How to Choose an Indoor Putting Green for Your Home
How do I choose an indoor putting green?
Quick answer: Measure the floor first, including the space you need to stand and putt, then pick the shortest mat that still leaves that room. Choose features by goal: alignment markings and distance guides suit stroke and pace work, while a ball-return system suits repeated putts. Unroll the mat and check that it lies flat, because reported roll speed can change with the floor beneath it.
- Measure the length and width of the floor where you’ll putt.
- Subtract the space you need to stand and putt on each side from that length.
- Compare what remains with the mat’s listed length, such as 8 feet for Perfect Practice’s Compact, 9 feet 6 inches for its Standard, or 15 feet 6 inches for its XL.
- Confirm the storage spot holds the mat rolled with the turf facing outward, since PrimePutt advises against folding because folding may cause creases.
How to Choose an Indoor Putting Green
Set your practice goal. Decide whether you mainly want stroke and pace work or repeated putts, because that decides which features matter. Distance guides and alignment markings serve stroke and pace practice, while a ball-return system enables repeated putts.
Measure the floor you’ll use. Include the space to stand and putt, not just the path the ball travels. The practice area has to hold more than the ball’s travel path.
Measure the storage spot. Confirm the mat fits where you’ll keep it between sessions.
Match the length to the room. Perfect Practice sells Compact mats at 8 feet, Standard at 9 feet 6 inches, and XL at 15 feet 6 inches. Its FAQ suggests Compact for tight spaces or travel and XL for larger rooms. Widths vary too: PrimePutt’s Compact measures 9 feet by 18 inches, while SKLZ’s Accelerator Pro measures 9 feet by 16.25 inches.
Check the roll and the lie. Look at roll speed and whether the mat lies flat after you unroll it. Reported speed can change with the floor beneath the mat. PrimePutt reports a Stimpmeter speed of 9 to 11 feet on its Compact mat, depending on the flooring.
Match the features to your goal. PrimePutt’s Compact has one cup and distance markers at 3 and 6 feet. The SKLZ Accelerator Pro has alignment guides at 3, 5, and 7 feet, an upslope at the cup, and a continuous ball return.
Check fit before you buy. Set the listed length and width against your measured floor and storage spot. Buy only when the mat fits both, with room left to stand and putt.
Match Green Size to Your Space
Choose the mat length first: measure the floor you have, then pick the shortest mat that still leaves room to stand and putt. Start by measuring the spot where the mat will sit, in feet and inches.
Mat lengths differ by brand, so compare the listed numbers rather than the model names:
Listed mat dimensions from the sources
| Mat | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Practice Compact | 8 feet | — |
| Perfect Practice Standard | 9 feet 6 inches | — |
| Perfect Practice XL | 15 feet 6 inches | — |
| PrimePutt Compact | 9 feet | 18 inches |
| SKLZ Accelerator Pro | 9 feet | 16.25 inches |
Pro tip
Compare the listed length, not the name: PrimePutt’s Compact runs 9 feet, while Perfect Practice’s Compact runs 8 feet.
Perfect Practice recommends its 8-foot Compact for tight spaces or travel and its XL for larger rooms. Pick the shortest option that still gives you the standing room you need, rather than the longest one you can fit.
Work through the fit in this order:
- Measure the length and width of the floor where you’ll putt.
- Subtract the space you need to stand and putt on each side.
- Compare the remaining length against the mat’s listed length.
- Confirm the storage spot holds the mat in its stored state, not just in use.
Storage matters because a mat that fits in use can still be too big to put away. Check the storage spot before you buy, not after the mat arrives.
Compare Surface and Practice Features
Compare each mat on roll speed, whether it lies flat after unrolling, and the practice features it includes, then match those features to your goal. Check flatness as soon as the mat is unrolled.
Reported speed can change with the floor beneath the mat, so treat any listed figure as a starting point. PrimePutt lists its Compact mat at 9–11 feet Stimpmeter speed depending on the flooring, and describes the surface as about ½-inch nylon turf. A mat may roll differently on one floor type than on another, so check the number against your own room.
Match the features to your goal. If you want to work on stroke and pace, look for alignment markings and distance guides. If you want to make repeated putts, look for a ball-return system.
Dimensions and practice features for two listed mats.
| Mat | Length | Width | Guides | Ball return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact mat | 9 feet | 18 inches | Distance markers at 3 and 6 feet | — |
| Accelerator Pro | 9 feet | 16.25 inches | Alignment guides at 3, 5, and 7 feet | Continuous |
Both mats run 9 feet long, so width and guide layout set them apart. The Compact is 1.75 inches wider than the Accelerator Pro. The Accelerator Pro also adds an upslope at the cup.
The Compact has 1 cup, while the full-size option has 3 cups and comes in 9-, 12-, and 15-foot lengths. If you’re considering a longer mat, measure your floor space first, since a longer mat needs more room.
Indoor Putting Green Quick Reference
The shortest listed mat is 8 feet and the longest is 15.5 feet, so measure your floor before you pick a length. 8 to 15.5 feet covers the three Perfect Practice sizes.
| Model | Length (ft) | Width (in) | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Practice Compact | 8 | — | Suits tight spaces or travel |
| Perfect Practice XL | 15.5 | — | Suits larger rooms |
| PrimePutt Compact | 9 | 18 | One cup, distance markers at 3 and 6 ft |
| SKLZ Accelerator Pro | 9 | 16.25 | Alignment guides at 3, 5, and 7 ft; continuous ball return |
Chart of the table above.
The PrimePutt Compact and SKLZ Accelerator Pro both run 9 feet long, but the SKLZ is about 1.75 inches narrower. If you want to practice several holes at once, the listed full-size PrimePutt has three cups in 9-, 12-, or 15-foot lengths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use an indoor putting green on carpet?
Yes, but carpet type matters. PrimePutt says its heavy, rubber-backed mat can be used on carpet, but plush carpet can slow the ball or dip under your feet. Check your floor type first.
What surface should an indoor putting green have?
Look for about ½-inch nylon turf that lies flat once you unroll it. Avoid deep, padded carpet underneath, because it can slow the ball. Roll speed also shifts with the floor beneath the mat, so check the roll on your own floor.
How do you keep an indoor putting green flat?
Roll it with the turf facing outward, and don’t fold it. Folding may cause creases.
Can an indoor putting green be rolled up for storage?
Yes, roll it with the turf facing outward instead of folding it.
How much should an indoor putting green cost?
Pick the length and features first, then compare prices only between mats that fit your floor and your goal. Your measured floor sets the length, and stroke and pace work needs alignment markings and distance guides, while repeated putts need a ball return. Compare mats with the same size and features side by side.
Conclusion
If you mainly want stroke and pace work, choose a mat with alignment markings and distance guides. If you want repeated putts, choose one with a ball-return system. If your room is tight or you travel, start with the shortest listed length.
Your next step is to mark the listed length and width on your floor with painter’s tape. Then stand where you’d putt, walk the spot, and confirm the storage area holds the mat before you order.
Sources
- Putting Mat and Accessories FAQs | Perfect Practice (perfectpractice.golf)
- independentgolfreviews.com (independentgolfreviews.com)
- sklz.com (sklz.com)
- primeputt.com (primeputt.com)
- primeputt.com (primeputt.com)
- primeputt.com (primeputt.com)
