I’ve never been a huge fan of putting mats. I understand the convenience but hitting the same putt over and over indoors usually doesn’t hold my attention for very long.
Wellputt’s new Wellplay mat has been a little different.
We had a rainy weekend recently when plans kept getting canceled so I rolled it out and started messing around with some of the games. My kids joined in and what started as something to do for a few minutes turned into quite a bit of putting practice.
The Wellplay is 13 feet long with Tic Tac Toe on one end, a Bullseye target on the other and different numbers and targets throughout the mat. Wellputt has its own games and difficulty levels but I’ve found it’s just as easy to create your own.
That’s probably the biggest reason I’ve enjoyed it.
The games give the practice some purpose
One of my favorite games with my kids has been to pick a number and try to reach it with three putts. We use the numbered Tic Tac Toe squares.
If the number is 15 and the first ball finishes on 6, you have two balls left to get nine more points.
It’s simple but suddenly every putt has a very specific distance and target. You have to pay attention to start line and speed. I do think that kind of focused practice helps make the stroke more consistent.
It feels a little more like what happens when I go to a putting green. I can move between targets, make up games and get lost in the practice. Standing in one spot having a ball sent back to me doesn’t hold my attention for long.
I’d consider this for a junior golfer
The Wellplay has also kept my kids interested considerably longer than traditional putting practice would. There’s enough competition built into it that they are still working on distance control and accuracy without feeling like they are doing a putting drill.
It would work just as well if you had a few friends over and wanted to turn putting practice into a competition.
The quality of the mat matters
None of this would matter if the ball didn’t roll well.
I’ve used the Wellplay on carpet and hardwood and have been impressed with the speed and consistency. I don’t keep it out permanently. I roll it up when I’m finished and it lays mostly flat as soon as I put it back down. Occasionally, the ends need to be bent briefly in the opposite direction. It’s a quick fix and done in seconds.
I’ve also spent some time with a cheaper version of this concept and the difference is noticeable. More on that in another article.
If you find at home putting practice boring, I’d give this one a try. It’s a great way to focus on consistency of stroke and distance control without getting bored.
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