Practice rant

[20something]

Mats to driving range

I wasn't going to post but I'm so lost I wanted to get some feedback.

I have a mat and net below my deck at home. I've been hitting irons the last few days. I can tell when I catch it fat but the last couple days I've been pureing it. Totally flush.

So, today I go to the driving range to see actual ball flight, to hit off of grass, etc. I hit a large bucket and then a medium bucket. I hit dead pulls (felt like off of the hosel) and weak, weak slices right off the face. It wasn't like they would fly and turn right. It was like hitting an inside pitch to right field kind of slice.

Anyway, could hitting off the mat mask swing problems like that? Or did I just forget everything I'd done at home when I got to the range? I'm just totally perplexed about it (actually I'm something else but can't use that language here).

Yeah, I know, get a lesson. I have had some and I'm in the middle of a swing change. Just wanted to hear some thoughts (besides get a lesson).

[mantan]

Mats are useless.

 

I know they are a neccesary evil in some parts of the country or the only way to practice indoors or away from the course. But I absolutely hate them for the reason you're experiencing.

[Titleist1455]

i totally agree...they are useless!

 

in fact, they probably hurt more than they help. everything feels pure until you go out to some real turf and start taking divots. all of the sudden the ground feels hard and unforgiving, but it's because you're used to that springy, rubbery feel.

 

BTW...i hate mats!

[blindwolf]

I don't think mats, per se, would cause your problems. (For the record, I much prefer practicing on grass ranges.) I think part of the problem is that hitting into the net doesn't give you sense for the ball flight. Every now and then, I'll hit what I think are solid shots, only to see them ultimately turn out as pulls. Problem is that if you don't see that result it's easy to groove what's in the end a bad shot.

[BFC]

It's the net, not the mat. Granted grass is better, way better. How many times on the course does impact feel pure until you look up at this monster pull going staight but way right (I'm a leftie! :cheesy: )

 

I hate nets a lot more than I hate mats, If fact I will hit of a mat if I have to but I refuse to practice with a net. If the net is the only option, I 'll go put.

[StaffBag]

Mats are useless.

 

I know they are a neccesary evil in some parts of the country or the only way to practice indoors or away from the course. But I absolutely hate them for the reason you're experiencing.

 

 

i totally agree...they are useless!

 

in fact, they probably hurt more than they help. everything feels pure until you go out to some real turf and start taking divots. all of the sudden the ground feels hard and unforgiving, but it's because you're used to that springy, rubbery feel.

 

BTW...i hate mats!

 

 

 

Mats are not useless.... BAD mats are useless! (The firm ones with the turf that is shorter than what is normally found on a green!

 

Mats that have some give to them, have a bit of a pile to them, or a TrueStrike gel mat are great because they feel like real turf when you hit them. (Resistance, w/o bouncing!)

 

Bad mats do not help you with any feedback, since the club bounces into the ball... or the heel catches and bounces.... etc. The ball also jumps into the air faster and spins more!

 

Good mats are wonderful to practice off of, but nothing beats real turf. However, there are times of the year when mats are a necessary evil that we all must deal with, especially up here in the NORTH in the spring!

[JDorfler]

There's these foam balls you get with clickers in them. They are advertised not to go further than 30 yards. Anyway, I use them inside my house. They can slice or hood just like a real ball. Even more pronounced in some cases to help with your swing at home. I don't recommend hitting them indoors. I've gone through a lot of little nick nacks that I've hit with the little ball. But nothing beats hitting your ball off of a real course.

[beachgrovejunior]

definitely the net, as you cant see ballflight so that whole time you could have been hitting those weak slices and wouldnt know it