At the range>

[CBR92]

Been to two different ranges over the last few weeks and one thing I've noticed is some mats have the same rock hard flat surface and nothing else. Others however have a more rough "fake grass" kind of feel where the rubber Tee holes are.

Without using the Tee, which of these surfaces is better?

I see see most people using the flat hard surface, and hitting fine. I much prefer the rougher surface because the club doesn't feel like it's going to bounce up.

This has made me think I must surely be doing something wrong.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[duncan mackie]

the grassy bit - hitting from the hard mat area will encourage you to hit the ball a touch fat using the mat to square up the clubhead as it strikes the ball - if the mat is even slightly damp there's little friction and the shot feels 'solid'. the same shot on grass will not work.

it's even worse with hybrids/rescues!+

 

[ADB]

the grassy bit - hitting from the hard mat area will encourage you to hit the ball a touch fat using the mat to square up the clubhead as it strikes the ball - if the mat is even slightly damp there's little friction and the shot feels 'solid'. the same shot on grass will not work.

it's even worse with hybrids/rescues!+

Depending on the quality of the range and your general standard it may be beneficial to practice all irons from a low tee in the first instance rather than a rock hard mat.

 

[One Planer]

You want to have a look at a range with true strike mats.

They're great :thup:

 

[Canary_Yellow]

+ 1 to true strike mats. They're really good. Unless they're worn out.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends on the range. Some locally are just a plain mat. Where they've got the different "grass" surfaces I tend to use those. Nowhere locally has true strike sadly

 

[CBR92]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[guest100718]

You want to have a look at a range with true strike mats.

They're great :thup:

The ones at our range seem to wear pretty fast. I am hally enough with the old style rubber ones.

 

[One Planer]

+ 1 to true strike mats. They're really good. Unless they're worn out.

The ones at our range seem to wear pretty fast. I am hally enough with the old style rubber ones.

Granted, they do wear fast.

The range I use is a Srixon centre of excellence. As such they are constantly replaced when worn. Just lucky I suppose.

 

[seasidehacker]

Had a great lesson on Sat morning followed by the best round I have played in years. Literally the first time I have struck the ball well, I was on cloud 9. Felt super confident after the weekend and couldn't wait to get up the range last night, .......what a disaster, couldn't hit one ball off the mat at all. Shank, pull, hook you name it I hit it. I think when a range is as bad as my local one it actually makes things worse as I started to alter everything the pro had taught me.
All the balls are either cracked or rock hard, the mats are completely worn out, the rubber tees are all worn out with the tops damaged and to cap it all the lights didn't work.
This games hard enough without all that added to the mix.

 

[Fish]

I used the automatic "pop-up" tees yesterday for the first time, it was great to be able to change the hieghts of the tee and try different things, you can't do that with the rubber things, and saved all the bending down also :smirk:

 

[farfaeforfar]

My local range is basic mats, basic range balls and is a shed. However it's only five minutes from the house. Fine to keep swinging but nothing more than that. I've even seen the owners who cut the grass move the yardage flags by throwing them down, then putting them wherever they finish that cut. So yardages are absolutely useless also! There is a green at around 100yds (I think) and one at 185yds. But I can't trust them either as who knows how accurately measured in they were.

Aberdeen has a couple of better ranges, one with power tees and Wilson staff range balls which is good. But my eyes struggle to make out what flag is at what yardage as the map on the floor has different colour flags at some yardages than there is out on the range! Although we'll see if they continue using decent range balls now Lawrie isn't associated with Wilson.

I haven't been to Nevada Bobs range in Dundee yet...

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Granted, they do wear fast.

The range I use is a Srixon centre of excellence. As such they are constantly replaced when worn. Just lucky I suppose.

The place I go to a couple of minutes from my house has a mixture of power tees and true strike mats. Most people prefer the power tees leaving me free to use the true strike mats in peace. They're very good at keeping them in good condition too. Thinking about it a little more, when the true strike mats have had a little wear they're still good practice as you get a slightly less perfect lie.

 

[Retread61]

IMHO, I dont believe that a "normal" mat makes you hit it fat. A pure strike is a pure strike end of. My personal preference (and thats all it is) is to hit from the firmer part of the mat, because hitting off the deeper part (generally to the side of a power tee) feels false to me. Almost like the ball is teed up in the semi. I like the feeling of getting into the back of the ball and squeezing it.

 

[CMAC]

IMHO, I dont believe that a "normal" mat makes you hit it fat. A pure strike is a pure strike end of. My personal preference (and thats all it is) is to hit from the firmer part of the mat, because hitting off the deeper part (generally to the side of a power tee) feels false to me. Almost like the ball is teed up in the semi. I like the feeling of getting into the back of the ball and squeezing it.

+1 :thup:

 

[seasidehacker]

Interesting piece

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/166452-driving-range-mats-are-they-good-for-your-swing