How To Use A Putting Mat or Home Putting Set on a Balcony?
While most golfers know the importance of practicing putting off the course as well as one it, a lot of us don’t have either the time to get to a practice green or the space to be setting up one in our gardens and yards. With 40% of strokes (or so) being putting strokes on a golf course putting is a skill that while clearly important, is often neglected. We look at helping those of you with limited space, and the apartment dwellers amongst us ( like ourselves) in getting that putting practice in.
To use a putting mat or home putting set on a balcony, firstly ensure safety and block anyway for balls to fall of the edge of the balcony, make sure you have enough space and store the equipment properly. it is possible to practice putting on your balcony as long as you ensure the safety of all who live around you.
I know the importance of practicing regularly to improve your skills. and as someone who lives in an apartment i also know that space comes as a premium. So looking at the outside space i did have we started to look at if we could fit an office putting set, or a putting mat on our balcony. We take a look at the considerations below if you wish to do the same
In this article, I’ll share with you my experience and tips for using a putting mat or office putting set on a balcony, (we go into the differences between the two here) so that you too can improve your game and enjoy the benefits of practicing from the comfort of your own home.
Can you use a Putting Mat or Office Putting Set on the Balcony
While the short answer is yes, you can if you have a large enough space, set up a putting mat or putting set virtually anywhere, there are some considerations you need to think about before heading to the store and picking one up! These include the following key factors.
Safety
The safety of you, your neighbors and your surroundings should be your top priority when setting up a putting mat or office putting set on a balcony. We have highlighted some below, but each living area is different so make sure you take a look at the space you are planning to use to see if there is anything you need to consider that is not here.
- Make sure the balcony is strong enough to support your weight and the weight of the equipment. This only really becomes an issue if you are actually trying to recreate an actual green with top soil and turf. If you are planning on just some astro turf and a club stand then it should be absolutely fine.
- Beware of fall hazards. This relates more to the golf ball going over the edge of the balcony than of any fall risk to yourself. Balcony floors can be made of a whole host of material but most commonly wood and tiles. Although wood may not bounce a golf ball too much, tiles are hard and if a ball bounces it may well be high enough to go over the ridge and edge of your balcony and cause a great risk if there is anything, or anyone, below.
- Cover the railings and the gaps in your balcony to prevent balls rolling, or bouncing, over the balcony.
- Putting is more delicate and as long as you prevent the ball from fall risk should be fine on a balcony as long as you have the space, other golf training aids that help you train swing ( and therefore require more power) should only be used indoors in plenty of space.
- Ensure that there are no loose or unstable objects nearby that could cause injury or damage.
- Avoid practicing on windy days that could affect your balance or the trajectory of the ball.
- Be aware of your surroundings and keep yourself and the putting mat or home putting set a safe distance from the edge of the balcony.
- Consider using a foam or other lighter material ball for extra safety.
- Putt Direction: Make an effort that you are putting towards your apartment rather than putting towards the edge of the balcony. This can be done by angling a putting set, or by hole placement on a synthetic grass putting mat.
Balcony size and layout:
Before purchasing a putting mat or office putting set, make sure you measure the dimensions of your balcony to ensure that the equipment will fit and allow for a safe and effective practice.
Consider the shape and layout of the balcony, and make sure there is enough room to swing the putter and hit the ball without hitting any obstacles or walls and that there is plenty of clearance so the ball can not travel to far from the mat.
And if you live with others make sure there is room for them to still use the balcony for other activities! It’s not just your space!
Choosing the right equipment
While size is the key, there are other factors that need some though. Look for a mat or set that is large enough to accommodate your preferred putting distances and angles, but not too big that it takes up too much space on the balcony. We have a guide on how big a putting set is here on the site.
Also think about the type of surface and the speed of the mat, and choose one that simulates the experience of putting on a real green, but not too fast as to cause an issue if the ball leaves the surface of the set or mat.
A putting set offers you the choice of bringing it indoors as well, so can be used no matter the weather, a putting mat if you have installed it as a semi permanent area would not.
Creating a level surface:
To ensure a smooth and consistent putting surface, it’s important to create a level surface on the balcony. Even if you are planning on creating breaks or slopes you should start from a level surface. (fortunately most balconies are level) and if not there may be bigger problems to look at that where to practice your putting!
Maintenance and storage
To get the most out of your putting mat or office putting set, it’s important to maintain and store it properly. Clean the surface regularly with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris. Store the equipment in a dry and cool place, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. If you are installing it on your balcony consider some shade or balcony cover to keep the worst of the weather off it,
if you have opted ( our recommendation) for an office putting set then you can pack it up and move it indoors when you are not using it and they tend to be be both portable and small so easy to store even if you have less space.
Also putters and other golf clubs wont thank you for being left outside on the balcony for any length of time so if you want to avoid rust and damage ( more on this here) you should bring them inside when you are finished.
If you are looking for why these sets can help you we have an article on if putting sets are worth it here.
Preparing the Balcony for Putting Practice
Once I had my putting mat selected, I had to prepare my balcony to create a safe and suitable environment for practicing putting. This involved several steps,
- Measuring the dimensions of the balcony to ensure that the mat would fit,
- clearing the balcony of any clutter or obstacles that could interfere with my putting stroke,
- Blocking of any gaps between the railings and the balcony edge to prevent anything going over
- Making sure the ball was headed to the apartment side of the balcony rather than the edge side when i was putting.
- Making sure i had space in the apartment to store the equipment once i had finished using it.
Other Resources on Office Putting Sets
We are developing, in the theme of our sites title, a one stop guide on Office putting sets, and you can find other useful information in the list of articles below.
- How big is an office putting set
- Office Putting Set Vs. Practice Putting Green
- Must have Features of an office putting set
- Do you need your own putter for an office putting Set
- Do office putting Sets improve your putting
- Why Do putting Sets Have Ramps?
- Is an Office Putting Set Worth It?
- Why do golfers straddle the putting line
- How to Practice putting on a balcony.
- Are golf Practice Nets worth it?
Conclusion
Setting up a putting mat or home putting set on a balcony can be a great way to improve your putting skills and enjoy the game of golf, or at least parts of it, from the comfort of your own home.
However there are some considerations you need to be aware of before heading out and setting a practice green up on your balcony.
Safety as we mentioned multiple times above is your number one priority, a golf ball can travel very fast and cause a lot of damage and you should prevent any from heading off the side of your balcony.
The space you have is also vital, as much as you want to proactive if you do have a small balcony it may not be possible to set up a putting set on there, however with them being very portable you can always move it inside and if needed shorten the putting length.
All that said if you do have the space to set up and you take the proper precautions, then you can be outside practicing your putting on your own personal green even in the rain! Now that is an idea I think we can all get behind.