The Putting Game Takes Putting Practice To A New Level

One of the hottest new training devices is The Putting Game, the device is more like an electronic dartboard than the old putting cup. There are 6 built in challenges or games that will both be fun and sharper your putting skills. Every element of the putt is tested and challenged - direction, speed and accuracy.

Out of the box you can tell this is a well constructed and heavy duty piece of equipment. Operating the unit is fairly straight forward but I would encourage everyone to read the manual or watch the instructional videos online to get an understanding of all the options. As far as powering the unit it takes two C batteries or you can order a power adapter. The Putting Game comes in your choice of 5 colors. (green, blue, black, red or milled steel)

The Built In Games

Take your putting practice to the next level with 6 challenges or games. (12 in total with each game having a heckler sound effects option.) Each game presents a unique putting challenge for the user. There are directional accuracy challenges, distance control challenges and both. The following are the names and descriptions of each.

Game 500
"500" is quite the accuracy challenge. Goal: Putt as close to the center target as you can. A direct hit in the center will score 100 points; the further from center, the lower the score. You have 5 attempts and the system keeps your score. Although 500 is primarily an accuracy challenge, you still need to putt at a reasonable speed to score.

Game Knock Out
"Knock Out" is an "inside left edge, center cup, inside right edge" drill that many pros use on the practice green. Although this may be the least difficult accuracy challenge, if you're good at it, no one in your foursome will putt better than you. The horizontal screen illuminates a white target the size of a standard size hole (4.25"). The object is to "Knock Out" the white target; the system counts your attempts. Since a standard hole is just under 3 golf balls in width, you can clear the target with 3 good putts (a score of 3 is a perfect score). Goal: Hit inside left edge, hit center cup, then hit inside right edge.

Game Diminishing Cup
"Diminishing Cup" is an extreme accuracy challenge.The horizontal screen lights up a white target the size of a standard hole. Each time you hit the target, the target gets smaller - and you score points. Miss the target and it's a strike. Three strikes and you are out! Goal: Score as many points as possible before striking out. It takes a minimum of 8 putts to clear the target, and if you clear the target without striking out, the target resets and you keep playing. The scoring is multiplied by the number of rounds and the game continues until all strikes are gone or 4 rounds are completed. Scoring is as follows: in the first round, hits are worth 10 points each. Second round hits are worth 20 points each, etc. A perfect score is 800.

Game The Practice Green
In "The Practice Green", you putt as you would on a real practice green. With The Putting GameTM, you are putting to a "virtual" cup, not a real cup. You can putt as much as you like and there is no score. Simply set the cup distance and Stimp (see user preferences) and begin putting. The horizontal screen will illuminate the appropriate size target based on the cup distance you have selected and mark where your ball strikes the target. The digital display will alternate between displaying the distance you have selected and the distance your putt rolls based on the Stimp you have selected. The device knows when you have struck the ball well enough to make the putt in the real world. When this happens, you will hear that wonderful sound of a ball dropping into the cup and the target will flash. A missed putt is indicated by a visible mark on the horizontal screen and/or the distance data on the digital display.

Game Virtual Cup 500
"Virtual Cup 500" is "The Practice Green" - with scoring! Before you start, be sure to set the desired Cup Distance and Stimp. Goal: Roll 5 putts and score the highest score possible. All putts are graded on a scale of 0 to 100 based on directional accuracy and distance control. You need to have both good speed and good direction to score well in this game. A putt that is right down the middle but is short (or long) will not score well. Putts that have perfect speed but miss left or right also do not score well. The closer you get to the virtual cup, the better you will score. Should a putt go in the virtual cup, you will receive 100 points for that putt. A perfect score is 500.

Game Stack-up
"Stack-up" simulates a drill that pros have done for years - a drill that forces you to think about, feel, and familiarize yourself with stroke length and swing speed for various length putts. Before you make your first putt, select a green speed (see "Stimp" in user preferences). No need to set the Cup Distance - this game presents different length putts for you automatically. The first putt is a 5 footer, the second putt is 10 feet, the third is a 15 footer, the fourth is 20 feet, and the fifth and final putt is a 25 footer. Goal: roll 5 putts and score the highest score possible. Putts are graded on a scale of 0 to 100, based on directional accuracy and distance control - the closer you get to the virtual cup on each putt, the better you will score. When you sink a putt in the virtual cup, you receive 100 points. "Stack-up" puts all your putting skills to the test. You need to maintain good directional accuracy over a wide range of putting speeds and have good distance control in order score well in this game. A perfect score is 500.

In Summary: The Putting Game" is an entertaining game and a powerful training aid all in one. It has a truly improved my putting and made practice fun. With a $329 price tag it is an investment but money well spent.

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