Your short game is where you gain or lose strokes. That’s why you should be spending as much time working on it as you do your long game.

In this post, I reveal the best putting mats to help you practice your stroke from home.

You’ll find that the options on this list include simple, narrow putting mats and broader premium designs with various cups to aim at. In addition, you’ll see that most of these putting mats are easy to roll up and store away or transport when you go on vacation.

1. Boburn Golf Mat – Best Overall Putting Mat

Dimensions

Pros

• 6 holes to aim at
• Optimal durability
• Produces a true-roll
• Remains stable while conducting your putting drills
• You can set it up inside or outdoors

Cons

• Premium price tag
• It takes time to get the wrinkle out when you first open it

The Boburn golf putting mat is my best overall putting practice mat, thanks to its quality, size, and quantity of cups to aim at. Although it carries a premium price tag, I feel it is well worth the money because it gives the closest feel to an actual putting green you can find.

At 5 x 10 feet, the high-quality Boburn mat is constructed from heavy-duty materials to offer superior durability. Besides its durability, you’ll find that the soft-elastic surface and slip-resistant rubber-backing keeps the green stable while you putt.

Furthermore, I enjoyed the speed consistency of these greens and that the True-roll surface simulated the conditions of an authentic green on a golf course. Besides my balls roll, I appreciated the six flagsticks to aim at, which is rare for a personal putting surface.

Finally, you can set the Boburn golf putting mat up inside or outdoors and practice most comfortably. However, you will need patience when rolling it out, as it will contain creases. I found that applying some weight to these areas overnight straightened them out.

2. Thorza Indoor Putting Mat – Best Budget Putting Mat

Dimensions

Pros

• Affordable putting mat
• Easily portable
• It comes with a carry bag and putting cup
• Features distance markings along the mat
• Ideal for indoor use

Cons

• It does not include any cut-out holes
• The surface is too similar to a carpet rather than a putting green

The Thorza indoor putting mat offers golfers an affordable setup, easy storage, and hassle-free portability. In addition, I felt the carry bag and the putting cup were a nice touch for an entry-level golf putting mat.

You’ll notice that this mat stretches 10 feet long and is only 1.65 feet wide, leaving little room for error. Besides boosting your accuracy on the golf course, Thorza added markers to help you optimize your distance control from 1 to 7 feet from the cup.

Moreover, I found that the mat remained in place, for the most part, thanks to its non-slip rubber underside. I would avoid consistently walking on it, as this cause it to slide out of place.

The biggest downside is that the mat does not contain cut-out holes for your golf balls to drop into. However, Thorza made up for it with a putting cup. Finally, I felt the surface was thicker than usual, leading to a slower roll, but at this price point, I cannot complain.

3. Perfect Practice Putting Mat – Best Automatic Ball Return System

Dimensions

Pros

• Automatically returns your ball to you after each putt
• Quality velvet material
• Features distance markers and lines to the cup
• Portable
• Includes 2 holes

Cons

• Expensive
• It takes a while to flatten the mat after unboxing it.

A tedious part of putting practice is collecting your golf balls at the end of your set. Fortunately, the Perfect Practice putting mat solves this with an automatic ball return system that shoots your ionomer back to you after every stroke.

I feel it allows me to stay in the zone for an extended period instead of breaking my concentration every few seconds to fetch a ball. You’ll see that this putting mat stretches 9.6 feet long and 15 inches wide to help you master close-range putts.

The putting mat of choice for Dustin Johnson features distance markers and lines to aid your roll to the cup. On the topic of cups, it is equipped with two to aim at. One is smaller to increase your challenge, while the other is regulation size.

Finally, the Perfect Practice putting green delivers a clean roll, and I found it is easy to pack up to transport between the office and home. My only gripe is its premium price tag, but the quality of the product is well worth the spend.

4. TrueBirdie Indoor Putting Green – Best For Distance Control Practice

Dimensions

Pros

• Moderately affordable
• Excellent for distance control training
• Practical travel bag to carry the mat
• Non-slip backing
• Easy to store

Cons

• It does not feature any cut-out holes
• It is not equipped with slope pads, leading to monotonous putts

Feel is an integral part of your putting stroke, and understanding how hard to strike each putt results in greater distance control. The TrueBirdie indoor putting greens feature distance markers from 1 to 8 feet from the cup, allowing you to work on specific lengths.

I find this knowledge is easily transferable to the links, and I have a better feel for how many feet I am from the cup. This 10-foot by 16-inch putting mat also demands straight putts to stay on the surface.

You’ll spot 3 putting targets on the mat, but none are cut out, which could bleak some golfers out. TrueBirdie made amends by adding a moveable silicone golf cup to place on the hole targets.

I also applaud the ease of portability thanks to the nifty draw-string travel back and found it easy to roll up. Lastly, the non-slip backing holds effectively as long as you avoid walking on it frequently.

5. TrueBirdie XL – Best For Mid Handicappers

Dimensions

Pros

• The green includes 2 flagsticks
• A removable backstop prevents golf balls from running wild
• You can create a slope for an extra challenge
• The broader design lets you putt it from different angles
• Quality turf material

Cons

• Moderately expensive
• It would be nice if the slope was more elevated

In my experience, the TrueBirdie XL offers the perfect practice putting mat for mid-handicappers. It provides excellent value for money, allowing golfers to putt from different angles and throw in the challenge of a slope.

You’ll see that the TrueBirdie XL putting green extends to 10.5 feet and is an impressive 3 feet wide. The added width allows you to putt from different positions and challenge yourself to a new line.

Besides putting from different angles, this putting mat offers golfers the luxury of adding a slope to the equation. TrueBirdie included a foam-shaped wedge that elevates the position of the flagsticks and demands precise distance control.

In addition, I enjoy the presence of 2 removable flag-sticks for two reasons. Firstly, you have two targets to aim at, and secondly, you can putt more balls before you need to clear out the cup. Finally, I also approve of the backstop behind the cup, as it stopped my golf balls from rolling all over the house.

6. Putt-A-Bout Par Three Plus – Best Office Putting Mat

Dimensions

Pros

• Affordable for a quality surface
• 3-hole cut-outs to aim at
• 2 hazard cut out to increase the challenge
• You can putt it from multiple angles
• Easy to roll up and store

Cons

• The mat does not contain any actual holes
• Rolling it up too tightly creates creases that are difficult to eradicate

If you are looking for the best indoor putting green to kit out your office, consider the Putt-A-Bout Par Three Plus. It is a simple kidney-shaped mat with 3 cut-out holes and 2 cut-out hazards to add an extra obstacle.

Besides the 2 cut-out hazards, which are broader on the Plus version than others, the 9-foot by 3-foot mat offers the added challenge of various angles. You can use this to your advantage when working on your putting skills and mastering a variety of lines.

Furthermore, I welcomed the flat green-like putting surface, which produced a consistent roll during practice. In addition, the non-skid backing did well to keep the mat grounded throughout.

Finally, the Putt-A-Bout Par Three Plus putting mat is easy to roll up and store whenever you need to hide the evidence of your training exercises.

7. Pinstripe Golf Putting Mat – Best Portable Putting Mat

Dimensions

Pros

• Simple to fold up
• It includes a swing path trainer template to boost accurate strokes
• Master start lines show you the way to the cup
• It comes with a carry bag for hassle-free portability
• It remains stable while practicing

Cons

• There are no actual holes
• It is expensive for indoor putting mats with no ramps

In the age of the digital nomad, you need to travel light and remain practical. Luckily, you don’t have to leave your golf training aids behind. The 7.87-foot by 1.64-foot mat is easy to fold and slide into the complimentary travel bag.

Besides its ease of transport, this putting mat features alignment aids to help you keep your putter head square at impact for accurate putts. Plus, you’ll find a line running down the center of the mat to help you keep your ball on target toward the cup.

Furthermore, this mat does not contain cut-out holes for your ball to drop into but includes a cup. I like the design because it requires you to send your ball at least 18-inches past for the cup to swallow it. You’ll find this promotes confident putts when you are out on the golf course.

I felt it was a nice touch to offer this mat in three different colors, giving the option of green, red and blue. Finally, a ball-blocking aim board prevents your balls from rolling all over the place, as a greaseless rubber bottom keeps them in place during practice.

8. SKLZ Accelerator Pro – Best Putting Mat For For Accurate Strokes

Dimensions

Pros

• It helps golfers produce straighter putts
• The hole at the top of the slope adds an additional challenge
• Affordable
• You can use it indoors or outside
• Quality materials used on the surface for the price

Cons

• The ball got stuck in the automatic returner on occasion
• If you putt it from either side of the alignment markers, the lines are erratic.

My final recommendation for the best putting mats is the SKLZ Accelerator Pro. In my experience, it offered the best platform to work on minimizing putter face twists during your stroke to keep the face square at impact.

The 9-foot by 16.25-inch mat features squaring and alignment lines at 3, 5, and 7 feet from the cup. Watch the putter path on your backstroke and follow through to ensure it remains on plane throughout. Over time it will become second nature to produce straighter strokes.

In addition, they equipped this putting mat with a hole at the top of the ramp. You’ll find this demands precise distance control to drain putts. Once your ball drops into the cup, it is remitted to the sender by the automatic ball returner.

Finally, I admired the quality of the surface as it was as close to actual grass as you can get on an affordable putting mat.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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These days,
you don’t have to play 18 holes or head to the range to work on your golf game—you
can practice in the comfort of your own home. There are a whole host of
different training aids out there—one of the most popular of which are mats;
more specifically, practice putting mats.

The benefit of owning one of these is that you can practice at home even when it’s too cold or dark to play, or if your course is shut because of bad weather. Quite simply, if you want your putting stroke to stay finely tuned throughout the whole season, you need one of these.

Many of
the products we’ve featured below don’t just help you to work on your putting stroke,
but they also feature games that add a bit of pressure to your practice.

As well as putting mats, several other mats are available that allow you to work on your full swing. Here’s a selection of the best golf practice mats currently on the market.

The
Perfect Practice Standard Putting Mat is 9ft 6” long and has been designed to
produce genuine 10-14 stimpmeter speeds with no skipping or skidding.

The precise track lines help users to visualise the path of their ball. Should it roll off-course, the feedback allows golfers to adjust their alignment and stroke. The mat, which is trusted by some of the best golfers in the world, also features two hole sizes, which are designed to strengthen precision training.

This putting mat has a lot going on, although it’s not as complicated as it looks. It can be adjusted to run at four different speeds, allowing golfers to practice on greens that represent the closest speed to their home course or wherever they’re about to play. Users can create slopes, too, with a simple adjustment to the mat, and there are plenty of exercises and fun games to play.

Designed with usability in mind, the PuttOUT Medium Putting Mat is easy to assemble and roll up for storage. With its thick rubber backing, it rolls flat straight out of the packaging. It also comes with its own carry bag, so it’s easy to take with you wherever you need to practice. It runs at 10 on the stimpmeter and features alignment lines and a target hole.

For those
unfamiliar with Me and My Game, this is PGA Pro duo Piers Ward and Andy
Proudman. The pair have built a huge following on their social media channels—and
have also created an online shop full of training aids, including this innovative
putting mat.

It comes with three different weight-biased golf balls—slight, medium and heavy braking—allowing you to practice breaking putts at home. If you’re consistently starting the ball on the wrong line, you’re not going to enjoy much joy on the greens—but this mat also features start lines to help your set-up and get you holing out more often. You can choose between 7.5ft (£99.99) and 11ft (RRP £139.99).

Featuring a true-roll surface similar to an actual green and an up-slope to the cup, the Accelerator Pro helps improve every aspect of your putting stroke. It’s a clever piece of kit that features precise alignment guides at 3, 5 and 7 feet that help golfers square the clubface and produce a more consistent stroke. Meanwhile, the ball return allows users to train more efficiently without interruption.

This
hitting mat has been designed to simulate both rough and fairway grass. It’s
perfect for anyone fortunate enough to have an indoor golf studio. For those
golfers who hit a lot of balls into a net in the garden, this mat is also going
to give your grass some relief.

The beauty of the two different types of synthetic grass is that it allows you to work on your strike from various lies. The mat measures 32.5cm wide by 62cm long and comes with three rubber tees (7cm, 5cm and 3cm).

This multi-purpose, portable mat allows you to hit full shots from two different surfaces: clean fairway (0.5” tall) and rough (1.5” tall). It also comes with a 2” tee and a 1” tee, allowing you to hit different shots with different clubs through the bag.

The
CHAMPKEY PRO is available in two sizes: 3ft x 5ft and 4ft x 5ft. It comes with
two alignment sticks—a useful addition that ensures you keep working on your
basics as you hit balls.

What’s more, you receive four rubber golf tees which allow you to work on each club in the bag. The synthetic surface simulates hitting from a real fairway, and whilst there’s no alternative ‘rough’ area to hit from, this is still a very good training aid.

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