Whether you’re on an indoor putting mat or an outdoor putting green, regular practice is what’s needed to shave off those last few unwanted strokes from your average. That being said, which is best suited for practicing your putts? Does it truly make a difference in what you get out of your practice if you are indoors or outdoors? How do they compare, and which one is more effective?
We answer common questions that amateur golfers ask about how to best improve their putting. You will have a solid understanding of which practice area would benefit you most and where one may be more advantageous than the other.
Regardless of where you are practicing and what type of turf you’re on, remember that getting your practice in is what’s most important. For those of you committed to lowering your handicap, taking the time to learn which type of putting green might best support your endeavors can help you get there faster.
Ready to Take Your Putting to the Next Level? Order Your PrimePutt Putting Mat Today
Indoor Putting Mat vs Outdoor Putting Green: Key Differences
Other than the glaringly obvious fact that one is indoors while the other is outdoors, what makes each of these practice areas different from the other?
First, let’s differentiate between an outdoor turf putting green and a living putting green like you would find at the golf course. Both are outdoors, but they have distinct advantages. Once you’ve gotten a better understanding of them, we'll cover how they differ from an indoor putting mat.
Outdoor Faux-Turf Putting Green
Aside from requiring little-to-no maintenance, a faux-turf putting green's main advantage is that it offers a close experience to putting on the real thing.
Another advantage is customizability. Depending on what aspect of your game you want to work on, you might design your faux-turf putting green differently. Size, shape, green speed, undulation, number of cups, and so many other features can be built to custom specifications. Variety, however, is something that you won’t experience with a synthetic putting green. The conditions will be consistent day in and day out, so be creative when planning your putting drills so the practice doesn't become repetitive and boring.
Real Outdoor Putting Greens
Most golf courses have a practice putting green to work on your short game prior to teeing off. Using the green located at your local driving range or country club is the best way to prepare for what you will experience in a round of golf, but it’s not a perfect 1:1. A putting green is manicured every few days, while the greens on the golf course get a daily refresh. This difference can lead to fairly drastic differences in play.
On the other hand, your chances of success are best if you practice in situations that are as close as possible to the real thing. This does not, however, mean that you cannot effectively practice or prepare on an indoor putting mat or faux-turf putting green.
The putting greens you play on at the golf course are much different than turf greens or mats. Because it’s real grass, the conditions change depending on the weather and location. This means golf courses need different kinds of grass to grow and look good.
For example, if you are in a region that doesn’t experience a lot of rain, like the Sonora Desert in Arizona, the ground is much firmer, allowing for a type of grass that doesn’t need as much water to stay plush and healthy. This creates a putting green foundation that is difficult to hold. The soil under the putting green lacks moisture and becomes much firmer under windy conditions or in a drought.
The firmer the greens are, typically, the faster you can make the golf ball roll. However, if there is an abnormal weather pattern moving through the area that pours a ton of rain on the course, it can cause the grass to become much softer and slow down your ball.
If you can practice on greens that change with the weather, you'll be better prepared to deal with similar conditions when you play a round of golf.
What is a Putting Mat?
Indoor putting mats are fairly simple to explain. The size of the mat you can fit depends on how much space you have in your home or office. Most indoor mats only have the type of turf that mimics a putting green, not the fringe that surrounds it, which is typically half an inch taller. Indoor mats are customizable as far as length, width, and the number of holes included.
Indoor putting mats like the PrimePutt provide tour-quality turf to ensure you are practicing on a mat that runs at the speed of a well-manicured green.
With indoor putting mats, you won’t be able to replicate the undulation you would see while playing a round of golf, but you can work on speed control and distance control. Having both of those in check is half the battle when it comes to being a great putter with good touch and distance control. Aside from good putting mechanics, you must be able to read a green, which requires considerable more skill.
The Benefits of an Indoor Putting Mat
It’s not easy to say whether or not the benefits of an indoor putting mat outweigh those of an outdoor putting green or vice versa. They each have distinct advantages, and those advantages depend on the purpose they each serve for you.
The main benefit of an indoor putting mat is that your practice is not dependent on the weather. Other benefits include the convenience of setting it up in any room, no distractions from other golfers practicing, and the ability to practice at your own pace, which helps you stay focused on your mechanics.
With a putting mat at home or in your office, rushing to the golf course to soak up the last 45 minutes of sunlight can be a thing of the past. You can putt on your own schedule, whenever and wherever you want.
Ready to Take Your Putting to the Next Level? Order Your PrimePutt Putting Mat Today
The Benefits of Outdoor Putting Greens
Outdoor putting mats have their own set of challenges when it comes to protection from the elements.
Putting greens are arguably the most difficult area of a golf course to keep manicured. This is in large part due to how short the blades of grass are cut. In the summer, if you cut the grass too short, it can cause burnout, which eventually leads to losing the green entirely—a superintendent’s worst nightmare.
Another significant advantage of practicing on outdoor putting greens is the undulation and break. There is no golf course with perfectly flat greens, so you must be able to practice breaking putts because it’s a necessity if you are truly going to become an excellent putter.
When weather moves in, the conditions of golf courses can significantly change. Having the ability to practice in a similar environment is essential for building adaptability when you experience it mid-round. So, if there is inclement and non-threatening weather, it's a great idea to go get a practice session in.
Adverse weather teaches you to see how course conditions might change and prepares you for next time. By practicing outside of your actual rounds, a non-ideal environment becomes less stressful because it isn’t about trying to produce a specific score or perform under pressure. You'll be focused on your practice and what you are trying to get out of it. This, in turn, allows you to draw from a positive experience and remain calm and focused during competition.
So, Which is Better?
It’s hard to say if the benefits of practicing putting on an outdoor putting green outweigh those of using an indoor putting mat. Each has its own distinct advantages.
You should have access to both to improve your short game. When used together, a putting mat and an outdoor green are the perfect duo for improving your putting skills.
Whether you find your practice putting sessions taking place on an outdoor putting green or indoor putting mat, understanding that routine, quality practice is the only way to improve, no matter the surface. If you are confined indoors due to your geographic location, where golf may only be available outdoors for six months of the year, practicing on an indoor putting mat is far superior to not practicing at all.
Ready to Take Your Putting to the Next Level? Order Your PrimePutt Putting Mat Today
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s best for practicing: an indoor putting mat or outdoor putting green?
Both are excellent options for getting in some practice time. However, being able to putt on a real putting green is going to offer you the most variety when it comes to practice. You can work on stroke maintenance, distance control, green reading, and much more. Putting on an indoor putting mat doesn’t offer you as many ways to work on every aspect of your putting as being on an outdoor putting green does.
Do I need a country club membership to practice my putting?
No. There are plenty of public golf courses with great practice facilities where you can work on your putting game. The great thing about public or city golf courses is that anyone can use them, whether it's to play a round of golf or get in a solid practice session.
What type of putter should I use?
This depends on a multitude of factors, some of which are the type of putting stroke you have, what putters you like the look of, and what height putter you need. There are some more forgiving putters for high handicappers, but even high handicappers can benefit from using a custom-fit putter. Making sure you are using the right one for your specific style of putting stroke is the single most important factor. Also, if you are new to the game, the most important thing to know is the difference between the two styles of putter heads: mallet and blade putters. Knowing which type of putting stroke you have and then pairing it with the right style of putter head is the absolute first place you should start. Rest assured that there is such a thing as using the wrong putter, especially as it relates to the type of putting stroke you have.
Does it matter what type of indoor putting mat I use?
YES! There are not many companies out there offering tour-quality turf. Finding a reputable company that prides itself on the quality of its product and ability to replicate what you will experience while on the golf course is essential.
