Carpet can hit, on the grass cannot hit. Why?

When I learn from a pro, hitting on grass, the first thing I learn is dig the grass. Just remember, when you go play in golf course, you pay Green Fees not games fees.

Since already pay Green fees, dun worry about the grass and taking divot. Of course must take care also lah.. must replace the turf or fill it with sand and not like trying to dig abig big hole there.

4dtoto wrote:

When I learn from a pro, hitting on grass, the first thing I learn is dig the grass. Just remember, when you go play in golf course, you pay Green Fees not games fees.

Since already pay Green fees, dun worry about the grass and taking divot. Of course must take care also lah.. must replace the turf or fill it with sand and not like trying to dig abig big hole there.

Well said! now... if only I can drill that into my head :p

hmmm this thread is very enlightening. i realised i tend to try and sweep and cleanly pick the ball off the carpet when i'm at the range even when i'm surrounded by all this talk about pinching the ball between the club and the turf. i guess i'm scared of my club jarring my hands when i hit tua pui shots..

Guys, dun think you are supposed to take a divot during your practise swing, at least not intentionally...

When you hit down on the ball first, it would absorb most of the force created by your swing. By the time your clubhead takes a divot, not much force will be there to jar your hands.

yeah the feeling of pure impact is like none other. i just tend to hit really fat shots sometimes and my swing got pussy whipped into picking the ball clean. haha

i dun think we can suppose to take a huge chunk of grass off... although I always do tat... lousy me...

kopiO wrote:

Guys, dun think you are supposed to take a divot during your practise swing, at least not intentionally...

think MBCG got a written rule somewhere u cannot take divot with practice shot, this is to prevent more damage to the ground....but nothing is stopping me from my birdie chance, unless got marshal staring at you.....even then i pretend to accidentally take a divot...especially in steeper slopes. almost flat ground can relax a bit, just brush the grass can liao.

When you practise at the range, be more mindful of your ball contact. Use your ears to listen to the contact. It should be 1 nice sound of contact.

Many times ppl hit behind the ball on the range mats, but because of the rubber mats, the clubs skim along and then contact the ball and the ball seems to fly. Then you might think you hit a somewhat ok shot. But if this happens on grass, the fat shot will be terrible, and the ball won't really travel much.

So if you hear like 2 sounds of contact at the range mats, it's most likely a fat shot, first contact 'thud' sound is club striking the mat first then skimming along before hitting the ball (2nd contact sound).

I not golf guru, so take advise with a pinch of salt hor...

Ssquirrel wrote:

When you practise at the range, be more mindful of your ball contact. Use your ears to listen to the contact. It should be 1 nice sound of contact.

Many times ppl hit behind the ball on the range mats, but because of the rubber mats, the clubs skim along and then contact the ball and the ball seems to fly. Then you might think you hit a somewhat ok shot. But if this happens on grass, the fat shot will be terrible, and the ball won't really travel much.

So if you hear like 2 sounds of contact at the range mats, it's most likely a fat shot, first contact 'thud' sound is club striking the mat first then skimming along before hitting the ball (2nd contact sound).

I not golf guru, so take advise with a pinch of salt hor...

I agree. I've had what I thought to be very decent shots even though the contact with the carpet doesn't feel right. I figured that it must've been the club skimming the carpet behind the ball and catching the ball nonetheless. On grass, this would have definitely been a fat shot.

A good shot should feel more natural, with minimal resistance.

Ssquirrel wrote:

When you practise at the range, be more mindful of your ball contact. Use your ears to listen to the contact. It should be 1 nice sound of contact.

Many times ppl hit behind the ball on the range mats, but because of the rubber mats, the clubs skim along and then contact the ball and the ball seems to fly. Then you might think you hit a somewhat ok shot. But if this happens on grass, the fat shot will be terrible, and the ball won't really travel much.

So if you hear like 2 sounds of contact at the range mats, it's most likely a fat shot, first contact 'thud' sound is club striking the mat first then skimming along before hitting the ball (2nd contact sound).

I not golf guru, so take advise with a pinch of salt hor...

This is true... when we were at CNX training, the Pro always says only 1 sound.... Bro SSquirrel only 1 sweet sound mine got 3

Ssquirrel wrote:

When you practise at the range, be more mindful of your ball contact. Use your ears to listen to the contact. It should be 1 nice sound of contact.

Many times ppl hit behind the ball on the range mats, but because of the rubber mats, the clubs skim along and then contact the ball and the ball seems to fly. Then you might think you hit a somewhat ok shot. But if this happens on grass, the fat shot will be terrible, and the ball won't really travel much.

So if you hear like 2 sounds of contact at the range mats, it's most likely a fat shot, first contact 'thud' sound is club striking the mat first then skimming along before hitting the ball (2nd contact sound).

I not golf guru, so take advise with a pinch of salt hor...

Great observation Ssquirrel.
Perhaps I should do a swing sequence that will demonstrate the sound of power vs the sound of leakage.

for trying out purposes, hit the ball the normal way, move the ball back a bit and hit a few times, then move the ball forwards of normal a bit and hit a few shots. If needed, even tee up a bit (those very short tees). You will realise when you hit a proper shot, the feeling, sound and distance is very distinctive and very shiok. You can actually feel a good shot and without looking at the end result, you will know its straight and long (the extra distance is a lot!!).

This way you will know what to look out for when you practice, you know when you are hitting actual bad shots, 1/2 decent shots and good shots. No point practicing your 6 iron for 110-120m when you know you have potential to hit it 130-140m with the same swing speed. When your mechanics are sound, then work on the speed to get 150-160m.

Happened to me after months of praticing at the range and thinking my 6 iron is 120m avg but a few times at the course, somehow i overshot a couple 6 irons from around 120m. Also on the course, the feeling is different for a few shots, more pure and effortless but the ball travel very far. Realise that at the range, i have been hitting the mat (or topping the ball) almost all the time, thinking the mat hit is a normal good shot since the ball go straight and have decent distance. Always wonder how ppl in this forum can hit 130-140m 7 irons when my 7 iron is 100-110m. Its poor mechanics (TGM and RSS discussions are very helpful) and not knowing what to look out for. Now correcting my mechanics (a lot to correct but too poor for lessons ) slowly and getting better distance without increasing swing speed.

carpet are not the best place to practice iron shots. Its rather misleading and also not as easy to hit pure. There is slighly more room for error on the fairway (for slightly off shots if you hit the mat the club will bounce back but the ground can still dig in a bit and still get very good contact. Dig too much and its a 10m shot. quite embarrasing if ppl behind are chasing you or if marshal is watching). Also got divot to show you if you are hitting it correctly.

Very nice advice tronos!

I am very interested in this discussion as I hit pretty well off the mat but not on the grass.

Think most pros do. There are some on the forum. Pm them.

HH wrote:

I am very interested in this discussion as I hit pretty well off the mat but not on the grass. When on the course it gets bad as I have this problem of my swing engine getting worse and breaking down after each hole. Guess my little mistakes start creeping in until I hit the ground or top the shot.
Today was my worse day ever. After re-learning my swing shots, my 9 hole lesson was a complete disaster. Think it's partly mental and partly bad habits coming back. Too bad my instructor did'nt notice my despair as he was busy playing his own game and spending too much time with another female golfer (haha!). Perhaps next time I'll get a female pro as there is less chance of the instructor being CH. (haha again!)
btw, anyone know of a good instructor who teaches on course lessons?
Thanks!

I dunno any good instructor. But I do go practice my swing in Turf City. I can say I have improved on hitting the ball on the grass.
Back to basic hitting on the mat. We hit the ball and not scoop the ball. Meaning your swing and the wrist turning must co-ordinate. Body posture, back swing and concentrate looking at the ball.
So that's how I apply the abv method to my golf practice in Turf City range.
For so long I have not touch the green yet due to my work commitment. I do hope to go and play a 9 hole one day