on it. I'm wondering if hitting off of mats gives you a false feedback though, especially when using woods/hybrids? Mats are easy to skip a wood off, if it is grass it probably would "give way" and you would chunk it, right? I've noticed a lot of folks here in videos are hitting off mats so how do you guys feel about hitting off mats vs. grass?

[kennay92]

just what you said, often gives false sense of good contact.

[Zeph]

Grass will always be superior to mats. I don't have anything but mat ranges, so I've experienced first hand to hit good (for a 30 hcp at least) shots on the range only to chunk it all over the place on the course. This does not mean mats are useless, but that one should take care and be aware of the problem. I have been working on removing the fat shots and when I do things right, I never hit it fat, and I practice on mats all the time.

A properly struck shot will also feel different, but it won't be terrible. You should definitely be able to feel when you hit the mat first and when you hit the ball first. Hard mats are also not able to let the club glide through them, but when I hit a good shot, I don't feel any problem with the wrists.

You can use an old towel or something similar to put behind the ball when hitting. Around 3-5 inches behind the ball will be fine. You can start farther back and progress forward. A towel is good because it sticks to the ground and you won't be able to whiff it forward with only the air passing from the club. Other then that, I don't see the problem with hitting off mats if that is the only option. Obviously during winter, for those of us who got one, most have to use indoor facilities, where real grass doesn't exist.

So, be aware of the problems mats can cause, but don't stop practicing because of them. You can hit just as good shots off mats as grass.

[TigerWoodz]

I hate matts,the practice range's i go to all have matts,for some reason i just cant hit very well off the matt,yet when out on course im fine...??The matts are very hard,probably been there years,they just dont give an inch,practicing hybrid and fairway woods are ok,but irons are hopeles for me?