Can't @$%&^ hit off grass!

[PingGKEN]

ARGH!! I guess practicing and taking lessons all winter on mats was a bad idea. I go out to the grass range now and also play a round and the grass is playing Jedi mind tricks with me. I find myself thinking: "OH! Time to make divots now that I am on grass!" So I am now trying to force a divot by striking down on the ball. I took some DEEP ones yesterday.

I will definitely bring this up with my instructor on the 8th. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on this guys? I can take a nice practice swing on the grass that just grazes the top, but then when I stand up to hit I feel like I need to punch at it and gouge out a huge hole.

[nuck81]

Focus on staying lose and making contact with the ball. A divot should never be a goal since they happen naturally with good contact. I'd practice half swings and pitches then gradually go up to a full swing...

[Scott_K]

Use the same practice swing that's grazing the grass. It's ok to sweep a few off the grass and not take a divot immediately. You have to give yourself time to go a little deeper into the ground. This has to do with finding the bottom of your swing arc. If you're taking deep divots, chances are you're trying to force it and hitting down on the ball with a steeper angle than necessary. It takes some time to make the transistion from a sweeper/picker to making solid contact and taking healthy divots. I've hit off mats for 20 years and I make subtle adjustments from the range to the course.

[imtomtomim]

I'm guessing you're hitting it fat or completely topping it? probably either some vertical movement of your body or flipping your club at the ball trying to peck at it. maybe don't think hit down on it, just think the first thing the club needs to touch is the ball. remember to get through it and follow through

[Chubbs]

grass vs mats is a total beast. Grass always feels really strange. Another thing to think about is that a mat is ALWAYS perfectly flat. The course is not. Even if it looks like you have a nice solid lie in the fairway, there are always slight undulations that you have to account for that can throw your swing very slightly off if you're not realizing it. Little things that you don't worry about when hitting off a mat.

[PingGKEN]

Topping? Please. I have never hit a thin shot in my life. I would love to hit it thin, lol. Maybe I should purposefully try to hit some thin shots and see what feels different compared to my digging swing?

[shortstop20]

You probably got into the bad habit of hitting the mat before the ball during the winter months without even realizing it. Mats can be very deceiving, which is why I, and many others hate them.

But if it's your only choice what is a guy to do?