Best Short Game Training Aids for Senior Golfers 2026

My dad is 68 and his short game is still better than mine. He chips with a 7-iron from 40 yards out, rolls everything to tap-in range, and never looks stressed around the green. I asked him what his secret was and he said “I practice. You don’t.”

Most seniors I know who struggle around the greens aren’t losing touch because of age. They stopped practicing. The range hurts their back. Bending over to pick up 50 balls sounds like a nightmare. Nobody told them there are training aids that make short game work doable at home.

My top pick is the PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer at $30. It is the single best short game feedback tool for any senior golfer. Six more picks below.

What Matters for Senior Short Game Practice

Feedback quality. Can you tell immediately if you hit it right without bending over to check? The best aids tell you with a sound, a feel, or a visual right in front of you.

Physical accessibility. If an aid requires bending over 30 times in 10 minutes, skip it. Auto ball return, upright targets, and aids you can use standing up.

Portability. Living room to backyard in 30 seconds. No permanent setup.

Price. Most of these are under $65. You have been playing golf longer than some of these training aid companies have existed. You do not need to spend $500 to chip better.

The Picks

1. PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer: Best Overall ($30)

The PuttOut is a curved plastic ramp with a small hole in the middle. Hit the perfect putt and the ball sticks in the micro-target. Too hard and the ball rolls back past you. Too soft and it doesn’t return at all.

It earned the top spot because it works for chipping practice too. Set the PuttOut on the floor 10 feet away, grab your sand wedge, and hit low chips that land soft and roll into the target. Same feedback. Same addictive loop. You never bend over because the ball returns automatically on good shots.

What works: Instant pace feedback. Portable enough to fit in a carry-on. The return ramp means you stay standing. My dad actually uses his. For $30, it is the most feedback per dollar in golf.

What doesn’t: Chipping onto it needs a flat surface. Shag carpet, forget it. The ball return stops working reliably after heavy use, but at $30 it is basically disposable.

Buy this if you want one tool that covers putting and chipping feedback on hard floors or low-pile carpet. Skip if you only want to practice outside on grass.

2. Me & My Golf Chipping Net: Best Budget Chipping Target ($23)

A 20-inch pop-up net with three target rings from the coaching duo behind Me & My Golf. Pops open in seconds and folds flat. $23, setup time zero, target zones built in.

What works: Price. Three ring targets give you something to aim at instead of chipping into open space. Packs down small enough to live behind a door. Includes access to training videos from the coaches.

What doesn’t: No auto ball return. You still walk over and collect balls. The lightweight frame struggles outdoors in wind.

Buy this if you want the cheapest entry into structured chipping practice. Skip if you can spend $2 more on the FORB net for a bigger target.

3. Tour Striker Smart Ball: Best Arm-Body Connection Aid ($39)

An inflatable ball on a lanyard that sits between your forearms during the swing. When your arms disconnect from your body, the Smart Ball drops and you feel the tug. For chipping, it prevents the #1 short game mistake: flipping your wrists.

What works: You cannot flip your wrists through impact with a ball between your forearms. Physical feedback, not intellectual. No screens, no apps. Chips come out lower and more predictable within one session. Works standing up, indoors. Weighs nothing.

What doesn’t: The lanyard looks dorky. You will not wear it on the range with people watching. The ball deflates and needs topping up every few weeks. It fixes connection, not setup.

Buy this if you chunk or blade chips and have been told you flip your wrists. Skip if your problem is distance control, not contact.

4. FORB Chipping Net: Solid Budget Alternative ($25)

Slightly bigger than the Me & My Golf net at 31 x 28 inches with removable target zones, ground pegs, and a carry bag. Best value chipping net on the market at $25.

What works: Bigger target means fewer misses and fewer balls to chase. Removable zones adjust difficulty. Pop-up assembly. Ground pegs for outdoor use.

What doesn’t: No auto ball return. Target zone Velcro is not the most durable. The branding varies from batch to batch.

Buy this if you want a solid chipping net under $30. Skip if auto return and game modes matter to you.

5. WhyGolf Chipping Plate: Best Setup Trainer ($64)

A flat board with alignment markings that forces proper chipping setup: weight forward, ball position center, stance narrow. Stand on it, chip from it, get instant feedback on whether your setup was right.

What works: Setup is the most underrated part of chipping. Weight on your back foot means chunked or bladed chips no matter how good your hands are. This plate forces weight forward. Also works for full-swing weight shift training.

What doesn’t: $64 for a marked plastic board is steep. You could replicate 80% of the benefit with alignment sticks. It is a one-trick tool. You still need a net to hit into.

Buy this if you have been told your weight hangs back on chips. Skip if you already use alignment sticks for setup work.

6. Wedge Game: Best Premium / Most Fun ($200)

A chipping net on another level. Three interchangeable game panels (9-Hole Challenge, Tic-Tac-Toe, Trajectory Challenge), auto ball return, travel bag, and a 2-year warranty.

What works: The auto ball return is the senior golfer’s dream. Hit the target, the ball rolls back to your feet. No bending. The gamification keeps you practicing longer. High school golf coaches use these because kids actually want to practice. Same psychology works on adults.

What doesn’t: $200 is real money for a chipping net. Assembly takes 90 minutes the first time with confusing instructions. Velcro connections loosen over time. Needs about six feet of space behind you.

Buy this if you have the budget and space for the most engaging short game tool on the market. Skip if $200 feels steep. A FORB net plus a PuttOut covers 80% of the value at a quarter of the price.

7. Perfect Practice Putting Mat: Best Dual-Purpose ($60-$180)

Primarily a putting mat, but earns a spot because it doubles as a chipping landing zone. The 9-foot version gives enough runway for short chips landing on a defined target and rolling to the cup.

What works: Dual use. Alignment lines give visual feedback on start line for chips and putts. Raised edges keep balls on the mat. Solid quality across all price points.

What doesn’t: At 9 feet, you are practicing very short chips. Putting mat first, chipping target second. Not outdoor-friendly. Auto-return only on pricier models.

Buy this if you want one mat for putting and short chipping indoors. Skip if you only care about chipping beyond 10 feet.

The Bottom Line

Buy the PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer at $30. Add the Me & My Golf Chipping Net at $23 and you have a complete at-home short game practice station for $53 total. Less than a dozen Pro V1s.

If you want the premium experience, the Wedge Game’s auto ball return and game modes will make you practice three times as long. But the budget combo gets the job done.

My dad still chips with his 7-iron and beats me. The PuttOut is the only training aid he owns.\n

Where to Buy

• Short Game Training Aids — Check price at Amazon

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