indoor Putting Green

[AugustaDawg17]

Hey guys, was curious to see if anyone had any experience with any of the indoor putting greens? I've done some searching here and the google and haven't come up with much. Not really interested in building my own just looking for something I can easily pull out and putt around the house on a regular basis.

Based on looking I was considering these three....

 

http://www.birdieball.com/classic-putting-green-builder/

https://www.amazon.com/Callaway-Golf-Executive-Putting-8-Feet/dp/B00BF9JL8M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525630386&sr=8-3&keywords=callaway+putting+mat

https://www.amazon.com/SKLZ-Accelerator-Pro-Indoor-Putting/dp/B013BYCKDQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525627181&sr=8-4&keywords=putting+green+indoor+mat

https://www.amazon.com/Putt-Bout-Grassroots-Putting-9-feet/dp/B001B6CH0S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525627181&sr=8-3&keywords=putting+green+indoor+mat

Anyone have any experience with these or any other product? Looking for a good mix of quality/convenience for something between 50-150

 

Thanks

[shakogolfer78]

I have had a green similar to the SKLZ Accelerator Pro for a long time in my basement.  Pros:  inexpensive easy set up and take down.  Cons:  After years of use seemed to be worn in the "slot" so putts that I would assume to have pushed/pulled always seemed to correct and still end up in the cup.

A few years back, I won a Birdieball putting green (thank you Jason Day for winning at Whistling Straits) the green was a large 4' X 12' 1/2'' thick that they sell for about $200.  I was skeptical that standing on the green placed on carpet would really affect the roll, but the green runs really true in my eyes.  You can get different speeds, the grass has a bit of "grain" so putting one direction is a bit faster than the other, and I was impressed with the quality.

If you had a spot to keep the green up permanently the double thick green is really nice as it gives the green more support and I like the way the ball can then actually drop into the hole like on a real green, but then it can't really be rolled up and put away that easily and I think they would sell a double thick mat to stand on so you have a level putt on the smaller versions.  

I really enjoy the birdieball green and would be open to answering any questions you have, but I just feel that the roll simulates a real green better than the standard mat. 

Actually looking at their site it looks like you can get a good one for about $150.  1/2'' thick (works fine for me putting in socks on some thick carpet)  4'X10' and you can customize speed and where/how many cups you want as well.  I don't have any contour shims or crazy bumpers either.  Just the end trim which is included in the cost.

I also had that same putt a bout as a kid.  Not much to say about that other than it was OK but the quality was poor and after a few time rolling it up would bend and wouldn't lay flat and the roll was mediocre at best.

All in all I like my birdieball green a lot. Good quality and a ton of ways to customize it to your liking.

[dennyjones]

I have the SKLZ Accelerator Pro but can't recommend it.  I leave it in the living room but if you roll it up or fold it up, it will take quite a while to get flat again.    I like the sloped hole.    I use a metal yard stick with it so it works for my purpose.   I believe I'd look for other options when it's time to replace it.

[AugustaDawg17]

Thanks for the feedback. Ended up picking up the Calloway Executive putting mat at Dicks. Not really impressed (I know, can't ask for much for 30$). Seems kind of hard to lay flat and I would prefer one with an actual hole for it to drop into. I like the birdieball ones I saw on their site but not sure if I'm willing to spend that much right now. Feel like I would need the double thickness one for it to lay flat as I dont have a permanent spot I can keep it for now and would roll it up after each use

[Shorty]

Indoor putting mats are a complete waste of time and money. Just putt on your carpet or a rug if you must. Cut a hole sized circle out of plastic and aim at that. Soon enough you'll realise that this sort of practice does nothing for your stroke.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Shorty

[AugustaDawg17]

42 minutes ago, Shorty said:

Indoor putting mats are a complete waste of time and money. Just putt on your carpet or a rug if you must. Cut a hole sized circle out of plastic and aim at that. Soon enough you'll realise that this sort of practice does nothing for your stroke.

 

Yea I'm starting to maybe realize that in just a short amount of time

Edited May 9, 2018 by AugustaDawg17

[Patch]

If you have carpet in your home that is not real shaggy, save some coins, and use that. 

If there is no carpet available, go to a carpet store, and buy a piece of left over carpet. If it has to be green, go to some place like Lowe's and buy a strip of indoor/outdoor carpet for $5, or $6. 

[dennyjones]

If you really want a challenge, forget the putting mat and get a metal yard stick.   If you can roll the ball 3 feet on it, your bead is pretty good.  

[ChetlovesMer]

I had a birdieball green for years and I really liked it. The one I had was the original style, not the double thickness one. Mine was 16' x 5' I kept it permanently set up in the basement, on the concrete floor in the unfinished part of my basement. It lasted 10 years until we moved out of that house. My favorite thing about it was that it came with these adapters that made the holes about half as big. So, I'd spend all winter rolling putts into a 2" wide hole. Then you'd head out to a real green and the hole looked enormous. 

 

Having said all of that, I agree with the concept that you can work on your putting stroke at home, but it's not really a substitute for "real" putting. And if you are just going to work on your stroke, rolling a golf ball down a metal yard stick is probably as good as any method and very inexpensive.