Are you looking for new ways to achieve lower golf scores but are stuck indoors? To be able to practice your full swing and hit golf balls, you need to set up a net, purchase a golf simulator system, or travel to a dome or heated facility. Or you can take your chances and tee off your living room carpet - just try not to break any windows or lamps)! Instead, our advice is to utilize a putting mat over the winter months to get the most out of your time and space by improving the part of the time often overlooked, the short game. By owning a putting mat (and using it regularly), your quest for a lower handicap becomes a much easier road.
During the winter months, when it's more crucial to have the tools to practice putting indoors, consistently using a putting mat (or an indoor putting green) with a simple and repetitive routine will help drop your scoring average. Unless you are a scratch or professional golfer, putts make up about 43% of your total score. Most golfers aren't able to hit a golf ball 300+ yards, but becoming a great putter is a learned skill, achieved through practicing and preparing the right way.
Factors to Consider in Choosing an Indoor Putting Mat:
Compatibility with Training Aids:
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Being able to set up any alignment aids on the mat, such as a putting mirror, putting gates, or a metronome. These can be game-changers in helping you develop a better putting stroke.
Space Control:
- How much floor space do you have to work with? Being able to customize your putting mat for the ideal experience is something that PrimePutt offers in our selection of custom mats.
- Being able to have a long enough mat to practice distance control. Heed the speed to putt well!
Straight Putts:
- While real greens are not all flat, the perfect practice indoor putting green is one where you see yourself making straight putts. Eventually, you'll want to introduce breaking putts, but for mechanical and technique practice, flat is preferred. Some mats, though, include a ramp for ball retrieval or have inconsistent heights on the putting surface in different areas. Real putting greens don't have these features, so the recommendation is to get a product that emulates the real putting green as closely as possible.
- Some putting mats have alignment lines as part of the mat, but these typically have a different texture and speed from the mat itself and can be more difficult to see true roll through.
- Yes, an indoor golf putting green is made of artificial turf, but mats like PrimePutt's tour-quality putting mat is designed to be the most similar to an actual green. The stimpmeter reading on a PrimePutt lab is between 10 and 12.
- If your primary need is to create breaking putts, there are some indoor putting mats that allow you to do this.
Set-up:
- Make sure the mat sets up perfectly with no ridges or dents on either carpet or hardwood floor. This is essential to be able to see how the ball rolls; you want a smooth surface mat that provides a true roll and accurate green speed for the best indoor putting experience.
- Do you want to be able to play different putting games with friends or family? The mat needs to be large enough to accommodate this.
Durability and Ease Of Storage:
- How often do you plan to use the mat?
- How easy is it to store and set up and does it lay flat after being stored for an extended period of time?
- How much space do you have available for your mat? PrimePutt mats have many options as you can see here. You can also utilize the putting mat in nicer weather and set it up as an outdoor putting mat.
Convenience:
- Test how easy it is to hit multiple putts on the mat.
- Does it have an automatic ball return system?
- Is there a smaller hole that can be difficult to retrieve the ball from? The PrimePutt mat has 3 different putting holes to aim and putt at, and each hole is USGA regulation cup size.
- Do the balls roll to the back of the cup when made? PrimePutt's do because of the design on the cup!
Reviews of the Product:
- Do Professional golfers use the mat?
- Is it designed to mimic a premium putting green?
- How happy are current customers with the purchase? Be sure to scan the reviews of the product.
Cost:
- Keep in mind that your budget for the best indoor putting green will range from about $50 to $500. It depends on what number you're trying to stay under, but we recommend getting the best value for what you can afford. Buy a mat that won't need replacing after and tear from multiple people, dogs, cats, kids... etc. You will get what you pay for! Keep in mind that a higher quality mat will afford you a higher quality practice.
Where to Look:
There are many options out there, PrimePutt being one of them. Other options to consider include:
- Amazon
- Perfect Practice
- EyeLine Golf
- SKLZ
- Wellputt
- Boburn Golf
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Callaway Golf
How is Purchasing a Putting Mat Going to"Boost" my Golf Game?
By investing in a putting mat for your home or office, you can spend valuable time honing a repetitive and effective putting stroke, practicing distance control, starting the ball on the correct line, and maybe even engaging in some friendly putting game wagers that infuse a bit of pressure. You won't have to wait for the weather to warm up or the golf course to open in order to dedicate time to these skills!
There are numerous options available at various price points, ranging from beginner to touring professional. The PrimePutt Tour Quality Putting Mat is a wonderful option for being able to practice all of these skills. You can order the mat in different sizes, or even have a custom mat made for your home.
It's no secret, a higher number of putts per round means a higher golf score. Here is a simple breakdown of the correlation between the number of putts per round and handicap level:
- Scratch golfers average 31.5 putts per round
- 1-5 handicaps average 32.6 putts per round
- 6-10 handicaps average 33.7 putts per round
- 11-15 handicaps average 34.8 putts per round
- 16-20 handicaps average 35.8 putts per round
- 21-25 handicaps average 36.8 putts per round
- 26+ handicaps average 38.6 putts per round
If you want to shoot lower scores and need a tool to help you daily, look no further than the humble putting mat. Having the complete putting practice package located right in the comfort of your own basement or living room can help make this dream a reality.
"There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory."
By spending some time perfecting your putting stroke, hearing putts go in, working with your alignment aids, putting games and challenges, and nailing your green speed control, you'll be ready to make some serious putts next golf season in no time.
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