Left bias for ST and mat

[HoselRocket]

I have a question regarding the often mentioned "left bias" of ST and mat selection. I currently play off of a CCE mat and unless I pick the ball pretty clean everything goes left 25-35 yards. I'm sure part of it is my swing. Probably coming over the top a bit. I normally play a draw but nothing like this. My question is this, does anyone playing off a fiber built or similar mat have the same issue. I'm thinking that the CCE is really closing my club face if I'm the least bit steep.
Thanks
Scott

[DS12]

Do you have to set up the Skytrak before each use or is it stationary? It could be some alignment issues with the Skytrak.

Also, if you hit the mat before the ball, the CCE mat is pretty grabby and might be closing the face more than normal turf.

[Morini]

Most likely your hypothesis is correct. To confirm if you haven't you should ensure that the unit is aligned by hit short chip type shots to ensure that straight shots read straight. I can't say for sure what impact of switching to fiberbuilt will be, but probably less left. Probably more loss of distance on fat shots though. It is always such a compromise with mats. It is personal based on what you are looking for (feel, game improvement, accuracy) and also your swing style. Just switched from fiberbuilt flight deck to DIY divot action. Feel is great, matches real world carry well, but is probably a bit forgiving on fat shots. Never hit from a full fiberbuilt, so I can't compare.

[William Jenkins]

Funny you mention it. Since I got my ST I noticed my normal draw is slightly exaggerated and will be offline on average 25-32 yards left of center. The balls start down straight down then line then draw to the left. The analysis shows a slightly closed face too. I also hit off a CCE style mat. I am thinking of upgrading to a fiber built insert and see if that help.

[DS12]

Do you have a camera to show a closed face? Skytrak only measures ball data and makes educated guesses on club data

Also, there isn't spin decay on the Skytrak range, which will tend to exaggerate draws/fades. Although it seems that a draw is more exaggerated than a fade

[Morini]

I presume that William is referring to the club analysis in TGC2019. It is guessing, and there is no way of knowing if draw spin is caused by path-face differential or impact location. TGC2019 has a different ball flight model, and from my understanding it does take spin-decay into account. I have seen multiple anecdotes of CCE causing left spin. One of way checking is to hit off a short tee.

[William Jenkins]

Correct, I know Skytrak does not track open or closed face, but I do feel the balls head left

[DS12]

Understand, I wouldn't be surprised if the CCE mat closes the face easily on a marginally fat shot

[Morini]

If it was just the face closing, William's shots should start out left. Unless he swings in to out with face closed. He doesn't mention what club he is using but we know it is not driver. Moving the ball 27 yards offline on say a 6 iron requires about 14 degrees of negative spin axis. Assuming center strike, this implies 7 degrees difference between path and face. So to zero out start direction, it could be say 2 degrees closed face and 5 degrees in to out swing. And yes, the mat could be the cause of closing the face for sure. Easy way to check is to use a tee. If the face was 2 degrees open instead, it would start right and draw back to target line.

[HoselRocket]

Thanks all. I've done all the voodoo set-ups for alignment, watched all the alignment videos, and read all of the right ups and posting on alignment. Since my 50 yard punch shots are pretty dead on straight I'm thinking is my swing and the CCE is just closing my club face at or slightly prior to impact. It doesn't seem quite as bad playing TGC 2019 as the practice range on ST. So i'm thinking about changing to an FB mat. Certainly don't want to change this great swing of mine. Plus my wrist and shoulder are taking a beating.

[Morini]

That is the other issue with cce, wrist & elbow. Again, if you tee it up, it should eliminate effect of mat to confirm.