If you have done any research for the best putting green then you have likely seen two names stand out, Birdieball and Big Moss. Both are great options for practicing your putting buy which one is the best? I used both greens for a few months and below I describe the key differences and which one I believe is the best putting green.
How Much Do They Cost?
Birdieball greens start at $75 and go up to $630. I used the standard putting mat package for this comparison.
Big Moss greens start at $160 and go up to $825. I used the augusta for this comparison.
For a direct comparison on a 4’ x 12’ green from Birdieball is $180 and Big Moss is $288. This makes Big Moss greens about 60% more expensive
Putting
Both greens do a great job in creating a realistic putting surface. When placed on a hard flat surface each green will roll true making them great training tools. Having sad that there is a difference between the two.
Big Moss greens have a slight uphill slope to the cup, about an inch and a half. This very slight slope is spread out over a couple feet so it isn’t too noticeable. This slight slope allows the cups to be a bit deeper making your made puts stay in the cup.
Birdieball greens are flat and have a very shallow cup because of this. With the standard cup you will have a lot of made puts roll out the back of the cup. Birdieball does give you 1 high backed cup to combat this but if you want it on all the holes you will have to buy extra, they are $9.99 each. One more thing to note about Birdieball’s cups is that they are the exact same same height as the green which I noticed caused some putts to ride the rim and not go in.
How They Handle Chipping
Big Moss comes with both a chipping mat and two chipping balls. The practice balls are hard enough to feel close to the real thing but soft enough to not dent hardwood or put a hold in your wall. The balls react and spin very similar to real golf balls. I pleasantly surprised how well the green performs when chipping.
If you want to practice chipping on a Birdieball you will need to purchase a chipping mat as one is not included. When chipping onto the Birdieball I found the bounce to be somewhat realistic but not quite as good as Big Moss.
Green Speeds
Birdieball greens are available in three speeds, slow (9-10 stimp), medium (10-11 stimp), and fast (11-13 stimp). Big Moss greens all come in one speed of 11 stimp.
The bigger difference between the two in regarding the speed is the Birdieball greens have a dual stimp meaning one direction is faster than the other. It’s not a major difference, maybe a 1-2 stimp difference, but you will need to adjust the speed of your longer putts depending on which direction you are putting.
Available sizes
Both greens come in similar sizes. Big Moss greens stand out in this category a bit because their greens come in more unique shapes. Birdieball greens are all rectangles. It is important to know that the shapes of the green are cosmetic only, the only thing that matters for training purposes is the length and width of the greens.
Birdie ball comes in 2ft, 3ft, 4ft and 8ft widths (8ft greens are two 4ft greens attached together so they have a seam down the middle). They come in lengths starting at 8ft and are available in 2ft increments up to 30ft.
Big Moss greens start at 2ft and go up to 6ft wide. They come in lengths starting at 5ft and go up to 60ft.
Durability
The materials used in each green are very different. Birdieball greens are made of a foam very similar to a pool noodle. When walking on them it feels squishy but it quickly goes back to its original shape when you step off. After long term use it does start to show some wear but it doesn’t seem to affect the roll. If you have pets I would be careful about allowing them on the green. I think claws could tear the foam surface up really easy.
The Big Moss’s putting surface is made of a thick layer that looks like a scouring pad up close. Attached to the surface is a rubber backing. One of the first things you will notice when opening the box is the weight. This green is built to last and will. When comparing the two brands Big Moss wins hands down the quality/durability.
Extras That Come with the Green
Birdieball comes with up to 3 free cups and flags. Hole plugs for the number of holes you ordered. Bumpers for both ends. Hole deepening shims to make any hole 1” deep. Hole Reducer inserts that reduce the size of the cup to 2 ½”.
Big Moss greens come with a backstop, chipping mat, break snake, flight chipping balls.
Customization
Birdieball allows you to choose from a few different hole placements or you can choose a green without holes cut for further customization. Another customization Birde Ball allows is logo/photo printing onto the green or flags.
Big Moss does not offer any customization but offers many different layouts to choose from.
Final Thoughts
After testing both greens for months I have come to the conclusion that Big Moss putting greens are superior to Birdieball’s. With that said this isn’t the verdict for everyone.
Birdieball’s greens are cheaper at about 60% the price of a comparable size Big Moss green. If price is a major deciding factor for you or you don’t plan on chipping much I would recommend a Birdieball green. Birdieball will give you a realistic putting practice tool at a great price.
If the price of a Big Moss green works with your budget I would recommend them. Big Moss greens have Birdie Ball beat in durability and chipping realism. One more thing that really makes Big Moss greens stand out is the design. They look much nicer, so much so that I don’t mind leaving it set up all the time. With Birdieball I found myself packing it up when not in use because it looks cheap, it is just foam after all.
Want something a little more custom? Check out my custom indoor putting green build.
