Putting is the one part of the game where very little energy is exerted. It requires little strength and power and so there is no excuse for anyone to not become a better putter. One of the best ways to keep on top of your game is by practicing on a putting mat to groove your stroke. I wanted to test the PGA Tour Deluxe golf putting mat to see if, despite its very affordable price, it could compete with some of the best putting mats on the market.
Watch: Best Putting Mats 2024
While some putting mats range well north of $300, such as the PrimePutt putting mat, the PGA Tour Deluxe putting mat is far more on par with the PuttOut Medium putting mat in terms of price point. They both are available online for $59 and can be easily stowed and carried via a handy drawstring bag.
The mat unravels fairly well but isn’t quite as thick as other mats, meaning it does leave some creases in the mat that will need flattening out before use. The rubber on the bottom doesn’t grip quite as well as others on the market and so I found the mat does move around a little if you happen to step on or off it. Aside from that, the surface is soft to touch and fairly smooth. The PGA Tour Deluxe putting mat is said to run at medium to fast pace although this was definitely one of the slowest putting mats I have recently tested.
There are pretty basic markings down the sides of the mat measuring each foot in distance and a line that runs through the middle of the mat to help with clubface alignment and start line. While this mat is fairly basic and doesn’t offer the adjustability of say the PuttOut Airbreak or the features of the Perfect Practice putting mat, it definitely helped me just dial in the fundamentals of the putting stroke, such as set-up and aim.
The best thing about this putting mat was the zonal target around the hole. Outside of the hole is a small perimeter that indicates perfect speed control but you then have a larger target around that ring named the ‘Lag Zone’, spanning roughly 1ft long and short of the hole. This is great for if you find yourself becoming too aggressive with your putting and will test your control when moving to the back of the mat.
The mat is only 8ft or so long although you can only really hit a putt from just over the 6ft mark without the back lip of the mat interfering with your stroke. While I think this mat is perfect for beginners or those purely wanting to focus on their shorter putting, if you don’t mind stretching your budget a little further, the Eyeline Golf Roll The Rock putting mat or the Perfect Practice putting mat both offer a smoother and faster roll while reaching lengths of just over 8 and 9ft respectively.
