[CAxrrAYN]

Do you prefer practicing from artificial turf mats or natural grass?

I generally find myself practicing on mats because the most conveniently located range in my neck of the woods happens to have mats. There are some nice grass ranges on a couple of courses farther from my home but both are at least a half-hour’s drive away (more if there’s traffic) and so I find myself using the one with mats more out of convenience than anything else since the "mat" range is less than fifteen minutes away.

I know many folks despise mats and years ago when they were little more than fuzzy concrete I felt the same way. But in the last decade or so, the quality of mats has improved quite a bit and the range that I frequent has mats that are very similar to real turf in almost every way except that they don’t produce a divot. They have “grass blades” and enough give in the base that even a firmly struck wedge feels very much like shot struck on a firm fairway.

I know that many people also believe that mats can produce a false feedback which is true in some cases, but I’ve used them so much that I’ve developed a keen sense of what a “good” shot is as opposed to a shot that was the result of skidding the club off the mat. Granted, you have to pay closer attention to sound and feel, but believe me, I really can tell the difference.

Like most other people I prefer real turf, but surprisingly I don’t really feel that there’s much of a difference in the way in which I play after having practiced off of real turf or artificial turf. The way I look at it is that since the ideal shot is “ball first”, what that ball is sitting on is of little importance since my club shouldn’t be contacting that surface until after the ball has left the clubface. The only thing I really need in a good mat is enough “give” so that after I’ve struck the ball, the club “digs down” just as it would on a real fairway, which many of today’s mats allow for quite admirably.

As far as which one I’d choose, if a grass range and a range with mats were the same distance from my house, I’d take the grass range all the time. But I have to say that mats are not that bad these days and have come a long way towards replicating real turf and as such, they’re not a bad alternative.


-JP

[blankostaroe]

My situation is similar to yours. I would definitely prefer real grass, but the only ranges close to me are mats.

[Blacksheepaalredy]

I do have the choice of both at the range I go to. The mats aren't particularly nice, but still I go back and forth between the grass and the mats. The reason: The grass is a $1 upcharge. Not much, but whenever I play the grass I end up thinking: I am paying a buck extra for this ****!? It isn't fairway, it isn't rough, it is just a useless poor quality lumpy grass surface that doesn't resemble anything that I ever find on the course!!

[fedelwfget]

The closest range to me is a mat range. I went to this range quite frequently because of the convenience. However, I developed a wrist injury recently and I have been told that hitting off of the mats is partly to blame. So, mats are off the menu for me for the time being.

All other things being equal, I would always take real grass before mats.

[njfeedd3w]

Right now, I have access to several grass driving ranges and will not even consider hitting off mats. If the grass ranges are closed I just don't go unless I'm only working on chipping and putting and won't be using the mats anyway.

[rostpribru]

At the courses near us, it depends when they use grass or mats. During my golf lessons, its mats. At the par 3s near us, its mats as well. I prefer grass, but it just all depends on the course and what day Some ranges have both grass and mats, but they charge you more for grass.

[mireOpekrhype]

I've never seen it cost more to hit off the grass.

[SnareeWer]

Grass all the way!

I only have grass ranges by me so I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. The only downside is I have no winter practice facility near me other than a simulator.

[FateHostera]

The two nearest driving ranges to me (

[NumDusthouh]

Grass all the way. The mats at the ranges near me are seriously terrible, if they were nice that would be a different story.

[singleGirl]

I've never seen it cost more to hit off the grass.

We have different things over here I believe its $2 more to hit off the grass. When I was doing my review on the Vanitees, I couldn't find a local range that was grass, so I found one nearby and had to pay the extra fee for the grass. But now I know if I ever must have grass over the mats. The mats don't bother me...If youv'e seen the grass at the range, then you'd know why it'd need to cost more Some rangers just have grass on Tuesdays and Thursdays only

[nasdfrdg]

If I never have to hit off a mat again I will be thrilled. I spent all winter practicing in a dome on mats.

My main complaints are: 1) It is tough to tee up a ball on a mat, even the new ones. Almost impossible to effectively adjust your height 2) If you do manage to get the ball teed up, the tee often goes flying out into the range. 3) Fat shots slide and give you a false sense that the shot was good. That might not be an issue for a more experienced player, but for me it was.

[obegeLype]

If I never have to hit off a mat again I will be thrilled. I spent all winter practicing in a dome on mats.

My main complaints are: 1) It is tough to tee up a ball on a mat, even the new ones. Almost impossible to effectively adjust your height 2) If you do manage to get the ball teed up, the tee often goes flying out into the range. 3) Fat shots slide and give you a false sense that the shot was good. That might not be an issue for a more experienced player, but for me it was.

You hit the nail on the head. I have used some of the most hi-tech mats in the world at the PGA Show and frankly, there is still no substitute for grass. Its bad on your wrists in joints in comparison and despite that some feel "since you are supposed to hit the ball 1st it shouldnt matter", it is just not the same. Even the professionals do not hit the same spot on every single swing and hitting one groove fat on a mat might be the same as 3 grooves fat on grass.

its funny to me when people constantly condemn technology in golf as marketing (not directed at the OP) and then turn around and say it works in certain cases like this because it is a convenience. The fact is that many love hitting off of mats and think things are great because when it comes to ball striking it is far easier to hit off a mat for performance than that of real grass.

There is no substitute in the world for practicing real golf situations and mats just are not them. Is it better than not practicing? Maybe, but hitting off of mats should be for fun and not taken as what will happen on the course or off of grass.

[LICraig]

At the facility near me there is a $2 extra charge for the grass and they give you beat up cracked balls.

[DeilMikina]

I guess I'm in the lucky crowd, as my "work" course and "home" course both have well manicured grass ranges. I like being spoiled!

I used to hate mats, but recently, I was down at Coronado's muni course, and they have the newer mats that JP speaks of. And while, yes, they dont compare to grass, I felt as though I was able to get decent feedback from my hits and mishits. But personally, I'd still go to great lengths to hit off grass.

[Trercakaressy]

my local range has both. I always use grass.

[xqkAY7Lg]

id much rather hit off of grass...
with that being said... it also depends on the range...
the range at the course across the street... lets just say i wish they had mats... the ground is so beat up that if you arent using a tee you are hitting off of dirt and it gets in your eyes often...
mats are great when the weather sucks and the mats are in a hitting bay with a heater and a roof etc

[Erexecike]

I'm the president of the golfer against hitting off mats club. It seems to really distort the reality of my swing and the results. I think hey I'm hitting pretty good only to find something completely different when I'm on the course. You don't play on mats so I'd prefer to not practice on them either.

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[Logaleta]

I guess all the hate for mats is somewhat surprising to me.

I guess my main and only real complaint is the fact that I'm hitting down on what amounts to a little bit of rubber over top of concrete. After awhile, it can downright hurt.

Other than that, they're convenient enough to where I use them and not think twice about it.

To possibly say that it might be better to NOT practice than have to hit off of a mat is going a wee bit too far for me.

[N9u9ie4p]

I guess I am spoiled because I have never been to a range that has mats. Everything near us is grass so I don't even have the ability to compare the two.