Your thoughts: setting up a practice facility inside my garage

[barrybridges]

Hi All,

I wonder if I could ask for your advice and thoughts please?

Basically, I don't get to play as much as I would like, for a variety of reasons (the usual ones!) - I'm lucky if I get to the driving range once a week, in fact. My target has been to play 1 round of golf a month which I have managed to do so far this year.

I'm an ok beginner - I'm not a member of any club because I don't play regularly enough - but my best round was 84 this summer.

Given how limited I can practise, I made a bit of a discovery this week whilst I was cleaning out the garage, when I realised that I can swing my club quite comfortably with plenty of roof space to spare!

So, my question is: would it be worth getting a decent practice set-up installed inside the garage, to keep me going?

This way, I would at least be able to hit some balls every day.

Realistically, I can't get to the driving range (nearest one is 30 minutes drive) and I won't be able to play much during the winter - but would a good practice facility be better than nothing?

I've seen some of the TrueStrike mats and thought about getting one of those, married up to an indoor net, but how useful will this be? Can you improve through this, or is it a bit of a myth?

Your thoughts would be really welcome.

 

[USER1999]

Won't an old blanket and a door mat do just as well, to see how much you use it, and also to see how it goes?

 

[fundy]

Have a look at alex1975 post earlier and see his with a sheet, could easily replicate that for the short term and see how you get on. That said, not a huge fan of only practising in a net as you dont get to see the ball flight and could be ingraining faults to your swing and actually making things worse rather than beter

 

[bobmac]

A handy way to keep an eye on any changes your making to your swing by videoing the swing in a garage

 

[Shaunmg]

Why go to the expence of specialist matting. I bought 2 coir doormats from Tesco at about £6 each. One to stand on and the other I practice brushing a mark in the pattern of the other with a seven iron

 

[HawkeyeMS]

It's better than nothing but personally I've never been a fan of nets for practice. Pretty much all shots are straight for the 1st 5 yards of flight, it's what happens further out that matters.

The other thing I'd be cautious of is practicing the wrong thing.

 

[bobmac]

You you mean something more like a man cave?

 

[AllyLodge]

You you mean something more like a man cave?

i love that wall mounted golf ball holder on the left side ! ill send this picture to my mum and ask her for an early christmas present !

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like your enthusiasm but I wouldn't be keen. Surely hitting down regularly on a concrete floor protected by a tiny bit of mat isn't going to do much for your joints or your clubs. I find if I go to the range and do something similar albeit on slightly more cushioned mats I get sore elbows and wrists. I've even had clubs work loose with repetive hitting onto the hard surfaces.

 

[GeneralStore]

I want a man cave!

With regards to the garage setup, I do think you would be better off practising in your garage as opposed to not practising at all. Truestrike mats are great and they will save your joints, cost a bit though
Get some impact stickers so you can see that you are flushing the ball and video every now and again is also a good idea.

 

[Scouser]

i love that wall mounted golf ball holder on the left side ! ill send this picture to my mum and ask her for an early christmas present !

I think its a champagne bucket ......u might need your mother to provide ID as well

 

[AllyLodge]

I think its a champagne bucket ......u might need your mother to provide ID as well

I'll just put on my deepest voice and tense

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

Funnily I've been looking into this, you can certainly do some damage to your self over time hitting onto a hard surface.

I've looked at the following mats, http://www.dwquailgolf.com/mats_nets_mirrors.html#residential

True strike
Fibrebuilt

Theses seem to be the best from what I can find out, I'm defiantly going to get one, for protecting the land lords grass and also for swinging clubs in the garage, I just need to shift some gear!!

Both the mats are about the same price, I reckon I'd go for the true strike since its a uk product.........

Worth considering that the true strike is a modular system so parts are replaceable as they wear out. Also you buy just the gel section. My one remaining action on this is to confirm that extreme cold weather will not damage the mat or gel section. As the mat may get left on the decking all winter - potentially.

 

[barrybridges]

Thanks for your replies!

I was definitely thinking of getting a decent mat so as to avoid joint problems - and yes, videoing what I'm doing would be key.

I do like the idea of a man cave though. I've already got a TV out there!

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

I've just had an email back from true strike confirming that the gel section will be good in freezing temps, so I guess that's what I'll be getting.....

Cheers
Andy

 

[TonyN]

I had considered something for the garage. For a short period, I had a rug (fluffy lie) and a hanging sheet, at opposite ends of the garage to chip into.

I'm not sure striking into a net will improve much of your game. Maybe a bit of hand eye co-ord. I have and still am considering a large putting matt. That will have more benefit.

 

[Tiger]

Why not get something like a SKLZ flytrap with a sheet behind hit to work on your chipping and a decent putting surface?

 

[Alex1975]

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?31813-My-Mini-Range-At-Home.&p=440795#post440795

 

[Oddsocks]

if would be very easy to pick up bad habbits if practicing in a restricted area. for example swinging flat because of lack of height, or swinging too steep because of to narrow space of a back swing. you could without doubt have a short game practice set up though bazza.