---
title: "The Short Game Kit"
url: "https://ifrothgolf.com/guides/short-game-kit"
type: "buying-guide"
updated: "2026-09-05"
publisher: "ifrothgolf"
---


# The Short Game Kit

> The fastest way to actually lower your scores.

## In short

- **Top pick:** [Titleist Vokey SM11 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/titleist-vokey-sm11-wedge) · $225 approx · best for dialled-in short-game fitting
- **Also consider:** [TaylorMade MG5 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/taylormade-mg5-wedge) ($225), [Tour Striker Smart Ball](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/tour-striker-smart-ball) ($30)
- **Cheapest on the list:** [Callaway HX Soft Flight Foam Practice Balls (9 Pack)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/foam-practice-balls) · $20 approx

## At a glance

| Rank | Product | US price (approx) | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Titleist Vokey SM11 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/titleist-vokey-sm11-wedge) | $225 | dialled-in short-game fitting |
| 2 | [TaylorMade MG5 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/taylormade-mg5-wedge) | $225 | spin you can trust in the wet |
| 3 | [Tour Striker Smart Ball](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/tour-striker-smart-ball) | $30 | connection and consistency |
| 4 | [PuttOut Pop-Up Golf Chipping Net](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/pop-up-chipping-net) | $30 | short-game practice and beginners |
| 5 | [PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/puttout-pressure-putt-trainer) | $40 | everyone (pressure putting) |
| 6 | [WellPutt 3m Putting Mat (10ft First)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/wellputt-3m-putting-mat) | $110 | grooving start line and pace indoors all winter |
| 7 | [EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror (Small)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/eyeline-putting-alignment-mirror) | $50 | instant feedback on setup and putter-face alignment |
| 8 | [Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls (Dozen)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/titleist-pro-v1) | $70 | low-to-mid handicappers |
| 9 | [Callaway HX Soft Flight Foam Practice Balls (9 Pack)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/foam-practice-balls) | $20 | garden practice without an insurance claim |

Almost everyone practises the wrong thing. They beat drivers on the range while their scorecard bleeds strokes inside 100 yards — the chunked chip, the three-putt, the wedge that spins off the back of the green. The short game is where handicaps are really made, and it's the cheapest part of the bag to fix, because it's about reps and feel rather than expensive hardware. This is the kit to get properly good around the greens.

The logic is simple: fitted wedges with the right lofts and grinds do more for your scoring than any new driver, and a little structured practice with them beats hours of aimless flailing. Two well-gapped wedges cover every greenside shot; a strike trainer teaches you to hit down and take a proper divot instead of scooping; a chipping net turns the back garden into a short-game school; and a quality putting mat with an alignment mirror grooves the two things that decide most putts — a square face and a repeatable stroke. Add a ball that actually checks on the green and you can finally see the spin your technique earns.

None of this is glamorous, and that's the point — this shelf is bought by golfers who've realised that the shots they waste are almost all short ones. Get these reps in over a winter and you'll knock strokes off without touching your long game.

## The picks, ranked

### 1. [Titleist Vokey SM11 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/titleist-vokey-sm11-wedge)

$225 approx · Best for: dialled-in short-game fitting

The latest generation of Titleist's tour-standard Vokey wedge, with the widest grind/loft/bounce matrix in the game for dialled-in fitting.

**What's great:** Standardised CG lets you change grind without changing launch, deeper grooves add spin, and heat-treated edges promise far longer groove life.

**Worth knowing:** Premium per-wedge price, and the changes over SM10 are refinements rather than a leap.

**Verdict:** A smart, performance-led update that remains the benchmark for wedge fitting and tour-level control.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLLWHNLT?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_titleist-vokey-sm11-wedge) (affiliate link) · also stocked by Titleist

### 2. [TaylorMade MG5 Wedge](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/taylormade-mg5-wedge)

$225 approx · Best for: spin you can trust in the wet

A premium, fully-forged tour wedge with aggressive new grooves and a moisture-channelling RAW face, in six grinds for most players.

**What's great:** Softer, more connected forged feel than the MG4 with class-leading wet-weather spin consistency thanks to Spin Tread.

**Worth knowing:** Premium price, the RAW face rusts over time by design, and with six grinds a fitting matters.

**Verdict:** If you loved the MG4 you'll love the MG5 more — the forged feel and wet-spin gains make it one of 2026's strongest wedges.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLX7KBBR?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_taylormade-mg5-wedge) (affiliate link) · also stocked by TaylorMade

### 3. [Tour Striker Smart Ball](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/tour-striker-smart-ball)

$30 approx · Best for: connection and consistency

An inflatable ball on an adjustable lanyard that you trap between your forearms (or under an armpit) to drill arm-body connection. Aimed at the mid-to-high handicapper who chicken-wings it, loses connection in the backswing, or just can't compress an iron.

**What's great:** It does one job and does it well. The whole point of those "ball between the forearms" drills is feedback, and this gives you two layers of it: the ball drops out if your arms split, and you feel a tug on the lanyard the second you disconnect. No bending down to fetch a dropped glove every swing, which means you actually keep practising. It is properly sized and not too heavy, lives in the bag, and reviewers report real carry-over, not just a crutch feel, with most folks getting the lightbulb moment around the third to fifth session. It quietly works for putting tempo too.

**Worth knowing:** It is a one-trick pony. It services maybe three connection drills and nothing else, so if you are not the type to actually do the reps it gathers dust fast. Use it wrong (no instruction, just guessing) and you can groove the wrong move, which is the real risk with the cheap knockoffs. It is an inflatable, so a sharp tee or spike will pop it, and folks with an aggressive release or dodgy shoulder mobility find it uncomfortable. It will not fix your path, your grip or your strike on its own.

**Verdict:** If arm-body connection is genuinely your fault, I rate it as a cheap, effective bit of kit that beats a tucked-in glove. If you just want a magic gadget to buy and never use, give it a miss, it only works if you put the reps in.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00II5RSR2?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_tour-striker-smart-ball) (affiliate link) · also stocked by Tour Striker

### 4. [PuttOut Pop-Up Golf Chipping Net](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/pop-up-chipping-net)

$30 approx · Best for: short-game practice and beginners

A collapsible, spring-framed net that pops open into a freestanding target, usually with a couple of pocket holes to aim at. It's the cheap, grab-and-go way to practice chips and pitches in the garden without peppering the fence.

**What's great:** For what it costs, it does the one job well: gives you a target so you actually aim instead of just dinking balls around. Setup is genuinely a 5-second job, it weighs next to nothing, and it folds flat enough to chuck in the boot or behind a door. For grooving distance control on short chips and pitches in the garden, it's a proper handy bit of kit and stays put once you've got a few balls sitting in it.

**Worth knowing:** Be honest about the limits. It's so light it'll blow over or tumble in any real wind, so peg it down with the stakes (use them, or it's airborne). The classic gripe is folding it back into that little bag, it takes practice and will wind you up the first few times. Whatever balls and mat get bundled in are usually rubbish, treat them as freebies. And it's for chips only, do not hit anything full into it. Hitting the harder plastic-pocket types can also be surprisingly loud.

**Verdict:** I rate it for what it is: a cheap, portable target to sharpen your short game in the garden. Just peg it down, ignore the bundled balls, and learn the fold. Don't expect it to take a full swing.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T6JYRVL?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_pop-up-chipping-net) (affiliate link)

### 5. [PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/puttout-pressure-putt-trainer)

$40 approx · Best for: everyone (pressure putting)

A pocket-sized putting aid: a parabolic ramp with a micro-target that catches dead-perfect putts and rolls everything else back to you. Aimed at anyone who wants to practise short putts at home or on the range without chasing balls all over the carpet.

**What's great:** The genius is the maths. The ramp returns a "made" putt the same distance it would have rolled past the hole, so it quietly drills pace control on those knee-knocker 6-footers. It's daft simple, sets up in seconds, packs into a bag pocket, and the no-faff ball return means you actually keep practising instead of bending down every five seconds. Reviewers and owners alike (Plugged In Golf, Golf Monthly) rate it as the training aid they keep coming back to, and it's genuinely addictive chasing that "perfect putt" that sticks in the micro-target.

**Worth knowing:** It only trains line and pace, nothing about your actual stroke mechanics, so it won't fix a wonky path or face. It's short-putt only, no use for lags. The micro-target is brutally hard and some folk find that more demoralising than motivating. Biggest real-world gripe: it needs a true, flat surface. On lumpy carpet or a cheap mat the returns wander and the feedback turns to mush, so a decent putting mat is almost mandatory.

**Verdict:** For the money it's a cracking, honest little tool that makes short-putt practice fun and builds real pace control. Just know it's a supplement, not a swing doctor, and pair it with a flat mat to get the most out of it. I rate it.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TTL6P2R?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_puttout-pressure-putt-trainer) (affiliate link) · also stocked by PuttOUT Golf

### 6. [WellPutt 3m Putting Mat (10ft First)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/wellputt-3m-putting-mat)

$110 approx · Best for: grooving start line and pace indoors all winter

A 3m roll-up putting mat from WellPutt, the entry 10ft First model in their range. The surface is printed with alignment and stroke-length markers and pairs with a free app that walks you through drills built around setup, start line, pace and consistency. It is a structured practice system more than a novelty mat.

**What's great:** The roll is the standout. It is among the truest and most consistent of any home mat, running at a realistic medium-to-fast green pace rather than the dead, draggy feel of cheap fabric mats. The on-surface markers actually teach something: eye position over the ball, square face, repeatable backswing length. The latex backing lies properly flat on hardwood or tile and does not creep about, and the whole thing rolls up small enough to stash behind a sofa. The app is a genuine bonus, not filler.

**Worth knowing:** There is no hole or cup, so all your feedback comes from start line and pace, not the satisfying rattle of a ball dropping. Some golfers find that less motivating and less realistic over time. The surface is deliberately quick, so if your home greens or your course run slow it can flatter your pace and take adjusting to. At 0.35m wide it only suits straight putting drills, not breaking putts. Pricing also bounces around between roughly 75 and 89 depending on promotions, so it is worth checking before you buy.

**Verdict:** If you want to actually practise putting indoors rather than just putt at a target, this is one of the best mats at the price. Buy it for the true roll and the coaching app, and add a separate return cup if the missing hole bothers you.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0789WHQY8?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_wellputt-3m-putting-mat) (affiliate link) · also stocked by WellPutt

### 7. [EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror (Small)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/eyeline-putting-alignment-mirror)

$50 approx · Best for: instant feedback on setup and putter-face alignment

A flat, mirrored alignment plate you set on the green or floor and putt over. The printed lines show whether your eyes sit over the ball, whether your putter face is square at address, and whether your ball position is consistent. Slots let you push tees in to form a gate so you can groove centre-face contact, and a separate hole lets you practise accelerating through impact.

**What's great:** The feedback is immediate and unflattering in the best way: you can see your eyeline drift or an open face the moment you look down, which is hard to fool yourself about. It is genuinely pocket-sized so it travels to the course for warm-ups and lives easily on a hallway carpet. The tee-gate drill is simple and effective for tidying up strike, and it works the same for lefties.

**Worth knowing:** It only trains the first few feet of setup and stroke; it does nothing for distance control, green reading or longer putts, so it is a fundamentals tool rather than a complete system. The acrylic mirror scratches if you are careless with tees or chuck it in loose, and on grainy or uneven greens it will not sit perfectly flat. Pricing swings a lot by retailer and the extra shoulder mirror is sold separately, so the headline number is not the whole spend.

**Verdict:** If your short putts wander and you suspect your setup, this is one of the cheapest ways to find out for certain. It will not magically hole more 20-footers, but it fixes the basics that ruin the short ones, and it is small enough that you will actually keep using it.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030F4JHM?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_eyeline-putting-alignment-mirror) (affiliate link) · also stocked by EyeLine Golf

### 8. [Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls (Dozen)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/titleist-pro-v1)

$70 approx · Best for: low-to-mid handicappers

The Titleist Pro V1 is the benchmark tour-level urethane ball, a mid-spin, mid-flight three-piecer aimed at golfers who actually shape shots and want proper greenside bite, not casual hackers padding their bag.

**What's great:** Look, there's a reason half your fourball plays one. The 2025 version's reputation on irons rests on dead consistent carry distances and that penetrating flight that holds up in wind. Wedge spin and greenside control are still the gold standard, and the soft cast urethane cover feels lovely off the face. Titleist's quality control is the real flex though: independent lab testing found all 36 test balls passed with zero significant defects and compression in the top 10 of over 100 balls, so every one out of the box flies the same. Durability's also a proper step up on the older model.

**Worth knowing:** It's dear, and that's the honest catch. If you're losing three a round in the gorse you're literally chipping pound coins into the trees, and most reviewers agree a higher handicapper won't actually feel the difference enough to justify it over a cheaper urethane ball. It still scuffs in bunkers (all urethane does), and there are now balls that out-spin it around the green for less money. If you want soft and high-launching, the V1x or a rival might suit you better. Not a beginner's ball.

**Verdict:** If your game's good enough to notice and you're not haemorrhaging balls, it's the safe, do-everything pick I'd happily play every round. Budget golfers and high-handicappers: save your money for greens fees.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJVQX373?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_titleist-pro-v1) (affiliate link) · also stocked by Clubhouse Golf

### 9. [Callaway HX Soft Flight Foam Practice Balls (9 Pack)](https://ifrothgolf.com/product/foam-practice-balls)

$20 approx · Best for: garden practice without an insurance claim

A nine-pack of soft foam practice balls with Callaway's hex dimple pattern, designed for full swings in gardens and tight spaces.

**What's great:** These are the gold standard of foam practice balls and have been for years. Unlike airflow plastic balls that float anywhere, the HX balls give you genuine shot-shape feedback: slice your driver swing and they'll curve, flush a wedge and they fly straight with a proper-looking trajectory. Golf publications regularly put them top of home practice ball roundups for exactly that reason. They're soft enough to swing freely without fear, which is the whole psychological unlock of garden practice. The mesh bag is handy, the bright colours make them easy to find in flowerbeds, and nine is enough for a decent rhythm of hit, collect, repeat.

**Worth knowing:** They're still foam, so distance and feel bear no relation to a real ball, and anything beyond a gentle breeze sends them sideways. They compress and scuff with heavy use, so expect to replace them every season or two if you practise a lot. Dogs adore them, briefly. And they cost a touch more than no-name foam balls, though they're noticeably better.

**Verdict:** The best foam practice ball going. Cheap enough to not think twice, good enough to make garden swings genuinely useful.

**Where to buy:** [Check price at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GMVTB4X?tag=ifrothgolf-20&ascsubtag=md_foam-practice-balls) (affiliate link)

## FAQ

### What's the quickest way to lower my golf scores?

Practise your short game. Most golfers lose far more strokes inside 100 yards — chipping, pitching and putting — than off the tee, and it's the cheapest part of the game to improve because it rewards reps and feel over expensive equipment.

### How many wedges do I need, and should I get fitted?

Two or three, evenly gapped (around 4–6° apart), covers every greenside shot. Wedges are the highest-value clubs to get fitted because bounce and grind matter as much as loft — the right sole for your turf and angle of attack lets one wedge play several shots cleanly.

### Can you really practise your short game at home?

Yes — it's the part of the game that transfers best to home practice. A chipping net, a quality putting mat and foam balls let you groove contact and your stroke indoors or in the garden, which is exactly why a winter of short-game reps pays off in the spring.

### What does a strike trainer or smart ball actually teach?

It gives instant feedback on your contact — a ball placed in front of the clubface trains you to hit down and through with a forward-leaning shaft rather than scooping, which is the single most common fault in poor chipping and pitching.

---

Source: [ifrothgolf](https://ifrothgolf.com) — independent golf-gear editorial.

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