Checklist · 13 picks · 5 categories

golf practice checklist

Edited by Zach · updated Nov 1, 2026 · How I pick

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money

Net with a mat Rukket Sports Haack Golf Net Best for your own driving range, mat included$100-150Shop on Amazon
First putting mat PuttOUT Slim Putting Mat Best for small apartments and travel$25-50Shop on Amazon
Numbers splurge Garmin Approach R10 Portable Golf Launch Monitor Best for real numbers on every swing into your net$300-500Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

The range closes, it gets dark at 5, and suddenly your swing is a stranger by spring. The fix is a little home setup.

Start with a hitting net for full swings and a putting mat for the strokes that actually decide your score. A chipping net is the small-space version for wedges, and an impact bag lets you feel a solid strike without hitting a ball at all. A launch monitor is the splurge, for when you want carry and swing speed on every rep. Every pick comes from BestReviews' golf guides, with GolfMagic backing up two of the putting mats. Check whether your net comes with a turf mat, since some do and some don't. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out, like a pop-up net that tips over or an impact bag that gets loud.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you're just starting out and need balls, a glove and a rangefinder; the Golf Starter list has those.

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.

My budget

Pick a budget to see your plan.

see the plan, item by item

Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

0 of 2 on your list · tap one to see your options

Showing all 13 picks

More filters

01 Full swing

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Rukket Sports Haack Golf Net	mid	$100-150	your own driving range, mat included	Limited evidence
Gagalileo Golf Net	budget	$50-100	a first net with a big target	Limited evidence
The Net Return Pro Series V2 Multi-Sport Golf Net	splurge	$300-500	hitting ball after ball without chasing them	1 outlet

Best hitting net

mid pick · Net + turf mat

Rukket Sports Haack Golf Net

Best for your own driving range, mat included

On BestReviews' golf practice net list: a personal backyard driving range that comes as a net, turf mat and carry bag in one bundle.

Heads up. Can be cumbersome for one person to move, and power hitters might tear the netting, per BestReviews

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$100-150

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

budget pick · From 10 x 5.4 ft

Gagalileo Golf Net

Best for a first net with a big target

On BestReviews' golf practice net list as a best-seller that's easy to set up and break down, with a bull's-eye design to aim at.

Heads up. Doesn't include a hitting pad of any kind, per BestReviews

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$50-100

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

splurge pick · Big box

The Net Return Pro Series V2 Multi-Sport Golf Net

Best for hitting ball after ball without chasing them

BestReviews' best of the best golf practice net: the most complete net it picked, with a reliable patented ball return.

Heads up. Expensive, though BestReviews says the cost is in line with the quality, and it doesn't come with a mat

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best golf practice net.

$300-500

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

02 Short game

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
JEF World of Golf Collapsible Chipping Net	budget	$15-25	chipping practice in a small space	1 outlet
Rukket Sports Pop-Up Golf Chipping Net	mid	$25-50	chipping indoors on a turf mat	1 outlet
Callaway Short Game Practice Set	splurge	$25-50	precision chipping with a single target	Limited evidence

Best chipping net

budget pick · Compact

JEF World of Golf Collapsible Chipping Net

Best for chipping practice in a small space

BestReviews' best bang for the buck golf practice net: a budget-friendly net for light practice, with a 3-ring target to focus your swings.

Heads up. The netting can tear at the Velcro attachments, and it tends to topple over

1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck golf practice net.

$15-25

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · Compact

Rukket Sports Pop-Up Golf Chipping Net

Best for chipping indoors on a turf mat

BestReviews' best of the best golf chipping net: simple and easy to set up anywhere you want to practice.

Heads up. The net feels flimsy, which makes it hard to use on windy days

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best chipping net.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

splurge pick · Net + turf mat

Callaway Short Game Practice Set

Best for precision chipping with a single target

On BestReviews' chipping net list: an effective way to practice with a classic design.

Heads up. Missed shots often mean walking to get the ball back

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

03 Putting

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
PuttOUT Slim Putting Mat	budget	$25-50	small apartments and travel	2 outlets agree
PGA TOUR Performance Putting System	mid	$50-100	practicing putts at a few distances	Limited evidence
Perfect Practice Perfect Putting Mat	splurge	$150-200	grooving a straight stroke	2 outlets agree

Best putting mat

budget pick · 7.9 ft long

PuttOUT Slim Putting Mat

Best for small apartments and travel

BestReviews' best bang for the buck putting mat: lightweight and affordable, it rolls up small and unrolls flat with no creases.

Heads up. Lacks the advanced features some players want

2 outlets agree. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck putting mat. GolfMagic best affordable putting mats.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · 9 ft long

PGA TOUR Performance Putting System

Best for practicing putts at a few distances

On BestReviews' putting mat list: a simple, affordable mat with a ball return ramp so you're not bending over all session.

Heads up. Quality doesn't match some competitors, and the line markings are very basic

Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.

$50-100

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

splurge pick · Big box

Perfect Practice Perfect Putting Mat

Best for grooving a straight stroke

BestReviews' best of the best putting mat, and GolfMagic's best for alignment: white stripes lead to two hole sizes, and a gutter returns your misses.

Heads up. Pricey for a mat, and it can be hard to get it to lie flat, per BestReviews

2 outlets agree. BestReviews best of the Best putting mat. GolfMagic best putting mat for alignment.

$150-200

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

04 Swing feel

Best impact bag

budget pick · Ships empty

Amazingli Golf Impact Power Smash Bag

Best for feeling a solid impact position indoors

BestReviews' best bang for the buck impact bag: helps you learn the right feel for striking, indoors, and ships empty so you fill it with old linens or newspaper.

Heads up. Seams can tear if you swing too hard, and it shouldn't be filled with sand

1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck impact bag.

$15-25

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · Ships empty

Dr. Gary Wiren Impact Bag

Best for learning what a good impact position feels like

BestReviews' best of the best impact bag: teaches the position and feel of impact, and works well for indoor practice.

Heads up. Hitting it can be very loud, and the zipper may be the weakest point

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best impact bag.

$25-50

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

05 Numbers

Best launch monitor

splurge pick · Compact

Garmin Approach R10 Portable Golf Launch Monitor

Best for real numbers on every swing into your net

BestReviews' best of the best launch monitor: ball speed accurate to within 1 mph, with a tripod and the Garmin Golf app for your data.

Heads up. It can miss shots at times, and BestReviews says the app gets mixed reviews

1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best launch monitor.

$300-500

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

mid pick · Pocket-size

Voice Caddie Portable Golf Launch Monitor & Swing Analyzer

Best for seeing your swing speed and carry without a simulator

BestReviews' best bang for the buck launch monitor: an affordable, compact monitor about the size of a smartphone, with voice output for real-time distances.

Heads up. BestReviews says the data accuracy draws mixed feedback

1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck launch monitor.

$200-300

Shop on Amazon

Affiliate link.

means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

Do you need a hitting mat with a golf net?

Yes, BestReviews says a turf mat should be used with a practice net, if only for shot consistency, and it should be rugged and big enough that the ball doesn't drive it into the net. Some picks here come with one (the Rukket Haack bundle, the Rukket pop-up and the Callaway set); the Gagalileo and Net Return don't.

What do you fill a golf impact bag with?

Impact bags ship empty. BestReviews says to fill them with old fabric like linens or old clothes, or newspaper, and it warns that the Amazingli bag shouldn't be filled with sand.

Is a putting mat worth it?

It's the easiest piece to use every day. BestReviews' picks range from the roll-up PuttOUT Slim, with a Stimp reading of 10 for a medium-to-fast green, to the Perfect Practice mat, with two hole sizes and alignment stripes, which GolfMagic picks as its best putting mat for alignment.

golf practice checklist

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

The must-haves