Struggling at the range off the mats

[Gipper]

First of to clarify I am in my early stages of getting into golf. I am trying to hit two buckets of balls a week and I am discovering a frustrating trend. When I have to hit off the mats instead of grass i really struggle and end up leaving with the feeling that I just wasted $8. Normally I go to the grass hitting area but when I am unable to i become even a worse hacker. Has anyone else had an issue with this when they were first beginning? I am sure it is just mental but it is killing me. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

[Lihu]

First of to clarify I am in my early stages of getting into golf. I am trying to hit two buckets of balls a week and I am discovering a frustrating trend. When I have to hit off the mats instead of grass i really struggle and end up leaving with the feeling that I just wasted $8. Normally I go to the grass hitting area but when I am unable to i become even a worse hacker.

Has anyone else had an issue with this when they were first beginning? I am sure it is just mental but it is killing me. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

If you only hit two buckets a week (I presume twice a week), try to go on the days they let you hit off grass.

[Golfingdad]

First of to clarify I am in my early stages of getting into golf. I am trying to hit two buckets of balls a week and I am discovering a frustrating trend. When I have to hit off the mats instead of grass i really struggle and end up leaving with the feeling that I just wasted $8. Normally I go to the grass hitting area but when I am unable to i become even a worse hacker.

Has anyone else had an issue with this when they were first beginning? I am sure it is just mental but it is killing me. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

Usually it's the opposite.  If you don't know what you're looking for, a mat can mask a mistake.  Balls that should be a little chunky will come off quite nicely because you cannot dig into the mat like you can the grass.  Any other mishit (toe, heel, thin) would be no different on mats than on grass.

Maybe you are consciously trying not to hit down into the mat because you know it won't give much?  I don't know.

What are the specifics of your problem?

[Gipper]

If you only hit two buckets a week (I presume twice a week), try to go on the days they let you hit off grass.

Yeah, I should have been calling ahead. Today they were closed due to being over saturated and the last time was due to a group lesson.

[Gipper]

For some reason nothing feels natural and I am uncomfortable from the set up on through the swing. I keep hitting the mat first and I push a lot of the shots right.

[Hammer 4]

Usually it's the opposite.  If you don't know what you're looking for, a mat can mask a mistake.  Balls that should be a little chunky will come off quite nicely because you cannot dig into the mat like you can the grass.  Any other mishit (toe, heel, thin) would be no different on mats than on grass.

Maybe you are consciously trying not to hit down into the mat because you know it won't give much?  I don't know.

What are the specifics of your problem?

Agreed.  I had problems off mats for awhile in the beginning, but got over it. Now what I don't like about the mats is, if I hit a fat shot, it Kills my left elbow..lol