10 Effective Golf Practice Drills You Can Do at Home in 2026

Transform Your Backyard into a Golf Training Center

You don't need a golf course to improve your game. With the right equipment and practice drills, your backyard or garage can become an effective training ground. Here are 10 proven drills that will lower your scores without leaving home.

Essential Home Practice Equipment

Before we dive into drills, here's what you'll need:

• Practice net: Catch full swings safely ($50-300)
• Hitting mat: Protect your lawn and simulate turf ($40-150)
• Putting mat: Indoor green practice ($30-200)
• Alignment sticks: Versatile training aid ($15-30)
• Impact bag: Improve contact position ($30-60)
• Foam balls: Safe for small spaces ($10-20)

Full Swing Drills

1. Net Practice with Purpose

What you need: Practice net, hitting mat, golf balls

The drill:

• Set up your net 10-15 feet away
• Hit 10 balls with each club, focusing on solid contact
• Pay attention to ball flight (even into a net, you'll feel good vs. bad strikes)
• Work on tempo: count "one-two-three" for backswing, downswing, follow-through

Goal: Develop muscle memory and consistent contact without worrying about ball flight.

2. Alignment Stick Drill

What you need: 2 alignment sticks, hitting mat

The drill:

• Place one stick along your target line
• Place second stick parallel, pointing at your toes
• Practice setup and alignment with each club
• Hit balls focusing on starting your swing on the correct path

Goal: Eliminate alignment issues that cause slices and hooks.

3. One-Handed Swing Drill

What you need: Practice net, 7-iron

The drill:

• Make slow swings with lead hand only (left for righties)
• Then trail hand only
• Focus on maintaining wrist angles and club face control
• Graduate to hitting foam balls one-handed

Goal: Develop hand and wrist strength, improve club face awareness.

4. Impact Bag Training

What you need: Impact bag or heavy pillow

The drill:

• Set up in address position
• Make slow-motion swings into the bag
• Focus on proper impact position: hands ahead, weight forward, shaft leaning
• Do 20 reps daily

Goal: Ingrain proper impact position for solid, compressed strikes.

Short Game Drills

5. Putting Gate Drill

What you need: Putting mat, 2 tees or alignment sticks

The drill:

• Create a "gate" just wider than your putter head
• Place gate 6 inches in front of ball
• Make putts through the gate without touching sides
• Start at 3 feet, gradually move back

Goal: Develop a straight, consistent putting stroke.

6. Distance Control Ladder

What you need: Putting mat with distance markers

The drill:

• Place targets at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 feet
• Hit 5 balls to each distance
• Focus on speed control, not making putts
• Try to get all balls within 6 inches of target

Goal: Master distance control to eliminate 3-putts.

7. Chipping Accuracy Challenge

What you need: Hitting mat, targets (buckets, towels, hula hoops)

The drill:

• Set up 3 targets at different distances (10, 15, 20 feet)
• Hit 10 chips to each target
• Use different clubs (8-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge)
• Track how many land within 3 feet of target

Goal: Develop touch and distance control around the greens.

Swing Mechanics Drills

8. Mirror Work for Posture

What you need: Full-length mirror, golf club

The drill:

• Set up in front of mirror
• Check posture: spine angle, knee flex, arm hang
• Make slow-motion swings watching positions
• Compare to photos of tour pros
• Do 5 minutes daily

Goal: Build awareness of proper setup and swing positions.

9. Towel Drill for Tempo

What you need: Bath towel

The drill:

• Hold towel by one end like a golf club
• Make full swings feeling the towel's weight
• Focus on smooth tempo and rhythm
• The towel should "whoosh" at the bottom of your swing
• Do 20 swings daily

Goal: Develop smooth tempo and proper swing sequence.

10. Feet-Together Balance Drill

What you need: Practice net, hitting mat, 7-iron

The drill:

• Place feet together (touching)
• Make 3/4 swings hitting balls into net
• Focus on maintaining balance throughout swing
• Start with slow swings, gradually increase speed
• Hit 20 balls

Goal: Improve balance and eliminate excessive lower body movement.

Creating Your Home Practice Routine

15-Minute Daily Routine:

• 5 minutes: Putting drills (#5 or #6)
• 5 minutes: Alignment and setup (#2 or #8)
• 5 minutes: Full swing practice (#1 or #3)

30-Minute Session (3x per week):

• 10 minutes: Short game (#5, #6, #7)
• 10 minutes: Full swing (#1, #2, #4)
• 10 minutes: Swing mechanics (#8, #9, #10)

Weekend Practice (1 hour):

• 20 minutes: All short game drills
• 30 minutes: Full swing with different clubs
• 10 minutes: Tempo and balance work

Tracking Your Progress

Keep a practice journal noting:

• Which drills you completed
• What felt good vs. what needs work
• Specific swing thoughts that helped
• Goals for next practice session

Record video of your swing monthly to track improvements over time.

Safety Tips for Home Practice

• Ensure adequate space (minimum 10x10 feet for full swings)
• Use a quality practice net rated for full swings
• Check surroundings for windows, cars, people
• Use foam balls in confined spaces
• Secure nets properly to prevent tip-overs
• Wear golf shoes for proper traction

When to Take It to the Course

Home practice builds fundamentals, but you need course time to:

• Practice uneven lies and real turf conditions
• Develop course management skills
• Experience pressure situations
• Test your improvements in real play

Aim for 2-3 home practice sessions per week plus 1 range session and 1 round.

Get Your Home Practice Setup Today

Consistent practice is the fastest way to improve your golf game. Set up your backyard training area with quality practice nets, mats, and training aids. Browse our complete selection of home practice equipment and start lowering your scores today!