Hitting off a mat

rudebhoy

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Anyone else struggle with this? So many folk say this is easier than off grass, it’s the opposite for me. Have been hitting so many bad 2nd shots off the mat, I’ve had to resort to hitting little 100 yard punch shots just to get round.

I’ve tried 3 different mats including a Spurk, none of them work for me.
 
Nope, same as you. I never came to terms with it. Could never quite commit to the shot, the ball fell too raised, I was too hunched in my swing.

Current club have brought them in as an option. I'm not using one but my pp is and he is loving it. Hitting the ball well every time off them 🤷
 
Nope, same as you. I never came to terms with it. Could never quite commit to the shot, the ball fell too raised, I was too hunched in my swing.

Current club have brought them in as an option. I'm not using one but my pp is and he is loving it. Hitting the ball well every time off them 🤷
Unfortunately they are mandatory at our place. It was ok until last week as we had the option to move the ball to the semi rough instead, but they are now insisting on mats in the semi as well, am guessing that will be in place until the frost comes out the ground.
 
Played yesterday and no issue of a spurk mat, just the ssme as being at a range imo, I do struggle hitting the ball out the rough in the winter though🤷‍♂️

Not sure if it’s ball position or the difference of the ball being a little higher on the mat.

Normally takes a week or 2 to adjust on to the mats and another week or 2 when we stop using them to adjust.😵‍💫
 
As a matter of interest do you also struggle with ball above and below your feet?
If so I'd probably try and practice a bit with balls in different positions working on your strike and your overall play may benefit.
If not I don't know. I don't mind hitting off mats but my mate who looks like he has an upward angle of attack struggles.
 
As a matter of interest do you also struggle with ball above and below your feet?
If so I'd probably try and practice a bit with balls in different positions working on your strike and your overall play may benefit.
If not I don't know. I don't mind hitting off mats but my mate who looks like he has an upward angle of attack struggles.
Doesn't everyone? :D

But in answer to your question, yes, this is also a problem for me.
 
It's mental. There is no other good reason people can't hit off a mat. I don't care what mat I use, the club still needs to hit the ball first (or at least really close). Do I screw up and hit it fat once in a while?...absolutely, and annoying as hell. Those are usually my misses on grass as well. I use a cheapo mat that I turn over so the "grass" side is down....there are two circles on the flat side to put your ball. I push the mat down with my foot when I put it on the ground...shazam! the ball is at grass level. Golf courses are not absolutely flat...the ball is often slightly above or below your feet....part of the game. I think it is funny as heck when someone hits the mat really hard (huge fat shot) and then blame the mat. When I hit a bad fat shot on the mat.....it's my fault.
 
Perfect lie on fairway mats, what’s not to like?

Tried the driver four times yesterday, (it was a Texas Scramble) three shots were good, the third one was a partial failure as I hadn’t realised that the fairway was sloping a little and the ball was above my feet. I hit the front edge of the mat first, damaged the mat a little but driver was not damaged. My Spurk mat has an inclined leading edge, my playing partners mat that I damaged originally didn’t - but now has a crude one!
 
Never had to use them but someone is trying to get them introduced where I play.

Is it actually different to hitting a ball on a range?
 
I hated it but changed to a better mat, forced on me when we went to Heworth recently. They were off mats, unadvertised, and I was stung for £20 buying one in the clubhouse. Now I love playing off a mat! I tilt it to give me a pronounced uphill lie and it's working well so far.
 
Never had to use them but someone is trying to get them introduced where I play.

Is it actually different to hitting a ball on a range?
Yes, because at the range you are stood on the same mat as you are hitting off. You are at the same height. On the course, the mat is lifting the ball up above your feet slightly.
 
Yes, because at the range you are stood on the same mat as you are hitting off. You are at the same height. On the course, the mat is lifting the ball up above your feet slightly.

Thanks.

Where I play you very rarely get a flat lie anyway so not a problem. It was more about the actual strike that I was thinking about.
 
Yes, because at the range you are stood on the same mat as you are hitting off. You are at the same height. On the course, the mat is lifting the ball up above your feet slightly.
So what you are saying is....hitting off a fairway mat is more realistic since the ball is hardly ever completely level with your feet on a golf course normally. And....as I mentioned above....my mat is near as dammit to being level with the grass. Now....if you buy the Spurk, yes...likely slightly higher than your feet. But if you can't hit off of that how are you going to survive hitting a ball off the grass on a golf course? Some people like mats....some people hate mats. Although....if you can't hit off of a fairway mat.....there is something wrong with your swing. It's not the mat.
 
So what you are saying is....hitting off a fairway mat is more realistic since the ball is hardly ever completely level with your feet on a golf course normally. And....as I mentioned above....my mat is near as dammit to being level with the grass. Now....if you buy the Spurk, yes...likely slightly higher than your feet. But if you can't hit off of that how are you going to survive hitting a ball off the grass on a golf course? Some people like mats....some people hate mats. Although....if you can't hit off of a fairway mat.....there is something wrong with your swing. It's not the mat.
I totally accept the issue is in my head, not hiding from this 😞
 
I'm 50/50, as many bad hits off the mat as good ones, but the sacrifice during the wet and cold months are worthwhile, as the fairways are much better come the spring
 
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