How to Build an Indoor Driving Range

Build a place at home to master your irons

Golf is a fun and multifaceted sport. It's challenging, it's a healthy way to spend a morning or an afternoon, and it's a great opportunity to bond with friends and colleagues. However, it's a hard game to master, and practicing at driving ranges and courses can be a bit costly. Fortunately, for a little bit of cash, you can build your own driving range/ practice area in your own house.

Things You'll Need

• A moderately large, spacious room
• Golf mat
• Hit net
• Golf balls
• Golf clubs

Instructions

1. Before you begin to set up your indoor driving range, make sure that the ceiling in the room you've designated is high enough. Stand in the room with a club and take a couple of slow practice swings. Make sure the club isn't hitting the ceiling on your backswing or follow-through. If you can swing cleanly without hitting anything then you should be good to go.

2. Pick out a golf mat. There are various types out there. Some have fairway and rough length turf, some just have fairway, and some come with a built-in rubber tee. There are many different sizes. Look around at your local golf and sport shops and pick the one that is right for you.

3. Set up a golf net. Similar to the mat, golf nets come in many varieties. Shop around and find one that you like. Set it up in front of the mat -- and not too far away! If it is too far from it, some of your shots could miss it entirely and cause damage to the room, or, worse, bounce off the walls and injure you.

4. Hit away! Get yourself a lot of cheap golf balls or practice wiffle golf balls. Tee up and swing away. The more you hit and practice the better you'll get. And now that you have this sweet set-up in your house, you won't have to spend money for a bucket of balls at the driving range every time you want to practice.

Tips & Warnings

• Some golfers like to buy a wall mirror to set up across from the mat. This is a good way to study your swing and work on your form.

References

• Golf Galaxy: Practice Mats
• Golf Galaxy: Callaway Home Range