Shooting lower scores on the golf courses isn’t that hard.
We all inherently know what to do if we want to go low, yet very few of us actually do it.
What is it?
Improve our putting.
It’s kind of wild that the thing that can lower our scores the fastest, is also one of the easiest things to practice.
You don’t need a range.
You don’t need a ton of space to swing a golf club.
You just need a few feet in your living room. But that’s not nearly as sexy (or as much fun) as say, buying a new driver.
But there are a handful of smart golfers among us (perhaps you’re one of them?)
You recognize the key to getting your name on the wall at your club comes down to making more putts. After all, 42% of all shots on the golf course are putts.
And if you’re serious about taking your putting practice to the next level, you’ve likely already started thinking about buying a putting mat for your house.
Sure you can putt on your carpet, but if you really want to get better, getting the right putting mat for you can make all the difference in the world.
But don’t worry, I got you covered. Today we’re looking at 6 of the best putting mats on the market. With all golf products, but especially putting mats, there is no one “best”.
It really comes down to finding which product is best for you and your needs, and I think this post will be helpful with that.
Table of Contents
What to Look for in a Putting Mat?
You’d think all putting mats would be pretty much the same – I certainly did before I started this website.
But you’d be wrong.
Putting mats come in all sorts of shapes, styles, speeds, and price ranges.
Some are more realistic than others. Some are better practice aids. Some make putting more fun. In order to figure out which one is best for you, you first need to have an idea of what you’re looking for.
Here are some questions to ask that should help you get a better sense of what you need:
- How much space do you have? This is one of the first big considerations. No matter how big (or small) your space is, there’s a mat for you. Obviously, bigger ones allow you to practice longer putts, but they can take up a lot of space in the process.
- Are you planning to put it away after every use? Some mats are easier to set up than others. And if you’re not planning to leave it out semi-permanently, you’ll want to make sure you get one that’s easy to pack away.
- What’s your budget? Putting mats can vary wildly in both price and performance. You can find a mat for $50 or spend $500. Or even add a couple zeros onto that if you want a permanent install for your backyard. Next to size, budget is the most important consideration
- How important is it to replicate a real green? Some mats do a much better job than others of replicating a real green. This may be critical to you, or you may not care as much.
- What other features do you want? Do you want multiple holes? An automatic ball return? Alignment lines? A compatible smartphone app? Think about what you hope to get out of your putting mat, and which features you’d ideally like to have.
Now that you’ve got an idea of what to look for, let’s jump into my recommendations for the best putting mats on the market!
Note: I’ve personally tested every single one of these mats, so if you have specific questions about any of these or how they compare to one another, drop a comment and I’ll do my best to answer!
Along with this, one brand that I haven’t had a chance to test yet is BirdieBall. I’ve heard great things, and I’ll update this post when I’ve had a chance to personally test.
Most Realistic Putting Mat: Prime Putt
Simply put, the Prime Putt mats are by far the most realistic putting mat I’ve used. When you compare Prime Putt to anything else on the list, it’s not even close.
When you stand on this mat, it legitimately gives you the sensation of being on a real green. Any of the other products on this list feel (and are)more like carpet, as opposed to actual grass.
Don’t get me wrong, even with that being the case, those can all still be wonderful practice aids. But if you want the closest experience to putting on a real green, Prime Putt is the way to go.
The downsides are it’s expensive, and because the synthetic turf is so high quality, it’s a bit thicker and heavier than other mats.
That said, despite the added weight I actually found this to be one of the easiest to setup and fold away.
Here’s our full Prime Putt review detailing all the pros and cons.
