If you’re looking to practice you’re putting at home, you really don’t have to spend much money.
For about 50 bucks you can pick up a SKLZ putting mat, which even has a ball return!
Heck, you could pull out a water glass and place it down on your carpet – instant putting mat! Total cost: $0.
But neither of those options are really going to provide the best experience possible, since neither feel like you’re putting on a real green.
So what does provide the most realistic putting green experience at home?
Well, according to Prime Putt – they do.
The Prime Putt team has piled loads of research and development into their mats to make them as realistic as possible.
But is it worth triple the price of most of the other mats we tested in our comparison of the best putting mats on the market?
Read on to find out.
This is the Rolls Royce of putting mats. It's not cheap, but if you're looking for the most realistic putting green experience outside of real grass, this is the mat for you.
“Wait, This is It? This Doesn’t Seem Right.”
When my Prime Putt mat arrived in the mail, that was my initial reaction.
The box was, let’s say, in less than pristine condition.
But I’m going to chalk that up to a UPS issue.
Fortunately, nothing was damaged and as soon as I pulled the mat out of the box – I could tell it was something special.
Most of the mats I’ve reviewed are essentially varying levels of carpet. Some a little nicer than others – but still, it’s a thin piece of carpet you putt on.
The Prime Putt mat is not that. At 5/8th of an inch thick – this thing is beefy.
But its size and weight actually work to its advantage.
When you roll it out, it immediately lays completely flat. No ridges, creases, or any issues at all.
Every single time it just works. And if you’ve used any cheaper putting mats, you know this can often be an issue.
I got one of the larger size mats at 3′ by 12′ – but they have smaller sizes if you have budget or space constraints.
In testing so many mats, I quickly learned that I really appreciate the 3-foot wide products. Being able to stand on the mat makes a big difference in terms of realism and putting experience.
And despite its size and weight, I’ve found Prime Putt to be the easiest to put away of all the options I’ve tested – as long as you have a place to put it.
Additional Features of the Prime Putt Mat
When it comes to putting mats, many brands have additional features that can work as selling points. Things like:
- A backstop
- A ball return
- Break pads
- Hole inserts
- Separate chipping mat
- Elevated hole to promote hitting 18 inches past the ball
But in my experience? Many of those things are just for marketing. Break pads rarely work well, the elevated hole just makes it feel less realistic, and a chipping mat? Not helpful.
The Prime Putt mat hits the right balance of giving you the things you need and nothing you don’t.
There’s an elegant wooden backstop, and plastic inserts for each of the 3 holes so that your golf ball won’t land directly on your hardwood floor.
Oh, and it’s totally flat just like a real putting green. This is surprisingly refreshing in the world of golf practice mats.
Sure, a ball return is convenient, but if you’re looking for a realistic experience – that’s not it.
So, Does the Prime Putt Mat Feel Like a Real Putting Green?
Now, the most important question “does the Prime Putt feel like a real putting green.”
The answer? Yes. And No.
When it comes to roll? The Prime Putt mat is pure.
It rolls like a dream.
It feels like it rolls about a 10.5 or 11 on the stimpmeter, which isn’t the fastest green ever, but a perfect speed for practicing in real-world conditions.
One of the things that makes Prime Putt different is the fact that it’s not a carpet-based mat. Rather there are nylon blades of grass, that make it feel more like a real green.
While this does lead to very realistic roll, there’s one thing that doesn’t feel quite as realistic:
The sound.
When you putt on this mat, there’s a subtle whooshing sound the ball makes as it skirts across the mat.
It’s not a big deal, but it’s the one main giveaway that this is indeed a piece of synthetic turf.
Not All Cups are Created Equal
Before going deep reviewing putting mats, I kind of figured most of the holes would feel the same.
I mean, how different can a 4-and-a-half hole react to a different one of the same size?
Turns out, they can be quite a bit different.
Prime Putt spent considerable energy researching and testing hole designs to ensure they reacted exactly like a putt would on a real green.
If it would lip out on the golf course, it should lip out on your putting mat – and that’s exactly what happens with a Prime Putt mat.
I also made the (wrong) assumption that all mats would come with inserts for the holes so that balls don’t drop directly on your hardwood floors.
Turns out most don’t, but the inserts Prime Putt provides work great and are a nice touch. They really do feel like real golf holes. and the slightly raised backs are just the right size to keep made putts in the hole.
Final Thoughts on Prime Putt Putting Mats
The Prime Putt 3′ x 12′ Prime Putt mat I have is $499 – which is a whole lot of money.
Even the cheapest Prime Putt mats which are 1.5′ x 9′ cost over $300.
So they’re not cheap mats.
But they’re also the only mat I’ve tested that actually does feel similar to putting on a real putting green.
They don’t come with extra marketing gimmicks masquerading as “features,” and there’s no high-tech element like you’d find with Puttr or ExPutt.
But when it comes to realism and aesthetics? This is the best option I’ve found.
If you’re looking for a serious putting mat to do serious practice on at home? I think Prime Putt is the way to go, despite being more expensive than the competition.
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This is the Rolls Royce of putting mats. It's not cheap, but if you're looking for the most realistic putting green experience outside of real grass, this is the mat for you.
The most realistic putting mat we've tested.
If you're looking for a well built, aesthetically pleasing putting mat that actually feels like putting on a real green? Then the Prime Putt mat should be at the top of your list.
The Good
- The most well built putting mat we've tested
- Synthetic turf rolls just like a real putting green
- Engineering into the holes makes them react just like in real life
- Elegantly designed, and way more visually pleasing than other mats.
The Bad
- The sound putts make detracts a little bit from the realistic experience
- They're expensive.
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