Golf mats - Hitting down properly

It seems if you continuously use a mat that you will ingrain a swing that doesn't descend enough into the ball.

Is there any trick you can do to make sure you are properly descending into the ball when using a mat and you don't have the option to use real turf?

Basically how do you get feedback you are hitting down properly?

make sure you hit the ball first then the matt, look at the sole of your club and there should be a green film melted on the sole.

Big difference between something like a flat range mat, and a Fiberbuilt/CCE. I have a feeling you are talking about the prior at a local spot or something, but the latter would make a world of difference if available.

Take a small towel, or even an alignment stick, and place it on the mat, with the ball a few inches in front of it. If you don't hit the towel, you did hit down on the ball. If you are regularly hitting the towel, then work with half swings until you aren't, then alternate with full swings, then go completely full swing. You'll probably hit a lot of shots thin initially; don't worry about that and stay with it. It's a great drill for winter time practice, and is just as good off a mat as off the turf.

Not trying to steal the topic here, but I feel this is related:

Does anyone have a recommendation for a mat that won't make tennis elbow worse? Every time I use mats, I have to ice my elbow for a couple days afterward, and my swing is actually quite shallow.

Tend to try to hit thin...

Check the brands I posted above. Fiberbuilt especially made its name for exactly that.

Common problem... just hit a little more thin.

Fiberbuilt or Truestrike are a hundred times better than CCE

Agree, and would add DivotAction (especially DIY DivotAction with 3/16" lexan) to that list. And MagStrike, which is currently hard to source in the US.

You want a mat with two characteristics: 1) it will "give" on impact, so club actually has a chance to travel downwards after ball contact, and 2) it won't "grab" the club and abruptly decelerate it (that's what CCE does, since it's very thick and plush, and why many golfers report wrist, elbow, and shoulder pain with it).

If you practice long hours on a mat that doesn't give, or a mat that grabs, you're gonna train yourself to pick it clean with zero to little AoA and/or suffer injuries.

I tried a DIY divot action for awhile, while good on the wrists, I had real issues with spin, especially if you hit them just a hair heavy and down right wild results if you hit it a lot heavy

Fiberbuilt has been the best by far

there's a mat called ShaftSaver from LongGolf that allows a descending blow without much bounce or shock.

What did you see happen with spin? I've been using a DIY Divot Action (covered with SynLawn Precision Putt) for a few months now, really like it. Don't see any big inconsistencies with spin. If I do catch it heavy, all bets are off on the shot as a whole, anyway.

Very low spin numbers for me. I generally expect spin to be a bit low off any mat, but with that one it was very low.

Listen for the sound.... you dont even need to be lookin at a player to know how he struck it.... fat ones are so obvious lol

Towel trick mentioned above works great

You can also use an old golf ball sleeve flattened behind the ball a few inches. Does the trick for detecting fat shots on a mat just like a towel, stick, or tee.

I just finished making a DIY TrueStrike hitting mat (covered with SynLawn Precision Putt), and I'm absolutely loving it. It's essentially the same as the DIY DivotAction except using a 5/8" gel pad underneath the turf rather than lexan.

I got an Acustrike mat. It gives you immediate feedback which is pretty awesome.

Finding this is my typical pattern , this is with a 9i

It looks like my swing path is pretty darn straight which I am happy about, but my miss is a little off the toe, which is what this strike indicates (although this one wasn't too bad). And yes I can confirm I am toe striker.

But the biggest problem is hitting way behind the ball.

Tried to swing steeper but it didnt make a difference.

Can anyone suggest anything that can got the strike more forward.

The only thing that worked was putting the ball way back, almost by my back foot, but that feels so awkward.

Don’t move the ball back... that’s a hack that will lead to excessive AoA, hanging back, and pushes/hooks. This works for me: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Cu0e-FCaJ

Hit the dang ball

Can anyone suggest anything that can got the strike more forward.Move ball forward, learning how to chase opens the door to catching ball wherever you want.

There are several posts referring to a “DIY DIVOT ACTION” but what is missing is these users have created what they claim is a copy yet they experience “low spin” or other contrary comments.

Facts are facts, so face the FACTS ... you are not using the ORIGINAL TRADEMARK “DivotAction™️“ devices so all bets are off.

The inventor and company know something those “diy’s” do not.

Spend the money and you will find there is actually a reason for R&D companies test that unknowing “yea I can make that too” individuals fool themselves in thinking they can create the “same” without the knowledge and certainly shortcutting THE WORKING DEVICE ... without paying the price in both knowledge and dollar$.