Why 70% of Your Golf Score Comes From the Short Game (And How to Practice It at Home)
Roughly 70 percent of the shots you take in a round happen within 100 yards of the pin, and putting alone accounts for about 40 percent of your total strokes, yet most golfers spend nearly all of their practice time on the driving range. Closing that gap does not require a course membership or a landscaping crew. A backyard putting and chipping green lets you rehearse the exact shots that decide your score, on your own schedule, for the cost of a few range sessions.
In this article
- Why the short game matters so much to your score
- What you can actually practice on a backyard green
- How much a backyard putting green costs
- How to set one up at home
- Drills that actually lower your scores
- FAQ
Why does the short game matter so much to your score?
Short game shots, meaning anything inside 100 yards including chips, pitches, and putts, make up an estimated 60 to 70 percent of the shots in an average round. Putting by itself accounts for close to 40 percent of total strokes for both tour pros and weekend golfers. Despite that, most players spend the bulk of their practice time hitting drivers and irons on a range, where a bucket of balls rarely includes a single putt or chip.
The math is simple: if putting and chipping make up 4 out of every 10 strokes, then improving those shots by even a small margin has more impact on your final score than adding 10 yards to your drive.
What can you actually practice on a backyard putting and chipping green?
A dedicated outdoor green like the Big Moss Outdoor Target Putting & Chipping Green is built to handle more than straight putts. Its 15-year outdoor-rated surface rolls near 12 on the stimpmeter, close to a fast course green, and the extra-thick foam backing absorbs spin so pitched and chipped balls stop realistically instead of bouncing off a hard mat.
- Putting. True-roll surface for reading break and dialing in speed on lag putts.
- Chipping. A 3' x 3' pitching and chipping mat is included so you can hit real chip shots into the green.
- Pitching and full wedge shots. The surface and foam backing are durable enough to take full wedge swings, not just soft chips.
- Distance control. Two included flagsticks and cups let you set up multiple targets at different distances in a single session.
15-year outdoor turf, near-12 stimp roll, ships with 2 flagsticks, 2 cups, and a 3' x 3' chipping mat.
How much does a backyard putting green cost?
Pricing for backyard putting greens varies enormously depending on how permanent you want the setup to be. A 2026 installed cost guide puts full professional installation at $15 to $40 per square foot, or roughly $3,500 to $9,000 for a typical residential project. DIY turf kits run cheaper but still require ground prep, leveling, and a weekend or more of labor.
| Option | Typical cost | Time to play |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent professional install | $3,500 to $9,000+ | 1 to 2 weeks |
| DIY turf and base kit | $500 to $3,000 | A weekend or more |
| Ready-made portable green | $599 to $699 | Same day, right out of the box |
A ready-made green like the Outdoor Target Putting & Chipping Green sits at roughly the same price as the low end of a DIY kit, but skips the ground prep, leveling, and installation time entirely.
How do you set up an outdoor putting green at home?
The Outdoor Target Green is designed to work at three different levels of commitment, so you can start simple and go further later if you want to.
- Lay it out and play. Unroll the green anywhere flat in your yard, drop in the included cups and flagsticks, and start putting, chipping, and pitching right out of the box.
- Semi-install it. Mark the outline with the included spray paint guide, cut the grass shorter in that area, dig out the cup locations to size, and lay the green back over the top for a cleaner, more permanent look.
- Fully install it. Integrate the green into your landscaping for a permanent backyard practice area.
At 78 lbs and roughly 6' x 12' or 6' x 15' depending on the size you choose, one person can move and set it up without special equipment.
What drills will actually lower your scores?
Owning a green only helps if you use it with purpose. These three drills target the shots that save the most strokes:
- The ladder drill. Set three balls at 10, 20, and 30 feet from the cup and putt each one, aiming to leave every putt within a 3-foot circle of the hole. This builds the distance control that prevents three-putts.
- The up-and-down challenge. Toss a ball randomly around the chipping mat, then count how many times in 10 tries you can chip and one-putt for par. Tour averages hover around 50 to 60 percent; track your own number over time.
- The clock drill. Place four balls around the cup at 4, 6, and 8 feet, spaced like numbers on a clock, and putt all four before moving the whole clock out a foot. This builds the short putts that matter most, since pros make roughly 88 percent from 4 feet but only about 56 percent from 8 feet.
Ten to fifteen minutes running these three drills most days will do more for your scoring average than an extra bucket of range balls.
Choose 6' x 12' ($599) or 6' x 15' ($699) depending on the space you have.
If your practice space is indoors instead of a backyard, the same short-game math applies to a smaller, two-way setup. See how the TW Series Putting Green handles putting and chipping in a hallway, garage, or office.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a backyard putting green cost?
A permanent professional install typically runs $3,500 to $9,000 or more. DIY turf kits run $500 to $3,000 plus your own labor. A ready-made portable green like the Outdoor Target Green costs $599 to $699 and needs no ground work.
Do I need a lawn or grass to set one up?
No. The Outdoor Target Green can be laid directly on grass, a patio, or any flat outdoor surface right out of the box. Semi-permanent or full installation into landscaping is optional.
How long does an outdoor putting green last?
The surface is built from a 15-year outdoor-rated turf designed to stay outside year-round through changing weather without losing roll quality or appearance.
Can I practice chipping and pitching on it, or just putting?
Both. Every green ships with a 3' x 3' pitching and chipping mat, and the thick foam backing is durable enough to handle full wedge shots, not just putts.
What size should I get for my backyard?
The 6' x 12' size fits smaller yards and still allows putting, chipping, and pitching practice. The 6' x 15' gives a larger landing area for more shot variety. Larger custom sizes are available by request.
Practice the shots that actually lower your score
A few minutes a day on a true-roll green builds the short game that saves strokes every round.
Shop the Outdoor Target Green →Ships with 2 flagsticks, 2 cups, and a 3' x 3' pitching and chipping mat.
