Edited by: Jordan Fuller
Reviewed by: John MarshallLast Update:
The Rundown:
Best Overall: Truedays Golf Mat
“Truedays Golf Mat is durable and versatile. It can withstand unlimited swings and allows you to train both indoors and outdoors. Its close to real synthetic grass makes it provides effective training.”
Best All-Around Mat: Dura-Pro Golf Mat
“Dura-Pro Golf Mat is designed with a thickness to help with shock absorption. Along with its durable turf, it comes with a UV protection that lasts up to eight years. making it ideal for training outdoors.”
Best Premium Option: Callaway FT Launch Golf Mat
“Callaway FT Launch Golf Mat is very compact making it a favorite for those who love to practice even in the office. Even with its small size, the quality is never compromised.”
Golf mats have revolutionized the way that weekend warriors now practice and improve their game without having to leave the comfort of their home.
The best golf mats offer golfers the ability to hit not only irons but their woods as well.
Golf mats are versatile, allowing golfers to keep their game finely tuned on those rare occasions where they can’t get to the course.
Here’s our list of the best golf mats on the market that deliver wonderful performance with value.
Featured Recommendations
Last updated on 2020-08-08. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
- The Rundown:
- Featured Recommendations
- 6 Best Golf Mats of 2020
- Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
- Questions & Answers
- What are the different types of golf mats available?
- What are the key characteristics I should look at before buying a golf mat?
- What size should I pick for my golf mat?
- What material should my golf mat be made out of to not damage my clubs?
- Are golf mat tees different from regular golf tees?
- How can I make sure to practice properly with my new golf mat?
6 Best Golf Mats of 2020
Truedays Golf Mat
Best Overall: Versatile and light at a very affordable price
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PROS
- Very affordable nylon mat that can be stored with little space needed
- Woven nylon turf is durable and can withstand tens of thousands of swings
- Non-skid rubber surface on bottom of mat prevents skidding and sliding
CONS
- Although cheaper, the quality of the mat is much lower when compared to others on this list
The Truedays Golf Mat doesn’t offer the biggest surface area on the list, but for the budget-conscious golfer looking for a small low maintenance mat, it certainly provides a solid experience.
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The one foot by two foot mat is made from a woven nylon that can handle your practice routine without tearing or snagging your favorite iron. The mat rolls up easily for simple storage as the turf is soft enough to provide a nice top layer for the rubberized foundation.
One of the better features of the Truedays mat is the price. Cheaper than a dozen new golf balls, the mat might not reach the pinnacle of quality, but considering the size and durability of the product, it delivers value on a smaller scale.
The rubber tee on the mat cannot take a regular wooden tee that you’d use on the course and that is a problem. While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend the mat if you must have a desire to use the mat for driving practice, if your ambitions are smaller, than this Truedays model will deliver a solid experience.
Great for the backyard, or even smaller spaces like the office, the Truedays mat is versatile and light on its feet.
Dura-Pro Golf Mat
Best All-Around Golf Mat: plenty of features, ideal for garage or backyard
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PROS
- Incredibly durable with thickness that helps with shock absorption
- Dense mat that stabilizes on surface plus rolls easily for storage
- Will not stain your golf clubs after thousands of swings
CONS
- The tee holder is in the middle of mat, should be toward the front as it would be in a natural stance
The Dura-Pro Golf Mat is a spectacular option for the garage or backyard and with a host of wonderful features is easily our choice for the best all-around golf mat on our list.
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Made from 100% nylon, the Dura-Pro’s turf helps with shock absorption and wears extremely well over time. The mat also comes with a whopping eight years of UV protection, meaning if you leave it outside in the sun, the material won’t fade or crumble due to the elements.
Another feature that we loved is the pre-punched holes that allow you to put a variety of tees into the turf to simulate the experience on the tee box. Most mats simply give you a port to place your tees that can become wobbly over time, but the Dura-Pro stays firm throughout the life of the mat.
During our testing, we put the Dura-Pro through a battery of drills to see how it responded to irons, wedges and wood play. We were pleased to see that the mat’s density and thickness allowed for a replication that is amazingly close to the feeling of fresh turf. We haven’t seen a mat deliver this quality of shotmaking in quite some time and the accolades the Dura-Pro has seen from professionals is well earned.
Callaway FT Launch Golf Mat
Best Premium Option: Excellent Golf Mat for Confined Spaces
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PROS
- Compact golf mat can be used anywhere from the office to a small backyard
- High-quality turf responds well when used with irons or with the tee holder
- Rubber foundation keeps the mat grounded with no slipping
CONS
- The mat is definitely on the small side, but if that fits your need, this is a high-quality mat
The Callaway FT Launch Golf Mat is a versatile product that works well for individuals who like to put in a little swing work at the office or if you live in a confined city environment with a small basement or backyard.
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The one foot by two foot mat is very durable with a tough rubber foundation that did not slip or slide during our testing. The quality of the turf also receives high marks and is everything you’d expect from Callaway as it provides the golfer with the opportunity to hit crisp iron or wedge shots.
The tee holder is firm and certainly helps replicate the feel on the tee box with an innovative approach that some of the larger mats on the market cannot replicate. Even with full velocity swings with a driver, we continued to see no movement from the mat.
Although the mat is rather compact, the shock absorption, first-rate tee holder and strong foundation all add up to a great alternative to the larger mats that can be cumbersome and take up too much room for individuals living in a more confined space. The Callaway FT Launch Golf Mat is well-constructed and presents a quality value for a cost that is less than a green fee at a mid-range course.
Rukket Tri-Turf Golf Mat
Best Overall: Most Versatile Golf Mat
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PROS
- Provides three areas to hit shot from, including tee, fairway and rough sections
- Thick rubber base keeps the mat locked in place regardless of shot type
- Very portable mat that is easy to move and relocate
CONS
- While the three strips of material are fun to have, they are narrow and offer little extra room
The Rukket Tri-Turf Golf Mat is extraordinarily fun as it boasts three different types of turf to hit shots. Whether you are looking to practice from the rough, the fairway or off the tee, the Rukket mat provides plenty of options with its three different lies.
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The Rukket product is one of few golf mats that you’ll find that can replicate the rough you see on the golf course. Made from a nylon that wears extremely well over time, the faux rough is tall enough to offer resistance to your clubs to keep you sharp away from the course.
The mat also comes with several goodies that can help you tailor your practice experience for the home or backyard. The mat comes with nine practice foam balls that can’t damage your windows and twelve plastic tees that offer a variety of heights to help with your wood and iron play off the tee.
Offering the golfer various options that can add enjoyment to your at-home golf practice schedule, the Rukket Tri-Turf Golf Mat is one of the most dependable and durable mats for your home setup. With a 100% lifetime guarantee provided by the company, the mat should create a safe and enjoyable playing environment that allows you to practice year-round for the foreseeable future.
PGM Emerald Golf Mat
Best Large Golf Mat
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PROS
- Strong grip backing on the bottom of mat prevents slippage or sliding
- Turf quality is excellent and provides a solid replication of fairway play
- Large mat allows golfer to be level with hitting surface
CONS
- The tee is made from rubber, is flimsy, and won’t stay durable over time
The PGM Emerald Golf Mat covers over 15 square feet to provide a wide playing area to the golfer that has room to spare outside or in a larger family room. Great for the golfer who is stuck inside for six months of the year due to cold weather, the PGM mat has a woven nylon turf that definitely meets our durability standards.
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The PGM Emerald Golf Mat provides the golfer with a large playing surface that allows the individual to hit shots from the included tee holder or from the fairway-like turf with their feet level to the ball due to the wide surface area.
That’s a big advantage that large mats have over their smaller counterparts and the PGM Emerald certainly takes advantage of its heft for the benefit of the golfer.
One thing we didn’t like about the mat is that it has a rubber tee that golfers are forced to use and not a holding area for real tees. By not having this feature, the mat suffers to reach that premium distinction that other mats on this list easily obtain.
But if you are more focused on replicating a fairway to work on your irons and wedge play, then the PGM Emerald offers a top-notch experience that is hard to beat.
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PROS
- Accessible tray is attached on the side of the mat for easy access to practice golf balls
- Premium turf surface is anchored by ¾” foam base that is durable and shock absorbent
- Four different tee holes allow several hitting options for golfers
CONS
- Little to dislike with the mat, but it is thick and needs space for proper storage
The SharperGolf Golf Mat is one of the crown jewels of the premium level of at-home practice equipment. Great for the advanced golfer who needs a nearby practice mat to keep their swing in tune, the SharperGolf product has one of the best combinations of turf and foundation that you’ll find on a golf mat.
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For the mat, it all begins with the quarter-inch turf that is made from high-quality nylon and recreates the fairway with a realism that is uncanny. The foam cushioned foundation is just under an inch in height and provides the golfer with a shock absorbent base that helps reduce that jarring sensation that some mats can inflict on the individual.
Another worthwhile feature is the attached tray that is great for holding golf balls and tees off to the side as you practice. The mat’s tee holder is another premium accessory that gives the golfer four different options to replicate the experience of hitting off the tee box with either a wood or iron.
The mat has a square foot surface area of 15 feet and that makes it wide enough for the golfer to be able to stand on the turf and hit golf balls. Smaller mats force the golfer to hit from another area and that could cause an uneven hitting experience that creates swing flaws if not corrected.
For a premium large mat, it is hard to find another model that brings the positive experience of the SharperGolf Mat.
Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Criteria #1: Material Quality
The quality of the mat’s material is crucial in the product’s performance, durability, and value for the golfer. While we didn’t put value as a specific criterion on our list, the quality of the mat in relation to its price, is an important area to gauge for golfers of any level.
When gauging the quality of the mat’s material we look at all aspects, from the rubber or composite foundation to the texture and feel of the artificial surface. If the mat uses a faux grass to simulate the feel of turf, it is wise to get a sense of how the material responds, and features like that certainly factor into our grade for material quality.
Criteria #2: Durability
The durability of a golf mat is certainly important if you are looking for a piece of turf that can endure winters, while also staying strong during the warmer months when it is in storage. The ability of a golf mat to easily bounce back and perform at a high level is certainly a welcome feature for any golfer who needs a mat to stay fresh for the course.
When judging the durability of a mat, it takes hundreds of swings to notice if the product is breaking down or showing signs of wear. While a golfer may not see that type of repetitive swinging for years, our testers put the mat through a tough regimen to get a better sense of how the artificial turf will endure the stress of countless swings.
Criteria #3: Size
The size of the mat is important when you need to consider the free space you have to place the product and openly swing. Some golfers use their mats outside because they don’t have easy access to a basement or garage, while others have plenty of room to use the mat indoors.
Regardless of where you use the golf mat, knowing the size helps you plan for its placement and the type of workout you can perform with the product. Larger mats may have different artificial grass heights or the addition of an area to place a tee.
Criteria #4: Thickness
The thickness of the mat is crucial to the durability and playability of a golf mat. To absorb the impact of a shot, the mat must be able to bounce back and respond similarly to natural turf. Of course, it won’t be the same, but it must replicate that relationship to give the golfer the feedback they need to improve.
A thinner mat will make it harder for the golfer to hit crisper shots because it will shift without the heft it needs to stabilize and endure the punishment of repeated swings. A thicker mat has properties that allow it to stay durable for longer stretches of time, enabling the golfer to practice at a high level from the confines of their garage or backyard
Criteria #5: Weight
The weight of the golf mat is important because it helps with durability and the extension of the life of the product. Gone are the days where a good golf mat is a small piece of synthetic turf that snags and hangs on your club.
The latest golf mats utilize a combination of intelligent design and durable materials that craft a mat that can withstand the beating that golfers will inflict over the course of thousands of swings. By having a mat that is sturdy and uses materials that have significant strength, the golfer can provide a foundation for creating an at-home workout that keeps the swing in shape.
Questions & Answers
What are the different types of golf mats available?
We can differentiate golf mats types based on the ground conditions they are aiming to emulate. So, they are:
Driving Range Mats
We can consider this type as the most basic and designed to emulate a driving range. So, it only consists of a tee and a patch of greens. The synthetic grass and rubber sole are usually relatively thick to support high-impact shots.
Fairway Practice Mats
In many ways, fairway mats are similar to driving range mats, especially since they both only feature a tee and a patch of greens. Commonly, the main difference is the synthetic grass, which usually features a thinner nylon (more on golf mats material further below). This way, the thinner surface can emulate the fairway drive with less resistance.
Fairway Rough Practice Mat
As the name suggests, a fairway rough practice mat features one or more rough surfaces besides the fairway surface. Commonly, it is bigger than your usual fairway practice mats or driving range mats to accommodate the different surfaces, and so they are usually more expensive.
Rough Practice Mat
Similar to the above, but only features the rough surface(s). The rough surfaces are mainly made of polypropylene materials to emulate roughness.
Sand Trap Practice Mat
Typically, a sand trap practice mat will feature a nylon surface to emulate the heavy rough, and another surface to emulate sand traps. Thin polypropylene material is commonly used to emulate the tough lies of the sand surface.
Putting Mats
The main difference between a putting mat with the other types above is the inclusion of a hole, and sometimes more than one hole. Generally, a putting mat is also bigger than your usual driving range mat to practice your accuracy.
What are the key characteristics I should look at before buying a golf mat?
Characteristic #1: Surface Durability
If you are hoping to keep your golf mat in use for several years, then you must pay attention to quality of the construction of the mat. Most mats are made from a highly durable nylon surface and rubber base so that they can handle the repeated beating of club strikes over time.
Characteristic #2: Surface Function
There are multiple surfaces available for different types of practices with golf mats. Most commonly, players use mats to hit drives. These driving mats have rubber guides that hold tees to secure shots. Other golf mats offer the opportunity to practice pitch shots from rough made from synthetic grass-like material.
Characteristic #3: Alignment Guide
Some mats include lines on the surface of the mat to ensure that your stance is in proper alignment. When coupled with an alignment stick at your feet, you can make sure that your practice sessions are fundamentally sound. When using driving mats, it is crucial to understand your spacing at address to guarantee quality contact.
Characteristic #4: Length Of Golf Mat
Mats come in differing lengths so that you can utilize your irons and wedges during practice. Driving mats don’t have to be terribly long because you shouldn’t be coming into contact with the surface. However, golf mats that have synthetic rough and are made for iron play, do need a couple of feet of length to assure that the club won’t come into contact with the ground.
Characteristic #5: Portability
The more durable the mat, the more it will weigh. With heavier materials, the golf mat could have issues with portability. Thinner mats will be easier to roll and carry in the back of a vehicle or trunk. Heavier mats will need to lay flat and need more surface area to transport. Realize that golf mats are made to lay flat, so if you do roll them up always try to return them to the flat position in storage if possible.
What size should I pick for my golf mat?
Golf mats can vary greatly in size. Thus, choosing the proper size according to your needs is one of the biggest factors in your purchase decision.
Generally, most golf mats range between 2 square feet (1’ x 2’) and 25 square feet (5’ x 5’).
The bigger the golf mat is, the more playing area you will have. It is also worth noting that if the golf mat is too small, you won’t have any place to stand on, and so you might need another surface with a similar level to stand with comfort. This is the case with many portable golf mats.
Obviously, the bigger the golf mat is, the more space it will take in your house. If you have a designated area to put your golf mat on and just leave it there, it might not be a major problem.
Yet, if you need to store the golf mat after each use, it is worth considering that the golf mat will not only need the extra storage space but will also be heavier to move around. Most golf mats with a regular material (again, more on material types further below) will weigh around 2 lbs per sq ft.
In general, a golf mat with around 3’ x 5’ in size will be proper for most applications.
What material should my golf mat be made out of to not damage my clubs?
Most golf mats are built with rubber (mostly black) as the base layer. Normally the base rubber layer is around half an inch thick or so, and there’s not much variation with this.
It is worth noting that base rubber mats are available by themselves. You might need one for extra support, or if you are planning to get a very portable golf mat, you might need one to stand on.
The main discussion here is the top layer, which is the hitting surface. Since this surface will make contact with your club when swinging, of course, we should consider the proper material to avoid damage.
There are 3 main materials that are safe for your clubs, and so commonly used for golf mats surfaces:
- Polyethylene
- Polypropylene
- Nylon
These 3 materials are considered safe for golf clubs and are quite durable to handle hard impact from your clubs.
Out of these three materials, nylon is generally the most durable. Nylon has a higher elasticity and stronger tensile durability than polyethylene or polypropylene.
For this reason, a golf mat made of 100% nylon can be considered as the most durable.
How about the other two? Polyethylene is generally considered more sturdy than Polypropylene. Yet, polypropylene is more water resistant with lighter weight.
Another consideration is that a nylon golf mat is generally more expensive than the other two types, but will require less overall maintenance.
Of course, we should also consider the surface type, namely how fast the ball will roll on the surface. A nylon surface is generally smoother than the other two and thus feel more like a natural lawn. The ball roll on a nylon turf is far superior compared to polypropylene or polyethylene turfs, where there is a significant reduction of oscillation (ball wobbling) and deviation.
To achieve the same performance from polypropylene or polyethylene greens, we can use sand reinforcements to improve oscillation and natural feel.
So, in general, we can conclude that nylon is the best choice for club safety, natural feel, and durability, but will cost you more. It’s not saying that polyethylene and especially polypropylene turfs don’t have their applications. For example, polypropylene can emulate sand turfs better than nylon material.
Are golf mat tees different from regular golf tees?
Modern, regular golf tees are used by piercing the ground, and obviously, we can’t use the same application with the golf mat. (Well, we can, but we will destroy the rubber base layer in no time).
So, for golf mats, we can use rubber golf tees that rested flat on the mat. Or, if you want to use your regular tees, you can use a tee holder where you can insert your regular tees on the cross-shaped hole.
It is worth noting that some golf mats (especially the premium ones) do offer the ability to use regular tees. Avoid golf mats that offer fixed tee that can’t be adjusted. You will need different tee height with different clubs for proper practice.
How can I make sure to practice properly with my new golf mat?
To truly answer this question, we should first understand the main differences between synthetic golf mats and playing on real grass. Even the very best of golf mats with the best material and construction won’t be able to perfectly emulate the feel, sensation, and feedback a natural grass can provide. So, there are several disadvantages of playing on a mat:
- First, the club will bounce and slide more into the ball on a golf mat, especially on a big swing. As a result, this can create a solid strike when you shouldn’t, masking the error and hindering your progress.
- If the golf mat is not maintained properly, a damaged surface can lead to elbows, hands, and shoulders injury.
With those two main considerations in mind, here are some tips to make the most of your practice sessions on a golf mat:
- Have the right mindset: you can not fully trust precise and accurate distance when hitting off golf mats. Aim to achieve even more than your usual standard to avoid the illusion of satisfaction.
- Since the golf mat surface is generally more slippery than natural grass, wear shoes with more traction. This way, you can prevent your feet from twisting or rotating during a swing, which might affect your ‘real’ swing on the course.
- Some golf mats feature a built-in stationary tee that can’t be adjusted. In most cases, the tee height is too short for a driver and yet too long for fairway woods, irons, and hybrids. Opt for a golf mat where you can replace the tee, and use the correct height depending on your club.
- You might need to adjust your swing with your short irons. Generally, you will need to adjust to a sweeping swing rather than hitting sharply down with your short irons. You might want to skip the short irons entirely to avoid building bad swinging habits.
- Regularly maintain your golf mat, and if you feel the surface is now too firm, consider getting a replacement to avoid injuries, club damages, and bad swinging habits.