Mark Crossfield explains how to handle the unique challenges of hitting off winter mats, specifically addressing the 'flyer' effect caused by low spin. He demonstrates why balls sit high on synthetic bristles and teaches the punch shot technique to ensure clean ball-first contact. The video also highlights the importance of using low, broken tees to avoid hitting too high on the clubface.
Winter mats often cause the ball to sit up like semi-rough, leading to shots hit higher on the clubface with significantly lower spin.
Be wary of 'bombers'—shots that fly further than expected due to low spin—though cold and wet air may partially offset this distance gain.
Use broken wooden tees for par 3s to keep the ball low to the mat, preventing the club from sliding under and catching the top of the face.
Master the punch shot: move the ball back in the stance, lean the handle forward, keep pressure on the lead foot, and use a sawed-off follow-through.
Hit ball-then-ground to take the mat's synthetic surface out of the equation for better distance and trajectory control.
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