Best Indoor Putting Greens 2021
How’s your putting? Not good?
One solution its to pick up one of the best indoor putting greens for 2021 and a good set of irons, and you’ll be on your way to shooting lower scores.
Take it from us when we say an indoor putting green isn’t just a putting mat. We tested the best indoor putting greens on the market to see which ones roll like your country club greens, offer options like break and speed and how durable they are.
Some indoor putting greens are for drills while others are just to groove your stroke. Whatever your preference, we have you covered.
Read on.
WINNER: BirdieBall
If you want the best indoor putting green of 2021, it’s the BirdieBall. It might not have alignment lines to help you but if you’re looking for the closest thing to putting on a real green, this is the one for you. Its foam platform allows the ball to roll consistently and true, roll after roll. You can add customizable features such as your favorite NFL team or brand your company logo on the mat. The possibilities are endless. If you want, you can add slope and break to really dial in your putting. These are just some of the reasons why BirdieBall was crowned Most Wanted Indoor Putting Greens of 2021.
- 2nd in durability
- 1st in ease of use
- 4th in features
- 1st in roll
BEST FEATURE RICH - Wellputt 13FT Mat Black
The Wellputt 13FT Mat Black offers a massive selection of alignment lines and rolling zones to allow you to practice putter alignment, direction, distance control. The accessory app offers a selection of games and challenges designed to improve your putting. The Premium is available at 13ft length and rolls at 10 on the stimp meter. It also comes with a lifetime warranty on all Wellputt putting mats.
Features That Matter
Length: How much room do you have? If you have a games room, man cave or she shed with plenty of floor space, a longer mat allows you to vary your practice. If you’re setting up in a smaller room, no worries. There are appropriately sized indoor putting greens to fit almost any space.
The longest indoor putting green in 2021 was the Puttout Large while those with little space should consider Perfect Practice and Puttout Slim.
Roll: If your ball typically jumps and bounces on the green, you might be tempted to think it’s your stroke. Maybe it is. Maybe isn’t. Choosing an indoor putting green that rolls smoothly eliminates that uncertainty. If you want your mat to roll like your country club green consider BirdieBall, Perfect Practice and Big Moss Competitor V2.
Material Quality: This guide is published in the COVID-19 era but we want your indoor putting green in 2021 to be an investment that lasts beyond stay-at-home orders. Mats made of thinner material tend to wear faster and may develop holes within a few months. Thicker mats hold their form and last longer. Thicker mats that will last the length of time include the Big Moss Competitor V2.
Features: Some indoor putting greens are just “plain Jane” strips of fake turf but they can still give you an edge over your friends. More advanced models offer a comprehensive set of alignment aids, visual aids and targets. Some have features that offer different speeds, ramps, games, the ability to create breaking putts, and much more. No one mat offers a complete set of features so you’ll need to decide on your priorities. Those who want to have as many holes, ramps and putting drills as possible should consider WellPutt and Perfect Practice.
Portability: At some point, your putting mat will need to be stowed away. If storage is a consideration, you’ll want a mat that rolls up tightly and is easy to transport. Puttout Slim is a great example of excellent portability and storage.
BEST PUTTING MAT 2021 - FEATURES
Product | Width x Length (FT) | Holes | Ramp | Break | Speed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big Moss Competitor V2 Check Price | 3' x 9' | 3 | Yes | No | Fast | |
BirdieBall Check Price | 4' x 14' | 4 | Yes | Yes | Fast | |
Eyeline Roll The Rock Check Price | 2' x 12' | 0 | Yes | No | Fast | |
Go Sports Curling/Shuffleboard Check Price | 2' x 10' | 0 | No | No | Medium | |
Odyssey 12x3 putting mat Check Price | 3' x 12' | 5 | Yes | Yes | Medium | |
Perfect Practice Check Price | 1' x 9' | 2 | Yes | No | Fast | |
Proactive Sports Varispeed Check Price | 1.7' x 10' | 0 | No | Yes | Slow/Medium/Fast | |
Puttout Check Price | 1.7' x 6' | 0 | No | No | Medium | |
Puttout Large Check Price | 3' x 12' | 0 | No | No | Medium | |
Puttout Slim Check Price | 0.82' x 7.9' | 0 | No | No | Medium | |
Rukket Sports 2 in 1 Check Price | 2.5' x 10' | 4 | Yes | No | Fast | |
Sklz accelerator Check Price | 1' x 9' | 1 | Yes | No | Medium/Fast | |
Ukase Putting Mat Check Price | 1.7' x 10' | 0 | No | No | Fast | |
Wellputt First Check Price | 1.2' x 10' | 0 | No | No | Fast | |
Wellputt High Speed Check Price | 3' x 13' | 0 | No | No | Fast | |
Wellputt 13FT Mat Black Check Price | 3' x 13' | 0 | No | No | Fast | |
WellPutt Start Check Price | 1' x 10' | 0 | No | No | Fast |
The Best Putting Mats of 2021: Buying Considerations
- Verify how much space you have before you purchase your indoor putting green.
- Some of the best indoor putting greens of 2021 have graphics and lines, features designed to improve your putting, but some golfers may find them distracting. Others keep it simple. Decide which you prefer and choose accordingly.
- Thin indoor putting greens can pose an issue with durability. Many also roll pretty much the same as the underlying surface. If you choose a thinner indoor putting green, make sure the surface you’re placing it on is smooth.
- Some indoor putting greens are designed to be putted on from both ends. This can help keep things interesting while allowing you to spend more time putting and less time retrieving balls.
- Ideally, your indoor putting green would replicate the speed of the greens at your home course. While that can be difficult, some indoor putting greens offer multiple putting speeds depending on which portion of the putting green you’re putting on.
- Some of the best indoor putting greens of 2021 have multiple holes with different diameters. Smaller holes require greater precision.
- Some indoor putting mats offer accessories that allow you create breaking putts, along with uphill and downhill putts.
Expert Tip - Practice to Stop Leaving Putts Short
Many golfers struggle with leaving putts short. Purchasing a putting mat with a ramp or other uphill or incline features will train you to hit putts just a little bit harder. When you get to a flat putt, your muscle memory will take over and get it to the hole. If you miss, the ball will only go a foot or so past. That's a gimmie or a tap-in at worst.
Putting Tips
- Short putts. Unless your playing partners are especially generous, you will have to make a lot of putts inside five feet. Practicing shorter putts can benefit your game tremendously. Start close to the hole and work your way back as your ability to roll consistently straight putts improves.
- Alignment sticks. If you cannot repeat the same putting stroke, try using alignment sticks to create a narrow path from the putter to the hole.
- Distance control. Those who struggle with distance control should putt to different markings on the mat and try to hit the same marking five times in a row. Once you’re successful, increase the distance and repeat.
- Have a routine. To ensure a consistent, repeatable stroke, you should have a routine. This trains your muscles and brain to replicate the same stroke and take it on the course.
BEST PUTTING MAT 2021 - RESULTS
Product | Durability | Ease of Use | Features | Roll | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Birdie Ball Check Price | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 1st | 91.5 | |
Big Moss Competitor V2 Check Price | 1st | 1st | 12th | 2nd | 90 | |
Proactive Sports Varispeed Check Price | 3rd | 10th | 4th | 5th | 87.5 | |
Wellputt 13FT Mat Black Check Price | 11th | 15th | 1st | 5th | 87.5 | |
Perfect Practice Check Price | 6th | 4th | 11th | 2nd | 86.5 | |
Eyeline Roll The Rock Check Price | 5th | 8th | 4th | 10th | 86 | |
WellPutt First Check Price | 11th | 15th | 2nd | 5th | 85.5 | |
Wellputt High Speed Check Price | 11th | 15th | 2nd | 5th | 85.5 | |
Puttout Large Check Price | 9th | 8th | 4th | 10th | 85 | |
Rukket Sports 2 in 1 Check Price | 14th | 4th | 9th | 4th | 84 | |
Puttout Slim Check Price | 3rd | 4th | 15th | 15th | 83.5 | |
Ukase Putting Mat Check Price | 5th | 10th | 12th | 10th | 83.5 | |
Go Sports Curling/Shuffleboard Check Price | 6th | 10th | 4th | 17th | 83 | |
Puttout Check Price | 9th | 4th | 15th | 10th | 81.5 | |
WellPutt Start Check Price | 14th | 10th | 10th | 5th | 81.5 | |
Sklz accelerator Check Price | 16th | 10th | 14th | 10th | 78 | |
Odyssey 12x3 putting mat Check Price | 17th | 1st | 17th | 16th | 73.5 |
What do I need to know about indoor putting greens?
Q: Does it matter where I use my putting green?
A: Whether you have an indoor or outdoor putting mat, it should be placed on a hard, smooth surface to avoid wrinkling and promote smooth roll. The best putting greens of 2021 can be used outside when the weather permits but be sure to store your putting green inside when not in use.
Q: How does my indoor putting green compare to a real green?
A: Most indoor putting greens won’t match the experience of putting on a real green but some can get you most of the way there. If you have the opportunity to test multiple indoor putting greens, you might find one that mimics the green speeds at your course.
Q: How do I care for my indoor putting green?
A: Constant maintenance of your indoor putting green is a necessity. Vacuum it before and after use, be sure not to puncture it and keep it rolled up and stowed away in a storage bag to hold its shape.
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Foster Atteberry
7 months agoI purchased a MLA Putter putting mat with real strong rubber backing and very smooth roll. It came in a carrying case and it was priced at $180 but I got it for $30…..thin’ I got it from GolfersRX.
Brian O'Shea
10 months agoHave you tried the ExPutt putting matt and simulator. It’s got a memory foam at the end and allows you to put between 2 feet up to 40 feet I think. Also gives insights into path, speed, etc.
WYBob
12 months agoExcellent information and article. When I lived in Texas I had a synthetic green installed in my backyard which also included a chipping area. To regulate the speed, the installer used a black rubber substance that had the consistency of fine sand, Once a year he would come back and check the green and the speed. I could adjust the speed of the green to whatever I wanted for that year. Do any of the mats tested allow for this type of dynamic speed adjustment? The reason I ask is that I now live in a part of the country where the course superintendent changes the grass height (hence speed) at various times of the year because of cold (and snowy) weather. I’d like to use the whole mat for practice year-round, so having different speeds on different parts of the mat is not exactly optimal. Thanks for any insights.
Kansas King
11 months agoI’ve done some significant research into putting mats don’t think any prefabricated mats offer this currently. I think someone else mentioned it but it would be interesting to see a test among some of the turf and non-portable options. Perhaps building custom putting greens at home is more of a Robb Report type product but nonetheless it would be interesting to see if there are any good turfs you could by in quantity to make your own practice mat.
Regarding the rubber filler used in your green, does it require any grooming or brushing to keep everything rolling true?
It seems having a filled turf would potentially require some maintenance but maybe worth it if you have the room in your house to more or less permanently place your mat. I like the idea of being able to adjust the speed of the mat but rubber pellets sounds potentially messy.
Andrew
12 months agoGood article. Next can you do a review of different putting turfs that aren’t pre-fabricated like these? That would be great for someone like me who has a custom built indoor putting green and doesn’t like his current turf (Starpro MPT)
Paul
10 months agoAndrew. – Truline greens now sells their turf for home and business putting greens.
RC
12 months agoThanks for this. I was looking at outdoor and indoor, and a couple of these sound interesting. This article was so good, I checked the price on 4 mats before I could finish the article and get to the comments. My only “complaint” is that you didn’t say exactly which BirdieBall mat you tested, which would have been helpful.
brianwhosoever
12 months agoMade this investment last year after the MGS article and took over a month to research and compare. For me it came down to Birdieball or Big Moss Competitor V2. I chose Big Moss due to more favorable reviews on durability. I like the heavier weight and more realistic darker green look and have not regretted the decision at all. Added a puttout and a mirror for alternative practice sessions and my putting has improved tremendously. Consistency and confidence like I’ve never had before. Thank you MGS.
MyGolfSpy
12 months ago👊
Eugene Gallacher
12 months agoShocked not to see the PuttOut mat especially when combined with PuttOut Pressure system get a mention on here. IMO best all round putting training aid. Rolls true, good alignment aids and the drills you can practice have really made my stroke more consistent.
Harry Nodwell
12 months agoPuttOut had three mats included in the test
Eugene Gallacher
12 months agoAh my bad, should have clarified – shocked to not see it rate better 😔
Eugene Gallacher
12 months agoShocked not to see the PuttOut mat listed especially when combined with its Pressure Putt system. IMO best all round putting training aid I’ve used
Bill Kulsrud
12 months agoI own the Perfect Practice mat. Not enough emphasis is placed on the return feature. Yes, it helps you groove your swing. Absolutely! But, more importantly, you can make putt after putt after putt after putt without ever having to constantly walk to the end of a mat and clear your previous putts. In addition, the length of the putt is clearly marked so you know the distance. I tried most of these before I bought and I’m glad I got the Perfect Practice mat!
Kenneth Davis
12 months agoFirst of all good info here. Second, in addition to the listed retailer for the Perfect Practice mat you can also find it at Sam’s Club for $99 and it comes with a putting mirror. I’m not sure on the length. Finally, this will help me in making my decision for an indoor putting mat. I really appreciate the work you all do.
Harry Nodwell
12 months agoHi Kenneth,
I’m glad this article has helped you. $99 at Sams club is a great deal.
Donald
12 months agoI have had a birdie ball mat, 18 ft, for 7 years. Thing still looks brand new. Occasionally vacuum, but other than that, needs no additional care. I don’t stand on it though so maybe that has helped. I also used to hit birdie balls off the back porch until they built houses back there. I like both products and highly recommend.
Mark Liquorman
12 months agoFWIW, I use the WellPutt Start and I really like it. But that’s because it meets my needs. So figure out what is really important to you. For me it was 3 things.
First of all, good price.
Next, it literally takes only seconds to unroll to get started, or to roll-up when I’m done. Even loosely rolled-up and standing on end, it is only 14″ high and 6″ in diameter, so I can store it anywhere.
All I was really looking for in a mat was something to practice hitting putts on-line, and that’s what this mat is great for. It is only 10′ long, but I butt it up against a rug which then gives me an extra 5′ to practice longer putts. I figure if it is on-line for 10′, I don’t need a line on the rug to know it will stay on-line for the next 5′.
Bob Jerabek
12 months agoI have had the Birdie Ball putting mat for 6 months now. It took a little while to get use to the color, a pale green the roll is so pure. I ordered the high speed version to match the greens at my course., actually it is a bit faster.. you can create your own alignment lines with a chalk line. I have 3, 5, and 8 foot marks and a spot for a putting mirror.. I do drills every night on my Birdie Ball.
Rich R
12 months agoI started using the BirdeBall mat last summer during COVID. It’s been a great tool. Can’t say the durability is as good as it’s being ranked here as the material is nothing more than foam with the top surface napped up a little to give it some texture. I’ve already inadvertently put some small cuts in it around the edges. For the cost of the product, that was a little disappointing.
Having said that, I love that the grain runs in such a way to simulate different green speeds depending on the direction you putt.
Steven M.
12 months agoI see the Varispeed mat lists stimp speeds. Did you test stimp speeds on the other mats? How would you equate “slow, medium, fast” to stimp meter speed?
All the best,
Harry Nodwell
12 months agoYou’re looking at
Slow – 8-9 on the Stimp
Medium – 9-11 on the Stimp
Fast – 11 – 13 on the Stimp
Art
12 months agoHarry, did you measure these speeds or are they guesstimates? The measured speed for each mat would be very helpful.