If there is one thing simulator golfers love to argue about, it is about what is the best hitting mat? The answer to that question depends on you and what you are looking for.
Today I’m building a list of hitting mats that are popular among the golf simulator community. This list will not be all inclusive of the myriad of cheaply made hitting mats available on Amazon and Alibaba and Temu.
This will also be different than my hitting strip comparison chart that covers the spot on the mat where you place and hit the ball from. Hitting mats will generally encompass a stance area AND a hitting strip. Hitting strips are mostly replaceable while the hitting mat is not.
Prices & Compare
| Hitting Mat | Price (estimate) | Size WxLxH | Notes |
| Carls Place | In late 2024 Carls launched their Hotshot Mat System. Interchangeable hitting strips and 3 sizes for stance mats. (see my full review at link) | ||
| HotShot Mat | $535 | 4x5x1.75 | Mat comes in 3 sizes that all use the same size hitting strip and have interchangeable hitting strips (Foam Flex, Gel Touch and Standard) |
| HotShot Mat | $680 | 5×7 | Wider and longer single sided hitting mat. |
| HotShot Mat | $696 | 4×9 | Center strike – right and left handers can use this size (see my unboxing video) |
| *accessories for the Hotshot Mat include rubber base, ball tray and indoor golf tees. | |||
| SIGPRO | Users love these mats and hitting strips with the Softy line being easy to recommend due to their high quality and regard in the community. | ||
| Softy Lite 4×5 & 4×7 | $700/800 | 4x7x1-1/4 | Thinner than original sigpro softy |
| Softy Lite 4×10 | $1000 | 4x10x1-1/4 | Center strike – good for right & left handers |
| Softy 4×7 & 4×10 | $1000/$1200 | 4x7x2.5 | Their classic hitting mat in two sizes. 4×10 is center strike |
| Super Softy 4×6 & 4×9 | $1100/$1300 | 4x6x ? | No height info on website, 2.5″ est. Sturdy rubber tile base design |
| Super Softy 4×8’4″ | $1500 | 4×8’4″ | Double sided strike for right and left handers. |
| Commercial TeeLine | $800 | 4×5 | Heavy duty commercial use options in the TeeLine Series |
| Fiberbuilt | *you can see all these mats at this fiberbuilt link. | ||
| Grass Series Studio Mat | $1199 | 4×7 | Mat used for five years here at OTG Headquarters (multiple reviews on my @playsimgolf youtube channel) Extremely durable and injury free. *Now using Carls Hotshot Mat |
| Grass Series Studio Mat | $1399 | 4×9 | Center strike – good for R&L handers |
| Grass Series Studio Double Mat | $1849 | 4×10 | Double sided – stand in center and R&L hit from each side |
| Grass Series Hourglass Single | $849 | 5×4 | |
| Grass Series Hourglass Double | $1049 | 6×4 | Double sided – hit from either side. |
| Grass Series Traditional | $1149 | 5×4 | Stance mat and hitting strip |
| Grass Series Traditional Double | $1399 | 6×4 | Double sided hitting mat |
| Grass Series Practice Station | $499 | 61″x40″x2″ | Stand on rubber, hit off of grass. |
| Grass Series Flight Deck | $99 | Small oval | Oval hitting area with adjustable tee. Hitting strip only |
| Player Preferred Studio | $1399 | 4×8 | Designed for better players / coaches – extremely real |
| Player Preferred Studio | $1599 | 4×10 | Center strike |
| Player Preferred Studio Dbl | $2349 | 4×12 | Double sided hitting strip – stand in center hit from sides |
| Performance Turf Square(s) | $479, $749, $1079 | 4×4, 5×5, 6×6 | Performance turf – no hitting strip but hit off turf |
| Performance Turf Rectangle(s) | $699, $965, $1195 | 4×6, 4×8, 4×10 | Performance turf in a rectangle format. |
Invest Big In Your Simulator Hitting Mat?
If budget is a primary concern then you can go less expensive on your hitting mat and spend money on your hitting strip.
They are both important in building a golf simulator but if budget is ultimate concern, where you stand is less important than where you hit.
Many in the industry would agree that the one piece of equipment you do not want to skimp out on is your hitting mat. Specifically your hitting strip but many look for the ‘best hitting mat’ when they are looking for the all in one solution. This is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to your golf simulator.
Yes – you should invest in your hitting mat.
If pain-free enjoyment and injury prevention are important, then what mat you hit from is going to be the major deciding factor in your build as it relates to how likely you are to experience pain and or injury. Barring a ball fly back or something related to your build out, your hitting mat and hitting strip are going to be what matters.
You are swinging a metal iron into the ground at up to 80 miles an hour. Even if you pick most of your shots clean, sometimes you will be hitting down and through the ball into the hitting mat. If you are hitting on cheaper mats it is likely that you are going to cause some damage, develop pain and or injuries.
If you are looking to cut the budget as tight as possible then at the very least invest in a hitting strip and figure out a cheaper stance mat solution. Figure out a stance mat and then cut in a space for a replaceable hitting strip.