How We Researched Indoor Putting Greens and Putting Mats

Our team is committed to bringing you objective, trustworthy, and fact-based reviews coming  from firsthand experiences. I was personally on a journey to find a new putter grip and an indoor putting mat for my apartment and to practice during the offseason. When I found and tried the Pinstripe Putting Mat, I felt that I had found the best option available on the market. While there are many more expensive options with customized features and more elevated designs, our guides are meant to be inclusive for people looking for training aids or golf swing aids.

While selecting the best putter mat, I was examining a few key details for selecting the best indoor putting green: durability, high quality materials, and its ability to produce consistent outcomes. I wanted a putting green that would hold its shape well over time, produce a similar experience to an actual putting green, and also provide a valuable training aid to improve my putting.

I considered several indoor putting greens before selecting my favorite and the best putting green of 2024. I held myself to a high standard for selecting a practice putting green that met my needs, which is ultimately how I determined that the Pinstripe Golf Putting Mat was my top overall pick. It was a fun and insightful process since there are so many variations that can serve a super wide variety of preferences.

I hope you enjoy the following review of the Pinstripe golf putting mat and our selection as the best overall putting green of 2024.

Indoor Putting Greens: A Detailed Look at Available Options

There are many different styles of putting greens available on the market that can easily match any budget you may have. The more common types of putting greens include roll-out mats, return putting mats, and contour putting mats. You will likely see these more commercially available out on the consumer market. Other higher end options are available such as options with simulators or even custom indoor putting greens.

Indoor putting greens have grown in popularity, allowing golfers to hone their short game skills from the comfort of their homes or offices. These nifty additions come in a myriad of styles, sizes, and designs, catering to both the casual golfer and the more serious player. Let’s dive into the world of indoor putting greens, examining the various styles available, their price points, and unique design elements.

• Roll-Out Mats
• Price Range: $25 - $200
• Size: Lengths typically ranging from 6 to 15 feet.
• Description: These synthetic mats can be rolled up when not in use, making them a convenient choice for those with limited space. The texture mimics a real green, giving a fairly authentic feel.
• Contour Putting Greens
• Price Range: $100 - $500
• Size: Varying sizes, often up to 10 feet in length.
• Description: These greens come with built-in contours, challenging the golfer to practice on slopes. Adjustable foam wedges can change the gradient, allowing for a versatile practice experience.
• Modular Putting Greens
• Price Range: $150 - $1000+
• Size: Customizable.
• Description: Made of interlocking tiles, these greens can be tailored to fit any space. The flexibility in design lets users create a unique putting experience.
• High-End Turf Greens
• Price Range: $500 - $5000+
• Size: Various sizes, some large enough for professional training centers.
• Description: The pinnacle of indoor putting, these greens use high-quality synthetic turf that closely resembles natural grass in feel and play.
• Return Putting Mats
• Price Range: $50 - $300
• Size: Commonly up to 10 feet in length.
• Description: Perfect for continuous practice, these mats come equipped with a ball return system, rolling the ball back to the player after each putt.
• Simulator Putting Greens
• Price Range: $1000 - $10,000+
• Size: Tailored to simulator setups.
• Description: These greens are paired with golf simulators, providing feedback on each putt and giving players a hyper-realistic indoor golf experience.
• Custom-Built Greens
• Price Range: $1000 - $10,000+
• Size: Completely customizable.
• Description: For the discerning golfer, these greens can be designed to specification, featuring various challenges like sand traps or even water hazards.
• Design Elements to Consider:
• Hole Varieties: Some greens boast multiple holes or targets to challenge accuracy.
• Turf Directionality: Non-directional turf ensures a consistent feel from all sides.
• Infill: Certain putting greens require infill, like sand, to replicate the bounce and feel of a real green.
• Electronic Scoring: High-tech greens may come with scoring systems for those keen on tracking their progress.

The types of materials used in putting greens varies pretty widely, and it's important to consider your budget and overall scope of project before deciding which material is best for your indoor putting green. If you are interested in a DIY putting green installation at your home, we'd refer you to an Angi article which shows that the average cost of a DIY install can range from $400 - $9,000+. Otherwise, we believe that at home putting greens are worth it because they offer a regular form of convenient practice, not to mention in an aspect of the game that's of the most importance - putting. We also believe that at home putting greens are well worth it because the benefits of regular putting practice for your golf game can yield improvements in your overall score. What better way to spend your available budget than to improve your scores and putting performance!

• Nylon: The highest quality and best material for a putting green is nylon known for its ability to mimic the roll on a true putting surface. We love nylon putting greens because they maintain their consistency of experience and their high durability. The best material for an at home putting green is nylon, and nylon is considered far superior to poly mats because nylon produces a more realistic roll, speed, and break.
• Polyethylene: Also considered to be high quality, polyethylene is more used in contexts where artificial grass is being installed in a residential or commercial location. Occasionally for individuals with higher budgets, a varied polyethylene installation can create a very lifelike backyard putting green.
• Polypropylene: A bit more prone to matting over time as compared to polyethylene, polypropylene is a more affordable option that offers a pretty decent putting experience. It may not mimic the roll of a green out on the course, but for practicing purposes, polypropylene will suffice.
• Texturized Polypropylene: A very budget friendly material used in at home putting greens that do wear pretty quickly, have very low realism of putting experience, and is mostly good for transportable materials on a putting green.
• Felt: Suitable for casual golfers, children, or beginners, felt putting greens are low grade options meant for a less serious players.

Roll Out Mats: Our Favorite Option for Indoor Putting Greens

If you're asking yourself "What can I use to practice putting at home?" then roll out putting mats are great for you! Stop putting on your hardwood floors because, well, it's just not helping anyone out. Roll-out putting mats, are the most convenient option for indoor putting greens, and they have gained popularity among golfers of all skill levels because they offer a realistic experience at a relatively affordable option. Here's an in-depth look at roll out putting mats, their benefits for using in the home, and some tips on maximizing your practice sessions.

What are Roll-Out Putting Mats?

Roll-out putting mats are elongated strips of synthetic turf designed to mimic the texture and roll of a golf green. Typically, they come with a backstop, a hole, and sometimes even a ball return feature. The key attribute of these mats is their ability to be rolled out on any flat surface and then rolled back up for easy storage. The reason I love roll out putting greens is because they are extremely adaptable for any space. From a studio apartment in a densely populated area or your dedicated practice area in a single family home, roll out putting mats are awesome for any of your putting practice needs.

Why are Roll-Out Putting Greens the Most Convenient Option?

1. Space-Saving: Given their roll-out nature, these mats can be used in a variety of spaces, whether it's your living room, office, or bedroom. After use, they can be rolled up and stored away, taking up minimal space.
2. Portability: They're lightweight and easy to transport. Whether you're traveling or just moving it from one room to another, it’s hassle-free.
3. Affordability: In comparison to more elaborate indoor putting systems, roll-out mats are generally more affordable, making them accessible to a broader audience.
4. Simple Setup: No installation is needed. Just unroll the mat on a flat surface, and you're ready to practice.

Improving Your Putting with Roll-Out Mats:

1. Consistency: The uniform surface helps players develop a consistent putting stroke. Over time, this consistency can translate to more predictable results on real greens.
2. Speed Control: Regular practice on these mats helps golfers get a feel for speed control, crucial for sinking those long putts. Keep in mind that the synthetic material used on indoor putting greens may not perfectly mimic an actual green, but the technology has gotten much better.
3. Alignment and Accuracy: Many mats come with alignment guides or markings, assisting players in perfecting their alignment and ensuring the putter face is square at impact.

Recommendations for Practice:

1. Vary Your Distances: Don’t just practice from one spot. Try putts from different lengths to challenge yourself and gain proficiency across a range of distances.
2. Break Practice: If your home has an incline or if you can create one (using books or other flat objects under the mat), practice putting uphill and downhill to simulate different green conditions.
3. Alignment Drills: Use the markings on the mat or lay down club shafts/tape to work on keeping your putter head aligned during the stroke.
4. Pressure Situations: Create pressure scenarios for yourself. For example, try to sink 10 putts in a row from a particular distance before moving on.
5. Feedback Tools: Consider using training aids like putting gates or mirror systems in conjunction with the mat to get instant feedback on your stroke and alignment.
   
   

Pinstripe Indoor Putting Green: Best Overall

Pinstripe Golf Putting Studio Features

The Pinstripe Golf Putting Studio allows you to train smarter. The putting studio serves as a comprehensive feedback station when practicing putting, honing your putting stroke, or executing putting drills. It immediately provides feedback on whether the putter's face is open at impact or if the swing path is too far inside, for example. Once users recognize their patterns, they can utilize the training aids to improve their putting habits.

Pinstripe's offering emphasizes the importance of practicing correctly. It encourages users to repeatedly practice their swings to perfect them. What I love about this putting training aid is that it addresses multiple focus areas of putting to help improve your game. Other options on the market may simply just offer a putting mat without the embedded training. This is one of the key reasons why the Pinstripe Indoor Putting Green has been selected as the best overall option.

We love the mat because it allows you to practice between rounds. The mat is designed for practice at any time, whether it's before a big match, after a day on the golf course, during a conference call, or even while watching TV. The putting mat boasts a frictionless setup system, allowing users to start practicing quickly. It's also easy to store; users can simply roll it out, roll it in, and roll it up.

Here's a detailed overview of how it works:

• Check Your Swing: The mat teaches users to build a natural arcing putting motion to start more putts on line. The natural path of the putter is an arcing motion, swinging from inside to inside.
• Focus on Start Line: The Putting Mat is designed to indicate if putts are starting on line. The "Start Line" on the mat helps measure this accuracy.
• Track Accuracy: The Aim Board can determine how much the putter’s face is open or closed at impact. The numbers on the aim board indicate the degree of error.
• Dial In Speed: The Putting Cup rewards putts with good speed. It is designed to only catch putts that have the right speed and aim.

The Pinstripe Golf Putting Studio aims to improve users' putting skills. It provides feedback on swing, start line, speed, and accuracy. Inside the Bag includes a Swing Mat, Aim Board, and Putting Cup. We do love to pair the

Our Favorite Golf & Putter Trainer

The Pinstripe indoor putting mat is a fantastic item for you or the golfer in your life. When I purchased the indoor putting mat, I wanted to add another golf trainer to the mix so that I could maximize the mat's abilities to elevate my short game and putting. I chose the PuttOut Premium Pressure Putting Trainer. This little device is awesome for dialing in the perfect speed to your putts and ensuring that you are improving your putting with accurate and real-time feedback.

The way the PuttOut Premium Pressure Putting Trainer works is that the parabolic ramp returns made putts the same distance they would have rolled past the hole, while the tapered edges of the disc and ramp reject putts that would have lipped out. This training aid won awards from Golf Digest and Golf Monthly for making putting practice fun and addictive with a scientifically designed target that rejects bad putts and returns good ones, the Pressure Putt Trainer provides realistic feedback about your pace and accuracy.

We absolutely love the addition of the PuttOut trainer to the Pinstripe indoor putting mat because it amplifies the training value that the mat offers to golfers. By itself, the Pinstripe putting mat is our favorite and when it's matched with the PuttOut putting trainer, there is no comparison in our opinion.