Never hitting off mats again.

[tanktwo2]

It's too easy.

After having constant snow on the ground I was forced to practice on a mat.  Because of doing that so much I developed a flip rather than a lag because I could get away with it while still hitting good shots.

I go out to play a round the other day and made myself look like a fool

Feels bad man =/

[ballemore1029]

My local range has "grass days" on Tuesday and Thursday's. That's the only days I go. Playing off the mat is kind of a good confidence boost tho!

[frankteo]

I'll take grass tees over the mats any day. Only reason I hit off the mats at my range is because they're automatic tees and I have a reloadable card. Kinda good for those lazy days....

[mattttt25]

Mats can definitely cover up mistakes.  A very fat shot can actually travel well and look nice.  But what I recently learned is that you don't need to fool yourself.  We all should know a good shot vs. bad shot from a mat.  Hitting the ball first, you won't hear that big thump that comes from hitting the mat.  And most mats leave their mark on your clubs.  If the entire bottom of the club is green, you're hitting poorly.  If just the leading edge is green and it even extends slightly to the face, you're probably hitting well.  We should all be allowed to hit from grass, but I just don't think hitting from mats is a good excuse for playing poorly.

I should post pictures from my last range session.  The entire bottom of my clubs were green.  My buddy was hitting next to me and is a much, much better player.  He had a little green at the leading edge and it extended slightly to the face.  He makes pure contact with the ball almost every swing.  As I worked on keeping my weight forward (first session after reading the SnT book) I began to actually hit the ball first.  Amazing how different it sounds from the mats.

[Huffy2k]

The only club I take with me to the mat is my "Tour Striker" 8 iron.  Believe the infomercial, that club really does work and forces you to hit down on the ball.

[saevel25]

The only reason i like mats, they are an automatic lie indicator. I only hit of matts when i take lessons and there golf course doesn't have the grass section open. Other than that, its all grass.. Though by mid summer the golf course is like hitting of mats..

[walk18]

It's better than nothing when there's snow on the ground for 4-5 months, but yeah I don't care for them.

[ballemore1029]

I also find that practicing with my driver at the range using the rubber tees is so much easier and I hit way more consistent drives than if im on grass days or actually out playing a round. I think im just gonna buy rubber tees and use them on the course.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by frankteo

I'll take grass tees over the mats any day. Only reason I hit off the mats at my range is because they're automatic tees and I have a reloadable card. Kinda good for those lazy days....

. . . when you just don't feel fresh enough to drag a ball from the pile with your club?

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by ballemore1029

I also find that practicing with my driver at the range using the rubber tees is so much easier and I hit way more consistent drives than if im on grass days or actually out playing a round. I think im just gonna buy rubber tees and use them on the course.

I have the opposite problem. For some reason I can't hit a decent drive off of a rubber tee. At the end of my range session, I usually sneak onto the grass and hit a few drives off a wooden tee!

[max power]

I understand the preference for grass, but mats work just fine in a pinch.  You may get away with a fat shot here and there, but you can feel the difference between that and a flush shot.  I'm not sure what people are doing on a mat that they can't reproduce on the course (unless of course you are hitting everything fat off the mat without making any adjustments).

[blackxpress]

Originally Posted by max power

I understand the preference for grass, but mats work just fine in a pinch.  You may get away with a fat shot here and there, but you can feel the difference between that and a flush shot.  I'm not sure what people are doing on a mat that they can't reproduce on the course (unless of course you are hitting everything fat off the mat without making any adjustments).

Agreed. I can tell a good shot from a bad one by the sound and feel whether I'm hitting off mats or grass. I also pay close attention to the ball marks on my club face.

[golf4fun12]

I only play off mats. just cause the courses grass side of the range that I visit kinda suck. mostly crab grass.

[nevets88]

There ought to be some warning on every range with mats that explains the difference between mats and real grass. I agree that players should learn to rexognize whether they're hitting it fat on a mat, but I believe every person entering a range should be forewarned and informed. Of course ranges aren't going to do this. They fear it will reduce revenue and in a way, players not improving means more business although you can make the opposite point that a larger number of better players means more business. Whichever is true, there still ought to be some mass public announcement. Something like "Fats on mats look good. Don't be fooled."

[TXjammer]

During the ice days, I hit into a net off of carpet in my house.  When returning to the course I found I had gained some power in my swing, but was digging some MAJOR divots in the ground!  Didn't take long to acquire the bad habit, but a while to overcome it.

[bunkerputt]

You have to learn to judge the shot based on contact rather than ball flight.  You can still chunk it and get the ball out there with a mat, but it feels much different.  Except for differences in feeling, I don't find that mats affect my swing permanently.  I have a goal for every swing and I evaluate whether I met those goals or not.  When your goals are right and you execute properly, excellent ballflight is your reward.

Originally Posted by tanktwo2

It's too easy.

After having constant snow on the ground I was forced to practice on a mat.  Because of doing that so much I developed a flip rather than a lag because I could get away with it while still hitting good shots.

I go out to play a round the other day and made myself look like a fool

Feels bad man =/

[i-Guy]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

I have the opposite problem. For some reason I can't hit a decent drive off of a rubber tee. At the end of my range session, I usually sneak onto the grass and hit a few drives off a wooden tee!

+1...I also cannot hit off a rubber tee on an inside simulator...somehting about it???

One more thing is that I do not think it is real good on your body or clubs to hit off matts...there is not much cushion other then the matt and then there is usually concrete underneath...nothing like hitting into the ground where a club is designed to dig through...not bounce off like a matt...I am actually considering not hitting off them anymore as my left shoulder will hurt the next day after doing so (inside or outside matt)

[golf4fun12]

Originally Posted by i-Guy

+1...I also cannot hit off a rubber tee on an inside simulator...somehting about it???

One more thing is that I do not think it is real good on your body or clubs to hit off matts...there is not much cushion other then the matt and then there is usually concrete underneath...nothing like hitting into the ground where a club is designed to dig through...not bounce off like a matt...I am actually considering not hitting off them anymore as my left shoulder will hurt the next day after doing so (inside or outside matt)

I love your comments. mat not matt. I read it as if you were talking about a guy. funny stuff. anyway, how do you get hurt from using a mat? i'm just curious cause I would think because mats are forgiving, they would be easier on the body. I would say you are hurting you shoulder from your swing. maybe swinging to hard with the driver. and is it the shoulder or more closer to the collarbone?