The most efficient way to practice golfing is to go in the backyard and spend as much time as needed to practice any aspect of the game that needs improvement. The true question in this scenario is not if a backyard golf set up should be established in a backyard, but it is what equipment should be used to make the set up support the needs of the average golfer without breaking the bank or completely devoting the entire backyard to the golf set up. The following types of equipment are very good for practicing, and please note that it is assumed the golfer creating a backyard set up has a set of clubs, so they will not be included in this rundown of golf training aids.
Golf Mat
A golf mat is a great tool for any golfer interested in a backyard practice set up. Without a golf mat it is really impossible to successfully practice with your irons, wedges, and woods without ruining the ground. Most golf mats are versatile and can be used for multiple different purposes including pitching, chipping, and driving. Two major problems exist with a majority of golf mats, and they are that the golf mats either do not last very long or do not give a very true swing path as the club will tend to slide along the mat rather than hitting it “fat”, resulting in that trend in your swing prior to going on the course. Take this into consideration while finding the golf mat that has neither of these problems.
The limited flight ball is a great training aid to use in the backyard because it does not require a lengthy distance from mat to target as it only travels 40 to 60 yards maximum, making it easy to use in almost any situation. The limited flight ball being described is known as the birdie ball, and it shows true flight path of balls due to the extended distance it has unlike a holed golf practice ball.
The putting green is an exceptional training aid for a backyard golf set up, but it can be costly. It serves three great purposes: to putt on, to chip or pitch onto, and to use as a target for limited flight balls. With this type of versatility, it can be what puts a golf set up over the top. While the cost may be great, a putting green is a great practice tool for the backyard and will certainly pay dividends on the course after practicing with it.
These three training aids are all great for practicing, but they are not the only tools available for the backyard golfer. If one prefers to hit real balls opposed to limited flight balls, golf mat nets can be purchased to hit the real balls into. Also, secondary, smaller mats can be used to chip from close to a putting green with, and also pitch onto the green with. The most important aspect of the backyard golf set up is to make sure that it suits the practice needs of a golfer so it can a primary if not the primary way to practice.
