Thick vs Thin Golf Practice Mats: Which Should You Choose?
Thickness is not one number. It covers pile height, total height, and backing. Here is what each part changes, and how to pick between a thick mat and a thin one.
When golfers ask about thick vs thin golf practice mats, they are usually asking about two different things at once: how the surface feels when the club strikes, and how much cushion sits between the mat and the floor. Both matter, and they are controlled by different parts of the mat. This guide breaks down what thickness actually means, then walks through when a thicker mat wins and when a thinner one is the better call.
Thickness Means Three Things
Before comparing thick and thin, it helps to separate the three measurements people lump together:
- Pile height is the height of the turf fibers themselves. Taller pile gives a longer, rougher lie. Shorter pile gives a tighter, fairway-style lie and cleaner contact.
- Total height is the turf plus the backing measured together. It is not the same as pile height.
- Backing thickness is the cushion under the turf, and it is what most people mean when they say a mat feels thick or thin underfoot.
Our how thick should a golf mat be guide covers the exact measurements, and the backing types guide explains how each backing changes the feel.
The Case for Thicker Mats
A thicker mat almost always means a thicker foam backing, usually 5/8 closed-cell foam. That extra cushion is shock-absorbent and helps cushion the impact of repeated swings, which matters most when you are hitting on a hard floor like a concrete garage slab. Thicker foam-backed mats also sit heavier, so they resist sliding and bunching underfoot during a full swing.
You hit on concrete or another hard floor, you practice long sessions, or you want the most give underfoot. The tradeoff is weight and portability.
The Case for Thinner Mats
A thinner mat usually means a urethane coating or a 5mm foam backing. These mats are lighter, roll up easily, and travel and store without hassle. If you set up and put away your mat each session, move it between spaces, or take it with you, a thinner mat is far less of a chore. The tradeoff is cushion: a thin urethane mat gives you a firm, direct feel and less shock absorption, and on a slick floor it may need securing.
Portability and easy storage matter most, you practice on grass or a forgiving surface, or you want a firm, direct feel. Secure a thin urethane mat if it slides on smooth floors.
Which Is Right for You
Match the Mat to How You Practice
| Thicker Mat | Thinner Mat | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical backing | 5/8 closed-cell foam | Urethane or 5mm foam |
| Feel | Cushioned, shock-absorbent | Firm, direct |
| Best floor | Hard concrete or wood | Grass or forgiving surfaces |
| Portability | Heavier, stays put | Light, rolls and travels |
| Stability | Resists sliding | Secure on slick floors |