At MyGolfSpy, we’re constantly refining our testing methodologies to offer golfers with probably the most complete, unbiased information attainable. Whereas there’s at all times room for enchancment, with a lot of the golf equipment within the bag, we’re typically proud of the place we’re. Putters have lengthy been an exception. It’s not like our testing hasn’t recognized some inarguable standouts through the years however we’ve lengthy seemed for alternatives to do extra.
As our putter testing has developed, we’ve tried totally different approaches. We’ve built-in Strokes Gained and three-putt avoidance into our methodologies however alternatives to gather significant information past make-or-miss have proved elusive.
When the final putt of any given take a look at has dropped, we are able to inform you which putters excelled at a given distance and which of them outperformed the sphere however we didn’t at all times have nice solutions as to why.
Was it as a result of alignment, influence consistency, launch route or one thing else solely?
We wished to present you extra particulars and higher solutions.
That’s the place PuttView is available in.
Getting acquainted
We’ve had conversations with the PuttView crew at previous PGA Exhibits about how their know-how may enhance our placing checks. When these conversations began to get severe, I discovered a neighborhood spot the place I may take a look at considered one of their smaller putting greens.
Along with being one these “I need that!” moments, the know-how genuinely modified the best way we considered what could possibly be attainable in putter testing. PuttView may present suggestions, visualization instruments and a solution to measure placing efficiency nicely past what we had been doing.
With a brand new MyGolfSpy facility within the works, a contemporary alternative to rethink putter testing and to take it to the subsequent degree, PuttView was the apparent selection.
A sketch involves life
Like many different concepts, the format of our PuttView inexperienced began with a tough (actually tough) sketch on a serviette. We envisioned a state-of-the-art placing inexperienced that might permit us to create a extra sturdy putter take a look at. That meant integrating slopes, breaks and sufficient house to check all the pieces from brief knee-knockers to longer lag putts that may make or break your spherical.
PuttView labored with us each step of the best way to design a {custom} inexperienced that might function the showpiece of our new test facility and elevate our putter testing.
The ultimate design took form as a 30×20(ish)-foot inexperienced that includes exact slopes and breaks, guaranteeing we may replicate a lot of what golfers expertise on the golf course.
Engineering a {custom} inexperienced
Constructing a inexperienced of this scale isn’t so simple as unfurling a roll of flip and slicing out a couple of holes. Each inch of the inexperienced was meticulously deliberate, from the bottom building to the ultimate calibration.
As soon as the design of the inexperienced is finalized, the set up of a PuttView placing inexperienced begins on the manufacturing facility the place a collection of CNC-milled foam panels are minimize to precise specs. Gap areas are marked and all the pieces is labeled for meeting.
“When all the pieces confirmed up at HQ, it was like Indiana Jones,” says Phillip Bishop, MyGolfSpy’s Director of Testing. “Every little thing is in large wood crates like these historical artifacts. Every little thing is minimize and coded the place 1 goes right here and a pair of goes there. They mainly plot it out and put it collectively like a jigsaw puzzle.”
As soon as assembled, the panels shaped the muse of the inexperienced, full with the pre-engineered slopes that dictate how putts break and roll. The subsequent step was turf set up. The placing floor was laid down and secured with extra materials positioned across the perimeter to create a practical fringe space.
Holes, whereas pre-marked on the panels, are minimize on-site to make sure excellent alignment with the system’s monitoring software program.
A footnote to all of this: Whereas our PuttView inexperienced was initially designed with seven complete cup areas (5 bodily and two digital), we use solely the bodily ones throughout the testing course of. We’ll seemingly leverage the digital choices sooner or later however for Most Needed testing we wish to keep away from something that would complicate the method.
Set up and associated tweaks
PuttView’s Stuart Smith oversaw the set up of the panels and turf from begin to end, guaranteeing each bit was positioned appropriately, securing the turf, establishing the overhead projectors and monitoring cameras and slicing the holes.
As soon as the bodily construct was full, PuttView Co-Founder and Managing Director Christoph Pregizer took over, putting in and calibrating the software program essential to energy the PuttView system.
For probably the most half, set up was a breeze (it’s simple for me to say that; I wasn’t at HQ whereas it was occurring). So what was the most important hurdle?
Lighting.
It’s at all times one thing, proper?
As a result of our placing inexperienced is considerably bigger than most PuttView installations, we have to management the lighting over a big space – and that features any undesirable ambient gentle leaking in from our doorways and home windows. The PuttView system leverages cameras to trace the golf ball and any inconsistencies in lighting can create issues with ball recognition.
The very last thing we wish is one thing that interferes with the system’s capacity to learn putts, forcing our testers to repeat the identical putt time and again.
“There are specific points you can run into relying on the dimensions of your placing inexperienced,” explains Bishop. “Since it’s camera-based and the digital camera is being utilized to trace the golf ball, there are circumstances the place the digital camera could also be blocked by the particular person placing.”
With that, we anticipated we’d have to make some changes and, as we’ve examined and re-tested the brand new PuttView testing protocols in preparation for Most Needed testing, we discovered extra tweaks had been vital. The PuttView crew has gone above and past to assist us recalibrate, get all the pieces dialed in and replace the software program as we go.
Constructing a greater putter take a look at with PuttView
Along with the information implications, PuttView makes our putter checks considerably extra dynamic. On the golf course, each putt is totally different: distance, slope, break, pace. Whereas we’ve at all times examined putters from a number of distances, we weren’t in a position to combine different elements of placing that golfers expertise on the course.
With our custom-developed randomized testing protocol, we’re in a position to replicate on-course placing extra precisely. Each putter is examined beneath equivalent circumstances. Each tester hits the identical variety of putts from uphill, downhill, left- and right-breaking and straight—however the precise areas are randomized. The hope is to stop golfers from getting grooved in from one location, making the outcomes extra reflective of precise placing efficiency.
However the greatest leap ahead is information.
With our PuttView system we now simply measure:
- Proximity to the opening on each putt.
- Left or proper miss bias.
- Dispersion patterns that present how constantly a putter leaves golfers with makeable second putts.
- Launch route and pace, serving to us determine which putters present probably the most constant launch circumstances (sure, putters have launch circumstances).
- A brand new Strokes Gained placing handicap metric that simplifies putter efficiency in a approach each golfer can perceive.
Past that, the flexibleness of the system is a game-changer.
“We’ve bought it preconfigured for Most Needed testing,” says Bishop, “however we’ve got the flexibleness to basically recode every other putter checks we’d wish to run. Meaning we’re not locked right into a single testing mannequin—we are able to adapt, refine and proceed enhancing how we consider putters.”
What comes subsequent?
Our first full take a look at utilizing the PuttView system is underway. We’re planning three Most Needed putter checks in 2025 and we’re assured they’ll be probably the most complete we’ve ever performed. The extra insights we’re getting from PuttView go far past what we’ve been in a position to measure up to now.
However we’re not stopping there.
As PuttView continues so as to add integrations with different programs (Foresight GC Quad launch displays, for instance), we’ll search for extra alternatives to enhance the testing course of.
One factor is definite: putter testing simply bought a complete lot higher.
For years, placing has been seen as an artwork—feel-based, unpredictable and, to an extent, troublesome to quantify. With our new PuttView lab, we are able to concentrate on the science of placing. And which means golfers will get the data-driven insights they should make smarter selections concerning the most-used membership of their bag.
We’re not solely positive the place this may take putter testing however we’re sure this is just the beginning.
The put up Rolling With PuttView: Inside The Build, Installation And The Future Of Our Cutting-Edge Putting Lab appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
