Best Indoor Putting Mats for Practice/Training
Putting mats are an excellent option for players of all skill levels. Whether you're someone looking to practice and work on your game or are simply looking for a fun activity to have with your friends, the indoor putting greens will serve you well. However, choosing the right golf putting mat is easier said than done. There are several products across various price ranges, making it difficult to select the right one. But don't worry, we've got you covered.
We spent weeks testing (and playing!) over dozens of putting mats to determine which are worth your money. Here are our top 5 picks.
Best High End
WellPut Putting Mat
Best Mid Range
VariSpeed Putting System
Best Inexpensive
Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three
Last Updated: 2nd Jan, 2022
Indoor golf comes in a variety of styles; driving ranges, chipping areas, putting greens, and many more. The ability to practice your swing or control in the privacy of your own home, is a rapidly growing leisure time. This calming activity is usually associated with businessmen and high rollers, but thanks to its modern popularity, indoor golf is becoming more accessible and affordable for everyone. Being small and portable makes them even more ideal for home settings and offices.
As a young adult venturing into the big wide world, I found myself continually stressed about the necessities of life; work, family, money, and needed a way to de-stress myself. There it was… the vibrant, perfectly even, and very close-trimmed grass of a putting green. My brothers and I used to love releasing our anger out on the driving range, most of the time barely hitting 150 yards. It was something about the tranquillity of a putting green that captivated me. My passion grew, but unfortunately, so did the hole in my wallet.
That's where my love for putting greens began. Every opportunity I had, I would source myself a place on the annual work outing just to spend some quality time on a 9-hole putting course. Now every time I have a free hour or two, or when there's torrential rain outside, I find myself dusting off my putting green and getting myself some much-needed practice.
Here is my list for my top 5 putting mats. All aimed for giving you the best in quality, price, comfort, and giving you that quality time to yourself or with your close friends.
Our Top Picks for The Best Putting Mats
- WellPut Putting Mat- Pro Pick
- VariSpeed Putting System - Best for Practice
- Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green - Best Putting Mat for Home
- PuttOut Pro Golf Putting Mat - Best Portable Pick
- SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Mat - Automatic Ball Return
1. WellPut Putting Mat
The WellPut Putting Mat has got to be our pro pick. Not only will this mat help you improve your swing, but it also allows you to hone your skills and take them from amateur to professional - saving your putting.
WellPut is a company that knows about putting the golfer first- see what I did there? Sorry, I couldn't resist. In all seriousness, this 13ft putting mat rolls perfectly out of the box, ready to begin developing your skills. No need to mess around with any weights, trying to hold the corners down. The mat allows back and forth directional play as well as 10 different 'feel' zones for different exercises (7 'feel' zones in the 10ft model). In my brief time with the WellPut Putting Mat, I managed to make the most of perfecting my swing and using those feel zones to help. It also comes with a unique 'zebra' zone, which teaches you from falling short - an excellent pro feature!
The WellPut putting mat also comes with a training book, helping you record your previous attempts, learn tips, and challenge yourself with over 50 training exercises. A 3-course score card booklets of varying difficulties will help you master your putting stroke, touch length, and speed.
The green is well manufactured, creating a stimp speed of 11. This mat is for someone with experience or those looking to become the next Tiger Woods.
Top Features:
- 13ft putting green
- Zebra zone
- Graphical hole representation
- Training Book with 50+ Exercises
- Alignment lines
Final Note:
The WellPut Putting Mat is one of the best indoor mats out there. With its smooth green, training exercises, multi-directional play, you'll be moving from amateur to pro before your friends have finished the first hole. At a price of $169.99, this isn't cheap, which is why it remains as our Pro Pick!
2. VariSpeed Putting System
Next up is our Editor's Choice, the VariSpeed Putting System. I found this mat to be cleverly designed for golfers with a variety of experience - that also means me, the average golfer. This is a serious putting mat that allows you to train and work on your putting, and at the same time, it's designed so that you can entertain friends and compete to see who the best golfer is (when it comes to putting).
One of the reasons I think the VariSpeed Putting System makes it into the top 5 is down to its four different speeds. That's right, four different speeds simply by brushing the mat in a different direction. You can also change the speed of the green, and the visible ball trace allows you to analyze the path of your previous putt. This helps you to understand how to improve your next shot.
Just as I thought it couldn't get any better, a feature of the VariSpeed Putting System that I also adored was the custom slope with an adjustable height, adding that realism to your indoor putting mat and preparing you for the real world. This is something that every golfer should have. It's one thing practicing your putt but another practicing it as close as you can to the real thing.
Rolling out to 10ft and 20 inches wide, you can take this mat anywhere to help you achieve your goal of reaching the PGA tour- I'll keep dreaming. With an affordable price of $109.99, you'll be the one to make your boss invite you to every one of the company's outings, as long as you bring this with you.
Final note:
Whether you're an experienced golfer or new to the green, the VariSpeed Putting System is one of our favorites when it comes to adding a real touch to your practice. The adjustable speed and custom breaks make this putting mat one of the more advanced out there in terms of extras and one of the best for testing a variety of skills.
3. Put-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green
I'm now going to take a step in a different direction, by showcasing one of the best budget putting mats available today for home use. Although it's not as streamlined as the others. It also lacks the array of features as the previous two. Having said that, this budget putting green is mainly designed to cater to casual players looking to have some fun right in the comfort of home.
This practice putting mat comes with three cut-out holes, tailored for level, uphill and downhill putting. It also has two additional cut-out holes to replicate sand traps, teaching you to master the strength of your shot, something I couldn't seem to do on the day. This model, I found fun with a few friends on a rainy day.
This is an ideal indoor mat for some friendly competition. At the same time, you're still getting the much-needed practice without missing too many days of golf.
This mat is just short of 8ft, smaller than the previous models, but at a price of $35. It's a little wider than the others as well - something to bear in mind. I would probably say that this putting green is perfect for those just starting out or for the ones who think they are better than they are - you know I'm right!
Top features:
- Kidney shaped putting green
- Built-in sand traps
- 3 practice cup cut-out holes
- Non-skid backing
Final Note:
Again, this is more of a helper for those amateur golfers looking to gain that required practice or for those just starting out. Whatever your level of experience is, this can either be a great tool to help with your putting or have a good bit of fun with family and friends. I feel it's a good break from the reality of golf and that constant need to strive for perfection. Overall this is an ideal mat for recreational and casual players looking to up their game without putting a hole in the pocket.
4. PuttOut Pro Golf Putting Mat
Back to more professional putting greens, I've chosen to put this one on our list as one of the easiest, portable putting mats currently on the market. It comes with its very own stylish carry case (which I personally loved), making it convenient to carry.
This mat replicates a medium-fast green with a stimp of 10, helping bring you up to the speed of a professional. Thanks to the heavy rubber backing, there's none of those annoyances of re-adjusting the mat after several shots. I felt this was a nice touch to an already good mat. It's more the design of this mat that captured my interest with the smooth green polyester and the impeccable alignment guides than run halfway up the mat, almost captivating.
Although I only have the chance to test the standard green color, this amazing mat also comes in grey - just in case you want to be different. Grey or green, this pro putting mat will help. It also comes with markings to perfect your putt. These lines act as a guide to help you deliver a consistent stroke every time, giving you something to follow for those just starting out. You can even consider getting the PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer additionally to further work on your putting skills.
Top features:
- Packaging design and carry case
- Alignment guides
- Durable heavy rubber backing
- Lightweight
Final Note:
At a price of $89.90, this is both affordable and a professional bit of kit. A must-have for any passionate golfer who is looking to tighten their putting technique. Even if you aren't a golfer, purchasing this just for its stylish carry case is well worth doing - at least look like a pro.
5. SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green with Ball Return
For the final addition to the list, comes the SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green. This is an elegant putting green and has one feature that I love, its automatic ball return. Forget those days of having to walk to the end of the green to fetch your ball, just to do it all over again. This nice piece of kit returns your ball for you, meaning more consistency with your putting.
It measures 9ft overall but comes with a handy 3ft, 5ft, and 7ft marker to help fine-tune your putting handiwork. This helped me perfect my straight putt, following the lines to ensure you get a hole in one… almost every time. The 'true roll' surface simulates the real quality of the green, so when you get out to compete against your boss or friends, you're more than ready.
The markings on the mat will help you with your shorter putt allowing you to align your club to the ball more effectively. This is a must-have for any solo golfer or even an ideal stress reliever for any workplace. If I had to pick one fault with this, it would probably be that I found the mat to curl up slightly, but nothing a little weight couldn't sort out.
Top features:
- Gravity ball return
- Distance markers
- Realistic upslope
- Alignment and distance control
Final Note:
Great for the shorter putt, and measuring at an impressive size, the SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green is a solid product. Costing only $44.99, the mat offers excellent bang for your bucking, offering a fine balance of quality, features and pricing. What I really liked was how efficient the ball returned, saving you from the hassle of picking the ball after every putt.
Indoor Putting Mat Buyer's Guide
When purchasing your desired putting green, you want to look for a few things. The first is the quality of the green itself. Most greens come with different stimps (a stimp measures how much force a golf ball is needed to travel across the green). Ideally, you want to aim between 10-13 for the perfect game, that's what most professional greens are designed for.
Alignment lines are something worth thinking about as they really help you to become a more consistent player, although not always a necessity. Most of these help you with your club alignment and the positioning of your back, which is something you should always consider. As well as alignment lines or guides, another key feature to look out for is how much it resembles a real-life green; inclines, adjustable distances, or sand traps.
One of the final things to bear in mind when buying your indoor putting green is the size - yes, that's right, size matters in golf too. Always look for the size guide of the green when purchasing your mat, as putting your money into the perfect product can all go to waste if you have nowhere to store it. I'd recommend between 8-10ft, an ideal size for most homes.
Key Considerations
<Size>
The first and the most crucial point to consider is the size of the putting mat. You should make this decision based on space availability and whether you would like to permanently keep it open or roll it when not in use.
Luckily, Putting greens are available in all sorts of sizes and shapes to fit most rooms. From modest 6' mats to as large 20' mats, there are plenty of options to choose from. Just make sure the room is spacious enough for the mat without feeling congested or cramped. If you're looking for a portable green that you can also carry along with you on trips, a 10' mat should suffice for your needs. It's large enough for fun games yet rolls down for compact storage.
<Stimp Rating>
If you're for a mat to seriously train and practice on, you need to consider the Stimp rating. Basically, stimp rating is an indicator of how fast the surface is and how does it compare with any standard golf course. Most country golf courses have a stimp rating of 11 to 13. So, you should be looking for a green somewhere or close to this range for effective practice.
A stimp rating of 7 is considered quite slow, 9 is considered moderate speed, and 13+ stimp rating is very fast. Most PGA approved courses have 12 stimp ratings.
<Training Aide>
Again this is a feature relevant for those who're working on to improve their game. Some mats come with alignment markings to help you work on your putting skills and stroke. The grid lines help you line the ball with the hole, allowing you to maintain consistent square putter face while putting.
<Mat Thickness>
The thickness of the mat is equally important. Thicker mats offer true ball roll, mimicking real play conditions. Also, thicker mats tend to be more durable in comparison. For training, look for at least 3'' thick mat and 2'' for recreational usage.
<Budget>
You can find golf putting mats at a price point of as low as $30 to as high as $120. If you're looking for a mat for casual games, there is no point going for a top-end mat. Something in the range of $30 to $60 would work out perfectly for you. But if you're looking for a mat to seriously practice and train, I suggest going for a mat in the range of $80 to $100. Such mats are professionally built to imitate true conditions and come with a number of handy features like ball return, markings, breaks, etc.
How to effectively use a Putting Mat
There are only a few ways to play golf on an indoor putting green. Most include an alcoholic beverage or two, but as I cannot condone drinking and golfing, I would recommend you start with a putter. In a calm manner, bearing in mind your surroundings, gently tap the golf ball along the green and hopefully into the hole.
You can challenge yourself by distancing the ball further away from the hole and even trying different angles to take on more of a professional level. As discussed above, some greens come with additions such as inclines and sand traps. These can add more of a challenge to your practice and even add more fun.
Keeping track of your performance is important. If you are taking golf seriously as most golfers do, then you will want to ensure you're making improvements in your stroke. When not seriously practicing, you can always invite your friend over and simply enjoy casual putting on the mat.
Let's Wrap Things Up:
My favorite putting green was the VariSpeed Putting System, purely due to its four different speeds and its visible ball trace. I felt this made my putting easier to fine-tune and become a more consistent player and at a quicker speed. Whether your perfect putting green is something portable, more of a professional green, or an automatic one, there is a putting mat for everyone.
I hope my review has helped in your decision for the perfect indoor golf putting mat a little more easier.
