Practice Golf Driving Net: Effective Drills & Improving Every Session  

This guide will help you practice golf driving net with different clubs, making the sessions more effective. We provide structured drills and strategies to maximise improvement when you are not seeing the ball flight. 

Learn to interpret the feedback, avoid common mistakes, and translate the gains on the course.

We cover below in this article:

• Structured Routines: Building purposeful 50-minute sessions with clear goals.
• Sensory Feedback: Using sound, feel, and impact clues to judge shots.
• Key Drills: 5 targeted exercises for contact, path, and balance (e.g., Towel Drill, Gate Drill).
• Tech Integration: Using launch monitors, apps, and impact tape for data.
• Mistakes Avoidance: Fixing 6 common net practice errors (e.g., over-swinging, poor alignment).
• Real-World Transfer: Linking net practice to course performance through simulation and range validation.

1. Beyond Just Hitting: Structuring a Purposeful Net Practice Routine

Random practice of golf net driving will just waste time. You will have to build a plan:

• Set Clear Goals (5 mins): Choose one skill per session (e.g., center-face contact, shorter backswing). Could you write it down?
• Warm-Up (10 mins): Stretch. Make slow half-swings with a mid-iron. Focus on balance.
• Drill Block (25 mins): Complete 2-3 focused drills (see Section 3). Use a club alignment stick.
• Simulated Play (10 mins): Imagine course holes. “Hit” driver, then 7-iron. Change targets mentally.
• Review (5 mins): Note the feels that worked. Check impact tape. Record one key takeaway.

Weekly Template Example:

• Monday: Iron contact drills
• Wednesday: Swing path correction
• Friday: Simulated course Play
• Sunday: Weakness review (e.g., low-point control)

2. Mastering Feedback: What to Focus on Without Seeing Ball Flight

Use these sensory cues:

• Impact Sound:
  • Solid Strike: Sharp “crack” (like snapping a towel).
  • Heel/Toe Hit: Dull “thud” or “ting”.
  • Fat Shot: Muffled “thump” (hitting the ground first).
• Hand Feel:
  • Good Shot: Vibration stays in palms. The clubface feels stable.
  • Slice Feel: Right hand overtakes left (for right-handers).
  • Hook Feel: Left-hand pulls hard through impact.
• Body Balance:
  • Finish on the front foot?
  • Did you sway off the ball?
• Impact Tape/Spray: Shows strike location on the clubface. Use every 5 shots.
• Divot Mat Feedback:
  • Clean Brush: Correct low point.
  • Deep Trench: Hitting too down.
  • Scrape Before Ball: Early extension.

3. Essential Drills for Accuracy, Contact & Swing Path

• Drill 1: Towel Behind Ball (Contact)
  • Place a towel behind the ball, we recommend about 2/3 inches so it is not too far behind
  • Goal: Hit the ball without touching the towel.
  • Fixes: Fat shots, early scooping.
• Drill 2: Headcover Under Trail Arm (Swing Path)
  • Tuck a headcover under your right armpit (right-handed golfers).
  • Keep it pinned throughout the swing.
  • Fixes: Over-the-top move, casting.
• Drill 3: Gate Drill (Accuracy & Path)
  • Place two alignment sticks 4 inches apart. Position them 1 foot ahead of the ball.
  • Swing through the “gate” without hitting sticks.
  • Fixes: Shanks, inconsistent path.
• Drill 4: Half-Swing Wedges (Control)
  • Take a 50% backswing with a wedge.
  • Focus on accelerating through impact.
  • Count how many clean strikes you make in 10 shots.
• Drill 5: Feet Together (Balance)
  • Hit shots with feet touching.
  • Stop if you lose balance.
  • Improves: Rotation, centred strikes.

4. Using Technology: Launch Monitors, Apps & Impact Tape with Your Net

• Launch Monitors:
  • Budget Option: Rapsodo MLM 2 Pro (£650) & Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor (£250). It shows club speed, smash factor, and estimated carry.
  • Setup: Place 5 feet behind the hitting area. Face the net.
  • Key Metric: Smash Factor (1.45+ with irons = solid contact).
• Swing Apps:
  • V1 Golf: Record your swing. Draw lines for the club path.
  • Zepp 2: Attach sensor to glove. Measures backswing position and tempo.
• Impact Tape:
  • Apply to the clubface. Hit 3 balls.
  • Pattern Check: Cluster near center?
• Smart Balls:
  • OnCore GENiUS Ball: Lights up at impact. It shows the strike point.

5. Common Practice Golf Net Driving Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

• Mistake 1: Swinging 100% effort every shot.
  • Fix: Use 80% power. Focus on clean contact.
• Mistake 2: No target alignment.
  • Fix: Place an alignment stick on the ground. Aim at a specific net thread.
• Mistake 3: Ignoring setup fundamentals.
  • Fix: Check posture, grip, and ball position every 5 shots.
• Mistake 4: Only hitting full shots.
  • Fix: Practice 30-yard chips, 3/4 punch shots.
• Mistake 5: No feedback tools.
  • Fix: Use impact spray twice per session.
• Mistake 6: Practicing with a driver for 30 minutes straight.
  • Fix: Rotate clubs: 5 shots driver, 10 shots 7-iron, 5 shots wedge.

6. Integrating Net Driving with Real-World On Course Golf Play

• Pre-Round Warm-Up:
  • Hit 20 balls into the net. Focus on your tempo.
  • Use a mid-iron. Mimic first-hole shots.
• Post-Round Review:
  • Note on-course misses (e.g., pushed irons).
  • Next net session: Focus the drill on the specific misses.
• Flight Validation:
  • Visit the range every 2 weeks.
  • Hit 10 balls with your “net swing.” and compare the flight.
• Shot Linking Practice:
  • Net drill: Hit the driver, then immediately hit 8-iron.
  • Simulate approach shots after drives.
• Pressure Drills:
  • Assign consequences: “Make 5 clean strikes in a row or restart.”
  • Simulate 5-foot putts after net shots.

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Smash factor increase (1.35 → 1.45).
2. Impact tape centre strikes (4/10 → 8/10).
3. Balance check: No foot movement in the swing.
4. Simulated holes: Hit “fairway” 70% of the time.

Alex Smith is the Head PGA Pro at Online Golf Shop. With over 20 years of experience in the golf industry, Alex has a passion for helping golfers improve their game. He shares trusted and authentic advice through tips, tricks, and thorough product reviews—always based on his own experiences and insights. Alex also helps shape our product selection, making sure it’s tailored to every golfer’s needs, helping you find the right equipment and strategies to play your best golf!