Hello, I'm not exactly a beginner, since this is my third season playing golf, but since I haven't really improved since taking up the game, I'll continue to classify myself as a beginner.

When I go to the driving range to practice, as I do fairly often, there is the usual choice between real turf as astroturf mats with rubber tees. The real turf area, however, gets pretty chewed up, to the point where it is difficult to find a level patch of grass. The main thing I want to work on is my irons, all of them. I see some people hitting with their irons off the astroturf mats. My question is this: Is it "better" to practice with the irons on actual turf, no matter how chewed up, or is there reason to practice hitting with the irons on the astroturf?