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Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you play smarter and better golf.
No golfer truly enjoys running on a driving range carpet, as replicating the feel of actual grass is their preferred way to practice golf. Unfortunately, not all bands offer this option, which means we’re left with what’s available to get our swings to work on our game.
The problem with driving range mats is that they offer a lot more tolerance than actual turf. So even when you’re chipping a shot on a mat, it can still make a good score – which isn’t always the case when hitting real grass.
Unfortunately, this does not always help the player improve, as it gives a sense of false hope in some way. This leads to a misunderstanding of club selection and distance control when playing a round on real grass.
But just because you have to practice on the range mat doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to improve your game.
In today’s edition of Play Smart, Top 100 GOLF Teacher Jim Murphy shares three of his favorite tips for playing on the mats, which can be used to maximize your practice. Check them out below!
Secrets of practicing getting off the driving mats
Driving range mats are designed to simulate conditions on a golf course. But because it’s a soft surface, hitting too much doesn’t produce the same result as if you were on grass – so hitting skates, and the miss is less severe.
However, the secrets below can help you get the most out of your driving range mat practice, so give them a chance to start seeing improvement in your game.
Evaluate your impact after each shot
Since you don’t get feedback from the turf and the booth on the driving range mat, take a little longer after each shot to analyze the score. Did you take a clean shot? Did you feel like you hit behind the ball a lot? Do you drag your hands and arms like you’ve taken a lot of dirt on real grass?
By stepping back and making mental notes for each shot, you can get a sense of what you’re doing wrong (and right) when practicing on the mat. This will add tremendous value as you work on your swing and ball contact.
take your time
When hitting a range rug, the lie is about the same on every shot, so it’s easy to quickly pull a ball out of the basket and hit it quickly. This can be a good way to aim a group of balls, but it discourages practicing as you play – since you usually have a few minutes between shots.
So I recommend taking your time and really visualizing each shot at the driving range. It’s not the amount of balls you hit, it’s the quality of the swings you make.
Work on the exercises
As mentioned earlier, it’s okay to overlook the scores of your shots when you’re on a range mat, since it’s not the surface you’ll play on during a normal round of golf. So this makes practicing on a mat the perfect opportunity to work on different exercises – specifically the ones where you work on your swing. This allows you to focus on the process and less on the result.
So if you’re testing out a new grip, working on your stance, looking for better spin, or trying to find the perfect alignment for every shot, a driving range mat is a great place to try it out.
Practicing on a driving range mat isn’t my preferred state, but it can still be helpful in improving your game. By implementing these three secrets while practicing one of them, you can make the most of a less-than-favorable situation.
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