The complete guide
How to practise your short game with a golf chipping net
Where the shots go
Keep an honest scorecard for a few rounds and count the shots you play from close to the green. For most club golfers it is a large share of the round.
Now count how much time you spend practising those shots. For most people it is close to none. The range bay points at a long field, and everyone reaches for the driver.
A chipping net moves short game practice into the back garden. That matters, because practice you can do in ten spare minutes is practice you will actually do.
Why a chipping net helps
Chipping is about two things: where the ball lands and how far it rolls. A net with clear targets gives you instant feedback on the first part. Hit ten balls and you know straight away how many found the zone you picked.
You can also practise in any weather that lets you stand outside, or in a garage with room to swing a wedge.
Why three targets beats one
A single opening trains one thing: hit it at the net.
Three targets make you decide before every shot. Which zone, which club, how much carry. That is the thought process you use on the course, and it does not develop by hitting ten identical shots at the same hole.
Choosing a chipping net
Stability
A chipping net that folds over when the first ball lands is no use. Look at the frame. This net has two spring steel frames that cross behind it, which keeps it upright and square.
Set up and portability
If a net takes ten minutes to build, it stays in the shed. A pop up design that stands in seconds and folds into a bag gets used more often, in the garden, the park or at the club.
Targets
More than one target keeps practice honest and less boring. You can set yourself games and track your scores.
Space
Measure where you plan to use it. You need room to stand back from the net and swing a wedge safely. At about 67cm wide and 54cm high it fits most gardens and garages.
A practice routine that works
- Ten balls at one target. Count how many land in it, not how many come close.
- Change target, ten more. Same club. Now you are working on distance, not just direction.
- Change club, repeat. A wedge and an 8 iron land and roll very differently from the same swing. Learning which does what is most of the short game.
- Finish under a little pressure. Tell yourself you will not stop until three in a row land in the middle target. That is the part that carries over to a medal round.
Start about five to ten metres back and move further away as you get more consistent.
Setting it up
Flat ground
Spring frames stand square on flat ground and lean on a slope. Find the flattest spot you can.
Weight it on a breezy day
A light net catches the wind. On a breezy day, weight the base so it stays put.
Chip off grass or a mat
On grass you need nothing else. On a patio, deck or garage floor, chip off a hitting mat so you are not striking hard ground.
Learn the fold once
Follow the instructions the first time you fold it. Spring steel folds one way, and forcing it another way is how frames get kinked.
What it is not for
A chipping net is built for chips and short pitches. A full shot carries far more energy, and this frame is not made to take it. For full swings at home you need a proper driving net.
Looking after the net
Let it dry before folding it into the bag. Wipe the frame and net with a damp cloth when they get muddy, and avoid harsh chemicals. Store it somewhere dry. Check it now and then for wear, and it will stay ready for the next session.
For clubs, schools and coaches
A few chipping nets make a quick short game circuit for a junior section or a school golf class. For group orders, ask for a quote on our wholesale page.