Best Indoor Putting Green: How to Choose One You'll Actually Use

The best indoor putting green is one that rolls true at a realistic speed and is long enough for the putts you actually miss. For most golfers that means a mat of at least 8 ft with a stated green speed. If you have the floor space, go to 11 ft or longer so you can practice lag putting, not just short putts.

Below we cover what matters when you buy an indoor putting green, how the greens we carry compare, and the mistakes that make people stop using theirs after a month.

What to look for in an indoor putting green

• Length. Most 3-putts come from bad pace on longer putts, not from missing 3-footers. An 8 ft green covers short-putt drills. An 11 ft or longer green lets you work on speed control.
• Width. A narrow 1.5 ft mat is fine for straight-line stroke work. A 3 ft width gives you room to putt from different angles and to set up drills with two cups.
• Green speed. A mat that runs far slower than a real green builds a stroke that is too long and too hard. Look for a stated stimp number rather than vague words like "fast."
• Surface and base. You want a surface that stays flat and a base that does not slide on hard floors. Wrinkles and seams send the ball off line and make practice frustrating.
• Ball return or not. A ball return saves walking and keeps you rolling putts. A plain flat green behaves more like a real green, because nothing changes what happens around the cup.
• Storage. If the green has to share a living room or office, check whether it rolls up and how easy it is to put away.

The indoor putting greens we carry

Best overall: Chiputt Tour-Grade Premium Putting Mat

The Chiputt Tour-Grade Premium Putting Mat is the one we would pick for a golfer who wants practice that carries over to the course. According to the manufacturer, it rolls at about 10 on the stimp, which is close to a real tour green. The set includes:

• A putting green plus a matching chipping mat for bump-and-runs and short pitches
• A PaceMaster pace trainer for distance control
• Dual hole cups
• A fully waterproof build, so it also works on a patio

It comes in 8 ft and 11 ft lengths and 1.5 ft or 3 ft widths, starting at $229.49 for the 1.5 ft x 8 ft size. A 3 ft x 14 ft version is also listed. If you want a longer green later, the Chiputt Putting Mat Extender connects to the main mat with the same surface. Pick the extender width that matches your mat.

Best budget pick: Indoor Putting Green with Auto Ball Return

The Indoor Putting Mat with Auto Ball Return is $131.99. It suits an office, a dorm or a kid's first green. You get:

• An auto ball-return track along the side
• Distance markers at 2, 4, 6 and 8 ft
• Two hole sizes, one for warm-up and one for precision
• A wrinkle-resistant surface and a non-slip base
• 3 practice balls (light assembly required)

It rolls up for storage, which helps in shared rooms. The listing does not give a stimp rating, so treat it as a tool for repetition and short-putt confidence rather than a speed match for your home course.

Add-on for the rest of the short game: Wedge Game

Putting is only part of your score around the green. Wedge Game is a chipping and pitching net with an auto ball return. It has a steel frame that sets up in about 10 minutes with no tools, and you hit real golf balls from about 4 to 8 ft away. It starts at $179.99, and there is a version that includes a chipping mat. It fits next to a putting green in a garage or spare room.

Which one is right for you?

• You want to lower your scores and have floor space: Chiputt at 11 ft or longer, 3 ft wide.
• You have a narrow hallway or office: Chiputt at 1.5 ft wide, or the auto-return green.
• You want something under $150 for daily reps or a gift: the auto-return green.
• You already have a simulator bay: put the putting green beside the enclosure or in front of it, so your full-swing and short-game practice share one room.

If you are planning a gift, our home practice gift guide has more ideas at different price points.

Common mistakes

• Buying too short. A 6 ft strip gets boring fast and does nothing for lag putting. Measure your space and buy the longest green that fits.
• Ignoring green speed. A slow mat teaches you to hit the ball too hard. Look for a stated stimp number.
• Laying it on thick carpet. Soft or uneven flooring creates breaks you did not plan for. A hard, level floor or a firm underlay gives the truest roll.
• Only putting to the cup. Spend part of each session on pace drills, such as stopping the ball just past the hole or at the far edge of the mat.
• Forgetting where it lives. If you have to move furniture every time, you will not use it. Plan a spot where it can stay down, or choose one that rolls up easily.

Planning a full home practice space?

If a putting green is the first piece of a bigger setup, our guide Will a Golf Simulator Fit in My Garage? covers the room sizes you need for a full-swing bay as well.

Not sure which length or width fits your room? Send us your measurements through the chat button, text (714) 343-7110, or email info@gryngolf.com, and we will tell you what fits. We ship within the US.