PrimePutt vs. Big Moss: A Pro's Perspective on Premium Putting Mats

I've spent nearly 30 years in the golf industry, with the last 16 as a PGA Professional and award-winning coach and writer. During that time, I've watched hundreds of training aids enter the market, many promising to be the "secret weapon" for dropping strokes. Truth is, most collect dust in garages within months.

This winter, when two of my regular virtual students who live in New York State (I’m in sunny Florida) separately asked about investing in home putting setups, I decided to personally test the two names that kept coming up in pro circles: PrimePutt and Big Moss. Here’s my review.

PrimePutt vs. Big Moss Comparison Chart

Consider This: A premium putting mat is an investment in your golf game. If your goal for owning a putting mat is to truly improve your putting game and reduce strokes on the green, it’s worth considering quality and realism over price alone.

PrimePutt: Tour-Quality Feel in Your Living Room

The PrimePutt arrived in a surprisingly compact box considering its 15' length. When I unpacked it in my office, the first thing that struck me was the weight, which was noticeably substantial but not unwieldy. The turf's dense nylon construction immediately felt different from the typical "office putting mat" material most amateurs use.

Pictured above: Left: PrimePutt features highly durable, quality material to mimic real green surfaces. Right: Big Moss offers a thinner, less realistic putting feeling.

What impressed me most wasn't the premium materials (though they're excellent)—it was how the darn thing just laid perfectly flat right out of the box. No waiting for it to "settle," no books on the corners. Just unroll and putt. On a Tuesday evening when time is tight between virtual lessons, and I want to putt, that matters.

Pictured above: PrimePutt lying flat right out of the box. No weighting down the corners or letting it settle. It's ready to putt on immediately.

Putting on the PrimePutt revealed its real strength. With a Stimpmeter reading between 9-11 (I measured it at different points over several weeks), it mimics what you'd find during weekend tournaments at better clubs. The ball roll is remarkably true—no subtle redirections or mystery breaks that teach bad habits.

The cups deserve special mention. Unlike standard practice holes that require fishing out every putt, PrimePutt's design accepts three consecutive made putts before needing clearing. It's a small detail that dramatically improves practice flow, especially during drills requiring multiple repetitions. Most importantly, the cups provide honest feedback. Near-misses don't miraculously fall, and properly-struck putts don't inexplicably lip out.

The hardwood backstop isn't just attractive (though my wife appreciated that enough to let me leave it set up in the living room)—it's functional. Balls don't ricochet unpredictably, and the integrated ball tray along the top edge keeps extra balls handy during ladder drills or when working with students.

PGA Pro’s Take: PrimePutt truly stands alone when it comes to quality and true-roll feel. I’d recommend this mat to those golfers who are serious about improving their putting and reducing strokes on the course in a hurry.

Big Moss: A Trusted Name with Versatility

The Big Moss Augusta arrived with instant name recognition. It's been a staple in teaching studios and indoor facilities for years. The 4' width (compared to PrimePutt's 3') provides a slightly more generous hitting area, particularly useful when working on longer putts where alignment becomes more critical.

While it didn't lay perfectly flat immediately like the PrimePutt, after about 24 hours, the Augusta settled nicely on my garage floor. The rubber backing does its job adequately, though occasionally, during aggressive practice sessions, I noticed slight movement.

Pictured above: Big Moss took 24 hours to settle out of the box. You can still notice a few lumps and uneven parts of the surface after the initial settling period. 

Where Big Moss truly distinguishes itself is terrain versatility. The included break pads let you create everything from subtle double-breakers to severe side-hill challenges. For golfers in northern climates facing five months of snow cover, this variety prevents practice monotony.

The roll quality is good, consistent, and predictable, if not quite as "green-like" as PrimePutt. Think of it as the difference between a well-maintained public course versus a private club's championship surface. Both are certainly playable, but one has that extra refinement.

The Augusta's chipping accessories are a welcome addition, especially for space-constrained practice environments. The limited flight balls reduce the anxiety of errant chips denting walls or breaking lamps, though they obviously don't replicate full shot dynamics perfectly.

PGA Pro’s Take: While the Big Moss brand recognition may bring a certain level of comfort to a buyer, this mat isn’t without some issues. Despite offering a decent roll, I found myself having to adjust the mat to flatten it out or reset my backstop. I’d recommend this product for golfers looking to fill out their man cave with a solid green.

Setup and Putting With Each Mat

Let me show you some of the details I've mentioned above relating to setup and putting on each of these surfaces. This should give you a clear idea of how each mat looks and works at home. 

PrimePutt Setup

PrimePutt's design and material quality make setting up the mat a dream. Best part? It's ready to putt on as soon as you've taken it out of the box. 

Big Moss Setup

The Big Moss putting required some extra work and about a day to settle before it was usable. 

Putting on PrimePutt

You can see that the ball roll on PrimePutt is so pure and realistic to an actual green. This is a great mat for mastering your stroke and nailing your distance control.

Putting on Big Moss

The roll on the Big Moss mat, while solid, doesn't quite hold up to the PrimePutt alternative. You'll also notice a putt with dramatic cup lip out that doesn't ring true to a real golf experience. 

Final Verdict: Which Mat Reigns Supreme?

After two weeks of daily use, clear preferences emerged. The technical players—those focused on mechanics and precision—will overwhelmingly prefer PrimePutt's true roll and premium feel. The creative types who visualize breaking putts and practice a wider variety of scenarios may gravitate toward Big Moss's versatility.

For pure stroke development, PrimePutt holds the edge pretty significantly. The consistent surface rewards proper technique without introducing variables that can mask flaws or create compensations.

Aesthetically, it's no contest. The PrimePutt's clean lines and tasteful wooden accents look like purposeful furnishings rather than obvious practice equipment. One student's wife, initially resistant to "golf equipment" in their formal living room, actually suggested they leave the PrimePutt out permanently after seeing how seamlessly it blended with their décor.

Big Moss counters with practical advantages. The break pads allow practice for specific course conditions. The slightly lower price point makes it more accessible, especially for developing players not yet ready to invest at the premium level.

Durability testing revealed that both products hold up admirably to serious use. My pup, who loves lying on my putting mats and, on many occasions over the years, ruined his fair share of them, loved the PrimePutt mat. Luckily for me, this mat may be the first one that can stand up to Buddy's love of a good putting mat.

The bottom line: Either option represents a serious commitment to improvement that will reward dedicated practice. But if you're looking for the absolute closest simulation to real putting surfaces, PrimePutt has set a new standard for at-home practice quality.