Matts versus Grass (this may surprise you), by Bobby Steiner 

I totally agree self-confidence is everything.

I feel that way about golf as a whole, lol.

You sound like a nice guy and you mean well and maybe for some people it works but I have ask you what you think about the pure physics of the swing and the interaction with the matt. You do not think practicing off concrete or the cart path is good I am sure. For woods and hybrids maybe the matt is ok but in reality good golfers take a 1/4-1/2 inch divot with them in the fairway. The irons the matts are very bad. I used to be a picker with my irons and as we know that is incorrect and as a picker you can hit on matts all day and it is going to be great. When you hit irons correctly you hit the ball first on the downswing and then the club hits the ground after and the bottom off the swing is after the ball and upwards of an inch lower than the ball depending on if it's a short iron or long. If you do that correct swing on a mat you are going to destroy your wrists and elbows and your body is not going to allow you to do that swing and is going to adjust the bottom of your swing up until you pick it clean. Your body does not want to hurt itself. Using mats with irons hurts your joints bad and your swing worse. You go out on the course and thin everything. You won't see a basketball player practicing on a 12' rim and you are never going to see a pro golfer hit irons of anything but grass or dirt or sand or something that the club can travel below in the swing because that is the correct golf swing. The part that fascinates me is that nobody has invented a mat that you can take divots out of and be able to keep your same correct swing. Grass tees are not feasible for every public driving range I get it. Hitting irons off of mats should be discouraged

Thank you, AL!

Thank you!

That’s definitely true for me, too. It matters most that we make the most use of what we’ve got. Thank you for tuning in!

Yes, I guess the thing for all of us is to not just consider mats a waste of time altogether. All things being equal, grass is better. But, if one looks they can find the good in the mats. I hope you’re enjoying great golf!

The matts allow you to bottom out a little earlier and still hit a good shot. Keep in min that both a fat shot and thin shot, though seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum, are often caused by the same thing. In both cases your club reached its lowest point before it reached the ball. My advice is to make sure you bump the ground left of the ball on your practice swings, and then try to do so again on the full swing. I’d bet it helps a bunch!

Thank you much, Ray!!

Thank you much!

Thank you!

I’m with you on that. Lots of good found on the mats if a person looks for it. I hope you’re playing great!

Thank you, Christopher!

The same here. I loved, loved the driving range life. So simple and well defined. You hit the balls, I'll go find and gather them, and we can do it again and again! No attitudes to deal with, I loved it!

I couldn’t agree more!

Lol! That’s a tough spot to be in! You know the guy is used to hearing stuff like that, but in your case you’re telling the truth. I don’t know what you might do about that. I guess you’re meant to be a grass guy! There are a number of you out there.

this x100

You're absolutely right. Hard mats will give you golfer's elbow, which is no fun. They seem to have gotten softer in the last decade or so, but even then, they can eventually become hard.

You’re right about that!

I’m with you. I think they’re a “some of the time” thing for sure!

Mats are great thing on some occasions for sure. Glad you can make use of then!

I agree totally

I think you’re right. Whether or not mats and grass are the same makes little difference. Mats are useful!

Others express the same sentiment. Nothing is more important than what brings about confidence. Thanks for tuning in!

Great feedback, thanks for watching!