REVIEW – Endorsed by PGA pros, the PrimePutt putting mat claims to be the truest simulation of real-world putting conditions available on the market. We got one to play with, and we have thoughts. To the review!
What is it?
The PrimePutt Putting Mat is a practice putting mat for golfers that can be used indoors and outdoors, designed to simulate actual turf and cup dynamics.
Tech specs
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Stimpmeter rating 9-11
Nylon & Rubber construction
Proprietary cup design that emulate full-depth cup action
Tour grade turf mat
Design and features
The PrimePutt Putting Mat is a pretty minimalistic setup when you pull it out of the box. My tester is the “standard” 9′ by 3′ size, but a 12′ and 15′ long mat are also available. PrimePutt also makes a 1-hole variation that is 1.5′ by 9′ for tighter spaces. Whichever one you choose, you’ll notice that it lays perfectly flat right out of the box without any curling or settling. This is particularly useful if you need to roll it up and store it, as it does not retain any shape.
The material itself is marvelous and surprisingly lightweight. I’m using the hole cutouts below to show you the build. There’s a thick rubberized woven underlayer, topped with roughly 1/4″ of turf material.
Here’s a closeup of that turf turf, designed to simulate real turf conditions on the pro tour. This material is non-toxic and tough enough to be used under both indoor and outdoor conditions. The surface is intended to simulate the true roll and speed conditions found on PGA-level greens.
The matt has a wooden backstop, which is the only ornamentation in the design via the product logo etched in the face. It also has grooved channels on top to hold your golf balls when not in use. A pair of plastic studs mark the position for placement, and align with holes under the backstop to lock them in place.
Here’s what it looks like when in position.
Unless you’re getting the one-hole compact model, your kit will include three hole cutouts and three cups that you can mix and match on the green.
The cup design is intended to emulate the real-world action of an actual golf hole with rollouts, spins, and pops that may happen in real -world situations. This is a closeup of the molded plastic before we insert it in the green.
You’ll slide this cup under the mat and position it in the hole space, where is sets tightly into positon.
Once in place, you’l see that the front face of the cup sits below the turf level while the back rim pokes out just a bit. The idea is that the design simulates real World Cup conditions. Hit the putt at the right speed and it stays in place. Hit it too hard and it will pop over the cup. Hit it at odd angles and speeds and you will see the ball spin and roll (and maybe bounce), simulating the true action you would see on the course.
You can pop the cutouts into any holes you don’t want to use, or set them aside.
The final design bit is the distance markers. The 9″ mat has two sets of these.
Working back from the holes, the first set of markers is set 36″ from the back of the farthest (center) hole and 32″ from the back of the two side holes. The second set of markers is set 36″ back from the first. This leaves about 24″ to the back of the mat and roughly 12″ behind the farthest hole.
Performance
When you set foot on the PrimePutt Putting Mat, you immediately realize that this isn’t your grandpa’s plastic astro turf putting green. While the underlayer keeps the mat planted on the surface, the soft turf weave design is a bit soft and slightly spongy. It gives underfoot like real turf and springs back into position when you move.
The ball speed also seems to behave as advertised, presenting a realistic simulation of actual ball movement on the green.
Rolls stay true to their intended direction, whether you hit a good shot or not. We have yet to see any weird jukes, changes in direction, or sudden stops due to imperfections in the turf after several hundred putts. It is pretty remarkable for its consistency in lays and rolls.
The cup design is also very interesting. I had my doubts about this one. How do you emulate a hole in the ground on a flat surface?
It’s actually pretty realistic! If you hammer a put, the ball is likely to go right over the hole or catch the rim and pop off in a different direction. Hit the hole at an odd angle and the ball might spin the rim about before settling in. I don’t think the dynamics are 100% true to a real hole, but they are close enough that you can use this as a good guide to practice speed and distance shots.
I do like the minimalist design with a simple wooden backstop/ball rack as the only design element. There’s no cluttering the look with logos or fancy design embellishments. It looks classic and understated, which is a refreshing change of pace that looks good anywhere you put it.
It also plays true for short and long putts. The 9′ long model we’re testing feels just right for most rooms and is easy to roll and store when not in use. The 12″ and 15′ versions would require a more dedicated space. I would like to see some sort of storage bag in the kit for when it’s rolled up to keep the mat and the parts together.
What I like about PrimePutt Putting Mat
- Minimalist, elegant design
- Beautiful surface that seems to simulate actual green conditions as advertised
- Lightweight and easy to store
What needs to be improved?
- Expensive (See below)
- Could use for a storage bag to keep the parts together when not in use
Final thoughts
I think the PrimePutt Putting Mat delivers on it’s claims of emulating real world conditions. It’s something you have to experience, but you get it when you start using it. But pricing starts at over $300 for even the smallest model, which is way above the competitors in the pack. That premium price point puts it in a place where you really want to be dedicated to the sport to get the value out of it. I believe the hardcore golfer in your life will appreciate the performance.
Price: Price varies with size. Currently on sale from $332.00 to $567.00.
Where to buy: Go to the PrimePutt Web Site to get it!
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by PrimePutt. PrimePutt did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
