When it comes to being able to practice at home, in the studio, or anywhere else for that matter, one item that’s essential for every golfer is a golf mat. A high-quality golf mat is one of the best golf accessories that it pays to have in your arsenal, especially if you’re keen to get in as much practice as you can.
You may be looking for a mat that will protect your lawn while you practice outdoors, you might be keen to pick out a mat that can be used on the fairways during winter without causing damage, or you might simply want a golf mat that will allow you to perfect your putting.
Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. In this list, we have shared a selection of all the best golf mats to suit a wide range of budgets, functionalities, and abilities. As there’s a difference between hitting and putting golf mats, we’ve split our guide into two parts: best general golf mats and best putting specific mats. While a hitting mat - our favorite of which is the Champkey Golf Mat - is designed to accommodate full swings with clubs ranging from drivers to wedges, putting mats are made purely for putting, helping players work on their putting stroke and technique.
Whether you want to work on your swing or your putting stroke the best golf mat designs on the market are there to help you at home or out on the course. Additionally also take a look at our guides on the best golf net, best golf launch monitors or the best golf training aids.
Best Golf Mat
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Hitting Mats
Sizes: 3 sizes (8" x 17"; 13" x 17"; 1.5ft x 2.2ft)
+ As close as possible to interacting with real grass
+ Ideal, portable size
- Bigger models available
When put to the test, it was clear that the Champkey Golf Mat is well made. We found the size offered plenty of room for the club to interact with the mat, and thought that it would pair well with one of the best golf nets. And, thanks to its solid design and balanced weight, this mat isn’t likely to fly up as you strike the ball, which is a huge pro. Plus, despite its well-weighted design, it’s not too heavy to carry or move around.
What we also liked about this mat is the fact that the artificial grass isn’t too long or heavy, meaning that you get a realistic fairway-like experience when you strike the ball, which is a huge pro.
Read our full Champkey Golf Mat Review
Size: 25" x 16"
+ Durable and well made
+ Three lengths
- Ideally needs a net
SKLZ are known for making extremely high-quality products with the Grip Trainer being a particular favorite of ours, so much so it made our best golf training aids guide), and this practice mat is, thankfully, another fantastically well-made product.
One thing we noticed straight away when putting this mat to the test was its durability, with the three lengths of cut providing something unique for each strike taken. With the tee turf (as the name suggests) holds tees well. While the fairway cut makes it simple to test out long and short iron shots, leaving you feeling like you’re playing from the middle of the fairway, and the first cut rough is ideal for practicing striking the ball in deeper lies as well as for honing key recovery shots.
Size: 24" x 24"
+ Practice off three different lies
+ Compact and portable
- On the heavy side
For anyone looking for a portable mat that provides three different surface types to hit off of, the Champkey Pro Tri-Turf Golf Hitting Mat is the one. The three turf styles perfectly mimic the feel of the fairway, with the first cut and rough allowing you to practice your skills on a range of surfaces.
For any golfer who is keen to practice chipping and put your short game to the test getting out of some dodgy lies, this mat is a great option. Admittedly it is on the heavier side but given the durability on offer, this is not a huge complaint, especially because its weight means it does not move when striking the golf ball.
Putting Mats
Size: 9'6" in length
+ High-quality materials
+ Return system
- Needs a large space
When we put this mat to the test we were expecting great things, and thankfully this mat seriously impressed. What’s great about this putting mat is the fact it has train track alignment lines, along with an auto-ball return, and the hole is a reduced size to help you narrow your focus and further hone your putting. When we put this to the test we found that this can run at up to 14 on the Stimpmeter, dependent on the underlying surface. Featuring a unique crystal velvet material designed to increase pace, this mat can be easily rolled up, making it ideal for storage.
Read our full Perfect Practice Perfect Putting Mat review
Sizes: 7.5 x 1.6ft, 11 x 2.2ft
+ Great roll and quality balls
+ Three options of ball and mat length
- A little on the pricey side
What’s interesting about this putting mat is the fact that it comes with three rather-revolutionary breaking balls, with each of which being differently weighted to help replicate three severities of break. The blue ball features a heavy break, the red ball has a medium break, and the green ball has a slight break. Inside each ball is a screw and, if the screw is on the right, the ball will break left to right and vice versa.
Normally, golf mats allow golfers to only practice straight putts at home, but the Breaking Ball Putt Mat has changed that. The breaking balls are designed to add an extra dimension to putting practice.
Read our full Breaking Balls Putting Mat review
Size: 94" x 19"
+ One of the best putting mats
+ Great for pace control
- Needs a fair amount of space
Designed to replicate medium-to-fast greens, this putting mat comes complete with printed alignment guides, distance markings, and target points. For any golfer who wants to improve their putting stroke and practice drills at home, this mat is the ideal buy.
When we put it to the test, we found that it runs at 10 on the Stimp meter, which means that it provides a consistent and fairly fast-paced green for you to practice on. What we did notice is that when placed on a hard floor, the mat tends to run faster than when placed on carpet, allowing you to alter pace slightly depending on where you’re practicing.
Sizes: 9 x 1.6ft, 9 x 3ft, 12 x 3ft, 15 x 3ft
+ Premium nylon synthetic turf offers a pure roll
+ Cleverly designed cups mimic holes on real greens
- A wider mat would allow for a more comfortable stance
The PrimePutt golf putting mat is certainly up there among the best putting mats out there thanks to the use of premium materials. The tour-grade nylon turf represents real greens superbly well whilst the sleek, wooden engraved back-stop collected balls nicely, and gave a premium look which will stand out in your office or home.
In testing the mat unrolled easily and despite having a few bumps in it, these were flattened out very quickly which therefore gave a smooth roll which is exactly what we are after. It also boasts a cup design which can vary from one hole on the smaller mats, to three on the larger models. There are four differently sized mats to choose from.
Read our full PrimePutt Golf Putting Mat Review
Sizes: 13ft
+ Good length and runs smooth
+ Lines are excellent for helping with alignment and club path
- No hole or ball-return mechanism
The Pure 2 Improve putting mat is one of the longer putting mats on the market which makes it ideal for those wanting to work on longer putts and therefore their pace control. The design we tested measure around 13 feet and there were distinct markers at three, five and seven feet, along with a number of alignment lines which can help iron out any kinks in your stroke.
It feels very well made and rolls out conveniently but obviously you need to make sure you have enough room for it. It may not have a ball return mechanism but this mat is still useful for golfers looking to work on their putting, especially given the more budget-friendly price compared to other models.
Read our full Pure 2 Improve Golf Putting Mat Review
How we test golf gear
When it comes to testing golf mats, our comprehensive methodology revolves around, as you would expect, playing a lot of golf. We feel putting golf products to the test on the golf course, on the range and in practice is the best way to find out how usable and well-designed these golf accessories really are.
On that note, we feel it is particularly important to use all golf mats in different conditions, whether that is in your living room, on your patio, or even on grass. We look out for several features when we test golf mats, including the durability of the artificial grass, how similar the mat feels to real conditions and how convenient they are to use. The final point we should mention is no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our testing team tells it how it is and we seek to be as insightful and honest as possible.
How to choose a golf mat
There are a number of different golf mats on the market, with each boasting an array of different features that you may want to look out for when you purchase your next golf mat. But which one is right for you? Well, there is a lot of choice out there but we recommend keeping in mind the below tips to make sure you make the most informed choice.
Hitting mats vs putting mats - the difference
Put simply hitting mats like the ones above will help you work on full swings, chipping, pitching and more shots of that nature. These mats tend to be square or rectangular in shape, and have weight to them so they are durable and don't move when doing full swings. Hitting mats allow the user to practice a variety of shots too.
Whereas putting mats are designed purely for working on putting. They can vary in design depending on what the person wants to work on, which is why we see putting mats with lots of alignment aids, as well as features to help with pace control, stroke technique and so on. From our experience putting mats these days are easy to roll up and store away.
Size
As you have seen, the best golf mats come in a variety of sizes. If you want models with a larger, or smaller footprint, there are designs out there for you. The thing to be aware of is how much space do you have to work with? This will then dictate which model to go for. Obviously, the above point on what you want to practice will also dictate the size of mat, because putting mats tend to be significantly larger than hitting mats.
Grass type
As we've seen above, some of the best hitting mats come with varying types and lengths of grass. That means you can practice all manner of shots and hone in on how you play from tougher lies or from the rough with your putting mat. On the other hand, you may also just want to use a mat with one type of grass to hone in on your wedge-play or long irons.
Convenience
Linking with the above point, how convenient do you want the mat to be, primarily in terms of how easy is it to store and put away. Some of the models above, like the PuttOUT Putting Mat roll up conveniently and easily in a bag, whilst hitting mats tend to be thicker and take up a bit more room.
Durability
The good thing about mats is they should last a long time because all you are doing on them is using them for their very purpose, practice. That being said there are still models out there which wear down too quickly which is why we have collated the models above because none of them should do that. Just be aware of cheap materials used on mats because they won't perform well in the long term.
For more buying advice also read our guides on the best golf rangefinders or best golf watches.
FAQs
Which golf mat should I buy?
It depends on a) what you want to practise and b) how much space you have. If you're looking to focus on a specific part of your game, there will be a mat for that. We have a great guide on the best putting mats to guide you through even more options on the market.
If you're practising chipping, then one of the smaller mats will be ideal to use to protect the lawn. Maybe you want to check out our best golf nets guide to accompany the mat too.
How long do hitting mats last?
Hitting mats should last a very long time even from regular use, as long as you go for a model that has durability as part of its design. We have seen cheaper models wear away quickly whereas well made designs, constructed with strong materials, last for thousands, even tens of thousands of shots.
Do hitting mats cause injuries?
Depending on the model, yes hitting mats can cause injuries. Firmer designs can cause wrist and arm injuries because of the impact with the ground, whereas we have found the top models have shock absorption as part of their designs to minimize stress on the body.
Is a golf mat worth it?
Definitely. As we've all seen over the various lockdowns (and the surrounding videos) we can all find space to hit a few balls. You can practise all different parts of your game and you can really keep your game ticking over. You can take it anywhere, you don't have to ruin your lawn and it will last for years. The more durable the better is a good approach.
Is a putting mat worth it?
Again, definitely. Putting is around 45 per cent of the game and plenty of us arrive on the 1st green feeling like we've never had a putter in our hands before. Go to any tour event and the putting green will be packed, go to your local club and we'll all be hitting three putts to the same hole and then straight to the 1st tee. This is a great way to nail down that putting stroke and get the fell of rolling the ball properly – and then seeing more putts drop!
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