Guides · Enclosures, mats and hitting surfaces
How Do You Choose a Golf Hitting Mat for a Simulator (Thickness, Size, and Joints)?
Published
A hitting strip and a full mat are different purchases. A strip needs a stance surface around it; a full mat may include the hitting area and standing space together. Before comparing prices, check whether the setup puts both feet and the ball at the intended height and whether the hitting surface can be replaced separately.
For a household with both right- and left-handed golfers, look at the stance area on each side of the ball. For a low ceiling, subtract the mat and any platform from the overhead space available for the swing. The ball's height relative to the launch monitor needs checking too.
The comparison below separates the SIGPRO Softy strip from full mats and identifies prices whose exact size remains unconfirmed. We have not hit balls on these mats or rated their feel.
The mats compared
The strip comes first, followed by full mats in price order. For the Country Club Elite, confirm the surface type and which size carries the listed price before ordering. The HotShot's price depends on the size you pick.
| Mat | Sizes listed | Thickness | Price, seller, date checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIGPRO Softy hitting strip | 28 x 12 in strip, insert only (SIGPRO specifications) | 2.5 in (The Indoor Golf Shop, checked 2026-10-22) | $249.99, The Indoor Golf Shop, 2026-10-21 (product page) |
| Country Club Elite (Real Feel) | 4x5, 5x5, 5x8, 5x10 ft (Carl's Place) | 1.75 in (Carl's Place) | $479, Carl's Place store price, 2026-10-21 (product page) |
| Carl's HotShot golf mat system | 4x5, 5x8, 4x9, 6x10 ft (Carl's Place) | 1¾ in (Carl's Place) | With the standard three-tee strip: 4x5 $499.95, 5x8 $765.90, 4x9 $779.95, 6x10 $1,059.95; Carl's Place, 2026-11-08 (product page) |
| Fiberbuilt Grass Series 9x4 center-hitting studio mat | 9x4 ft, finished 109 x 49 in (Fiberbuilt) | 2 in (Fiberbuilt) | $1,499, Fiberbuilt, 2026-10-21 (product page) |
The Fiberbuilt price covers the full set, including both stance mats. Ask Fiberbuilt or a retailer for a standalone stance-mat price; this has not been confirmed from Fiberbuilt's studio mat, Grass Series or Accessories & Components pages (checked 2026-10-22).
Surface type: turf, fiber, or a replaceable strip
As a general description rather than a maker's classification, hitting surfaces fall into three types: one-piece turf with a shared hitting and stance surface, fiber bristles, or a separate hitting panel or strip. With a separate piece, you may be able to replace just that piece instead of the whole mat. Check with the seller whether a replacement is sold separately for the mat you're considering.
Fiberbuilt's studio mat box contains one 1 ft x 4 ft Fiberbuilt Grass hitting panel and two 4 ft x 4 ft Performance Turf stance mats on a modular rubber foundation (Fiberbuilt). The SIGPRO Softy is only the strip. It measures 28 x 12 in and is an insert, not a full mat (SIGPRO specifications). If you buy it, you also need a stance mat built to hold it. That mat's cost isn't included in the $249.99 price.
For Fairway Series, TrueStrike, GoSports or SIGPRO's larger full mats, confirm size, thickness and price with the seller before comparing them with these options. One exception on price: Omaha Sports & Games lists Pro Putt Systems True Strike mats from the True Strike Portable Hitting Mat at $568 to the True Strike Double Model Hitting Mat at $1,868 (October 12, 2026). Ask the store for each model's size and thickness before comparing them with these mats.
Size: one golfer, two golfers, both hands
A right-handed golfer stands on one side of the ball and a left-handed golfer stands on the other. A mat with the hitting area at one end works for one golfer, or for several golfers who all hit from the same side. If a household has both left- and right-handed players, either the mat needs a stance area on both sides of the hitting spot, or someone has to flip it. Flipping the mat moves the hitting spot, so you then have to realign the launch monitor and the screen.
Fiberbuilt's 9x4 studio mat has a 1 ft hitting panel as the center piece, with a 4 ft stance mat on each side: 4 + 1 + 4 = 9 ft. Fiberbuilt gives the finished size as 109 in wide by 49 in deep (Fiberbuilt). The room needs swing space on both sides of that width.
Carl's Place lists the Country Club Elite in 4x5, 5x5, 5x8, and 5x10 ft (Carl's Place) and the HotShot in 4x5, 5x8, 4x9, and 6x10 ft (Carl's Place). For the HotShot, Carl's lists offset hitting on the 4x5 and 5x8, and centered hitting on the 4x9 and 6x10 (product page checked November 2, 2026). Choose the layout before comparing prices. For the Country Club Elite, ask the seller how the size you want accommodates both stances. The Fiberbuilt 9x4 settles that question in its layout, at $1,499. Among Omaha Sports & Games' mats, the TopGreens USA Premium Tee Range Mat 5.1 x 6.1 ft - Dual Hitting is listed at $1,799 (October 23, 2026); ask what "Dual Hitting" means for where each golfer stands.
Thickness and what it does to your ceiling and launch monitor settings
You stand on the mat, so the club's arc starts from the mat surface, not the floor. To get the overhead clearance left for your swing, subtract the mat thickness, plus any platform under it, from the ceiling height. With a 2 in mat, the swing starts 2 in higher than it would on the bare floor. Between the 2 in Fiberbuilt mat and the 1.75 in Country Club Elite, the difference is 2 − 1.75 = 0.25 in. That's small, but it counts in a room where the ceiling is already tight. Enter the finished mat height in the Room size calculator, not the bare floor height.
The ball also sits higher on a mat. Depending on your launch monitor's instructions, its height or tee setting may need to account for the mat, and a firm, level riser may be needed if the unit sits on the floor. Read your model's setup guide; the launch monitor placement and Garmin R10 guides in Read next cover specific models. If your simulator software asks for tee height, enter the tee you actually use. Fiberbuilt's studio mat includes a 2.625 in rubber tee and a holder for real tees (Fiberbuilt), so check the ball height with the tee you choose.
Joints, edges and keeping the mat in place
Pay particular attention to the joint between the hitting surface and the mat around it. If a strip sits higher than the surface around it, the leading edge can snag on a fat shot. If it sits lower, you get a dip under the ball. When the mat is new, run a flat hand across each seam, and do it again after a few weeks of use. Modular pieces should lock together, not just sit next to each other. Fiberbuilt describes its foundation as tool-free and modular, with easy-lock fasteners (Fiberbuilt).
A mat that slides a little with each shot slowly moves away from the launch monitor's alignment. Mark the corners on the floor with tape so you can see any movement. A thin non-slip underlay helps on smooth floors. The outer edge of a mat that is a couple of inches thick also creates a step at the edge of the bay, and that step is easy to trip over in a dim room. A beveled edge trim, or flooring brought up to the mat's height, removes it. These steps only work if the floor underneath is level. The flooring guide covers how to get it level.
Which to pick for a permanent bay vs a temporary setup
In a permanent bay, the mat stays put and you set the launch monitor and ceiling numbers once, so focus on the surface and on what you might need to replace later. A separate hitting area may let you replace only that piece, if the seller offers it. A center-hitting mat saves the household from realigning every time a lefty takes a turn. If no one in the house hits from the other side, you don't need to pay for a second stance area.
In a garage that also holds a car, or a room that serves other purposes, the questions are how easily the mat comes apart and where you'll store it. For a modular mat, check the weight and size of the pieces you will lift and store. Every time the mat comes back out, you'll need to restore its alignment with the launch monitor, so keep the floor tape marks. If you already have a stance mat built to take a hitting strip, a replacement strip may be the only purchase you need.