Best Golf Mats 2019 & 2020 [Golf Practice Mat Reviews]

What are the best golf mats on the market? What should you look for when buying one? Should you even buy a practice mat? I’ll answer all these questions below and review some of the best mats currently for sale.

After reviewing a variety of different golf practice mats the Rukket Tri-Turf and the Dura-Pro Residential golf mats are the top-rated golf hitting mats for 2019 and 2020. The best golf mat for putting is the Putt About mat.  For golfers on a tight budget, look no further than the Emerald Par golf mat.

Continue reading to learn more about indoor, outdoor, chipping, driving, etc golf practice mats and the differences between various mat types.

Best Golf Practice Mats: Quick Comparison

TOP RATED Rukket Tri-Turf
  • Can be used for hitting and chipping
  • Versatile - 3 different turf/grass types
  • Lightweight, easy to move around
  • Indoor and outdoor use
  • Affordable price tag
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RUNNER UP Dura-Pro Residential Golf Mat
  • Durable nylon turf
  • Ideal for hitting
  • Indoor and outdoor use
  • Available in different sizes
  • Average price tag
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BEST PUTTING MAT Putt About
  • Smooth PET resin surface
  • Designed for putting
  • Indoor and outdoor use, but has to be on a firm surface
  • Affordable price tag
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MAT WITH NET Nova Portable Golf Practice Net with Mat
  • Includes both a practice mat and net
  • Tri-turf mat that is ideal for chipping and hitting
  • Durable design
  • Can be used both indoors and outdoors
  • Average price tag
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BEST CHEAP GOLF MAT Emerald Par Practice Mat
  • Features durable nylon turf
  • Best suited for hitting
  • Indoor and outdoor use
  • Affordable, value for money price tag
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BEST TRAVEL GOLF MAT Callaway FT Launch Zone Mat
  • Can be used for hitting and chipping
  • True turf feeling
  • Strong, durable design
  • Compact design, ideal for travel
  • Affordable price tag
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Should You Even Buy a Golf Practice Mat?

Practicing your swing in the comfort of your own home is a great way to improve your on course performance.

Golf mats have become a popular product amongst golfers due to the opportunity to bring a part of the course to our homes and practice without paying range fees.

Apart from working on your striking skills practice mats also provide the fun and enjoyment of the course and can be a great entertainment tool for family and friends.

In conclusion: getting a golf mat is a good idea if you’re looking for a way to improve your swing during the offseason weather or just want to enjoy part of the game at home.

 

 

golf practice mat

Best Golf Mats 2019 & 2020: Reviews

Keeping these design features in mind here are three mats on the market today that you really can’t go wrong with.

#1 Rukket Tri-Turf Golf Hitting Mat

Best Chipping Practice Mat for 2024


The Rukket Tri-Turf hitting mat is ideal if you enjoy practicing your golf game at home or in the backyard.

The Rukket Tri-Turf features an extra thick base that ensures exceptional durability, it also ensures that your mat stays in place during your practice session.

Portability isn’t an issue at all with this compact, lightweight mat that is easy to move around, set it up either indoors or outdoors in order to practice year-round. 

The Rukket Tri-Turf allows golfers to practice from different lies, and this is great because we all hit the ball into the rough on numerous occasions during the course of a round.

This mat has 3 different lie options that you can practice from hence the name  Rukket Tri-Turf. Fairway, rough and tight lie makes up the 3 different lie conditions that you can practice with this mat. 

This compact mat will without a doubt save your lawn and your wallet. The 25 x 16 inch mat comes with 9 Rukket practice balls and it also includes 12 plastic tees with varying heights. 

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#2 Dura-Pro Residential Golf Mat

Runner Up


This realistic, made in the U.S.A. mat offers a sturdy construction that looks and feels like the fairway.

Like all mat builders, Dura-Pro claims to offer a realistic practice experience with their design and they’ve done a great job in backing up their claim. 

The base pad assists in saving your wrists if you’re like me and don’t always seem to hit the perfect shot, it also helps to reduce the likeliness of damaging your clubs.

Golfers have praised the Dura-Pro’s longevity and ability to withstand thousands of shots before seeing significant signs of wear and tear, which is probably the reason why the company has been producing mats for as long as it has. 

The residential version of the mat does come in various sizes but the smallest available is 3’x4’ meaning that some golfers who are short on space may have trouble fitting it in their indoor practice areas.

But when it comes to outdoor practice, the Dura-Pro can be a great option for most players looking to work on their swing at home. The Dura-Pro mat is an all-weather mat, it comes with an 8 year UV protection – if you choose to leave it outside you can do so with peace of mind. 

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#3 Putt About Par 3 Putting Mat  

Best Putting Practice Mat for 2024


The Putt About putting practice green is designed and manufactured in the USA.

The mat is constructed out of PET resin which ensures a high-quality reel feel putting surface.

The putting mat is kidney-shaped and it features 3 cups that you can put towards. Two sand traps are situated behind the holes to match any missed putts. 

The Putt About is 9 feet long and 3 feet wide, with one of these in your house or office you won’t have any more excuses for missed putts out on the green in 2019 and beyond. 

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Looking for a new putter? Check out our related articles  best putters for beginners and best counterbalanced putters 

#4 Nova Portable Golf Practice Net with Hitting Mat 

Best Golf Mat with a Net


The Nova golf portable practice system is a must-have for any golfer that wants to take their practice regime to the next level.

The Nova practice net features a 7 ply, knotless design and the frame is made out of reinforced thick fiberglass poles that can withstand the impact of a golf ball with ease.

The angle of the net ensures that the golf ball is returned to the user after every shot. 

The Nova mat is made out of high quality woven nylon turf, this material isn’t just durable, it also replicates the different lies that one can expect out on the golf course with precision.

The Nova mat offers 3 different surfaces, fairway, rough and tee box and an added bonus is the fact that a real tee can be inserted to replicate on course conditions. 

The Nova golf practice system can be moved around with ease and it can be used pretty much wherever you feel like setting it up.

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#5 Emerald Par 

Best Cheap Golf Mat 


The Emerald Par golf mat is a great option if you are looking for a golf mat that will simulate the fairway conditions of a well maintained top golf course.

The USA made Emerald Par features a 5mm foam super grip base that prevents the mat from moving while you are hitting.

The turf is manufactured out of ½” (.500) woven nylon, this design feature ensures added durability and grass-like feel when you are hitting. 

This mat is great for use with both irons and woods, it also includes a rubber tee for when you want to practice your booming drives.

The Emerald Par comes with a 1-year manufacturers warranty and an 8-year fade warranty against sun damage. 

All in all, this is a very good, affordable practice mat that will definitely help you to improve your golf game.

The only potential drawback of this mat is the fact that it has a fairly thin base, if you place it on concrete you might struggle with wrist pain if you use it frequently. 

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#6 Callaway FT Launch Zone Golf Mat

Best Travel Practice Mat


This mini mat may be smaller than most others available on the market but that doesn’t mean it lacks in value. 

Callaway again brings a respectable product to the table with the launch zone and at 16”x8” it is ideal in situations where you find yourself moving your practice area around often. 

The Tru-Turf surface does a decent job at mimicking fairway grass and the dense weight design helps keep the mat in place swing after swing. 

The built-in tee holder allows you to insert your own tees to better simulate real hitting conditions but if you do prefer to use a fixed height rubber tee there is an option for that as well.

In regards to durability, the Launch Zone holds its own in the wear and tear category, making it a great value for its low price tag. 

The convenient size also makes it easier for users to carry around and can fit easily into your car; which is great for users who like to use their own mat at the range. 

Possibly the best aspect of the smaller size is the greater accuracy the mat demands during practice. 

Due to the compact size, greater focus must be given in order to consistently hit on the impact zone, hopefully improving your coordination when trying to strike at the ideal point of impact. 

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Golf Hitting Mat Buying Guide

Durability

After all this is a product that you’re going to be swinging at thousands of times with your clubs so it’s very important that the mat you choose has the ability to hang in for the long run.

In a perfect world, this wouldn’t be very important but because not all swings go exactly according to plan your mat will take some abuse. Look for a design that doesn’t have obvious seams where cheap glue may be all that’s holding the different materials together.

Also keep an eye on the amount of “grass” or turf per square inch, in our experience mats with a dense layout of turf usually hold up better as well as offer a more realistic feel.

Feel

I’m going to go out on a very short limb here and say that all mat manufacturers claim to have the most realistic turf that offers a realistic feel.

Any player who has spent time on most public ranges knows that this isn’t always true and some mats are just plain awful. Though it may be somewhat of a subjective preference and all real courses do have a different feel most players agree that silicone does offer a more authentic feel than rubber.

This doesn’t mean that all rubber mats are bad but silicone does tend to react more like dirt when it comes to density. Do your research and speak to your local pro, chances are s/he has used their fair share of mats and knows a thing or two about them.

Weight

This is important because of the annoying shifting that lighter mats tend to suffer from. Hitting a golf ball off a stationary tee is difficult enough already, you don’t want to bring more pain and suffering into your life because of a bad design.

Look for heavy construction in order to avoid the mat sliding around when in use and don’t be afraid to shell out a few extra dollars when making your selection; chances are it will save you in the end. 

chipping driving mat

Golf Practice Mat FAQs

What are the different types of golf mats available?

Golf practice mats can be broken down into 4 categories: hitting mats, putting mats, chipping mats and practice tool mats. 

Hitting mats

…are the big square mats that are oftentimes found at driving ranges. These bulky mats are durable mats that can withstand thousands and thousands of hits with a golf club.If you buy one of these hitting mats you will probably have to buy a net to hit your golf balls into as well. 

Hitting practice mats are great if you either want to install a home simulator or if you simply want to hit balls into a net in the garage or basement during the cold winter months. High quality hitting practice mats are expensive, but a good practice mat will last you a lifetime. 

Chipping mats

…are small square mats that you can chip golf balls from wherever you are. Chipping mats are easy to carry around and they are normally fairly well priced. 

Putting puts

…are ideal if you want to practice your putting indoors. Majority of putting mats are foldable and they can be stored and moved around with ease. 

Practice tool mats

…are mats that can detect different swing aspects such as how you transfer your weight and a variety of other data items that can help to improve your golf game. 

What materials are best to look out for when buying a golf mat? 

The best golf mats on the market are manufactured out of high-quality nylon. Nylon turf ensures the closest feel to real grass and it is also a very durable material that can withstand 1000’s of hits. 

In addition, also make sure that the base of the practice mat is made out of high-quality rubber. The base needs to withstand the impact of every shot, if the base is weak or too thin it will either get damaged or you will be stuck with a wrist injury.  

How much does a golf mat weigh? 

Golf mats vary in weight. A high-quality hitting mat with a thick rubber base will be pretty heavy, in comparison a small chipping or putting mat will be much lighter and a lot easier to carry around. 

How can I make sure to optimize my practice with my new golf mat? 

In order to optimize your practice with your new mat, it is key to place your mat in an area where it can be reached with ease. Also, ensure to buy the best mat for your situation.

If you want to chip around the backyard buy a chipping mat, if you are looking to improve your putting then get a putting mat etc. 

On what surfaces can I place a practice mat on? 

A practice mat can be placed on a variety of different surfaces. Ideally, you would want to place it on a flat surface. Majority of outdoor mats are placed on concrete if you do decide to place it on hard concrete make sure that the mat has a thick base in order to protect your wrists. 

Putting mats also work best on a hard surface such as a carpet or floor. Putting mats don’t work very well when placed on grass or on any other surface that isn’t firm and smooth. 

A side note to keep in mind is to move your mat around if you use it outdoors if moisture gets trapped between the surface and the mat it could lead to rotting which will weaken your mat and reduce its lifetime. 

What size and thickness golf practice mat is best?

The ideal thickness and size of a practice mat depends on where and how you would like to use your practice mat. A thick, high-quality mat is recommended if you plan on either using the mat outdoors or if you are looking at installing an indoor golf simulator. 

Smaller, lightweight mats are recommended when purchasing either a chipping or putting mat. 

Can regular tees be used with a golf mat? 

The answer to this question depends on the type of mat. Some practice mats feature built-in rubber tees that come standard with the mat, others allow for the use of normal tees. 

dura pro golf mat

Conclusion

And the Best Golf Mat in 2024 is…

There are many different manufacturers on the market today who offer decent products, however, there are also some mats that shouldn’t be allowed on store shelves.

The six golf mats mentioned above are quality mats that are all likely to please. If I had to choose one, it would be the Rukket Tri-Turf.

It’s a very versatile mat, it is great for hitting and it is also exceptional for chipping, it allows you to practice different shots out of different lies that will definitely help to improve your short game. 

Runner up is the Dura-Pro Residential Golf Mat – the feel of this mat is exceptional and the response you feel in your club will be sure to correctly communicate your shot to your hands. The Dura-Pro is available in different size options, this ensures that you can buy a mat size that suits your needs. 

In terms of putting it will be difficult to find a better mat than the Put About putting mat. If you’re looking for a cheap golf mat, go for Emerald Par

You might also like: Best Hybrid Golf Clubs

3 thoughts on “Best Golf Mats 2019 & 2020 [Golf Practice Mat Reviews]”

  1. Richard Smith

    Just received my FairwayPro last week and love it. Roll is great, pretty realistic to real greens. Got it in the hope it will help to improve my short putting.

  2. Pingback: Best Putters For Beginners And High Handicappers 2018 (Complete Guide)

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