Hitting off mats vs grass is often debated, so I finally decided to test out mats vs grass and share the results below
Over the past 5 years, I have played over 1,000 rounds of golf in my golf simulator using a golf mat and during that same 5 year period have played over 400 rounds on a variety of grasses at many different golf courses. During this time I have golfed in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and Arizona.
Process: I hit 10 golf balls off a mat and off of fairway grass (bent) and measured the results with my Skytrak Launch Monitor.
Golf Ball Used: Titleist Prov1x
Club Used: I used an 8 iron
Data Collected: Carry Distance, Ball Speed Spin Rate, Launch Angle
Hitting Off Mats vs Grass (Results)
8 Iron from Golf Mat
| Shot Number | Carry Distance | Ball Speed | Spin Rate |
| 1 | 158 | 113 | 7824 |
| 2 | 155 | 111 | 7856 |
| 3 | 156 | 112 | 7456 |
| 4 | 157 | 113 | 7699 |
| 5 | 158 | 114 | 7745 |
| Averages | 156.8 | 112 | 7716 |
8 Iron From Bent Grass Fairway
| Shot Number | Carry Distance | Ball Speed | Spin Rate |
| 1 | 156 | 112 | 7723 |
| 2 | 157 | 110 | 6683 |
| 3 | 155 | 111 | 7945 |
| 4 | 156 | 112 | 7454 |
| 5 | 155 | 113 | 7598 |
| Averages | 155.8 | 111 | 7480 |
Hitting Off Mats vs Grass: Key Takeaways
- I averaged 1 yard further off a mat.
- My spin rate was slightly higher off a mat.
- My ball speed was slightly higher off a mat
None of this is surprising as I find the mat surface very predictable because of the stability at the bottom of the shot. The reaction is the same on every shot and doesn’t vary from shot to shot depending on the amount of moisture or combination of grass you might be hitting of of.
I have found that I can play some impressive ball striking rounds from the mat due to the predictable nature of a hitting mat.
Golf mat vs grass distance
In our test, I hit the ball 1 yard further than off the grass. Most golfers, with the proper club ground interaction, will hit the ball further off of a mat due to the firm surface it can provide and less chance of hitting the ball fat.
Many higher handicap golfers might struggle off of grass due to different conditions from shot to shot or round to round. One round you might play on a soggy surface, which make precision with your low point control rather important.
Related: What to work on at driving range
Golf mat vs grass accuracy
I didn’t find any difference between the accuracy when comparing my results of mat vs grass with the 8 iron.
I don’t believe accuracy is impacted in the grass vs mat debate and is more about distance and game like surfaced. Many mats have come in a long way in creating a course like experience.
Related: Best Golf Mat for Skytrak!
Difference between hitting of a mat and grass
The main difference is the club/ground interaction that occurs just after impact. The best golfers strike the ball and then the ground in a quality shot. When the ground is soft, those that don’t perfect this will struggle getting their max distance with every club.
The other major difference is that on a mat, the surface is usually flat. When playing off of grass, the potential for various lies and the levelness of the ground will vary from shot to shot.
I always felt if I could hit every shot off of a mat during a round of golf, I would score 1-3 shots better due to the predictable nature of a golf mat.
Grass provides the different variables that a golfer must master to reach an elite level.
One struggle that average to high handicap golfers face is the low point control when hitting an iron. Many fail to understand that the club will first contact the ground slightly after impact and not the other way around.
Once a golfer hits a fat or thin shot the golfer can struggle with the fear or hitting that shot again. To control the low point of your swing or to move it forward, go ahead and set a touch more weight on the front leg at address. The more your weight is forwards, the further forward the low point will be.
Here is a low point drill I would recommend:
- Take some yard paint and paint a 1-2 yard long line.
- Setup with 55% of your weight on your front side.
- Try to hit the target side of the line and see how many times out of 10 you can do this successfully!
- Repeat this drill every day for a month, tracking your progress and your ability to to this successfully in trials of ten.
- You may need to start with half swing and progress to full swings.
If you are struggling, put more weight forward and work on keeping your head still to help control the low point in the swing.
Related: Golf Driving Range vs Golf Simulator
Mat vs Grass and Golf Practice
When a golfer has an opportunity to hit off of quality grass, they should take advantage of it. The game is played on grass and different lies are part of the game. When a golfer is practicing, they want to create game like conditions as often as possible.
The mat can become really important when using a simulator or at a practice facility where the grass is not kept up properly. In my journey to reach scratch, I have played over 1,000 rounds on my golf simulator using a mat. I was able take my average score from 74-78 to 68-74 practicing on my simulator mat. I am a better ball striker as a result of playing on my golf simulator setup.
The bottom line is that a golfer can get very good hitting all of his or her practice shots off of mats. It is not a barrier to reaching your full potential, but if you can hit off of grass, it could benefit the golfer.
What is the best golf mat?
Our recommendation is the SwingTurf Golf Hitting Mat.
Check out current price at Rain or Shine Golf, here!
Featuring an expertly crafted fiber system, SwingTurf allows you to hit down and through the mat offering a true fairway golf shot experience. Not only that, SwingTurf allows you to insert a real wooden tee. Complete your golf simulator experience today with SwingTurf.
From Rain or Shine Website
What type of grass is used on golf greens?
The majority of golf courses use bent grass, poa annua or bermuda. There are many variations and combinations of seeds that are used based on the location and climate of the golf course.
One of the best parts of playing golf in different states is testing your skill on a variety of grasses. On the PGA Tour you might hear that a golfer is a better putter on bent grass vs poa annua.
Related: How often do golf courses aerate greens?
Related: How often do golf courses cut grass?
Hitting Off Mats vs Grass: Final Thoughts
Golf is a brilliant game and one that we can all enjoy. The journey to game improvement has many ups and downs, but is an amazing challenge! Find a way to practice when you are practicing on mat or grass. The more you can practice the low point control drill above or play game like situations on a golf simulator, the better you will be in the long run!