2 questions - no glove good? which part of the mat?

[bamfur]

I have always played with a glove, but have noticed when i remind myself to grip firmer with my left hand and relax more with my right, my shots are better. Would the lack of a glove naturally make me hold the grip tighter with my left hand, since i would would have to hold tighter to prevent slippage, thus imbed in me proper firmer left hand action? I havent had a chance to experiment, but was wondering what the thoughts were on this topic.

Separately, after several good practice range session I played a round yesterday and was very hopeful I would have my best round ever, but instead found myself hitting nearly all my iron shots very fat. I understand that driving range mats hide fat shots. Should I have been placing my balls on the fluffier part of the mat where the fibers are longer, the part where the rubber tee pokes out of? Would hitting balls off of this part teach me to hit down and not mask my fat shots as much as the carpety part (where you stand) which is where i have been hitting from? I've seen most people hitting off the carpet part so i followed what i saw. Has this been reinforcing bad habits?

 

[Zztop]

I have always played with a glove, but have noticed when i remind myself to grip firmer with my left hand and relax more with my right, my shots are better. Would the lack of a glove naturally make me hold the grip tighter with my left hand, since i would would have to hold tighter to prevent slippage, thus imbed in me proper firmer left hand action? I havent had a chance to experiment, but was wondering what the thoughts were on this topic.

Separately, after several good practice range session I played a round yesterday and was very hopeful I would have my best round ever, but instead found myself hitting nearly all my iron shots very fat. I understand that driving range mats hide fat shots. Should I have been placing my balls on the fluffier part of the mat where the fibers are longer, the part where the rubber tee pokes out of? Would hitting balls off of this part teach me to hit down and not mask my fat shots as much as the carpety part (where you stand) which is where i have been hitting from? I've seen most people hitting off the carpet part so i followed what i saw. Has this been reinforcing bad habits?

Hitting off of the fluffier part could allow one to get away with a fat shot. As you could hit up on it and get under the ball, like putting the ball on a tee and using an iron, you can swing under it and lift it. On a tight lie there is no getting under it, the ground is in the way which requires somewhat of a downward strike, if you swing upwards for whatever reason, fat and thin shots can occur. As for the reason for your fat shots on the course there could be many reasons, the former could be one of them, in that its allowing you to ingrain an improper impact condition,maybe.

As for using a glove or not , experiment and see what you prefer, only you will know by feel if one or the other is better for you.

 

[ggsjpc]

Personally, I don't know how anyone can play without one. I can't hold on loose enough without it.

 

[curtisj76]

I absolutely have to play with a glove! Wouldn't even think about not wearing one.

 

[Richie3Jack]

I used to play without a glove, but for some reason as I get older I sweat more in the hands. Go figure.

As far as the mats go, I would probably suggest going where the mat fibers are longer only because I would want to prevent possible injury. Mats do 'hide' fat shots, but it's pretty easy IMO to tell when you hit one fat off the mat even if the ball flies pretty well.



3JACK

 

[bamfur]

so zztop, you think hitting off the longer fiber part is even worse tan hitting off the carpet part where you stand? i thought the carpet part allowed the club to bounce a little and let u get away with fatshots more, but see your point about the long fiber part being forgiving in another way by allowing the club to glide under easier... i dont have access to grass tees, so mats are my only option. not sure what to do. i really want to practice and get better, not worse... what if i place the ball in one of those holes where the rubber tee stick out from?

 

[Zztop]

so zztop, you think hitting off the longer fiber part is even worse tan hitting off the carpet part where you stand? i thought the carpet part allowed the club to bounce a little and let u get away with fatshots more, but see your point about the long fiber part being forgiving in another way by allowing the club to glide under easier... i dont have access to grass tees, so mats are my only option. not sure what to do. i really want to practice and get better, not worse... what if i place the ball in one of those holes where the rubber tee stick out from?

Well it's too bad you don't have access to grass as that would help you see if your hitting fat by where your divot is in relation to a fixed point. Or even if you take a divot. Anyways ,Richie does have a valid point about the jarring impact from hard mats could cause an injury. I don't think i'd put the ball in the hole where the tee goes, but maybe a real short rubber tee instead of the longer one's that they normally use.

Cut one down if you can real short so it barely sticks above the fibers, just don't get caught: lol. Oh yeah cut the tee level or the ball won't stay on it.
Other then that have someone watch closely to see if your hitting behind the ball. Thin shots are not a problem as you will feel those, it's the slightly fat one's that feel good but are a problem on the course because of less forgiving circumstances. Hope that's of some help.

 

[otto6457]

I've never worn a glove. I learned to play when I was a kid and a glove was a luxury I couldn't afford. I do own one for the few times a year on the range when my hands begin to get raw from hitting too many balls. I've never had a problem with my grip feeling too tight or to loose. Probably because I've never known the difference.

The only problem I have ever had is that my calluses get VERY large and can get painful if I don't keep them filed down. Using cord grips probably accelerates the problem. I've moved to the Dual Decade grip from Golf Pride which is easier on the right hand but gives me the cord for the left.

As far as using mats, they will very definitely hide the slightly fat shot. And for a lot of people it hinders hitting down on the ball. The jarring of hitting the mat will often cause you to shallow out too much or even flip a little to relieve the jarring in your wrists and shoulders.

The mats used at 99% of all the ranges I've seen are instruments of the devil.

 

[Zztop]

I've never worn a glove. I learned to play when I was a kid and a glove was a luxury I couldn't afford. I do own one for the few times a year on the range when my hands begin to get raw from hitting too many balls. I've never had a problem with my grip feeling too tight or to loose. Probably because I've never known the difference.

The only problem I have ever had is that my calluses get VERY large and can get painful if I don't keep them filed down. Using cord grips probably accelerates the problem. I've moved to the Dual Decade grip from Golf Pride which is easier on the right hand but gives me the cord for the left.

As far as using mats, they will very definitely hide the slightly fat shot. And for a lot of people it hinders hitting down on the ball. The jarring of hitting the mat will often cause you to shallow out too much or even flip a little to relieve the jarring in your wrists and shoulders.

The mats used at 99% of all the ranges I've seen are instruments of the devil.

Agree 100%

 

[Richie3Jack]

The mats used at 99% of all the ranges I've seen are instruments of the devil.

I agree. Unfortunately sometimes there's nothing you can do if you have had a lot of rain or it's the winter time and the range is out of season. I hurt my wrist pretty badly on the mats my course had. Those things made the astroturf at the old Veterans Stadium look like fresh Tifton Dwarf that had been perfectly saturated for months. Finally my courses got mats that are great as far as mats go.



3JACK

 

[bamfur]

to work on hitting down and taking a divot in front of the ball (instead of fat) should i do hit the penny 2 inches in front of the ball drill on the stance/carpet part or from the longer fiber part?

 

[sharkey35]

white tape

Pick up a roll of the white tape, about 3/8 of an inch wide, that is sold at the pharmacy. The tape used for holding gauze on skin. Just tear off a strip and stick it to the mat. Place the ball just in front of it. If you hit the ball first, the tape will stay down. Cheap "fat" detector.


I only use a glove when its super hot and my hands are too sweaty. Feels much better to me.

 

[bamfur]

I was thinking of laying a sheet of paper down behind the ball as a fat detector too, but you idea sounds better, the sheet might fly away... hopefully the penny and the tape will fix my fat shots. i'm so hopeful that once i fix this i can shave 10-20 strokes off my game... i can feel that i am right at the cusp of really getting it...

 

[Bigwill]

I have always played with a glove, but have noticed when i remind myself to grip firmer with my left hand and relax more with my right, my shots are better. Would the lack of a glove naturally make me hold the grip tighter with my left hand, since i would would have to hold tighter to prevent slippage, thus imbed in me proper firmer left hand action? I havent had a chance to experiment, but was wondering what the thoughts were on this topic.

Separately, after several good practice range session I played a round yesterday and was very hopeful I would have my best round ever, but instead found myself hitting nearly all my iron shots very fat. I understand that driving range mats hide fat shots. Should I have been placing my balls on the fluffier part of the mat where the fibers are longer, the part where the rubber tee pokes out of? Would hitting balls off of this part teach me to hit down and not mask my fat shots as much as the carpety part (where you stand) which is where i have been hitting from? I've seen most people hitting off the carpet part so i followed what i saw. Has this been reinforcing bad habits?

For the glove: I tend to use one now, because I often have too light grip pressure, especially with my left hand, and a glove makes me firm it up.

For the mat: I've done the same thing as you're suggesting. I've also played the ball off of the black rubber (not recommended), and used pennies behind the ball. If you have to hit off of mats, and it affects you that adversely, my advice would be to really focus on what you have to do to hit the ball solid on turf, and try to make sure you don't deviate from that when you get on the mats.

 

[bamfur]

For the mat: I've done the same thing as you're suggesting. I've also played the ball off of the black rubber (not recommended), and used pennies behind the ball.

not recommended meaning i should hit off the longer fiber (fluffier part of the mat)? i've been hitting from the fabric covered rubber part - seems like most people do...

 

[Bigwill]

not recommended meaning i should hit off the longer fiber (fluffier part of the mat)? i've been hitting from the fabric covered rubber part - seems like most people do...

Hitting it off of the fluffier part should be more penal to fat shots, I would guess. I would go for it.

At the range i go to, some of the mats have been turned over so that black rubber is exposed. Hit if fat off of that, and the ball isn't going to fly too well. And you can see your "divot", so you know when you hit before the ball. But you could hurt yourself or your clubs. That's why I said it wasn't recommended.