Driving Ranges

[Chevelle]

Do driving ranges need  hitting areas that are not level?
Hill side shots, ball below or above your feet. 
I understand that the fairway is the target and most areas are some what level. 
What does everyone think? 

[Siamese Moose]

About half of the ranges near me have that. It's not neccesarily boldly marked, but the areas get used routinely.

[russtopherb]

I think they should have that as well, and some nicer ones do. I was talking with the new owner of the range near my office the other day. He opened up and roped off a new grass section that didn't exist under the old ownership, and was excited to see how things went. In his estimation, 70% of the folks he told about the grass section just shrugged their shoulders and mindlessly hit balls off the mats. I'd hazard a guess that a lot of other ranges are the same way, and they wouldn't see the value in taking the time to set up areas like that. The range nearest to my house has a practice bunker that I have yet to see anyone actually use in the 7+ years I've been going there. Same sort of situation to me.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

We struggle around here just having decent areas of grass to hit on. Some courses have great ranges but I can only think of 1 that actually has a GOOD grass area nevermind a non-level or rough area. There is one close by that’s members get to utilize a very nice chipping and sand area. They also have a great grass range but that’s it.

definitely something places should have

[GolfSpy BOS]

My cousin owns a range and they charge an extra 2 bucks to hit from the grass.  It cuts down on the cost to maintain as less people are mindlessly hacking it up.  But it's all level and mowed.  The range closest to me does have a bunker area that I've never seen used or maintained.  

I'm on with mats if they're good ones.  I just know what I am able to practice and what I'm not.  Half the time I do get "grass" ranges they more resemble a bare ground or sparse rough than a fairway or normal golf course lie.

[Chevelle]

I’m always looking to practice as real as possible . My hits off a mat look great 90% of the time. But put the ball on grass and I have to concentrate. 
I understand the need for courses and ranges to use mats so that the grass has a chance to recover from divots. 
good to know that some ranges do have areas that are not level. 
I struggle with shots I do not practice often, ball 2 to 6 inches below my feet. 
 

[Kansas King]

I think it's an okay idea. I've seen a few ranges that have the training aid that simulated hitting on a slope with the ball above your feet. I think it was more of swing plane training device but not a bad practice tool. I know they also sell incline trainers that they sell to ranges where the mat is on a solid base and you can basically put a 2x4 under any side of it to tilt you. Overall, I rarely see any dedicated areas for hitting beyond the normal flat mats and grass areas. 

Overall, I've always found that good swings on flat ground will translate to good shots off any lie or slope. If you really need practice on the slopes, I would just hit a couple extra balls of slopes the next time your out on the course. 

[ColoradoFife]

I like the idea of a multi lie driving range. If we have any engineers in the forum, maybe they can create a driving range hitting mat that can be programmed for multiple lies. I would like to see more technology introduced into outdoor ranges. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

You can have one of these for $2,650

 

[vandyland]

I feel like you could accomplish the same thing with a piece of plywood, yoga blocks and a mat, no?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

23 hours ago, vandyland said:

I feel like you could accomplish the same thing with a piece of plywood, yoga blocks and a mat, no?

Sure could if you don't mind dragging it to the range!  Unless you have a 200 yard back yard to practice your second shots.

[ejgaudette]

2 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Sure could if you don't mind dragging it to the range!  Unless you have a 200 yard back yard to practice your second shots.

Go big or go home right. I was looking at house and the best feature was a field out back about 375 yards long and 100 yards wide. Now that’s the dream right there. 

[Pandaman]

1 hour ago, ejgaudette said:

Go big or go home right. I was looking at house and the best feature was a field out back about 375 yards long and 100 yards wide. Now that’s the dream right there. 

My wife would fill that with pumpkins and maize if I closed my eyes to sleep.  I might just be able to squeeze in a chipping green and hitting net if I promised to behave, and dig it every year.