Looking for an at home putting mat/practice setup. What is everyone using?

[LoopySwing13]

9 hours ago, sneaky_pete said:

I had a Putt Out matt which I enjoyed but found pretty quickly that the ball would create a 'groove' in the matt that the ball would just naturally follow regardless if you'd hit it a bit offline, the groove would just collect the ball and it would go where the rest of them went - not helpful.  I'd have to run something over it to get rid of it, roll more putts and have to do the same thing. 

 

I got rid of the Putt Out matt and bought a Wellputt as I'd heard that it didn't develop a groove.  It does, but it takes a lot more putts to do it so it is a step up from the Putt Out but not perfect.  

 

Keen to see further thoughts on the Amazon runner rug.

Arrives today! Will let you know. 

[5yddraw]

I have a birdie ball mat.  It rolls great and works well for me because I have it on carpet and it’s a thick mat.  
 

I saw an earlier post saying someone didn’t like standing on it but I stand on mine all the time.  It takes a few seconds for your foot prints to disappear but the foam reverts back to normal quickly.  I wouldn’t stand on it with cleats, but I’ve had no issues standing on it with running shoes 

Edited January 17 by 5yddraw

[LoopySwing13]

On 1/16/2025 at 2:03 AM, sneaky_pete said:

I had a Putt Out matt which I enjoyed but found pretty quickly that the ball would create a 'groove' in the matt that the ball would just naturally follow regardless if you'd hit it a bit offline, the groove would just collect the ball and it would go where the rest of them went - not helpful.  I'd have to run something over it to get rid of it, roll more putts and have to do the same thing. 

 

I got rid of the Putt Out matt and bought a Wellputt as I'd heard that it didn't develop a groove.  It does, but it takes a lot more putts to do it so it is a step up from the Putt Out but not perfect.  

 

Keen to see further thoughts on the Amazon runner rug.

Got delayed a day but honestly, not fancy but works for what’s needed. For $40 I don’t think you will find a better option, plus easy to roll up if needed. Rolls pretty good, will have to see if any grooves form. Speed wise definitely closer to 10 than 11. 
 

I am going to put up some gates both for the ball and the club head, my goal is really around just repeatable setup and getting more routine in my stroke. I would say B+ quality and A- value, but won’t be a true replacement for a true putting mat. I plan to keep for now and add some minor aids and eventually may go up to a full mat. Just hard to justify $400+ for a 3/4’ wide mat with good turf. 
 

Live in Florida so plan to have in garage until bad storms come through. No carpet in the house so this is my putting zone next to the peloton and home gym. 

Edited January 17 by LoopySwing13

[LoopySwing13]

On 1/7/2025 at 11:35 AM, bayrat88 said:

Here are some pics of the setup, I putt to one of the cans or trainer 

Finally got my setup how I wanted. Not glamorous but works 100% for practicing smooth strokes and setup. Still flattening the one edge there (can see in photo) but it rolls great! 
 

I also recommend these if you want a decent cup option for carpet runner:

 

MAZEL Golf Putting Cup/Ring for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FY612FW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 

 

Edited January 30 by LoopySwing13

[jcbrown]

On 1/13/2025 at 10:59 PM, bpdhlbrg said:

I built a 4’x10’ frame out of 2x4s and covered it with 3/4” plywood, then a roll of Big Moss carpet with a custom cut hole slightly offset of center on each end.
 

I wanted actual cups for the putts to drop into, and while I love the little plunking noise and it’s cool for my kids, I’ve come to realize that it’s unnecessary for practice as I mostly use a starting gate and would be fine with a target at the end. 

 

I wrapped the frame with 1x6 baseboard stock to add strength and create a raised edge. I installed 8 furniture levelers (3/side and 1/end) so I can fine tune the roll. My original thought was that I would use them to create breaking putts, and while that does work, I primarily use the levelers to make sure I can dial in a perfectly straight roll to work on alignment and start line (I’ve similarly transitioned to almost exclusively practicing short straight putts on real greens, too).
 

The whole contraption is on retractable casters so that I can roll it around my garage to make room for cars and other projects. I added a couple gate handles on one side so that when I really need extra room I can stand it up on edge. 
 

Garage floors are not perfectly level by design so the levelers are key. With the correct sized hex bit in my cordless drill it takes about a minute after repositioning to go around to each leveler and adjust. but once it’s dialed it will stay that way until I move it again. 

 

The whole build is very sturdy. I weigh 300 lbs and it doesn’t flex or even creak under my weight. I can get up to a 8-9’ putt in either direction and that’s more than I need. Would be just as useful to me if it were 4x6’, so I’ll chalk that up as a lesson learned, like with the holes. 
 

So far the Big Moss carpet is great and holding up just fine. No grooving and a true roll, even as a putt dies. I clean it with a giant lint roller on a broom handle. Friction keeps the carpet firmly in place so I never had to glue it down. Changing out the surface would be as easy as rolling it up and replacing with something that is the correct dimensions to fit within the raised edge (ie, exactly 4x10’). 

Very cool! This sounds almost exactly as I did mine. Same size. Same 1 X 6 trim. Full size cups also.  Mine doesn't have any levelers though and I glued my turf down. 

Excuse the mess around it. It's in the basement. 

 

 

[Shilgy]

Would any of these work well when laid over a tile floor?  What can I say? It’s Arizona and tile is cooler than carpet in the summer.  I’m just worried about the smoothness with the grout lines between tiles.

[LoopySwing13]

10 hours ago, Shilgy said:

Would any of these work well when laid over a tile floor?  What can I say? It’s Arizona and tile is cooler than carpet in the summer.  I’m just worried about the smoothness with the grout lines between tiles.

It’s hard to say for sure. The carpet runner I got from Amazon is only $36 and can be returned. I would venture to say you are probably best with a thicker option though, to be sure it won’t matter. That carpet runner is very thin so it may have a slight impact from the tile. 
 

Depending on how handy you are. You could build or just place it on a piece of wood. 

Edited January 31 by LoopySwing13

[lefthack]

My boss was given this after college in the 80's and it had been in the box at least 20 years when he gave it to me to replace my coffee cup. 🤣 

 

The speed bump adds challenge.

 

<edit> it's in the hallway outside my cube at work. 

 

 

Edited February 1 by lefthack

[Haber]

I’m in the process of building an 8x9 putting green between my sim and my mat. I settled on Camry golf green and it’s really good. I only got to unroll it and roll a few putts as I’m waiting for warmer weather to glue it down and install the holes. 
 

If you’re at all handy it takes a few hours work to build the base.

 

 

https://camrygolf.com/indoor-putting-green-diy-build-plan/

[bpdhlbrg]

On 1/30/2025 at 10:23 PM, Shilgy said:

Would any of these work well when laid over a tile floor?  What can I say? It’s Arizona and tile is cooler than carpet in the summer.  I’m just worried about the smoothness with the grout lines between tiles.

With the furniture levelers, I could put mine on cobblestones and still get it rolling true. 

[bayrat88]

On 1/30/2025 at 4:08 PM, LoopySwing13 said:

Finally got my setup how I wanted. Not glamorous but works 100% for practicing smooth strokes and setup. Still flattening the one edge there (can see in photo) but it rolls great! 
 

I also recommend these if you want a decent cup option for carpet runner:

 

MAZEL Golf Putting Cup/Ring for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FY612FW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 

 

Glad it worked out, it is not a glamorous set up but does the job for significantly less than a true putting green/turf option.

[3_Jack_Par]

I had a Birdieball mat for a long time, but had to throw it out after a drain backup in our basement, and I ended up going with Big Moss for the replacement. I like the roll on the Big Moss better. The Birdieball, I could never get to lay completely flat along the edges, despite many attempts to weigh it down. The Big Moss was good to go from the time I unrolled it and set it up, and it is easy to keep clean by vacuuming it whenever it gets dirty.

 

Edited February 10 by 3_Jack_Par
typo

[Jraallen]

On 1/15/2025 at 12:17 AM, scmgoblue said:

My wife got me a PuttOut AirBreak as a surprise Christmas gift this year and I've been super happy with it - part of what I was looking for was something that would work on carpet and be adjustable, was about to go down the build-my-own route when we came across this in a store, rolls great, easy to adjust to break, has it's own base and stand so easy to use in a carpeted room and relatively easily folds up / rolls up to store if needed. The cup has it's own auto-return as well if that's something you're looking for. 

 

Stock photo:

 

I’m strongly considering one of these. Currently have a birdie ball 3x10 and I’m re doing the room it’s in which will allow for a bit more area to be used, was planning to do a 4x10 permanent green framed in so i can put some short fencing around it to keep the dog off.. but damn the air break is cool.. and even if I plan to leave it out the folding feature is nice.. how do you like it now that you’ve had it a bit? Do you ever feel like 8ft isn’t long enough?

my wife is learning and accounting for break is like magic (in the sense that she just can’t grasp it) to her so I feel like this would be good for her.. or maybe I’m trying to justify it lol

 

anyway, can you talk me out of it or is it good lol

Edited February 21 by Jraallen

[sandman98]

i have the PrimePutt 3'x12'. roll is very true and has held up great through two years use. i just have it laid out in my study over top of the hardwood floors. expensive, but i figured this was a "one and done" purchase.

[Jraallen]

For anyone with a permanent or semi permanent indoor putting mat/green with some way of preventing stray balls from escaping, what did you use as a blockade? 

 

The area being used for golf in my home office is basically the area covered by the lowest pile green 6x9 area rug I could find at the back of the room, then I can set up my putting mat or little chip net or whatever I’m messing with in that space. It’s surrounded on 3 sides by walls but I’d like some little lip or barricade to keep balls contained/ even just to kinda separate the space visually.

 

Easy solution is probably lay down a 2x4, also considered a 6”x10’ strip of artificial turf but pretty sure my cats would spend the rest of their lives chewing/trying to eat it, considered a strip of cove molding but probably too short. I know there’s a good solution out there so curious if/what any of you have done?

[johnsomp]

Following,  trying to find a space to groove a new putter perhaps...

[scmgoblue]

On 2/21/2025 at 3:21 PM, Jraallen said:

I’m strongly considering one of these. Currently have a birdie ball 3x10 and I’m re doing the room it’s in which will allow for a bit more area to be used, was planning to do a 4x10 permanent green framed in so i can put some short fencing around it to keep the dog off.. but damn the air break is cool.. and even if I plan to leave it out the folding feature is nice.. how do you like it now that you’ve had it a bit? Do you ever feel like 8ft isn’t long enough?

my wife is learning and accounting for break is like magic (in the sense that she just can’t grasp it) to her so I feel like this would be good for her.. or maybe I’m trying to justify it lol

 

anyway, can you talk me out of it or is it good lol

 

Apologies delayed reply, overall I still really like it!

 

Likes:

- I find the ability to adjust the break keeps me more engaged if that makes sense? Super easy to use and does genuinely influence the line of the putt, also very easy to return to flat, can do it all if with your putter if you want

- For my practice I find the distance to be plenty as I'm really trying to focus on being consistent in setup and stroke for that distance in - also given the room I am constrained to use it in, anything bigger would just be more cumbersome - while the overall length is 8 feet I'd guess the actual putting distance is closer to 7 with how you would typically use it

- Speed feels natural to me and the ball rolls great on the mat

- The auto ball return works well

- I generally leave it out, BUT the ability to put it away easily is nice the few times I've had to

 

Dislikes:

- You can't stand on the mat itself because of how it functions with the bladders and sections (it becomes unstable), there's a platform the same height of the mat that you stand on, you may want to make sure your stance is comfortable on that before purchasing, it fits between each of the pumps in each section for the air bladders that create the break -

- This means you are starting the ball generally in the same spot at each distance/location so you're not really using the full width of the mat if that makes sense? This can create some tracks in the turf but nothing major, and I've just vacuumed it occasionally to take care of it - adjust the break also means you've got different starting lines as well

 

 

[Ty_Webb]

I got myself an Exputt. It's more expensive than the other options here, but you can legitimately practice your distance control as well as start line. You can also track your putter with it, which is useful if you want to work on your stroke (or know if you need to work on your stroke). If you get to the course to practice your putting regularly and are just looking for something to much around with while you do other things then it's overkill, but if you are stuck off the course for months at a time through the winter, then it's a good way to keep your eye in. My distance control was a lot better in 2024 than previously. 

[Jraallen]

On 2/26/2025 at 12:36 PM, scmgoblue said:

 

Apologies delayed reply, overall I still really like it!

 

Likes:

- I find the ability to adjust the break keeps me more engaged if that makes sense? Super easy to use and does genuinely influence the line of the putt, also very easy to return to flat, can do it all if with your putter if you want

- For my practice I find the distance to be plenty as I'm really trying to focus on being consistent in setup and stroke for that distance in - also given the room I am constrained to use it in, anything bigger would just be more cumbersome - while the overall length is 8 feet I'd guess the actual putting distance is closer to 7 with how you would typically use it

- Speed feels natural to me and the ball rolls great on the mat

- The auto ball return works well

- I generally leave it out, BUT the ability to put it away easily is nice the few times I've had to

 

Dislikes:

- You can't stand on the mat itself because of how it functions with the bladders and sections (it becomes unstable), there's a platform the same height of the mat that you stand on, you may want to make sure your stance is comfortable on that before purchasing, it fits between each of the pumps in each section for the air bladders that create the break -

- This means you are starting the ball generally in the same spot at each distance/location so you're not really using the full width of the mat if that makes sense? This can create some tracks in the turf but nothing major, and I've just vacuumed it occasionally to take care of it - adjust the break also means you've got different starting lines as well

 

 

No worries, is true wrx fashion I did some googling, got excited, and went to gg to buy one way before any reasonable person would have responded lol. Will update as I use it more but so far I agree with pretty much everything you mentioned..

 

- the mat itself like any roll up rug type mat is going to suffer from waves if you constantly roll it up. I’d say it’s worse than my birdieball mat but no worse than any other roll out rug mat. I’m planning to put a couple pegs on my wall so I can hang it up if I want which should allow me to still store the base without constantly rolling up the mat.

 

- if you do want to leave it out but have pets it’s easy enough to just take the putt surface off, put the pumps back in the housing and then just put the put surface back upside down. This has allowed me to leave it out without my dog or cats messing with the surface or the pumps/tubes.

 

- you get used to the platform and just cause you can’t stand on the main surface doesn’t mean your toes can’t hang over onto it a little. It’s not as much of a deterrent as I thought it would be.

 

- definitely would be easy for them to come out with more green surfaces with lines or different speeds etc in the future, so that’s cool.

HOWEVER- if you’re super ocd you may not like that due to the folding design there can be small ridges where the seems meet, but you could probably sand them down a little if it really bothered you 

 

[scmgoblue]

That's a great idea with the pegs to just hang the mat for storage purposes, I've been generally avoiding rolling it up if I can at all help it. I wonder if they'll ever sell like extension modules, it'd be nice to be able to have a hole on each end and that way you can practice alternating breaks with a second platform, etc.

[DKgolfAZ]

I had a perfect practice but replaced it with a birdie ball, the foam one not the turf. Rolls great but the durability is definitely questionable… luckily I got a 2 10x4 rolls for 80 of FB marketplace… so if it gets trashed over a couple years I’ll be perfectly fine with it

[JayG44159]

On 1/6/2025 at 12:22 PM, NewGuy412 said:

Had a putt out mat for a while and it served its purpose but now have a 3’x12’ PrimePutt and I love it. I think it rolls very nice for what it is, it’s not super fast but not slow. A plus for me is that I can stand on it and it doesn’t create lasting marks where I was standing. They always have discount sales on them too.

Do you feel as if it’s thin enough that if you stood on the left side off the Matt it still feels level or do you need the standing pad? 

[NewGuy412]

11 hours ago, JayG44159 said:

Do you feel as if it’s thin enough that if you stood on the left side off the Matt it still feels level or do you need the standing pad? 

I stand directly on it, the backing is pretty thick and the turf never leaves indentations along it from my feet. Have worn shoes and barefoot so there’s no difference either way.

Edited July 31 by NewGuy412