With their new Slim and Large putting mats, PuttOUT now has something for everyone. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re also launching their Putting Plane Alignment Stick Set, a multi-tool to help improve your putting stroke.
PuttOUT’s Dominance
As the game within the game, putting aids are, as the old saying goes, “ten a penny.” But very few cut through like the original PuttOUT did, selling more than 400,000 units and still counting. Recently upgraded to the Premium Pressure Putt Trainer, the simple design was tricky to master but gives plenty of feedback. PuttOUT launched its original mat three years ago, a product they designed after requests from consumers for a mat to complement the Putt Trainer. At eight feet long with markings at six feet, it’s not huge but enough to be able to vary a practice session. Now rebranded as the Medium Mat, it’s available in three colors.
Rollin’
Let’s start with a bit of housekeeping on the mat range before going into specific details about the new models.
All the PuttOUT mats run at 10 on the Stimpmeter. That’s swift but not too slick, with enough pace to groove a smooth stroke.
Secondly, the mats are designed to stay flat. That seems obvious but too many putting mats can eventually look like creased, dog-eared dollar bills. And at five millimeters, they are designed to be thick enough to mask any imperfections from the floor beneath the mat.
Finally, while the mats are in new sizes, all are designed to be portable and roll up into a compact cardboard tube.
One Putting Mat Becomes Three
We’re interested in the two new models. The Slim Mat has been designed to go anywhere. But it’s in PuttOUT’s home UK market that we can see this being a big success. Everyone can squeeze one into their apartment (or a flat as we call them over here), unrolled down a hallway to get some much-needed practice. At eight feet long and one foot wide, it’s very compact. However, it’s still wide enough to use the whole ensemble of PuttOUT training aids (or tools as they call them). It’s affordable at just US$59.99/£49.99, a great entry price point for someone dipping their toes into home practice.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Large Mat. Among PuttOUT users, especially those in the U.S., there was a real demand for a large mat, which is understandable when your garages are bigger than most living rooms in the UK. At 12×3 feet, PuttOUT want it to be thought of more as a “practice area.” The Large Mat is split in half. One half is designed for typical straight up and down putting practice. The other half features five target points at various lengths and angles. At US$169.99/£129.99, it’s a much more substantial price but it’s a more substantial product.
A Putting Swiss Army Knife
These putting mats are all great to use on their own and better with a Premium Pressure Putt Trainer. But if you want even more guidance on your stroke, rather than just trying to get the ball in the hole, you need to look at the Putting Plane Alignment Stick Set.
The set consists of two brushed aluminum gates, two alignment sticks and a connecting grommet, plus what they call the Plane.
The Plane is designed to help with alignment, putter path and stroke and can be adjusted to 70, 76, 84 or 90 degrees.
As a version of the popular “string drill,” the sticks attach together and then slot into the top of the two gates. Or use insert into the end of the Pressure Putt Trainer for alignment and target training.
As a stroke trainer, by placing the sticks into the 90° hole on the Gates with the putter rested alongside it. It makes for a repeatable stroke and allows the golfer to focus on strike and tempo.
For the full-on putting nerd, this feels like every putting stroke aid rolled into one. At US$89.99/£69.99 it’s a decent chunk of change but you’re getting a lot for your money.
Testers Wanted
We’re looking for four MyGolfSpy readers to test, review and keep a PuttOUT training system which includes a Premium Trainer + Large Putting Mat + Putting Plane
Head to the PuttOut Training system testing thread in the forum to apply.
This testing opportunity is open to golfers who live anywhere PuttOUT products can be shipped.
Rufuss
5 years ago
I own the large mat and the premium trainer (which you don’t really need to train distance control, but it is more fun with it). The variation in practice drills that the large mat provides is really worth the extra $s. It not only prevents you becoming bored with what you can do but it better enables switching between distances and drills so you don’t simply become ‘practiced’ at one thing and are then unable to adjust to changing scenarios. I’m still thinking about whether or not to add the Putting Plane to my kit.