Should you be a golf aficionado looking to enhance your skills but restrained by time constraints from visiting a golf course, an indoor putting green could be your ideal solution. Putting greens are crucial to golf, and honing your skills on them can boost your overall confidence in the game. Therefore, by improving your abilities and self-assurance in this field, you can expect to experience greater confidence while playing golf.
Most golf simulators will allow you to analyze your shot data and hit your irons and woods indoors. However, with indoor putting greens, you can practice your putting and chipping at any time of the day. They are a fun and convenient way to play golf all year round.
There is a lot of putting green options out there and several things that make them different, including the quality of the turf, wrinkle resistance, size, etc. To help you find the right one for you, we have a list of the best indoor putting greens and buying guide to understand the choosing criteria.
5 Best Indoor Putting Greens
1. Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green
The Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green is our top pick as the best and popular putting green for indoor use. If you’re a beginner looking to buy a great but also affordable golf mat, this putting mat should be your best option.
It is manufactured using polyethylene terephthalate resin, a material commonly known for its lightweight and durability benefits. The turf is purely artificial, and premium materials used for its construction stays the same, so you don’t have to worry about a lot of maintenance.
This indoor putting mat offers excellent value for money since it maintains its smoothness for a long. It comes with three practice cup cutouts to allow you to practice your precision at different angles. It also has built-in sand traps that will catch your golf balls in case of a miss.
The Putt-A-Bout Grassroots indoor golf mat has a non-skid backing, which prevents the mat from moving around while playing. This is one of the best golf mats for golfers on a budget because of its convenient design and long-lasting smooth surface.
Pros
- Lightweight, so it is easy to carry around.
- Built-in sand traps to catch the balls.
- Three different holes for a wider driving range.
- Durable and kidney-shaped design.
- Easy to set up and fold away.It is made of premium and durable materials.
- The kidney-shaped design helps add a bit of a challenge.
- Affordable.
Cons
- No Automatic golf ball return.
- It doesn’t come with a storage case.
2. SKLZ Golf Indoor Putting Green, 3 x 9 feet
The SKLZ golf indoor system is one of the best putting mats that boasts a ball return system that aids in returning the ball to your feet even on missed putts. It measures 9 feet in length and 3 feet in width, making it an excellent choice for narrower spaces.
It has markings at 7 feet, 5 feet, and 3 feet to perfect your distancing and alignment skills by practicing putting from these distances. This putting mat also has a steep upslope at the bottom of the cup and a true-roll surface that mimics the speed required from approximately 9 feet on an actual green.
The ball return mechanism will save you a significant amount of time, allowing you to practice easily without spending a lot of time collecting the balls. This ball mechanism utilizes a slope that helps the ball run back to your feet after every putt.
Pros
- A great automatic ball return mechanismIt has a convenient roll-back feature.
- Slim and compact design for simple storage.
- Training guides to help with putt’s accuracy.
- Slim and compact with effortless roll out the mat.
- Extremely durable surface.
- It mimics the turf surface of actual greens.
- The narrow dimensions are excellent for different indoor playing settings.
Cons
- The steep slope is not adjustable.
- The ball may return awkwardly.
3. Abco Tech Indoor Golf Putting Green
The Abco Tech is also a popular practice putting mat with the required features to test your putting skills, accuracy, and distance control from different distances. It measures 9 feet in length and 16.25 inches in width, making it an excellent fit for long and narrow areas.
Although this model has no ball return system, it has long grass around the cup, which serves to provide the feel of an actual green and also serves as a stopper for putts that are struct with a lot of force. It uses a PP synthetic turf that feels like real grass.
This golf putting mat features two regulation cups of different sizes as training aids to help you know various aspects of putting. The first cup measures 4.25 inches in diameter, which is the standard cup size on a golf course. The second cup is smaller to test your putting skills.
Pros
- Great for narrow spaces.
- Durable backing.
- Two different sized cups, one smaller to help with the accuracy of your game.
- Long alignment lines and multiple cup positions.
- It comes with three training golf balls and a mini cup flag.
- Easy to roll, thereby portable.
- Durable for longevity
Cons
- Too narrow for some people.
- No ball return system
4. PuttOut Pro Golf Putting Mat
The PuttOut Pro Golf mat is made from a great quality material that is easy to roll and store in a carry bag, therefore highly portable. It is one of the best putting mats in the market currently because of its affordability, quality, and efficiency when it comes to training.
This mat is made from a heavy rubber material that can be easily smoothened out on most surfaces. It measures 7.87 feet in length and 1.64 feet in width and comes in green and grey colors. It features seven markings that are one foot apart that helps in controlling distance.
Another important feature is that this mat comes in the shape of “gate” markings that run vertically to either side. This mat is designed to mimic a medium green running at approximately a speed of 10 on the stimp meter. It is an affordable and highly competitive mat recommended for any golfer.
Pros
- True- roll surface.
- Easily portable.
- Simple to set up and store.
- Easy to follow alignment and distance markers.
- Made from quality material, thereby durableIt is bent, so the ball returns even without the real return system.
- Collapsible
Cons
- Lacks a backstop.
- No Ball return function.
5. VariSpeed Putting System
The Varispeed green system has a velvet material that allows one to see if the ball is following smooth or bouncing, which would suggest a putter adjustment is needed. It provides two different greens speeds in a single golf mat.
It comes with everything required for a great putting stroke. The mat measures roughly 10 feet in length and 1.5 feet in width. It is a great and versatile putting green. However, it may require some high maintenance to keep its functionality and speed at its peak.
This putting mat helps in speed control between 7.5 and 13. It also features a trail where you can view the route that every putt has used. This allows you to determine the influence of different speeds used.
It can also build in some undulations to respond to how the ball breaks on slight undulations. However, this mat lacks a slope built-in towards the hole to slow the ball down, but it is substituted by a thick rubber backing and backstop that prevents the balls from rolling off the back of the mat.
Pros
- Incredible putting speeds and undulation management.
- Great grip on carpet.
- Easy to set up and store.
- Displays the paths that the balls traveled in.
- Instant putting stroke feedback.
- It comes with tips and games.
Cons
- More expensive compared to other models on our list.
- It lacks a ball return feature.
Things To Consider Before Buying an Indoor Putting Green
1. Material
Different indoor putting greens have different quality despite all having a green carpet or astroturf. The prices will vary according to the material, although this is not always the case. If you buy a cheap putting mat, they are probably going to get damaged faster.
Consider doing your research and reading the reviews to find out if the quality of the mart is great before adding it to the cart. Ensure the mat will last for a long time and will stay smooth throughout. This might cost you a bit more, but it is definitely worth it.
2. Size
The size of the putting green you pick should be proportional to the space you have at home. If we assume all other factors remain constant, the larger the putting green, the higher the price, and at the same time, the more surface area to have productive golf sessions.
Small or narrow putting greens may make you get bored easily because it feels like you’re hitting the same putt every time. The size is a critical factor in putting greens because you’re playing indoors where you’re confined by walls, furniture, among other things.
To find the correct size of the putting green to purchase, measure the length and width of your space. Find a mat that will fit your space. However, a good putting mat should accommodate at least a length of 10 feet and a width of 6 feet for a fantastic putting experience.
3. Design
Indoor putting greens come in different shapes and designs. The design should be a personal choice. Some are just long, narrow mats with a hole at the end, which is a basic design. If this design looks good for you then, go for it!
If you’re looking for a more complex design, then there are plenty of options in the market today. Some indoor putting greens have interchangeable pieces to imitate differently sloped. In contrast, others have fake water and sand. Choose one that perfectly matches your needs and preferences.
4. Budget
The budget is also a critical factor in deciding which indoor golf putting green to buy. Fortunately, there are options available for every buyer.
If you’re serious about putting practice, then you should avoid the extra cheap putting greens. Most of the time, these greens are either of lower quality material or have a very small surface area.
However, there some affordable ones that have excellent features. Choose an affordable option for you. Not everyone can afford greens that cost are over $100.
5. Extra Features
The most important factor when it comes to greens is the quality of the putting surface and at least a few cups to putt to. However, the extra features add value to putting green and can make your game easier.
These extra features might be things like;
- Automatic Ball return feature- This is a useful feature, especially if your preference is to stand in one spot and hit several putts. Most of these models have a raised ramp, which makes the ball run back to you.
- Chipping practice- Most putting greens allow you to practice chipping as well putting. They may come with special chipping mats.
- A full hitting mat- This allows one to hit any club in the bag, in addition to a putting green.
- Break snakes and brake pads- These can make your practice sessions easier by allowing you to add a break.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) on Indoor Putting Greens
1. What is the best indoor putting green?
The best indoor putting green is the Putt-A-Bout Grassroots Putting Green. This indoor golf green not only boasts an excellent putting surface but is also affordable and made from high-quality material. It is an excellent practice mat, especially for beginner players who are looking to understand the golf course.
2. How much does an indoor putting green cost?
The price of an indoor is dependent on so many factors that include size, design, extra features, durability, etc. However, most indoor greens cost between $40 to $100, with some of them even costing above $100.
3. What kind of grass do you use for putting green?
The most common types of grass used with putting greens are the bermudagrass, poa annual grass, and the creeping bentgrass. The creeping bentgrass is considered to be the best because of its finely textured blades that allow the ball to roll smoothly, with less resistance.
4. Is putting green worth it?
Purchasing a putting green is definitely a good idea, especially if you are a beginner golfer or you’re planning to become better at it. This is because these golf putting surfaces allow you to practice frequently at the comfort of your home. Practicing more helps improve your putting skills much faster, making then to be totally worth it.
5. How long do indoor putting greens last?
Depending on how careful you’re taking care of your golf putting green, they can even last up to 20 years. This basically means that how long a putting green can last is dependant on how you take care of it, with the minimum being at least one year.
