How Thick Should a Golf Mat Be? — (Ideal and Average Thickness)

how thick should a golf mat be with driving range mat thickness

Driving range mats are often too thin for repetitive use over extended periods of time, and golfers looking to improve their golf game may end up causing themselves injury on accident.

When hitting off of real grass in the fairway of a golf course, golfers are able to hit down and through the ball, as the grass gives way to the club and leaves a divot. Larger mats that are thicker are the best options, and a minimum thickness of ¾ inch is recommended for all golf mats.

how thick should a golf mat be with driving range mat thickness

Ideal Thickness Of A Golf Mat


When it comes to the thickness of a golf hitting mat, bigger is always better. Thicker golf mats provide additional padding, which helps to soften or “dampen” the impact of the golf club hitting the mat’s surface. A high quality mat will be at least ⅝ inch thick, with the best being even thicker. 

Driving Range Mat Thickness

The range mats used at driving ranges are sometimes inadequate in terms of thickness, especially when they are placed directly on concrete surfaces.

High quality golf practice mats are thick enough to cushion the impact of hitting down at a golf ball to some degree.

Over time, the vibrations caused from the impact of the golf club hitting the rubber hitting mat can cause damage to a golfer’s joints. It is common for golfers to experience shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and forearm pain after hitting too hard or too long on thin rubber mats.

Best Practice Mat Thickness

The best golf practice mats are over one inch thick, and large enough for the golfer to stand on when hitting the ball. While there is no way to avoid the impact of the club head and the damaging vibrations it causes, thicker mats will absorb more of the energy from the strike. 

Golfers who use a thicker hitting mat are able to strike the ball at a bit of a downward angle with less impact on their joints. When using fairway woods, drivers, and hybrids, the team of experts at Tell Me More Golf recommend using a tee.

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Fiberbuilt makes a number of different hitting mat products that range from full sized mats to small platforms that are more affordable. Thor products range in thickness from 1.75 to 2 inches, making this one of the best hitting mat brands. 

Top Brands of Hitting Mats

Champkey makes a number of different hitting mat products, and one of their most popular mats features a surface that leaves a mark when the club makes an impact.

This is very helpful for viewing swing paths at impact, and their mats are 1.5 inch thick. 

Drua-Pro produces some of the best hitting mats on the market that feature all of the top tier accessories that one would expect from the best mat brands. The base pad that lays beneath the turf is ⅝” and made of high quality impact absorbing rubber. 

Country Club Elite makes some of the most ideal golf mats on the market, and they are known to react differently with the club, especially on fat shots. These mats are just over 1.5 inches thick, and the premium materials combined with the thickness make them one of the best options. 

There are also a number of different brands that produce lower quality hitting mats that are significantly more thin. Cheaper mats can be ½ inch thick, or even less. These budget hitting mats should only be used on top of real grass, and not on hard concrete.

Using a hitting mat on top of real grass is a great way to add extra cushioning to the mat, as the grass adds a bit of extra cushioning upon impact. Many golfers prefer to use this method in their own yards so that they do not leave divots and tear up their own grass.

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How Big Of A Golf Hitting Mat Do I Need?


While thicker golf hitting mats are better than thinner ones, there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to the length and width of the mat. The team of experts at Tell Me More Golf recommend using a mat that is large enough to stand on while hitting the ball. 

Extra large hitting mats inspire confidence in golfers and ensures that they do not feel crowded. Larger mats also have enough space to put a rubber tee or tee holder on each side, allowing left handed and right handed golfers to use it without having to rotate between shots. 

Golfers who use their launch monitor and golf net or mesh screen as a golf simulator should invest in a large heavy duty mat that features multiple different lengths of rough.

These mats usually feature three different levels, and are sometimes called tri-turf. 

The thinnest level simulates tight lies like those found in the fairway or in the fringe around the green. The middle length of artificial turf is meant to mimic the feeling of hitting off of thin to medium rough, and the third has the longest bristles to simulate a thick rough situation.

What Should I Look For When Buying A Golf Mat?


While size and thickness are the first two factors that need to be determined, there are also a handful of features that separate some hitting mats from others.

These small thoughtful additions can make all the difference in finding the perfect practice mat.

Tee Setups for Hitting Mats 

Most hitting mats have a hole in one side that is designed to hold a rubber tee, which slides in underneath. Some golfers require different tee heights during a practice session, and rubber tees of different lengths are sold for this reason

The main drawback with these rubber tees is the need to flip the corner of the mat up and swap them out each time a different tee height is required.

The best solution for this is a rubber tee holder, which looks like a rubber tee at first glance, only much shorter. 

Rubber tee holders sit under the mat and the opening on the top is just large enough to snugly hold a real golf tee. Many golfers will break wooden tees at a variety of different lengths, and insert them as needed to achieve different tee heights. 

Being able to use a real tee is a game changer for many golfers, as the feeling of a rubber tee is one of the biggest issues for many people. The feeling of a real tee is the best way to translate practice on golf mats to the real golf course

Ball Holder Trays 

Another seemingly small feature that has a huge impact on day to day use is a ball holder tray. The tray sits on either side of the hitting mat, and collects all the range balls, keeping them organized in one place for the entire practice session. 
The hitting surface on commercial grade high quality mats use realistic turf surfaces that allow for a realistic feel when striking the ball. The higher quality turf used, the lower the chance that the turf mat will leave green marks on the sole of the club after a practice session.

FAQ Section


How thick is a golf mat?

Most golf mats vary in range between ⅝ inch and 1.5 inches. Thinner golf mats are more affordable, and there are small portable hitting mat options that tend to be very thin. Thicker mats are generally more expensive, and they are made with higher quality artificial turf.

How big of a golf hitting mat do I need?

The team of experts at Tell Me More Golf recommend using a golf mat that is large enough to stand on while addressing the ball. This ensures that the ball will be on the same level as the golfer’s feet, and that it will work for right and left handed golfers.

What should I look for when buying a golf mat?

The most important considerations to make when shopping for a golf mat are the mat’s size, thickness, materials used, and the rough thickness and variations. It is also important to keep an eye out for accessories like ball holders. 

What golf mat do pros use?

While there is no single brand that dominates the hitting mat space, the two most popular high end brands are Country Club Elite and Dura-Pro. Both of these companies have an established history of producing high quality mats with all of the features one would expect from a top brand.

Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com

black tell me more golf compressed logo with mottled background information for golfers

Hitting mats have come a long way over the past several years, and there are a number of different models and thicknesses on the market today. 

The best golf mats are made with premium materials and rubbers that are designed to absorb impact. The best golf mats are at least ¾” thick, and some of the thickest on the market can be up to 2 inches.

Choosing the right size golf mat is important, as well as choosing the most important accessories. It is always better to choose the thicker option when undecided between golf hitting mats.

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Patrick Corley Tell Me More Golf Instructor and Coach
Patrick Corley
From a golf scholarship to a Southern California University, to a private golf coaching career and an instructor position at a nonprofit organization, I’m here to help you get better at golf! With my 50+ years of golf experience; I bring you Tell Me More Golf. A golf coaching website that helps your game with instructional golfing content that’s ultimately geared toward making you a better golfer and having more fun!
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