Vintage irons and range mats

[TheDeanAbides]

Lockdown in the UK is over and driving ranges are open again. I was so excited to take my Hogan Starbursts and PC5s up there for a bit, but it wasn't the success I thought it would be. 

 

The complete lack of bounce doesn't bother me hitting from grass, but off the mats it was a jarring experience that left my left elbow complaining. I'm not a digger by any means, but even a shallow angle of attack had them digging. 

 

Anyone else leave their vintage irons for grass only? 

[raggal62]

Not only is that scenario bad on elbow joints, but can also have harmful effects on the irons themselves. I've seen instances where repeated mat use can actually bend steel shafts. It's more prevalent with diggers than pickers due to obvious reasons. When it occurs a slight bend can be detected where the ferrule meets the hosel, and a separation of the two might be seen. 

[Fellaheen51]

Dislike hitting irons, of any vintage or flavor, off mats.  Try to avoid them in most all instances.  Except for the dead of winter venture to the golf dome to hit some balls.  Because I have the urge.  And it's the only place in reasonably proximity that offers the opportunity.  

 

WTS, even with grass ranges, on the whole I'd rather just go play golf for practice.  That's what solo rounds during uncrowded times are for. 

 

[TheDeanAbides]

2 hours ago, raggal62 said:

Not only is that scenario bad on elbow joints, but can also have harmful effects on the irons themselves. I've seen instances where repeated mat use can actually bend steel shafts. It's more prevalent with diggers than pickers due to obvious reasons. When it occurs a slight bend can be detected where the ferrule meets the hosel, and a separation of the two might be seen. 

This happened to a friend of mine with three irons. He hits the ball hard and digs - not a great combo!

[TheDeanAbides]

2 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Dislike hitting irons, of any vintage or flavor, off mats.  Try to avoid them in most all instances.  Except for the dead of winter venture to the golf dome to hit some balls.  Because I have the urge.  And it's the only place in reasonably proximity that offers the opportunity.  

 

WTS, even with grass ranges, on the whole I'd rather just go play golf for practice.  That's what solo rounds during uncrowded times are for. 

 

Beggars can't be choosers, unfortunately. I'd love a grass range or the chance to play, but health limits me to the par 3 course right now. 

[Fellaheen51]

Perhaps I misunderstood your mat reference.  I always associate mats with ranges.  You're saying the par 3 course has mats?  If that's the only option, gotta go with what's available.  Miss having a decent par 3 course nearby.  They've disappeared around here.  Always enjoyed taking out a handful of irons for some practice.  Something about hitting balls on a course, any course, is preferable to hitting balls at a range.  I get bored with range time quite quickly, never bored whacking balls around out on a golf course.  

 

Don't know if you have any graphite shafted irons in inventory, but I'd go with those if your elbows are barking after some mat time.  Perhaps not optimum, but better than being sore.  

 

Hope your health conditions improve in short order.  

[TheDeanAbides]

4 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Perhaps I misunderstood your mat reference.  I always associate mats with ranges.  You're saying the par 3 course has mats?  If that's the only option, gotta go with what's available.  Miss having a decent par 3 course nearby.  They've disappeared around here.  Always enjoyed taking out a handful of irons for some practice.  Something about hitting balls on a course, any course, is preferable to hitting balls at a range.  I get bored with range time quite quickly, never bored whacking balls around out on a golf course.  

 

Don't know if you have any graphite shafted irons in inventory, but I'd go with those if your elbows are barking after some mat time.  Perhaps not optimum, but better than being sore.  

 

Hope your health conditions improve in short order.  

You didn't misunderstand. The par 3 course is all grass, but it's short. Great for practicing wedges, but I'm working on all my game ready for when I'm able to return. Plus the range is the only place I can hit my full bag so it's a haven for me.

 

I don't have a problem hitting my 99 Apex irons because they have enough bounce, but 50s and 60s blades are another matter. 

 

Thanks - I hope I'm back out on the course again soon too. 

[Duffer222]

Buy your own small hitting mat to take to the range!

[TheDeanAbides]

4 minutes ago, Duffer222 said:

Buy your own small hitting mat to take to the range!

How would another mat solve the problem? 

[Duffer222]

11 minutes ago, TheDeanAbides said:

How would another mat solve the problem? 

It might not in your case, I dunno, but fir me, the range I go to has mats that are 15 years old or more snd they’re worn out, so I bring my own small mat to set down in place on top of the old mat. Being newer and in good shape, it makes it more tolerable that the old worn out mat.

 

[Fellaheen51]

@TheDeanAbides  There you go, a solution.  Take the 99's, leave the rest at home.  The Apex always hit nicely from any surface.  And when I mishit, they look good doing it.  👍

[TheDeanAbides]

10 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

@TheDeanAbides  There you go, a solution.  Take the 99's, leave the rest at home.  The Apex always hit nicely from any surface.  And when I mishit, they look good doing it.  👍

They sure do look good. 

[elwhippy]

No bounce and mats is not a great idea for any forged heads. It will mess up the lofts and lies. I would focus on hitting them off a low tee. 

[TheDeanAbides]

4 minutes ago, elwhippy said:

No bounce and mats is not a great idea for any forged heads. It will mess up the lofts and lies. I would focus on hitting them off a low tee. 

That's not a bad idea for the vintage models actually. I'll try that - thanks. 

Edited December 5, 2020 by TheDeanAbides
I misinterpreted the post

[Jiggered]

I have a few odds and sods that I use for range practice, keep your best clubs for the course. 😀

[TheDeanAbides]

47 minutes ago, Jiggered said:

I have a few odds and sods that I use for range practice, keep your best clubs for the course. 😀

Like I said above, if I don't hit them at the range I don't know when I'll get to hit them at all. 🙂

[baloo]

I hit off mats fairly often with vintage clubs and it works fine imo. I prefer real grass, but it's often not an option. 

It might need with the lies/lofts, but I'll correct them once a year anyway.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Now you guys got me worried.

 

My local grass range just closed and I found a year round place but it has matts not grass.  
 

Would these concerns also transfer to frozen or cold ground?   

[TheDeanAbides]

11 minutes ago, coldwareragolfer said:

Now you guys got me worried.

 

My local grass range just closed and I found a year round place but it has matts not grass.  
 

Would these concerns also transfer to frozen or cold ground?   

Which concerns? I wouldn't worry about your shafts - that's a rare occurrence - but mats will affect loft over time. It's good practice to have them checked regularly anyway. 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by TheDeanAbides

[cold_war_era_golfer]

5 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

Which concerns? I wouldn't worry about your shafts - that's a rare occurrence - but mats will affect loft over time. It's good practice to have them checked regularly anyway. 

 

 

Loft concerns mostly.  

[TheDeanAbides]

4 minutes ago, coldwareragolfer said:

Loft concerns mostly.  

It's not like they'll move after one range session unless you hammer them into the mat. Just have them checked before your season starts again and you'll be good to go. 

[jbucher]

I have been taking a small can of WD-40 with me to the range. I spray the rubber tee down enough to make it slick. My rubber tee is one you can put a real tee into.  On iron shots I just slide the sole by the tee and it makes it go through a bit easier.