Driving Range mats vs actual turf - misleading, low point contrlo.

[TigerTime]

I don't like driving ranges, but I have spent the last 2/3 months at one in attempt at practice to get better. I've probably made the changes I wanted to make - but now I've lost all sort of strike on actual grass.

Low point control has completely gone to shreds.

Anyone any tips for transitioning from these silly mats to actual grass, or ways I can control low point at the driving range?

 

[Backache]

The traditional trick is to put a cloth a couple of inches behind the ball and make sure you don't hit it.

 

[Orikoru]

Maybe you should take one of those strike mats with you to the range? The ones that change colour (made of sequins or something) to show you your 'divot'. So you'll be able to see if you strike behind the ball or not.

I own one somewhere but I've never remembered to use it.

 

[sjw]

Maybe you should take one of those strike mats with you to the range? The ones that change colour (made of sequins or something) to show you your 'divot'. So you'll be able to see if you strike behind the ball or not.

I own one somewhere but I've never remembered to use it.

I have one, but it's not got a solid base and I have no idea how I'm supposed to use it without launching it down range

 

[Deleted member 36735]

Low point control has completely gone to shreds.

or ways I can control low point at the driving range?

I think the mat stuff is a red herring.
Basically what you're asking is how to hit the golf ball consistently.....Well if you find out how to do that please let the rest of the golfing world know where you found the Holy Grail...

 

[Orikoru]

I think the mat stuff is a red herring.
Basically what you're asking is how to hit the golf ball consistently.....Well if you find out how to do that please let the rest of the golfing world know where you found the Holy Grail...

It's the fact that driving range mats disguise fat shots. You can hit it slightly fat on a driving range mat and get a perfectly acceptable looking shot, making you think the strike was alright. But hit that exact same strike on a muddy golf course and you chunk it.

 

[3 jabber]

It's the fact that driving range mats disguise fat shots. You can hit it slightly fat on a driving range mat and get a perfectly acceptable looking shot, making you think the strike was alright. But hit that exact same strike on a muddy golf course and you chunk it.

It's easy to tell at the range if you hit the ball properly or not. The sound at contact is one good indicator. There is no disguising a poor contact.

 

[Orikoru]

It's easy to tell at the range if you hit the ball properly or not. The sound at contact is one good indicator. There is no disguising a poor contact.

Yes, but the results still look better and give you the impression you are closer to a good strike than you actually are! Like a fatted 7 iron at the range could go 135 whereas same strike on the course is about 90.

On the flip side, my mate who's a good iron striker dislikes hitting at the range, because he's thudding the club into a hard, unforgiving mat instead of soft turf.

 

[hambugerpete]

Yes, but the results still look better and give you the impression you are closer to a good strike than you actually are! Like a fatted 7 iron at the range could go 135 whereas same strike on the course is about 90.

On the flip side, my mate who's a good iron striker dislikes hitting at the range, because he's thudding the club into a hard, unforgiving mat instead of soft turf.

I agree range Mat doesn't punish a fat so bad, but I still know the difference between a good hit and a crap one off a matt

 

[Orikoru]

I agree range Mat doesn't punish a fat so bad, but I still know the difference between a good hit and a crap one off a matt

Again, so can I, but it's just a visual thing that tricks the brain. The difference between "I fatted that a bit but it did alright" vs "wow I chunked that pretty badly".

 

[3 jabber]

Again, so can I, but it's just a visual thing that tricks the brain. The difference between "I fatted that a bit but it did alright" vs "wow I chunked that pretty badly".

It doesn't trick my brain

 

[TigerTime]

I agree range Mat doesn't punish a fat so bad, but I still know the difference between a good hit and a crap one off a matt

Yes I can tell the difference. I can feel the club bounce off the mat.

I’d be more dialled in if I could hit off grass over winter.

That’s the UK for you I guess