Best Golf Mat 2024

If you are in the market for a golf mat, then we recommend checking out some of these models

Best Golf Mat
Best Golf Mat: Quick Menu

When it comes to being able to practice at home, in the studio, or anywhere else for that matter, one item that’s essential for every golfer is a golf mat. A high-quality golf mat is one of the best golf accessories that it pays to have in your arsenal, especially if you’re keen to get in as much practice as you can.

You may be looking for a mat that will protect your lawn while you practice outdoors, you might be keen to pick out a mat that can be used on the fairways during winter without causing damage, or you might simply want a golf mat that will allow you to perfect your putting.

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. In this list, we have shared a selection of all the best golf mats to suit a wide range of budgets, functionalities, and abilities. As there’s a difference between hitting and putting golf mats, we’ve split our guide into two parts: best general golf mats and best putting specific mats. While a hitting mat - our favorite of which is the Champkey Golf Mat - is designed to accommodate full swings with clubs ranging from drivers to wedges, putting mats are made purely for putting, helping players work on their putting stroke and technique.

Whether you want to work on your swing or your putting stroke the best golf mat designs on the market are there to help you at home or out on the course. Additionally also take a look at our guides on the best golf net, best golf launch monitors or the best golf training aids

Best Golf Mat

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Hitting Mats

Putting Mats

How we test golf gear

When it comes to testing golf mats, our comprehensive methodology revolves around, as you would expect, playing a lot of golf. We feel putting golf products to the test on the golf course, on the range and in practice is the best way to find out how usable and well-designed these golf accessories really are.

On that note, we feel it is particularly important to use all golf mats in different conditions, whether that is in your living room, on your patio, or even on grass. We look out for several features when we test golf mats, including the durability of the artificial grass, how similar the mat feels to real conditions and how convenient they are to use. The final point we should mention is no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our testing team tells it how it is and we seek to be as insightful and honest as possible.

How to choose a golf mat

There are a number of different golf mats on the market, with each boasting an array of different features that you may want to look out for when you purchase your next golf mat. But which one is right for you? Well, there is a lot of choice out there but we recommend keeping in mind the below tips to make sure you make the most informed choice. 

Hitting mats vs putting mats - the difference

Put simply hitting mats like the ones above will help you work on full swings, chipping, pitching and more shots of that nature. These mats tend to be square or rectangular in shape, and have weight to them so they are durable and don't move when doing full swings. Hitting mats allow the user to practice a variety of shots too.

Whereas putting mats are designed purely for working on putting. They can vary in design depending on what the person wants to work on, which is why we see putting mats with lots of alignment aids, as well as features to help with pace control, stroke technique and so on. From our experience putting mats these days are easy to roll up and store away. 

Size 

As you have seen, the best golf mats come in a variety of sizes. If you want models with a larger, or smaller footprint, there are designs out there for you. The thing to be aware of is how much space do you have to work with? This will then dictate which model to go for. Obviously, the above point on what you want to practice will also dictate the size of mat, because putting mats tend to be significantly larger than hitting mats. 

Grass type

As we've seen above, some of the best hitting mats come with varying types and lengths of grass. That means you can practice all manner of shots and hone in on how you play from tougher lies or from the rough with your putting mat. On the other hand, you may also just want to use a mat with one type of grass to hone in on your wedge-play or long irons. 

Convenience

Linking with the above point, how convenient do you want the mat to be, primarily in terms of how easy is it to store and put away. Some of the models above, like the PuttOUT Putting Mat roll up conveniently and easily in a bag, whilst hitting mats tend to be thicker and take up a bit more room. 

Durability 

The good thing about mats is they should last a long time because all you are doing on them is using them for their very purpose, practice. That being said there are still models out there which wear down too quickly which is why we have collated the models above because none of them should do that. Just be aware of cheap materials used on mats because they won't perform well in the long term.

FAQs

Which golf mat should I buy?

It depends on a) what you want to practise and b) how much space you have. If you're looking to focus on a specific part of your game, there will be a mat for that. We have a great guide on the best putting mats to guide you through even more options on the market.

If you're practising chipping, then one of the smaller mats will be ideal to use to protect the lawn. Maybe you want to check out our best golf nets guide to accompany the mat too.

How long do hitting mats last?

Hitting mats should last a very long time even from regular use, as long as you go for a model that has durability as part of its design. We have seen cheaper models wear away quickly whereas well made designs, constructed with strong materials, last for thousands, even tens of thousands of shots.

Do hitting mats cause injuries?

Depending on the model, yes hitting mats can cause injuries. Firmer designs can cause wrist and arm injuries because of the impact with the ground, whereas we have found the top models have shock absorption as part of their designs to minimize stress on the body.

Is a golf mat worth it?

Definitely. As we've all seen over the various lockdowns (and the surrounding videos) we can all find space to hit a few balls. You can practise all different parts of your game and you can really keep your game ticking over. You can take it anywhere, you don't have to ruin your lawn and it will last for years. The more durable the better is a good approach. 

Is a putting mat worth it?

Again, definitely. Putting is around 45 per cent of the game and plenty of us arrive on the 1st green feeling like we've never had a putter in our hands before. Go to any tour event and the putting green will be packed, go to your local club and we'll all be hitting three putts to the same hole and then straight to the 1st tee. This is a great way to nail down that putting stroke and get the fell of rolling the ball properly – and then seeing more putts drop!

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Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer