The best golf chipping game for most backyards is Golf Pong, and yes, it's ours. Foam velcro balls stick where they land on the target mat, so every shot is visible and scoreable, nobody chases balls across the yard, and Solo, 1v1, and 2v2 modes keep a party moving ($64.99–$114.99). Got a pool? Chip Tac Toe floats. Want a cornhole-style feel? Chippo or GoSports BattleChip. Here's how all seven compare.
A good chipping game does two things at once. It sharpens the most neglected part of your golf game, the 10-to-40-yard wedge shot, and it gives your backyard hangouts an actual centerpiece. We've tested, hosted, and lost gracefully at all of these. Below is the honest rundown, including where our own games fall short.
1. Golf Pong Party Game (Best Overall)
We'll say it up front: this one's ours. We're ranking it first anyway, and here's the concrete case for why.
Golf Pong is a velcro target mat chipping game. You chip soft foam velcro balls at a target mat, and when a ball hits a target, it sticks. That sounds like a small detail. It is not.
Why velcro targets change everything
Most chipping games have the same hidden flaw: ambiguity. Did the ball land in the zone or roll through it? Was that a 2 or a 3? With velcro, the answer is stuck to the mat. Everyone can see it from across the yard, which means trash talk has receipts and scoring arguments die instantly. It also means no chasing balls into the bushes between turns, which is the silent killer of every backyard game's momentum.
Built for parties, not just practice
Golf Pong has three modes: Solo for grooving your wedges on a Tuesday, 1v1 for settling scores, and 2v2 Versus for full party mode. The Original set (one mat) runs $64.99, and the Versus set (two mats, teams chip at each other's targets) is $114.99. The foam balls are soft enough for indoor play, and the whole thing packs up small enough to throw in a trunk for tailgates or the beach.
Full rules and scoring live in our quick-start guide to playing Golf Pong.
Pros: Shots stick visibly, so scoring is instant and argument-proof. No ball chasing. Solo, 1v1, and 2v2 formats. Indoor and outdoor. Portable.
Cons: Foam velcro balls fly differently than real golf balls, so it's about contact and trajectory practice rather than exact distance calibration. The Versus set costs more than a single-board setup.
2. Chip Tac Toe by Golf Pong (Best for Pools and Families)
Also ours, also genuinely different from everything else on this list. Chip Tac Toe is a 4-foot inflatable tic-tac-toe board that floats in the pool or sits on grass, sand, or a driveway. You get 10 soft foam balls, 5 red and 5 blue, and a grass chipping mat. Land a ball in a square to claim it, three in a row wins.
Strategy meets short game
The tic-tac-toe layer is what makes this one sneaky fun. You're not just chipping at a target, you're chipping at a specific square because your opponent is one box away from winning. That blocking-and-claiming tension keeps kids and non-golfers locked in, while golfers quietly get reps at precise carry distances. There's an optional adjustable club, which solves the "we have four players and one wedge" problem at family gatherings.
At $59.99–$69.99, it's the cheapest non-DIY option here.
Pros: Floats in the pool, the only game on this list that does. Strategy element hooks non-golfers and kids. Soft foam balls are pool-deck and patio safe. Lowest price of the branded games.
Cons: Two players or teams at a time. Less of a pure practice tool than a target-based game. Inflatable means you'll be pumping it up.
3. Chippo (Best Cornhole Crossover)
Chippo is the game that put "golf meets cornhole" on the map, and the comparison is accurate. Two boards with holes, two chipping mats, foam balls, and the familiar cornhole rhythm of alternating shots from opposite ends. If your crew already loves cornhole, the learning curve is zero.
Pros: Proven two-sided party format. Sturdy boards. Plays exactly like the cornhole games people already know.
Cons: At roughly $100–$150, it's the priciest option here. Balls that miss the board keep rolling, so expect some retrieval jogs. Boards are bulkier to store and haul than a mat.
4. GoSports BattleChip (Best Budget Cornhole Style)
BattleChip is GoSports' take on the same cornhole-style chipping format: a target with holes, foam balls, and a chipping mat. It typically comes in cheaper than Chippo and there are multiple versions and sizes, which makes it an easy entry point if you want the cornhole feel without the cornhole price.
Pros: Affordable. Familiar format. Multiple size options for different yards.
Cons: Lighter-duty build than premium boards. Same rolling-ball retrieval issue as any open-target game. Less of a "centerpiece" presence at a party.
5. BirdieBall Close 2 Pin (Best for Pure Practice)
BirdieBall's Close 2 Pin leans practice-first. BirdieBall is known for its limited-flight practice balls that feel closer to real ball striking than foam, and Close 2 Pin builds a proximity game around them. If your main goal is genuinely improving your wedge distances and you want a game wrapper around the reps, this is the lane.
Pros: More realistic ball feel than foam. Practice value is the whole point. Works in modest spaces thanks to limited-flight balls.
Cons: Less party energy. Non-golfers won't gravitate to it the way they do to a stick-the-shot or tic-tac-toe format.
6. Vegas Golf (Best On-Course Game, Not for Backyards)
One honest curveball: Vegas Golf isn't a backyard chipping game at all. It's a poker-chip game you play during an actual round, passing chips for hitting trees, three-putting, landing in bunkers, and other crimes against golf. We're including it because it always comes up in "golf game" searches, and it's a great gift for the golfer who already owns every training aid.
Pros: Hilarious on the course. Fits in a pocket. Great gift.
Cons: Does nothing for your backyard. Zero chipping practice. Needs a full round of golf to play.
7. DIY Buckets and Towels (Best Free Option)
The classic. Set out a few buckets, laundry baskets, or towels at different distances, assign point values, and chip away. It costs nothing and it genuinely works for solo practice.
Pros: Free. Infinitely adjustable distances. You can start in the next five minutes.
Cons: Real golf balls plus backyard equals broken windows and divots in the lawn, so you'll want practice balls anyway. No real game structure, so it goes stale fast with groups. Scoring disputes are settled by whoever yells loudest.
How to Choose a Golf Chipping Game
Three questions sort this out fast.
How much space do you have?
A small patio or living room favors foam-ball games like Golf Pong or Chip Tac Toe, both of which play indoors. A big open lawn opens up the two-board formats like Chippo or the Golf Pong Versus set. A pool makes the decision for you: Chip Tac Toe is the only floater.
Who's playing?
Solo grinder improving your wedges? Golf Pong's Solo mode or BirdieBall. Couples and small groups? Any 1v1 format works. Hosting a crowd with mixed golf ability? You want a game non-golfers can pick up in one turn, which is where velcro targets and tic-tac-toe shine. For more on building a full game-day lineup, see our roundup of backyard party games for adults.
Practice or party?
Be honest about which one you actually want. Practice-first picks: BirdieBall, then Golf Pong Solo mode. Party-first picks: Golf Pong Versus, Chip Tac Toe, Chippo. The DIY route covers casual solo reps until you outgrow it.
FAQ
What is the best golf chipping game?
For most people, a velcro target game like Golf Pong is the best golf chipping game because shots visibly stick to the target, scoring is instant, and it supports solo practice plus 1v1 and 2v2 party play. Cornhole-style games like Chippo are the best pick if your group already loves cornhole, and Chip Tac Toe is the best option for pools.
Can golf chipping games improve your short game?
Yes, with a caveat. Foam-ball games build the things that matter most in chipping: clean contact, consistent trajectory, and target focus under a little pressure. They won't perfectly calibrate your real-ball carry distances, so pair backyard reps with occasional real-ball practice. Limited-flight options like BirdieBall sit closest to real ball feel.
What chipping games can you play indoors?
Games with soft foam balls are indoor-safe. Golf Pong and Chip Tac Toe both use soft foam balls and set up in a living room, garage, basement, or office. Skip anything that uses real golf balls indoors unless you enjoy drywall repair.
What do you need for backyard chipping games?
At minimum: a wedge, practice balls that won't break things (foam or limited-flight), a target, and a hitting mat to protect your lawn. Boxed games bundle all of it. Golf Pong includes the target mat and foam velcro balls, and Chip Tac Toe includes the board, 10 foam balls, a grass chipping mat, and an optional adjustable club so guests don't need their own.
Ready to put a target in the yard? Grab Golf Pong for the lawn or Chip Tac Toe for the pool, and start the argument over who chips first.