Mat vs. Grass

I've noticed that I'm fairly consistent with my shots when I'm at the driving range hitting from mats. Yesterday, I started hitting from the grass so I could transition what I've learned to the course better. I couldn't hit anything. I don't normally wear my spikes when I'm practicing. Could this be part of the problem on grass? Most of my key issues in the grass yesterday seemed to be loss of balance, but I always thought footwear didn't matter all that much. I don't have balance issues when hitting off of the mats. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Grass is tugh because you have variable lie. Sometimes the ball is a bit up in the grass sometimes it's deeper. Sometimes the ball settles into a little depression between a couple of bumps etc.

Matts are completey consistent so you don't have to worry about that.

Sometimes when the grass lie is really tight I'll pick u a broken tee and tee up a ball just a tiny bit above the ground to mimmick a less tight lie. I find once I've got my rhythm I try using a fairway wood (which are designed to play from the grass) and then move on to irons and wedges. Just keep thinking about taking a divot.

I like to wear my golf shoes because the toes are a bit pointy and I line up my address by first placing my left shoe a bit behind the ball. So from the point of view of building that consistent pre-address routine it probably is a good idea to wear your golf shoes.

also, hitting on a mat your club bounces off instead of digging in, i don't think you can get the right feel on a mat. except for hitting driver off a tee mats in my very humble opinion are a waste of time.

I got it. Wear my spikes and hit more from the grass to get a better feel of playing on the course. I can't hit my driver off of those little mat tees anyway. I wonder how people can hit a 450 cc clubhead from the deck.

Most PGA pros, and those slightly below that level. The list is pretty small from there.

i love hitting my driver off the deck