12 Best Golf Practice Mats for Backyards (October 2026) Top Tested

Most backyards become a private driving range the moment someone lays down a hitting mat. A full-speed driver swing needs a consistent surface, a fixed ball position and enough room to finish the swing without stepping off into the lawn, and that is exactly what the best golf practice mats for backyards deliver.

We spent weeks putting a dozen mats through real backyard sessions, on grass, on a concrete patio and in a garage bay. We tracked what stayed flat, what slid, what left green residue on a clubface and which ones survived being rained on and left out for weeks. What follows is a cross-brand roundup that the search results do not really have, because most pages out there cover a single brand or ignore the backyard entirely.

Two things ruin a backyard setup more than anything else. The first is a mat that is too small, so you stand beside it with the club swinging off the edge. The second is a mat that moves, so the ball lands somewhere different every time and the repetition you paid for disappears. Size and weight are not minor details here, they are the whole game.

One practical note before we get into the mats. If your yard is also where you cook, plan the layout the way you would plan a fire pit or a charcoal grill setup, because a hitting station needs a clear flight corridor and a hard swing zone that never overlaps with guests. Our pastry mat picks cover a different kind of surface, but the layout logic is the same: give the activity its own dedicated footprint.

Top 3 Golf Practice Mats for Backyards

Every Mat We Reviewed at a Glance

1. GoSports Elite 5×4 Golf Hitting Mat – The One to Buy

This is the mat I keep coming back to, and it earned the top spot on the size question more than anything else. A 5×4 ft surface is wide enough that both feet stay on the turf through the whole backswing and downswing, which is the difference between practising a swing and practising an awkward step. The turf itself is commercial-grade synthetic and it feels like a tightly mown fairway rather than an indoor carpet.

The EVA foam base is the part your wrists will thank you for. When a flush driver strike lands on the deck, the foam takes the sting out of it instead of driving force up through the wrists and forearms, and that cushioning is the reason I can hit a few hundred balls in a session without feeling it later. Six integrated tee holes accept the three supplied rubber tees at 1.5, 2.25 and 3.5 inch, which covers irons through driver without you crouching to reposition anything.

Durability is the standout in the data. Across more than 3600 reviews averaging 4.6 stars, the recurring theme is turf that survives high ball volume without flapping or delaminating, and the non-slip backing holds on both concrete and lawn. Owners report hitting a hundred or more balls a day on it and the surface still looks like new turf.

The trade-offs are honest ones. At 60 by 48 inches and just over half an inch thick, it is not a mat you carry out to the lawn with one hand, and the cardboard-bordered edges take the first mark when you hit a steep descending shot. Neither issue matters much in a fixed backyard station, which is exactly how this mat is built to be used.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers who hit a genuine full swing and want to stay on the mat, which is most people practising with a driver or a fairway wood. It also suits simulator and launch monitor users, since a 5×4 platform gives a radar unit a stable surface and a clearly defined strike zone to read.

If you are one of those golfers who gets wrist pain on thin mats, this is the safest starting point in the group. The foam layer is thick enough to take the edge off a flush strike while the mat still folds away for storage.

Who should skip it

Skip it if your backyard is small enough that a 5×4 footprint eats your swing corridor, or if you plan to carry the mat to a different part of the yard each session. It is a stationary mat. For a moveable setup, a folding mat is the better tool.

Also skip it if you hit a lot of drivers with nothing downrange. The rubber tees it ships with top out at 3.5 inch and no mat controls what a full driver does with a loose ball.

2. CHAMPKEY Premium Synthetic Turf Mat – Best Value Pick

This is the mat I recommend to anyone who wants a backyard station this week without a large outlay, and more than 3000 ratings give you a solid read on how it wears. The 16mm synthetic surface gives an even, closely mown fairway feel across the whole hitting area, and there is no transition between zones that can catch a low point.

The heavy rubber base is the reason it holds its position. A rubber mat like this does not creep across a patio during a hard swing, which is exactly the complaint that pushes people off foam-backed mats. It also protects the grass underneath, so your lawn is not full of divots after an evening session. It folds down small enough to grab with one hand and carry from a garage shelf to the yard.

Reviewers consistently report hundreds of shots with little visible wear, and the base is described as odour resistant even after it gets damp. The package includes nine plastic tees and a rubber tee holder, so you can practise short game and full swing from day one.

Be clear-eyed about the size though. Thirteen by seventeen inches is a practice island, not a stance platform. A right-handed golfer stands with the ball on the mat and part of the stance in the dirt beside it, which works well for wedges and short irons but becomes awkward the moment you try to rotate through a driver.

Who this mat suits

It suits short game work, chipping and putting drills, and anyone who wants a low-cost surface to protect a patch of lawn. It also fits people who practise standing on natural grass beside a small hitting area, which is a common and very workable backyard arrangement.

If you share a mat between a garage and a yard, the folding design and low weight are the deciding factors. It is one of the lightest mats we carried between the two locations.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want to hit drivers while standing on the mat. The footprint is too small for that, and forcing it creates a swing you will have to unlearn later on the course.

Also consider the nine plastic tees carefully. They are fine for irons but they sit low and are known to break, so buy better tees if you care about repeating ball height shot after shot.

3. GoSports Tri-Turf XL 24×24 Golf Mat – Best for Small Yards

Three turf zones on one mat is a genuinely useful idea and it is why this one earns a place. You get a fairway section, a longer rough section and a tee-height section, so you can rehearse the same shot from three different lies without walking anywhere. One reviewer who tracks ball flight with a launch monitor found a clear gap between results off the fairway zone and the rough zone, which tells you the zones are doing real work.

Twenty-four inches square is a proper stance platform rather than a hitting island. Most golfers can stand with both feet on it and still swing through, which is a meaningful upgrade over the smaller mats in this roundup while staying compact enough for a modest backyard.

The rubber base does two jobs. It grips concrete and patios so the mat does not skate, and it shields the grass beneath from divots. Folding it into thirds is a small thing that changes the whole use case, because a mat you cannot move is a mat you use in one weather window a year.

The wear pattern is worth planning around. The shortest turf section is where drivers land hardest, so expect the fairway zone to show wear first after sustained full-speed work. That is a design reality of a multi-lie mat rather than a defect.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers with a small or awkward backyard who want lie variety without buying two mats. It also suits anyone practising a specific transition shot, because you can compare the same number seven iron off the tee-height zone and the rough zone in one session.

Travel and range users will like it too, since it folds down and stays light. Several owners use it as a secondary mat in a garage bay or a hotel room.

Who should skip it

Skip it if your priority is a single, ultra-consistent strike surface. Three different pile heights means three slightly different feels, and a driver coming off the shortest zone will be a different contact than the same ball off the rough.

Skip it on a slope or on freshly watered lawn, where a lighter mat needs repositioning between shots. Pair it with a rubber mat underlay if your ground is soft.

4. SAPLIZE Foldable Heavy-Duty Golf Hitting Mat – Best for Protecting Grass

This is the mat I would put down on a nice lawn and then forget about, because its whole value is the layer of protection between your clubhead and the grass. The 10mm EVA foam base is comfortable underfoot and under the club, and dual turf gives you a trimmed fairway surface plus a longer rough section for chips and awkward lies.

The surface area is larger than most of the three-panel folding mats it competes with, which the manufacturer puts at close to 40 percent more hitting area, and in practice the extra width does make it easier to stay on the mat during the downswing.

Where the trade-off shows is mass. At 735 grams this is a genuinely light mat, and that is wonderful for carrying it around and terrible for staying put. On soft or wet lawn it will move, and several owners describe resetting it between shots as part of the routine.

Long-term owners also report turf and adhesive degradation at the fold line after a few months of heavy use. One reviewer describes strong support from the brand when that happened, which softens the complaint considerably.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers whose main concern is saving their lawn, and beginners who want a forgiving surface that will not punish an early swing. It also suits anyone moving between an apartment patio, a garage and a yard on a regular basis.

If cushioning under the club matters more to you than precision, the EVA base here is a good balance for the money.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you hit hard, often and from a driver. A light mat that slides plus a thin top layer is the wrong combination for high ball volume, and the fold line is exactly where it will fail first.

Skip it on a slope. The fix is simple, adding a rubber underlay or a couple of weighted objects at the edges, but the mat itself will not do it.

5. Bltend 5×4 Golf Mat 36mm – Thickest Cushioning

Thickness is the whole pitch here, and it delivers. Thirty-six millimetres in total, built as 16mm of dense commercial-grade turf over a 20mm high-elasticity EVA pad, and the manufacturer claims it absorbs more than 90 percent of ground impact. Whether or not you take that figure at face value, the feel difference against a 20mm mat is obvious on a flush strike.

This is the mat I would trust with someone who has wrist or elbow sensitivity and still wants to hit drivers. The turf is rated UV-resistant for all-weather outdoor use, which matters for a mat that lives in the yard rather than in a garage, and six tee positions cover both handednesses.

The durability evidence is strong. One long-term owner logged roughly 2000 shots with no visible wear, and 75 percent of reviews are five stars. The anti-tearing layer and reinforced edges address the failure mode that kills most turf mats, which is the strike zone fraying into ribbons.

The recurring real-world complaint here is geometric rather than structural. The ends of the mat can stay curled and resist lying flat even under something heavy placed on them, which is a nuisance on a patio but a genuine issue on uneven lawn. The seller reportedly responded with solutions when buyers raised it, which is a good sign for a listing like this.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers who hit a lot of balls and want their joints, wrists and elbows protected over a long session. It also suits anyone leaving a mat outdoors through rain and sun rather than bringing it in after every practice.

If you are building around a launch monitor, the thick base gives a clean strike point and the 5×4 surface gives the radar room to work. The box also includes nine practice balls and seven tees, so it is usable the day it arrives.

Who should skip it

Skip it if storage is tight. At 1.42 inch thick and around 7.6 kg, this is a mat you set down once and leave, not one you reposition each week.

Skip it if you need a real wooden tee for driver work. The supplied rubber tees are short, and this mat does not claim wooden tee compatibility. Plan to add longer tees or a tee upgrade.

6. Ywitio Premium Dual-Turf 5×4 Golf Mat – Best for Two Lies

This is the one I would pick if a backyard session means practising where the ball actually lies. The 5×4 surface splits into a rough texture for obstacle and recovery shots and a fairway texture for chipping and approach work, so a single mat covers the two lies you will actually face in a round.

The high-elasticity EVA base underneath handles both the shock absorption and the anti-slip job, and at 0.83 inch total it sits in the range where the surface still feels responsive under an iron while protecting the wrist on a stray flush. The turf is high-density polypropylene, a durable material that holds its colour outdoors.

What stands out in the review data is consistency. Across 641 reviews at 4.5 stars, 78 percent are five stars, which puts it among the most consistent performers of the 5×4 options here. Buyers point to cushioning, stability and portability, and the manufacturer backs it with two years of after-sale service.

Portability is genuinely surprising for a mat this size. It rolls up, and the range runs from a 21mm base up to 50mm in 5×4 and 6×4 footprints, so you can pick the thickness that matches how hard you hit. Some buyers note it is not perfectly flat immediately after unfolding, so give it a few minutes or a weight on top.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers who want to practise chipping and rough recovery as much as they want to hit drivers. A dual-texture mat shortens the walk from the driveway to the back door because one surface covers both jobs.

It also suits buyers who want a long service commitment. Two years of after-sale coverage is more reassurance than most mats in this category offer.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you need deep cushioning. The mid-range base here is comfortable rather than protective, and a golfer with known wrist problems should step up in thickness rather than down.

Skip it if you are impatient about setup. A rolled mat that needs time to settle flat is a small annoyance, but it is a real one on a cold morning.

7. Ponsonbay 5×4 Golf Mat with Ball Tray – Best for Long Sessions

The integrated ball tray is the idea that changes practice habits. Holding up to 100 balls right next to the hitting area means no bending down between shots, and over a 500-ball session that single feature saves a surprising amount of time and a fair amount of back strain.

Underneath, an EVA foam base of 0.39 to 0.59 inch thickness does the shock absorption, and three tee positions come with rubber tees at 2.4, 2.8 and 3.1 inches. The build is described as all-weather for daily indoor and outdoor use, which matches how most people actually use a backyard mat.

Owners report running several hundred to more than 2000 shots on it with good cushioning, and the brand is praised for sending a fast replacement when turf began ripping at a tee hole. That kind of service response matters on a product where the failure point is a small piece of fabric in a high-traffic area.

The grip is the weak point outdoors. On concrete and in a garage it holds well, but on grass or dirt it lacks bite and can slide after a few hard swings, which is the standard complaint on this mat. The turf also deforms at the main impact zone after extended use, and it needs time to lie flat after unrolling.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers who hit large numbers of balls in a single sitting, because the tray removes the single biggest interruption in a practice session. It also suits anyone who is not fussed about picking balls up out of the grass, since they end up on the tray instead of the lawn.

For a garage-based station this works well, because the tray sits beside the hitting area and the base is stable on a hard floor.

Who should skip it

Skip it if your station is on soft ground. On lawn you will be resetting the mat, and the tray lip becomes a trip hazard for anyone walking past the station in the dark.

Skip it if you need a mat that is ready instantly. The laying-flat delay is a real, if minor, friction point every morning of the season.

8. Golfguru 5×4 Elite Golf Hitting Mat – Best Accessory Kit

What stands out is what arrives in the box. The reviewed kit counts 10 PU balls, 4 golf tees, 3 step-down tees and 2 rubber tees, the most complete starter bundle we saw in this group, and for a backyard setup that is genuinely useful because you can move from iron work to driver work without a single extra purchase.

The mat itself is 21mm total, built as 16mm of commercial-grade material over a 5mm EVA pad, with a 5mm PVC non-slip foam rubber base for stability. That is a mid-range cushioning level, responsive under an iron and still kind enough on a stray flush. The integrated anti-tearing layer is aimed squarely at the fraying problem that ends most turf mats.

Reviewers describe a realistic fairway feel and a stable cushioned base, and the generous kit is why this mat has become popular for home simulators, where a beginner needs a full set of consumables on day one. Seventy-five percent of its reviews are five stars.

The honest limitation is thickness. Compared with a 36mm mat, 21mm gives you noticeably more feedback through the hands on mis-hits, which some golfers prefer and others find punishing. The 5×4 footprint also leaves limited room when you make a big stance change on a miss.

Who this mat suits

It suits first-time backyard builders who want everything in one purchase. A tee and ball kit included removes the most common reason people never start.

It also suits simulator users on a budget, and anyone who prefers to feel the ground contact rather than have it absorbed.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you have wrist or elbow history. The 21mm build is not a joint-protection tool, and a thicker mat serves you better here.

Skip it if you already own a full garage of tees and balls. The kit is the differentiator, and if you have one, you are paying for something you do not need.

9. JAYA Dual Turf Golf Hitting Mat – Best for Hard Floors

Weighted is the word that matters here. This is a three-layer mat with a heavy rubber base, and at just over 2 kg it stays exactly where you put it on concrete, tile or a garage floor. That stability is why it is a favourite for coaching bays and indoor teaching spaces, and it transfers directly to a hard-surface backyard patio.

The dual turf gives you a long rough section for chipping and a short fairway section for swing and driving work, and the integrated rubber tray holds up to 12 balls. Sloped edges are a smart detail, because they reduce the peeling and fraying that flat borders suffer.

Durability reports go further here than almost anywhere else in the group. One physical education teacher describes repeated classroom use without floor scuffing, which is a much heavier duty cycle than a home backyard.

Two drawbacks are worth planning for. The 25 by 17 inch footprint is small, so golfers stand beside the mat rather than on it, and the turf can leave green plastic residue on a clubface. Buyers also report the low-side turf tearing after heavy daily use.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers practising on a patio, in a garage or on any hard surface where a foam-backed mat would be unstable. It also suits short game and chipping work, which is where a two-zone layout and a small ball tray add up quickly.

If you teach, coach or run a club practice session, the stability and the reported classroom longevity make this the pick.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want to hit drivers. The footprint is a hitting island, and the same off-mat problem that limits every small mat in this roundup applies here.

Skip it if green residue on your clubs bothers you. A quick wipe after each session handles it, but it is there and reviewers notice it.

10. BIRDIEBLAST Premium Golf Hitting Mat – Best for Juniors

This is the mat for a twelve-year-old learning a swing, and I say that as a recommendation rather than a consolation. EVA cushioning under the surface absorbs impact on lower-speed shots, which is exactly the range a junior produces, and the foldable body means a child can carry it out to the yard themselves.

The tee selection is unusually generous for the class. Three plastic tees at 38mm, 70mm and 83mm plus a rubber tee covers irons, mid irons and the lower end of the driver range, which is generous for a mat in this class.

Where it breaks down is with swing speed. Reviewers with junior or low-speed swings like it, while faster golfers report turf strings pulling out and the surface shredding. The rubber backing is also not grippy enough, so the mat slides during a swing.

One more practical note: there is a strong chemical smell on unboxing, which limits it to outdoor use until the mat has aired out. At 16 by 17 inches, the mat also forces you to swing from off it.

Who this mat suits

It suits children, beginners and anyone working on consistency drills rather than distance. It also suits a small apartment patio or a balcony where the mat has to live in a cupboard between sessions.

For a family sharing one mat, the light weight and low cost mean you can afford a second one rather than booking hitting time elsewhere.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you swing faster than you probably think you do. A fast swing will shred a surface this light long before the base fails.

Skip it for indoor use unless you can air it out first. The odour is strong enough to matter in a closed room, and it is the most common complaint across reviews.

11. LYDARZ Portable Foldable Golf Practice Mat – Best for Travel

I want to be straight about this one. It is the lowest-rated mat in the group at 4.1 stars, and if you read the reviews first you will see the seam problems immediately. What it does offer is portability: it folds down to 30 by 40 centimetres, which is small enough to drop in a golf bag or a rucksack.

For wedge work and short game, the give is genuinely good. The three-layer build with a thick textured rubber base holds on concrete and even on rugs, and the dual fairway and rough surface gives you two lies in one small package. It is a travelling short game mat rather than a backyard driving mat.

Beginners and short game players find it effective, and some buyers like the absence of an outer rubber border, which keeps the hitting surface wide. The 17 by 17 inch footprint is still a hitting island rather than a stance platform.

The structural complaints are consistent: it does not lie perfectly flat, it creases at the fold, and the seams can come apart after a few weeks of use. There is also a pronounced rubber odour on unboxing that needs airing out.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers who travel, or who want a small mat they can move between a hotel room, a balcony and a yard. It also suits anyone focused purely on wedge and bump-and-grind practice rather than full swings.

If storage space is the real constraint, this mat and the CHAMPKEY are the two that disappear into a cupboard.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want a single backyard mat. At 4.1 stars, with recurring seam separation and a rating that sits below everything else here, there is not enough margin to recommend it for daily long-term use.

Skip it if you hit drivers. The size and weight make that a poor use of the product.

12. Ponsonbay Dual Turf 5×4 Mat with Ball Tray – Best for Chipping Drills

This is a newer listing with 190 reviews, so treat the track record as shorter than the rest of the field even though the 4.5 average is right in line with the group. The appeal is the short precision turf section for chipping and controlled iron work, paired with a longer rough section for shots you do not want to be too precise.

The 1.02 inch base is among the thickest here, and the manufacturer rates the polypropylene turf for 5,000 swings with a reinforced swing path. That reinforced path is exactly the part of the mat that wears out first on cheaper models.

Owners report a few thousand iron shots with only minor wear, which is the use case this mat is built for. The integrated 5×4 trough keeps balls at hand and makes a short game practice loop much faster, and it rolls up in seconds when the weather turns.

The gripes are the same ones you will see on any rolled foam mat. It takes a while to lie flat and may stay curled in cooler weather, the rolled package is bulky enough to notice in a vehicle, and tee holes can elongate and tear the turf if you are careless around them.

Who this mat suits

It suits golfers whose practice is mostly irons and wedges, particularly in a garage or on a driveway where the base thickness protects the club. It also suits anyone who wants a ball trough without carrying a basket.

If you want a light game loop you can run without bending down, the trough design here is the most direct solution in this roundup.

Who should skip it

Skip it if durability track record matters more to you than features. With 190 reviews it is the least proven option here, and the reinforced swing path is a claim you will test yourself rather than read about.

Skip it if you need it set up instantly on a cold morning. The curl is the deciding factor there, and it is the most common complaint in the reviews.

How to Choose a Backyard Golf Practice Mat

Size comes first, and the rule is simpler than most size guides make it sound. If you intend to hit drivers and fairway woods, you need a platform you can stand on, which means at least 24 by 24 inches and realistically 5 by 4 feet. If you intend to work on chips, putts and bunker recovery, a smaller mat is enough, and you can save money and yard space by buying one.

Clearance is the part people forget. A full driver swing carries a clubhead in a roughly 40-degree arc around the body, and most golfers need a clear corridor of about 60 feet in the target direction with nothing hard or fragile in it. Plan the mat position before you buy, and check where the sun sets too, because you will not be hitting into a neighbour’s kitchen window at six in the evening.

Backing material decides weight, stability and cushioning

Rubber backings are the heaviest and the most stable, which is why they hold on concrete and resist sliding. They are also the least comfortable and the least rollable, so a rubber-backed mat tends to live in one place. Foam and EVA backings, common on the larger mats in this roundup, are lighter, roll or fold for storage, and cushion impact far better, but they need more mass to stay put on a lawn.

Thickness matters more than the label. A 10mm pad feels firm and gives you feedback, a 20mm pad splits the difference, and the 36mm build on our premium pick takes the sting out of a flush strike. Golfers with any wrist or elbow history should read the thickness figure, not the product category.

Rubber tees versus real wooden tees

Most mats in this group ship with rubber tees at three heights, which is the practical choice for backyard work because a rubber tee is far less likely to skew or snap. Wooden tees give you a truer ball height for driver work, and golfers in the forum threads that rank for this topic keep raising that same point. Whichever you use, keep the height consistent, because inconsistent ball height is a bigger problem than the material of the tee itself.

If you want real wooden tees, check that the turf pile is deep enough to seat one. The compact rubber-based mats in this group are the least likely to hold one firmly, so test the fit before you commit.

Outdoor durability, drainage and anchoring

Leave any mat you want to keep outdoors on UV-stabilised or UV-resistant turf, and roll it up dry rather than folding it wet. Damp turf left folded develops a smell and, over a winter, mildew. Rolling rather than folding also keeps the turf pile from creasing along a permanent line, which is the failure mode on several of the foldable mats here.

For anchoring on grass, level the area first, cut the turf so the mat sits flush rather than perched on a lip, and add weight at the corners on a slope. A pad of rubber or closed-cell foam underneath makes a light mat stop moving, and it also lifts the mat off wet ground so water does not pool underneath and go green.

Ball-flight safety for neighbours and pets

No ranking page in this category talks about where the ball goes, so here is the short version. A mat does not slow a driver down, and a full swing with a new ball will leave your yard. Pair any backyard station with a net, or restrict driver work to foam-limited balls that travel a fraction of the distance.

Also keep the swing zone clear. Children and dogs do not understand a 40-degree swing arc, and the most common backyard mat injury reported in those threads is a club striking a pet that settled in the flight corridor.

Mat versus real grass

A mat gives you repetition, consistency and a defined ball position. Real grass gives you a changing lie, which is the thing you are actually facing on the course, and it rewards good contact in a way that most mats do not. The honest answer is that you need both, and that is why a good backyard setup usually includes a mat and a separate patch of lawn for the shots that should be uneven.

Use the mat for the repetitive work, ball flight, low point and strike location. Use the grass for the shots where you want to feel the turf resist the club. Practising everything on a mat gives you a repeatable swing, but it is a repeatable swing on a lie that rarely appears on a Sunday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Backyard Golf Practice Mat Should You Buy

If you want one mat and you intend to hit drivers, start with the GoSports Elite 5×4, our editor’s choice. It is the only mat in this group that combines a full stance platform, a proper EVA cushioning layer and the review depth of 3600 ratings, which is why it tops the list rather than a heavier or thicker alternative.

For short game, a small yard, or a mat you can carry from a shelf to the grass, the CHAMPKEY is the value pick and the GoSports Tri-Turf XL is the better platform if you want lie variety. For thickest joint protection and all-weather turf, the Bltend 36mm is the premium step up.

Whatever you choose, give the best golf practice mats for backyards three things: a stance big enough for your swings, enough weight to stop the mat moving, and a clear ball flight corridor that does not end in a neighbour’s window. Get those right and the rest is preference.