There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon on the green, the sun shining, a light (and very slight), breeze keeping you cool, while you play a round of 9 or 18 holes, either with some friends, as a relaxing afternoon by yourself or maybe even with your boss or co-workers. It is a great way to spend some time outdoors, get a little activity in and help you de-stress. Plus it can be a great way to network on more formal occasions, and is just fun. Simply put, golfing is a great way to relax and come together with others.

That said, it can also be a bit of a bummer if you’re not up to par with your golf group. You don’t want to be the one that’s holding everyone up by consistently swinging above par. Therefore, you must practice. However, you don’t really have the ability to hit the green as regularly as you’d need to in order to increase your skills and maybe even give yourself a competitive edge. You need a way to practice at home.

Enter putting mats! There are a lot of options out there for every level of golfer and for every type of practice needed. From beginners to pros, and serious practice to just some fun, we’ve put together a list of our top five putting mats for everyone.

#1 The WellPut Putting Mat - The pro pick and best for upping your game

This 18 foot indoor putting green boasts a stimp speed of 11, has various alignment lines and also has two play directions. This allows you to preform back and forth movements and increases the exercises you can perform as well as various feels you can try out and practice with. In fact, this putting mat comes with 10 different “feel” zones, all allowing for different exercises themselves as well. Plus, it has a zebra zone which shows when you are falling short, and a graphical hole which will help you learn to finish in the “welling-putt” zone. 

Essentially, this is the ideal putting mat for any serious player, (or player who really wants to become better), looking to up their game in their downtime by practicing at home. It offers lots of variation in potential exercises, can teach you how to master and control your swing and easily lays flat without needing any sort of weight to hold down the ends. Plus, it includes a  training book and a corresponding WellPutt App which has over 50 different exercises and games and allows you to track your progress as you go. This is definitely the putting mat for any aspiring golfer looking to take their game to the next level and keep it there. 

Best Features: multi-directional play, zebra zones and stimp speed of 11.

Cons: One of the higher-priced putting mats on this list.

#2 The PuttOut Pro Golf Putting Mat - Best for those golfers regularly on the go

The PuttOut Pro Golf Putting Mat is a very well-constructed, durable and portable putting mat, made with a “heavy-rubber backing” that allows it to easily lay out flat after unpacking and rolling it out, on any surface. Measuring just under 8ft long when fully laid out, and including alignment guides, target points, a stimp speed of 10 and distance markings, this putting mat will help you practice your game, no matter where you are. Plus it has five included drills to help you improve and is compatible with all flat putting cups.

With a surface designed to feel like the real thing, this putting mat can help you take your game to the next level, while also allowing you to take the mat itself anywhere you need. Great for offices, or homes where there just isn’t enough room to designate to a putting mat on a consistent basis. This durable and lightweight putting mat comes with its own, professional carting case and is what any golfer who regularly finds themselves on the go needs.

Best Features: Easy to transport, durable, and includes carrying case.

Cons: Doesn’t include the PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer

#3 Put-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green - Best for both fun and price

A 3ft x 9ft kidney-shaped indoor putting mat, the Put-A-Bout Grassroots Par Three Putting Green is ideal for any amateur golfer, looking for a combination of low key practice and lots of fun. It features three practice cup cutouts, and two built-in “sand traps”, (e.g. custom-designed holes geared at catching missed shots so your balls don’t roll off under your couch or table). Plus, it is made from PET resin and has a non-skid backing, so you won’t have to worry about it moving around during play/practice and you can rest assured it will stand the test of time, staying both smooth and ready to use. 

This quality putting mat is a fun way to practice your control, de-stress, and hit a few balls around, even when you’re too busy to make it to the actual green yourself. Great for offices (home or otherwise), this really is a must-have for any golf enthusiast. Plus, ringing in at a super low price, this is one putting mat, you almost can’t afford not to buy!

Best Features: Unique shape, three practice targets, best price on the list 

Cons: No alignment lines

#4 SKLZ Accelerator Pro Indoor Putting Green with Ball Return - Best Ball Return System

This is perhaps to most unique putting mat on the list, (or at least the putting mat with the most unique individual feature). Measuring in at 9 feet long by 16.25 inches wide, and boasting a stimp speed that is extremely similar to actual putting greens themselves, this putting mat’s most notable feature is the automatic ball return. Feeding your balls back to you so you don’t have to chase them down after each round, allows you to really focus on your stroke. This way, you can make more progress in less time and train without the annoying interruption of ball collection.

A great way to become a more efficient player, this putting mat also includes alignment guides at 3, 5 and 7 feet so you can practice your stroke from multiple distances to the hole, and helps you to prefect your back swing, follow through and more. Plus it features a slight upslope at the cup, thus more closely mimicking real life putting greens and allowing the ball to roll back towards you if you don’t make it into the hole and the automatic ball return. 

This is an affordable option with a fun feature that will help anyone improve their game and enjoy practice during their down time. 

Best Features: Automatic ball return, gentle slope at the cup, multiple alignment guides

Cons: Narrow width size

#5 VariSpeed Putting System - Best mid-range putting mat

The VariSpeed Putting System is a 10 foot putting mat includes tons of fun features to help you improve your game and have fun doing it. For starters, it is made of special mat fibers that will allow you to see the exact path your ball took from start to finish, allowing you to make adjustments to your stroke you might otherwise have missed. It also allows for four adjustable stimp speeds, between 7.5 and 13, meaning you can practice in various conditions from one place, in your home or office. Plus this mat comes with foam ball bumpers and which stop the balls from rolling away and includes a break wedge allowing for the set-up of conditions you are more likely to face on the actual green. 

All of this, combined with the fact that this mat also comes with a silicone cup and flag, plus an included booklet which includes tips, tricks, exercises and games, makes it a great deal for any mid-level golfer looking for fun and practice at the same time. Plus, it is really easy to roll up and put away should you ever need the extra space, and won’t take time to disassemble or be a hassle to get back out later.

Best Features: Visible ball tracking, four adjustable stimp speeds, included break wedge 

Cons: Doesn’t include any sort of storage case

All in all, when it comes to golf putting mats, there is something to satisfy everyone. Whether you seriously want to level up and become the best you can be, just want to have a little fun, are itching to get back on the green and need an in-between to tide you over, feel like getting a bit better so you can keep up with your friends, or a mixture of all of the above. There is a putting mat out there for you!