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Perfect Practice Putting Mat review: the good, the gripes and the ramp debate

A narrow drill mat with printed lines, a ball return and two small holes on a ramp. What owners report, and who it suits.

By GolfGiftPicks6 min read

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Drawing of the ramp end of a narrow putting mat: two small holes at the top, alignment lines and a ball rolling up Putting mats
On this page
  1. The short verdict
  2. Specs and editions
  3. Pros and cons
  4. The ramp-cup debate
  5. Setup and care
  6. Alternatives
  7. Buying it as a gift
  8. Questions
Good, with a catch

The short verdict on the Perfect Practice mat

Best for
short daily drills on a hard floor or low carpet, with a clear 8 to 15 ft run.
Skip it if
the golfer wants real drops into a regulation cup, or breaking putts.
Bottom line
a truer roll than thin budget mats; the ramp-up cup trains aim and pace, not the last roll in.
Check price Compare all 6 putting mats

Three editions: specs and the room each one needs

Same V5 turf, return and markings on all three. The length and the holes differ.

Perfect Practice putting mat editions (V5)
EditionLengthHolesFits
Compact8 ft (2.4 m)2.56 in onlyApartments, offices, short hallways
Standard9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)2.56 in and 3.35 inMost living rooms and hallways
Extra Long (XL)15 ft 6 in (4.8 m)2.56 in and 3.35 inLong rooms, basements, lag putting
Stated speed
10 to 14 on the Stimpmeter, set by the floor
Holes
Both smaller than a 4 1/4 in cup
Ball return
Magnetized auto return up a ramp
Markings
Alignment lines and distance guides
Turf
Crystal Velvet, "Tru-Roll", improved lay-flat
Left-handed
A lefty Standard (V4) is listed

Specs from the maker's page, which states no width.

  • Stance and backstroke
  • The mat, ramp end last
  • A little run-out
Measure one clear run of floor that holds all three. Simplified drawing, not to scale.

Perfect Practice mat pros and cons

Summed up from owner threads and long-form reviews: our words, not theirs.

Pros

  • A truer roll than thin budget mats
  • The small hole makes a real cup look bigger
  • The return keeps balls within reach
Show all 6 prosShow fewer
  • Works on carpet and hard floors; hard floors play faster
  • Printed lines give each session a structure
  • Tidy enough to leave out in a living room

Cons

  • The uphill cup is not how a real hole behaves
  • About a day to lie flat, says one reviewer; some report creases
  • Carpet or an uneven floor can add a slight break
Show all 6 consShow fewer
  • The return needs a nudge now and then
  • The thin build wears if packed away every session
  • Turf feels carpet-like to some, and the strip is narrower than rivals

The ramp-cup debate: does the uphill cup make sense?

A popular forum thread says it makes no sense; plenty of owners like it. Both sides have a point.

Ramp-up cup (this mat)

A putt hit too softly stalls on the slope.

Fans: it rewards a putt firm enough to finish past the hole.

Recessed cup (a real hole)

A dying putt can still drop from the edge.

Critics: the mat's speed feedback differs from the course.

Simplified side views, not to scale.

Want real drops? PrimePutt (#2) has three recessed, regulation-width cups. BirdieBall (#5) cuts real holes and sets breaks with shims.

Setup and care: how to flatten a putting mat

Unroll it where it will live

One reviewer's took about a day to lie flat. Judge the roll after.

Pull it tight from the far end

The maker's tip for a smooth run up the ramp.

Clean it like carpet

The maker says vacuum it, and bring it in after outdoor use.

Keep it out of walkways. The CDC's fall-prevention checklist says keep paths clear and rugs from slipping.

Alternatives from our putting mat list

Each answers one complaint above; all four are ranked in our best putting mats list.

Drawing of a wide, dense putting mat with three full-size cups
#2 · Most green-like roll

PrimePutt Putting Mat

  • 3 recessed regulation cups
  • 9 or 12 ft

Pick it for real drops and a green-like roll.

Drawing of a long putting mat with a cup, beside a phone showing a putting game
#3 · Best for games and friendly competition

PUTTR Smart Putting Green

  • Hole reads speed and entry
  • 12 ft

Pick it for a golfer who practices more when it is a game.

Drawing of a compact putting mat with a cup and a ball-return channel
#6 · Best simple first mat

SKLZ Accelerator Pro

  • Upslope cup, gravity return
  • 9 ft

Pick it as a first mat or for an office corner.

Cups and lengths as each maker states them.

Buying the Perfect Practice putting mat as a gift

  • Their room: the clear run picks the edition
  • Their hand: the lefty edition is a Standard (V4)
  • Their habits: best left set up, not packed away
More golf gifts for dad, by the golfer he is

Perfect Practice putting mat FAQ

Is the Perfect Practice putting mat worth it?

For a golfer who will leave it set up and putt for a few minutes most days, owners and long-form reviewers say yes: the roll is truer than thin budget mats and the lines give every session a routine. It is the wrong mat for someone who wants real drops into a full-size cup; a mat with recessed regulation-width cups suits them better.

How long is the Perfect Practice putting mat?

It comes in three lengths: Compact 8 ft (2.4 m), Standard 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) and Extra Long 15 ft 6 in (4.8 m). The maker does not state a width, and several reviewers find it narrower than rival mats.

How fast does the Perfect Practice mat roll?

The maker states 10 to 14 on the Stimpmeter, depending on what is under the mat: close to 14 on a hard floor and close to 10 on thick carpet.

How do you flatten the Perfect Practice mat?

Unroll it where it will stay, pull it tight from the far end, as the maker advises, so the ball runs smoothly up the ramp, and give it time. One long-form reviewer says theirs took about a day to lie flat. Judge the roll after it has settled.

Does the Perfect Practice mat work on carpet?

Yes. The maker says it works on carpet and hard floors. Carpet plays slower, and depending on where the mat sits, a carpet or an uneven floor can add a small break.

Is there a left-handed Perfect Practice mat?

The maker's catalogue lists a left-handed edition of the Standard mat, 9 ft 6 in long. It is the earlier V4 version, so check the listing before you order.

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