Quick answer: Pick the net for your space and the mat for your floor. Measure width, depth, and ceiling height first, choose a net that fits with room to swing, then choose a mat based on how you hit (real wooden tees or off the surface) and what is under it (concrete, grass, or a finished floor). A 5 x 5 mat in front of a 7-foot net is the most versatile home setup.
Most people setting up a golf net and mat at home spend their time picking the net, then grab whatever mat is cheapest. That is backwards. The net only catches the ball. The mat is what your club hits on every single swing, and it decides whether practice feels like a fairway or like a garage floor.
This guide walks through how to pair the two so the setup fits your space, protects your clubs, and actually makes you want to practice.
Step 1: Measure Your Space
Before you buy anything, measure three things:
- Width: the net footprint plus room on each side, especially if you are near walls, windows, or a parked car.
- Depth: the net depth, plus the mat, plus room to stand and swing in front of it.
- Height: the net with its roof, plus enough clearance for a full swing with driver.
Ceiling height is where most garage setups run into trouble. Our guide on ceiling height requirements for golf practice walks through how much room a full swing needs.
Step 2: Choose a Net That Fits
| Net | Footprint (W x H x D) | Height with roof | Price | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPG-5 Compact | 5.5' x 5.5' x 5.5' | Plus about 1' | $249.99 | Garages, patios, smaller backyards |
| SPG-7 Standard | 7' x 7' x 7' | Plus about 1.5' | $349.99 | Most home setups |
| SPG-8 X-Large | 8' x 8' x 8' | About 9.5' | $499.99 | Larger garages, golf rooms, launch monitor setups |
All three nets let you hit real golf balls with every club, including driver, and use an automatic ball return that sends shots back toward your hitting area. They are rated for indoor or outdoor use and fold down for storage. The SPG-7 and SPG-8 can also take a simulator target sheet if you plan to add a projector and launch monitor later.
Step 3: Choose Your Hitting Surface
This is the decision that changes how practice feels. All Turf Mats makes two main hitting surfaces, and the right one depends on how you like to hit.
Super Tee: if you want real wooden tees
Super Tee golf mats have a 1" Nylon face pile that holds real wooden tees, so you can tee it up for driver and fairway woods the same way you do on the course. Super Tee is the only All Turf Mats line that takes wooden tees. More on that in can you use real tees in a golf mat.
Fairway: if you hit off the surface
Fairway golf mats use a tighter 3/8" Nylon pile for a fairway-style lie and cleaner contact. They are the pick for iron work, wedges, and chipping straight off the mat. Fairway mats with pre-punched holes take rubber tees for driver practice.
Both lines are Nylon, so they are residue-free and will not leave green streaks on your clubs.
Step 4: Match the Backing to Your Floor
The backing is what keeps the mat in place and decides how it feels underfoot.
- Garage concrete or basement floor: choose a foam backing. Foam is slip-resistant and adds weight that helps reduce bunching. Our Shock-Absorbent Foam is a 5/8" closed-cell foam that helps cushion impact on hard floors. If you are worried about sliding, read do golf mats slide on concrete.
- Backyard grass or outdoor pad: a Urethane-coated mat is lighter, rollable, and handles outdoor use. Rainwater eventually seeps through the coating, and the coating is not damaged by water. For best results, stake or secure it when you stand on it. See can you put a golf mat on grass.
Step 5: Pick the Mat Size
A 3 x 5 mat gives you a hitting surface with room to stand beside it. A 4 x 5 or 5 x 5 lets you stand on the same turf you hit from, so your feet and the ball are at the same height, which is closer to how a swing feels on the course. For most net setups, a 5 x 5 is the sweet spot: wide enough for a full stance, compact enough to fit in front of any of the three nets above.
Proven Net and Mat Pairings
| Setup | Net | Mat | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage, real tees | SPG-7, $349.99 | 5 x 5 Super Tee, Shock-Absorbent Foam, $399.99 | Wooden tees, foam cushions impact on concrete, slip-resistant |
| Garage, irons and wedges | SPG-5 or SPG-7 | 5 x 5 Fairway, Flexible 5mm Foam, $199.99 | Tight lie for clean contact, rubber tee holes for driver |
| Backyard | SPG-7, $349.99 | 5 x 5 Super Tee, Urethane, $229.99 | Lighter, rollable, handles outdoor use, holds wooden tees |
| Launch monitor room | SPG-8 + target sheet | 5 x 5 Super Tee, Shock-Absorbent Foam, $399.99 | Largest net coverage, full stance on turf |
| Small space or tight budget | SPG-5, $249.99 | 4 x 5 Fairway, Flexible 5mm Foam, $174.99 | Smallest footprint, stance and ball on the same surface |
Prices as of October 2026. All Turf Mats golf mats are made in Dalton, Georgia and ship FREE.
Useful Add-Ons
- Side Net Extension ($29.99 to $49.99): adds coverage beside the net to help catch shanks and off-target shots. Worth it near walls, windows, or cars.
- Auto Return XL Chipping Net ($69.99): a 3 x 3 short-game target with a chipping basket and ball return. Pair it with a Fairway mat for wedge work.
Common Golf Net and Mat Setup Mistakes
- Buying the net first and the mat last. A thin, cheap mat on concrete is the fastest way to make practice feel bad.
- Ignoring ceiling height. Measure with your driver before you commit to an indoor spot.
- Using a mat that cannot take tees. If you want to practice driver off a wooden tee, you need a Super Tee mat.
- Skipping side protection. In a garage, one shank can hit a car or a wall. A side net is cheap insurance.
- Judging the mat on day one. Mats ship rolled. Give it 24 to 48 hours to lay fully flat, and warm sun can speed that up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a mat if I already have a golf net?
Yes, for most setups. Hitting off concrete is hard on your clubs, and hitting off grass tears up your yard. A Nylon mat gives you a consistent surface for every swing.
Can I hit driver into these nets?
Yes. The SPG-5, SPG-7, and SPG-8 are all built for real golf balls and every club, including driver.
Can I use real wooden tees with my net setup?
Yes, if your mat is a Super Tee. It is the only All Turf Mats line that holds real wooden tees. Fairway mats with pre-punched holes take rubber tees.
Can the net and mat stay outside?
The nets are rated for indoor or outdoor use. All Turf Mats golf mats use Nylon turf, which is UV-resistant and weather resistant for multi-season outdoor use.
What size mat fits in front of a golf net?
A 5 x 5 mat fits in front of all three Spornia nets and gives you a full stance on turf. A 4 x 5 works if space is tight.
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