Love the game but don’t always have time to hit the course? A backyard putting green built with artificial grass is the perfect way to hone your skills right at home. Not only is putting green maintenance incredibly easy, but you also have plenty of options for customization.

Two of these elements are ball roll and green speed. Changing these features to help you personalize the challenge level of your practice area:

1. Fiber Length: Short and Sweet for Speed

The height of the artificial grass blades is a major factor. Just like on a regular green, shorter grass fibers mean a faster surface and a longer roll. Longer fibers tend to slow down the ball and create more resistance.

2. Infill: The Hidden Speed Regulator

What’s under the surface matters too! Infill is the sand or other special material worked into the base of synthetic grass in Vacaville. The amount and type of infill can change the speed significantly. Heavier infill slows the ball, while lighter infill allows for faster rolls.

3. The Smooth Factor: Surface Texture

Smoother artificial grass results in a faster roll with fewer bumps and wobbles for your ball. A rougher surface can make the ball’s path a bit less predictable, adding a layer of challenge.

4. The Downhill Element: Slope and Speed

Did you design some slope or contour into your green? That’s a smart way to practice trickier putts. But remember, even a slight slope can make the ball roll much faster downhill and way slower when putting uphill.

5. Mother Nature Plays a Role

Weather affects artificial greens, though less drastically than real ones. Rain can make the surface temporarily slower and debris like leaves can create little obstacles for your ball. So while synthetic grass requires minimal upkeep, make sure to still set a regular routine for artificial putting green maintenance.

Design Tips for Your Backyard Putting Green

Now, let’s put those elements to work. Here are some ideas on how to create a multi-faceted backyard putting green with custom speeds and roll to match your playing style:

1. Multi-Speed Zones: Designate the majority of your putting green with shorter pile turf and lighter infill for a faster green speed that mimics well-maintained course conditions.

2. “Slow” Zone: Dedicate a smaller section with slightly longer turf and heavier infill. This zone will force you to adjust your putting stroke and get a feel for slower greens.

3. Fringe Cut: Install a section around your putting green with a slightly longer “fringe cut” of artificial grass. This is perfect for practicing those delicate chip shots and bump-and-runs.

4. Rough Option: Consider a patch of artificial turf with a much longer pile height. This simulates deep rough and forces you to learn how to chip and pitch out of more difficult lies.

5. Hazard Practice: If you have the space, adding even a small sand trap offers a new level of challenge. It forces strategic plays and allows you to work on those crucial sand wedge shots.

6. Slope and Contour Variety: Don’t just have a flat putting green. Intentionally include undulations, slopes, and breaks, to practice everything from uphill putts to dramatic downhill sliders.

7. Mounded Areas: Add small mounds or raised areas to create even more varied putting situations and force you to calculate breaks from different angles.

8. Visualization Aids: Use colored yardage markers or temporary lines to visualize different putt distances and practice your long putts and lags.

Book a Free Consultation

Understanding these factors helps you choose the right artificial grass and create your dream backyard putting experience. Want to dial in the perfect speed and roll for your putting game? Maybe you have questions about the installation itself or your options in terms of products and design.

5 Factors That Can Impact Artificial Putting Green Speed and Roll