10 Best Golf Hitting Mats (2023)
Updated 8/10/2023
We rate the 10 best golf hitting mats for home based on real owner reviews from our DIY golf forum with over 20,000 members. A good golf training mat is a great tool to help you practice your full swing along with your short game.

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Whether you are looking for the best golf training mat, a golf simulator hitting mat, one to use outside and hit into a net, or for chipping in the yard, our golf mat buyer feedback will help you pick the best golf hitting mat on the market for home.

We rated Carl's Hotshot Mat as our top choice golf mat, with Fiberbuilt and Sigpro Softy as strong contenders.
 
Read on to see what we identified as the best cushioning mats to help avoid injury, the most durable golf mats, the best value golf mats, the best outdoor mat and more.
Editors Choice
Carl's Hotshot Mat is our top choice golf mat
Real Feel: 8.5 out of 10
Ease on Joints: 9.5 out of 10
Durability: 9 out of 10
Most Popular
Fiberbuilt was a strong contender for the top mat
Real Feel: 8 out of 10
Ease on Joints: 8.75 out of 10
Durability: 8.5 out of 10
Runner Up
Another good choice mat is the SigPro Softy
Real Feel: 8.5 out of 10
Ease on Joints: 6.5 out of 10
Durability: 6.25 out of 10

Top 10 Golf Hitting Mats

#1 Best Overall - Carl's Hotshot Mat (Back In Stock)
#2 Most Popular - Fiberbuilt
#3 Best Shock Absorption - Sigpro Softy (tie)
Best Shock Absorption - Gung Ho Holy Grail (tie)
Most Economical - Go Sports
Most Durable - Monster Mat
Most Realistic Feel - EZ Tee Hybrid
Country Club Elite
TrueStrike
DuraPro

Golf Hitting Mat Survey Infographic

#1 Best Overall Golf Mat - Carl's HotShot Mat
Back in Stock!!
Designed for comfort, Carl's Golf Mat gets very high marks for it’s ability to balance budget with durability and ease on the joints. In our experience it is one of the top overall mats in terms of shock absorption and durability. Our forum readers agree and voted it the top mat and we agree. The turf is a high-end fiber mat that delivers on softness and durability. It is rated our best golf hitting mat.

The anti-fatigue, easy-on-the-joints golf mat is forgiving and lets you play golf or practice for hours without pain. Carl’s reports that their product testers spent hundreds of hours hitting from indoor golf mats in all styles and price points, in order to design their own mat.

The golf hitting mat is almost 2 inches thick and takes a real wood tee. It comes with a very solid backing and it comes in multiple sizes. The larger size comes in handy if you have left and right handed players. The design of the golf turf is forgiving so it is easy on your wrists and elbows if you happen to hit one fat.

We appreciate that Carl's has evolved this mat since its first version and now includes a hitting strip with the mat. It really has become one of the best golf hitting mats for practice.
Pro's
  • Best combination of real feel, shock absorption, and durability
  • Moderately priced, but a great price for the value
  • 100% of buyers surveyed likely to buy again
  • Takes a real wooden tee
Con's
  • Stock runs out fast, get it quickly
 "I decided to go ahead an try the Carl’s Place mat and I am so glad I did. It is easy on the arms and seems to be quite durable. Great value for the price." - golf mat buyer review

Best Selling Golf Mat - Fiberbuilt
The Fiberbuilt golf mat has a proprietary grass that the company feels separates is from others in the market. They stand behind their mats with a 300,000 shot guarantee. It is more than durable enough for years of practice. It was the best-selling mat on our list of best golf hitting mats. We like the modular sections and ability to customize to fit your needs, making it one of the best golf hitting mats for practice.
 
The 7’x4′ Studio mat includes a 4’x4′ performance turf stance mat, 1’x4′ hitting strip with genuine Fiberbuilt Grass, and 2’x4′ performance spacer mat. This is designed to maximize the price / performance tradeoff of their turf. The hitting strip is intended to mimic the feel of hitting on real grass on a real golf course, allowing you to hit down and through on a shot. Players report it gives a fairway-like feel.
 
These mat sections all come affixed on a solid rubber base to provide a stable foundation for your stance and for your golf shots. It is something you don’t often find on the cheaper golf mats and contributes to its long-lasting feedback.
 
Fiberbuilt is the choice of GolfTec and thousands of golf driving ranges worldwide. The Fiberbuilt golf mat surface has a unique brush system that provides a very forgiving hitting surface for golf shots. This forgiveness reduces strain on joints and makes it a great choice to avoid injury using your golf driving mat.
Pro's
  • Very good balance of real feel, durability, and shock absorption
  • Highly popular brand with many reviews
  • 93% of buyers surveyed would purchase it again
  • 300,000 shot guarantee
  • Stable base that won’t move when you hit shots
Con's
  • Price is on the higher side
"I bought the Fiberbuilt Flightdeck to use the bristle side to learn to hit down on the ball to take a divot and to reduce the strain on my joints. It has worked wonderfully and is actually replaceable although I've used it 9 months and have yet to make a dent in it." - golf mat buyer review

Best Shock Absorption - Sigpro Softy (tie)
Another great model made in the US, the Sigpro was designed for comfort and durability. They designed the mat to emulate the turf on a high end golf course to give you a great practice surface with fairway-like feel.
 
We found that softy’s innovative design starts with a super soft foam insert in the middle. On top is a plush layer of 1-inch thick Teeline turf that mimics real grass feel while providing 100% accurate feedback on great shots and mishits. A thin layer of responsive ABS polyurethane allows for the flex action to occur at impact and then returns the turf to its original shape. Overall, we found it creates a mat with great forgiveness allowing you to hit shots without pain.
 
The Softy also has three compression slots on the bottom that act as release valves so as the turf is compressed at impact, the air pressure dissipates giving the golfer a realistic and smooth follow-through without the sharp vibrations that other hitting mats produce. I can tell the difference this makes in forgiveness when I hit a fat shot.
 
I like that the Sigpro Softy can take a real wooden tee and the hitting strip can be replaced over time. After hitting hours of balls on the mat, I fee that the shock absorption and forgiveness make it is one of the best golf hitting mats for garage use.
Pro's
  • Tied for the top on shock absorption
  • Very high marks on realistic feel by buyers
  • Innovative technology
  • Takes a real tee
  • Replaceable hitting strip
Con's
  • Lower than average buyer ratings on durability
“The Sigpro has good padding though for which absorption. Its great on the elbows and wrists. This mat is light weight sturdy and great feeling. I love being able to use a real tee with the driver.” - golf mat buyer review

Best Shock Absorption - Gung Ho Holy Grail (tie)
Coming in two different sizes 4x5 and 4x9, the Holy Grail is made in the US. It is forgiving and gets great marks for portability and shock absorption. It comes with four corner 4x4 velcro anchors for stability on concrete, wood, or low-nap carpet surfaces.
 
The Gung Ho Golf Holy Grail hitting mat has 1" dense foam base for firm stance area, to maximize ground forces and clubhead speed. It’s water-jet cut edges are perfectly square and flush for seamless fitting into a 1" raised floor with 3/8" turf on it.
 
The hitting strip is only 3" from edge for easy placement of SkyTrak or GCQuad launch monitor on floor next to it, making it a great choice for a golf simulator mat. The mat comes with the $149 Holy Grail Hitting Strip included.
 
At only 25 lbs, the Holy Grail hitting mat is one of the best golf hitting mats with portability, making it a great golf hitting mats for backyard use.
Pro's
  • Tied for top rated mat on shock absorption
  • Light weight and portable
  • Solid marks by buyers on feel and durability
Con's
  • Price is on the higher side
  • Lower than average buyer ratings on durability
“Almost certainly the best value currently on the market for a realistic feedback type of mat. Slightly fat shots don't feel that fat but definitely penalizes your distance on the sim. Feels great on my joints.” - golf mat buyer review

Most Economical - Go Sports
This was one of the first mats I ever owned. It was a great economical option when I first started practicing at home. The winner of the most economical mat also has a number of really cool swappable features like a divot action hitting strip and a couple different training aids. It also includes swappable hitting strips for fairway or rough practice. It is a best-selling golf hitting mat Amazon has high ratings on.
 
At the base it has a 15mm layer of non-slip foam padding, comes with 6 tee positions, and includes 3 rubber tees of different heights. It was the best rated entry level price point golf mat in our survey. The swappable training accessories make it one of the best golf practice mats.

This mat is a great alternative to those not ready to shell out the prices for the high end golf hitting mats. I really liked the divot strip as it helped me figure out if I was making contact with the ball first. Not only is this mat one of the best golf hitting mats under $100, it is also one of the golf hitting mats for beginners.
Pro's
  • Most affordable mat in the buyer survey
  • Innovative features with the swappable hitting strip and training aids
Con's
  • Durability and shock absorption were rated below average for this group
“It feels great hitting off this mat and the interchangeable inserts is a great feature for those that are trying to practice your swings. Lastly, I have to say their customer support team is amazing! I has an inquiry on my order and they were very quick to respond and able to offer top notch support!” - golf mat buyer review

Country Club Elite
The Country Club Elite golf mat is a very well-known brand and is quite popular in our golf simulator forum. It was designed for feel and for durability. It uses a special fiber system that is long and dense to imitate the feel of a premium fairway. The turf fibers are designed to move and dissipate the impact from your club head during a shot, creating a fairway-like feel.
 
The main area the mat strives to perform is around the divot action. It allows you to hit down and through and avoids the bounce you get on some mats. It gives you the feel of taking a divot, particularly on fat shots.
 
The Country Club Elite golf mat can be easily moved around, and it’s available in sizes 4’x5′, 5’x5′, 5’x8′ and 5’x10′. It is one of the better golf hitting mats with portability on our list. You can, of course, use it for chipping as well. It was the first mat to take a real wooden golf tee anywhere on the mat.

The Country Club golf mat was one of the highest mats rated by our forum in terms of durability, but it did get some complaints around the shock absorption with many other mats performing better. Hitting down through all that dense turf fiber may be creating forces that make it feel less shock absorbent.
Pro's
  • Affordable price point relative to premium mats
  • High marks for durability
  • Innovative divot action
Con's
  • Average marks from buyers on realistic feel
  • Some buyers report it being hard on the wrists and elbows
“Holds a tee very well. Over 10,000 shots off it with no visible wear.” - golf mat buyer review

TrueStrike Golf Mat
TrueStrike is a brand that is growing in popularity lately. The TrueStrike Golf Mat is getting very good reviews on realistic feel and shock absorption. It has a silicone gel subsurface that emulates a divot and creates a feel like real grass when hitting a shot.
 
By sandwiching a gel layer between the mat and base, the TrueStrike golf mat eliminates the bounce you get on many golf mats. This eliminates much of the stress on your elbows and wrists and reduces the chance of injury. I found it to be quite forgiving when using it as one of my golf hitting mats for simulator practice.
 
The mat is easy on the joints and you get realistic feedback on well struck shots. The mat is designed for indoor golf simulators and has four sections that come together to create a complete setup. When using it I did get quite a bit of the green turf on my club. Quite a bit more than on most other mats. That may be what is leading to lower than average durability ratings.
 
The TrueStrike mat can be set up for both left and right handed play. It also comes with a tee receiver to secure a tee along with 25 tees for use with the mat. With expandable sections and a ball tray, this can be a great DIY golf mat option.
Pro's
  • High marks from reviewers on feel with the gel subsurface
  • Tee holder allows use of your preferred tee type
  • Designed for durability
Con's
  • Price is a bit on the higher side
“I was a previous user of the country club elite and this mat is a significant improvement. No more joint pain as before. I couldn’t recommend this mat anymore. You won’t be disappointed.” - golf mat buyer review

Most Durable - Monster Mat
Known for their outdoor golf hitting mats, the company has been in business making golf mats for over 40 years and is the mat of choice in many Golf Galaxy stores. It is the best outdoor golf mat on our list and is expected to be long-lasting in many environments. This makes it one of the best golf hitting mats for backyard use.
 
Used extensively in high traffic facilities, the mat has a patented dual backing system designed for durability that has proven to be long-lasting. It has a 1 1/8” fiber fortified hitting surface that the company claims to be the finest in existence.
 
The company also mentioned shock absorption, and it was average to slightly above on user ratings for shock absorption. I found it to be a bit firmer than many of the other mats on the list. It's durability and use at driving ranges make it a good option if you need an outdoor golf hitting mat.
Pro's
  • Top buyer marks on durability
  • Good buyer marks on feel and shock absorption
  • A bit more affordable with respect to price
Con's
  • Limited buying options
“The Monster Mat is super durable. I was finding it to be a bit hard on the wrists and elbows so I cut in a hitting strip that is a bit more forgiving.” - golf mat buyer review

Most Realistic Feel - EZ Tee Hybrid
Coming in a wide variety of sizes, the EZ Tee Hybrid is used exclusively in
PXG retail stores and many PGA exhibit booths. It was designed for heavy traffic driving range tee lines and golf simulators. It is often called a golf tee mat since it holds tees so well.
 
EZ Tee Hitting Mats hold a real tee and allows players to hit all clubs, from wedge to driver with realistic feedback and comfortable feel.
Pro's
  • Highest rating on real grass feel by buyers
  • Strong ratings on durability and shock absorption
  • Mid-range on premium mat pricing
Con's
  • Lessor known brand with limited buying options
“Had the Fiberbuilt mat before. EZ Tee is much more realistic and easier on the joints. Perfect mix of good feel and not destructive to joints, but punishing enough if you chunk a shot.” - golf mat buyer review

Newest Innovation - Carl's Hotshot Golf Hitting Mat

A new innovation on an already great base design, Carl's Hotshot mat integrates a divot action hitting strip to improve performance. Coming in at almost 2 inches thick, you can play for hours without pain. This is a great evolution of an already top mat.

You have the choice of getting an integrated divot action hitting strip or a budget-friendly replaceable golf mat insert strip. The choice is yours and allows you to customize the mat for your preferences.

The golf hitting mat takes a real wood tee and comes with the same solid backing as the Anti-fatigue mat.
Pro's
  • Great of real feel, shock absorption, and durability
  • Integrated divot action strip
  • Replaceable golf mat insert
  • Moderately priced, but a great price for the value
  • 100% of buyers surveyed likely to buy again
  • Takes a real wooden tee
Con's
  • None - this is an outstanding mat

DuraPro Golf Mat
The DuraPro is a very affordable golf mat with a solid base designed to protect your floors. The DuraPro golf mat features and anti-fade turf used by many golf courses, ranges and schools nationwide. Fade resistance makes it one of the better golf hitting mats for backyard use.
 
DuraPro golf mats are made of of 100% nylon 3D turf fibers that are 30% denser than the ordinary golf practice mats. It has a 5/8" thick base pad for a perfect stance and natural feel. Non-slip, non-staining, and thermally bonded turf mat for longevity. The Dura Pro golf mat can use wood tees.

One of the more interesting features of the Dura Pro is that it will not stain your golf club with that green sheen like many other golf mats. If you are going the DIY golf mat route with an insert, this is a good base option.
Pro's
  • Very affordable mat
  • Can take real tees
  • Average marks from buyers on real feel and shock absorption
Con's
  • Low buyer ratings on durability

DuraPro golf mat video

How we rated the best golf mats

We are committed to doing deep research on our reviews. We get real data from our forum of over 20,000 golfers to support our reviews. Our forum is a top 5% site on Reddit. We ask followers what products we should review in order to pick the most relevant products for golfers.

Our survey asks hands on golf mat owners to rate the mat they bought on value, real feel, durability, and shock absorption. Only mats getting a high number of survey responses and good ratings made our list.

We then do the analytics and rate each mat on a one to ten score using the following rating criteria:

  • Real Feel: How well the golf mat simulates hitting on real turf
  • Shock Absorption: How well the golf mat cushions the shock of the hit
  • Durability: How well the mat is built and how long it should last

After careful examination of reviews and the features each one has to offer, we wrote a review of each of the top rated golf training mats we uncovered. Our team of experts is dedicated to accurately depicting the pros and cons of each golf hitting mat, translating technical product specifications into information you can understand.

We aim to provide you the best possible information about golf mats before you purchase.

We also asked buyers to rate their experience with the retailer from whom they purchased the golf training mat. We asked if they would buy again from the same store and have included that information to help you make a decision on where to buy your golf training mat.

While a new mat may not get you on the PGA Tour or World Golf Rankings, it could help you get the most out of your game.

Where should I buy my golf hitting mat?

The top retailers in our survey, ranked by the percentage of respondents that said they would buy from the retailer again were as follows:

What can I put under my golf hitting mat to make it softer?

To make your golf mat softer use carpet padding under the mat to increase the forgiveness on shots. It will make the strike a bit softer. Others have replaced the foam on the mat under the hitting area with a gel mat and report that it feels fairway-like. Also, starting with a high-quality turf will reduce shock from a golf shot.

How do I keep my golf mat from sliding?

To keep your golf mat from sliding, there are several different materials you can place under your mat to keep it from slipping. One of the best methods is to use double-sided carpet tape. Make sure both the back of the mat and the surface it rests on are clean before taping.

What size golf training mat do I need?

The most commonly purchased in our survey were 5x5 golf mats with 24% of purchases. Second was a 4x5 golf mats at 18% of purchases. If you are taller or want to keep a simulator on the mat, you might be a bit safer with a 5x6 mat.

What to look for when buying a golf training mat

Size: When it comes to hitting mat size, you ideally want to practice standing on the same level as the ball you are hitting. For most folks that means a golf mat needs to be at least 4x5 or 5x5 in size. In some applications, you may also want it to serve as the landing turf for your shots into either a net or a screen. In those cases you may be looking at 6x10 or even 8x12.
 
Real Grass Feel: When you are using a golf mat for training, you are attempting to practice shots that you would hit on a golf course. Ideally you want the mat to feel like you are hitting off real turf. Length of the simulated grass and the material under the mat will have a big impact on how real shots feel and whether it is fairway-like when you practice.
 
Durability: The durability of a mat will determine how soon you need to replace it. If you are going to practice shots every day, they can add up pretty quickly. Going with a cheap mat that falls apart after a few months will end up costing you more in the long run. Go with something designed to be long-lasting and it will cost less in the long run.
 
Stability: You don’t want the mat to move when you hit or you’ll be having to constantly put it back where you want it. This is less likely to happen with a mat large enough to stand on - well, at least at my size it won’t move if I am standing on it :)
 
Cushioning: The best-cushioned golf mats can go a long way to preventing elbow and wrist injury from repetitive practice. A hard and unforgiving golf mat can be a culprit for golfers elbow and sprained wrists. Divot action hitting strips can provide help here.
 
Functionality: There are different features you can get in some golf mats. You may want to look for options that let you use a real tee or a ball tray. Some mats have what they call a real divot action and others have a “no bounce” feature. Prioritize the features that are important to you.
 
Price: This one is pretty straightforward. Set a budget and stick to it. Keep in mind the long-term costs of having to repeatedly replace a cheap mat.
 
Warranty: Having a good warranty gives you some assurance that the seller is confident in the manufacturing process. Several mats come with a limited 1 to 5-year warranty against manufacturer's defects. They often don’t cover shipping damage.
 
Return Policy: You should look to understand how the seller handles returns. Do they offer a reasonable period for returns and do they charge a restocking fee.
 
Multi-surface: You don’t hit every shot from the fairway, so why only practice on one type of surface on a training mat. Several brands will offer simulated fairway and rough turf.
 
Alignment Training / Surface Design: Some hitting mats will come with alignment aids to help you work on being aligned every time. Decide if a golf mat with alignment lines is something you want.
 
Portability: If you will be using your mat outside or putting it away when not in use, you may want to look for options that are portable. Some of the golf mat options can be quite heavy and hard to move.

Location: If you are going to be using the mat outside, look for the best outdoor mats with UV protection and fade resistance. The best-selling driving range models might be a good fit for outdoor use.

You also may want to look for golf simulator hitting mats with free shipping and golf hitting mats with 30-day money-back guarantee.
 
We appreciate you visiting our site and hope that the information we are providing on the best golf mats on the market is both informative and helpful. We spent a lot of time on the survey and did our best to provide practical information on golf mats.

As a last piece of good news, hitting golf balls for an hour can burn about 150 calories.

We’d love to connect on social and invite you to join our forum:
 
Golf Simulator Forum
 
You may also find a couple of our other golf articles interesting and relevant:
 
Golf Simulator Costs
Best Electric Push Carts
Build a Home Golf Simulator
Best Golf Simulator Software
The Winner!!

Carl's Hotshot Mat is our top choice golf hitting mat

Real Feel: 8.5 out of 10
Ease on Joints: 9.5 out of 10
Durability: 9 out of 10
About the Author: Lem Clevenger is a lifelong golfer with over 40 years of experience playing and buying the latest golf equipment. He has reviewed golf equipment for over 10 years and runs a golf simulator forum with over 18,000 followers. Lem is passionate about helping golfers of all levels improve their game and is always looking for the latest and greatest golf equipment to help them do so.
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