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It is winter here in FL and the temperatures go down to 30s but it is in the 50s to 80s in the afternoon.

The condition of the grass is less than optimal. I am still wanting to work on my swing. I have looked into the mats that simulate fairways like Vijay Singh's, for example.

Would it be detrimental to using a mat like this until the condition of the grass driving range improves? I realize I won't actually see the divots but for now, I am trying to see the effects of adjustments on the swing and finding a decent patch of grass is difficult.

You're fortunate to live in Florida. Where I am there is snow on the ground and it feels like 12º outside.

As to your question. I don't like mats because they are really hard on the elbows and wrists. If you hit too much off a mat you could get tendonitis.

Good luck, and some some warm weather up north...40s would be great.

I have been practicing indoors with a mat and foam balls.

I will try to practice tomorrow morning.

When I was in college in Kentucky, we practiced off mats at an indoor range during most of the winter and it was an easy transition back to grass when the weather turned.

I had the opposite experience. You can't feel it, or see it when you've hit a fat shot. Practicing off mats ruined me one winter. That'll never happen again.

I rarely hit off mats but am thinking of getting one to use in my front yard. I think if it is a really good mat it couldn't hurt. All of the ones I have hit off have been really thin, worn out ones execept for one place that had really thick, plush mats. Hitting off those was really great. You felt like you were taking a divot rather than bouncing off of it. Only trouble is the fairways at the club I usually play suck. I am always hitting off really thin or rough lies. I won't know how to act when I play a decent fairway.

I have been at ranges where the mats have 'high grass' (brushy feeling - like the top of a US Marine's Flat Top), firm surfaces (like on the arm rest of a sofa), and flat 'astroturf' that has the cusioning power of concrete). My mat that I use is very similar to that of real grass. I don't like the ones at the discount stores (like Target/Walmart). I didn't want to drop $200 on the Vijay Singh special either.

The mat I use doesn't show the wear and tear of regular mats when an iron goes digging into it, either.

this mats at my driving range have like the really long turf that simulates grass and it work quite well for me

Check out the mats at GOLF MATS: Shockfree Practice Mats, by Long Golf. Unfortunately they are not available in the U.S.