Putting mats and chipping nets

rukket chipping net

What are the best chipping nets and the best putting mats for junior golf home practice? We create golf practice facilities at home for a variety of reasons including weather and time constraints. Having junior golf home practice options at home encourages practice, competition and fun.

Read the article, Home Golf Practice for Juniors for thoughts on and reviews of home Hitting Nets, Golf Practice Mats and Practice Golf Balls. In this article we look at Chipping Nets and Putting Mats.

The best way to take your golf game to a new level and win tournaments is through the short game. If you can't spend a lot of time working on short game at the practice range, home is the next best place to do it.

While there are some good DIY options - e.g. placing a large coin or ball marker on the green to land chips on - or putting on a smooth carpet into a glass on it's side, we have found that juniors like the challenge of trying to land a ball in a chipping net or putting to a simulated hole - and anything we can do to make the game more fun for kids is good by us!

Chipping Nets

The easiest way to knock strokes off your golf score is improving short game. Chipping is also a stroke that often conjures a lot of dread in the average junior golfer and the added stress is not helpful when you're trying to land the ball on a green. Conscientious junior golf home practice with a chipping net on a regular basis can help with the muscle memory required for well-executed chips around the green.

Rukket Pop Up Golf Chipping Net

rukket chipping net

You can set up the Rukket Pop Up Chipping Net within seconds and it comes in four fun colors to choose from: traditional Rukket Red, Optic Yellow, Neon Green and Sky Blue. The Rukket net has multiple pockets and targets for different drills and clubs. 

Regular golf balls can be used (the net works very well in this regard for short chips) or the 12 Rukket foam training balls that are included with the set. The net is stabilized by reinforced fiberglass supports and can easily be transported to tailgates, the beach, or other sporting events in an enclosed carry bag.

This chipping net measures 20" (height) x 20" (width) x 25" (depth) and weights 1 lb. It carries the Rukket 100% lifetime warranty.

  • Multi-target practice
  • Appealing colors
  • Practice balls included
  • Compact carry bag
  • 100% lifetime warranty
  • Very lightweight so some stability issues reported in wind and using regular golf balls

JEF World of Golf Collapsible Chipping Net

chipping net, junior golf home practice

The JEF World of Golf Collapsible Chipping Net is a streamlined and stable collapsible chipping net which has 3 chipping baskets for competitive fun and honing accuracy. Both regular golf balls and practice golf balls can be used.

It measures 16" x 8" x 8" and weighs 2 lb. It is weather resistant and stable indoors and outdoors although it is suggested to weigh it down by putting a few regular golf balls in the net in very windy conditions.

  • Easy set up, fold and store
  • Multi-target practice
  • Stable and good design
  • A little weighing down might be necessary in very windy conditions

Putting Greens

Putt-A-Bout Par Three Putting Green

practice putting mat, junior golf home practice

The Putt-A-Bout Par Three Putting Green is a simple kidney shaped (approximately 3' x 9') high quality, smooth and consistent surface that includes up to 3 holes. Balls hit past the holes will land in 2 "sand-traps" which save the balls from rolling to other side of the room.

This putting mat weighs about 3.5 lb so is pretty light but a non-skid backing provides stability. This is a fun home golf practice green for a junior golfer (or anyone) and will provide hours of competitive fun. It rolls well - probably a little faster than a regular public golf course green. 

  • Good quality
  • Stored easily
  • Good value for money
  • Balls don't always remain in the holes
  • May not retain interest for the advanced golfer long-term

SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green

best practice mat for putting

You can practice without interruption with the SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green as it contains a continuous ball return. There is upslope at the cup that simulates the green and helps you to practice accelerating through the ball.

The true roll surface is engineered to have a stimp reading of 10-11 to match relatively fast putting greens. Alignment guides are placed at 3, 5 and 7 feet to promote accuracy and consistency in putting. The 3, 5 and 7 foot distances were selected as those that are experienced frequently and can make a significant impact on lower scores. 

The putting green dimensions are 9' x 16.25" and it weighs 3 lb. It carries a 1 year warranty. 

  • Good quality and simulation
  • Ball return
  • Alignment guides
  • Portability
  • Upslope may be a little steep
  • Mat takes some time to flatten after unpacking

Shaun Webb's Golf Putting Green and Indoor Mat

best indoor putting mats Shaun Webb, best junior golf home practice

Shaun Webb's Golf Putting Green and Indoor Mat is designed to allow more options for putting practice. The measurements of this high quality roll mat are 9' x 3 and it weighs 12 lb. It has 3 practice holes (with foam cut-outs that fit in the bottom), a slight uphill elevation and ball catches in the rear.

Shaun Webb is one of the top teachers in the country and has designed this putting mat for the serious golfer. Included in the package is a link to Shaun Webb's instructional video and a putting drill to help with focused practice. 

  • High quality
  • Multi-hole options
  • Instruction video
  • Great customer service and value for money
  • Foam under cups may wear out
  • Prone to creasing if too much pressure put on elevation

ProAdvanced ProInfinity Putting Mat

best putting mat for indoors, junior golf home practice

The ProAdvanced ProInfinity Putting Mat is a very technologically advanced system that pretty much allows you to create your own putting scenarios, surfaces, games and challenges. This premium mat simulates a super-smooth putting green surface and has four different putting speeds, two slope creators, a moveable silicon hole cup and a moveable metal cup/basket/goal which can be placed anywhere for all kinds of games.

The ball rolls true and leaves a trail on the mat for instant, accurate feedback. The system comes with numerous training exercises, visual guides and games to further develop putting skills and keep the attention of the serious golfer. The dimensions are 20" x 10' and it weighs 5.95 lb.

It is sourced with environmentally-friendly and biodegradable materials (so it needs to be kept in a clean and dry environment). 

  • High tech quality product
  • Environmentally friendly materials
  • Simulates different elevations
  • Ball tracking
  • Alignment guidelines
  • Instructional materials
  • A little on the expensive side

Conclusion

Having a chipping net and putting mat as part of your junior golf home practice facility opens up a whole new world of golf fun for junior golfers. Juniors out on the practice range will often be found having putting competitions and what group of junior golfers hasn't tried to challenge themselves and each other to chip a ball closest to the pin?

The same fun and enjoyment can be found between brothers, sisters and friends with a chipping net set up on the grass in the back yard or a putting mat in the basement. And perhaps it will encourage not just the junior golfers in the family. Non-golfer parents, if there are some home golf practice nets and mats lying around you never know when you might get the inspiration to see what all the fuss is about. Trust legendary golf coach Harvey Penick - Golf is a game for everyone, not just the talented few. 

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