Hitting fairway woods off driving range mats versus fairway grass/rough Any suggestions?

[FakeClubPro]

I am getting back into it after about 5 years of not playing much. Members here gave me some good suggestions on 3 wood replacements for my probably 12 year old Yonex Cyberstar Nanospeed 3 wood (stiff flex)

I have been awful from the fairway and rough. Waiting for a few used replacements to arrive with senior flex shafts. I started going to the gym and working out including medicine ball/kettle bell moves.

Yesterday, I went to the range with Steelhead 5W, Cally 8 wood X hot (senior flex). I can hit that 8 really well. Someone gave it to me.

So I gripped the 3 W not as hard, relaxed, my timing came back, made sure ball was positioned correctly and was bombing off the astro turf mat probably 180 yards straight into a 12 to 20 mph headwind as a storm was coming. If I tried to power hard the downswing I usually duck hooked shorter and left.

They have harder lower light green astroturf and fluffy deeper dark green. I was going to hit off the grass but rain was coming. I have a full range of motion swing but not that fast and the stiff shaft was fine.

So does anyone else do great off the mats and has problems off the grass? Any suggestions?

The endless youtube videos like Rick Sheils and others hit fairway off low tees and mats which I think is useless.

[Warrior42111]

mats are generally more forgiving on fat shots. You hit a little behind the ball on the mat you just keep on going and make solid contact. On the course you're hitting grass causing a fat shot.

You can place a small flat object about 1/2" to 1" behind the ball or a mat to see if you are indeed fatting it.

[Stinger83]

Problem with the mat is that you can hit it fat and literally not realize it. Which then creates a tendency in your swing to continue hitting it fat - and you don't see it until you get on grass.

A lot of guys start moving the ball position back in their stance to guarantee a good strike and this doesn't work with 3 woods. Practice with the ball position forward, and practice on grass.

 

Also hitting fairways out of the rough is always going to be iffy

[FakeClubPro]

Thanks. Like anything else - practice at the range off the turf.

Is it in the rule book or just bad form to step down on the area behind your ball?

I know off the tee it is okay but technically the ball is not in play yet when teeing off.

I think stomping down behind the ball in the rough is improving your lie. On the fairway it may not matter.

[LeoLeo99]

It matters. You can't improve your lie.

[aenemated]

Kinda answered your own question - you're quite literally improving your lie.