Is PUTTR the Putting Green of the Future?

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried:

The PUTTR Smart Putting Green. This interactive putting green connects with your smartphone or tablet to enhance (and gamify) your practice.

Who Tried It:

Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. I’m of the belief that making practice fun is the best way to improve. Can PUTTR fix my hideous stroke?

Quick Facts

• Retails for $599
• Premium PUTTR Club membership is an additional $19.99 per month (or $199.99 for the year)
• Connect to the PUTTR app (IOS or Android)
• 27 different tees to putt from
• Magnetic ball return
• Packed size is 2′ x 1′ x 1.5’ for easy storage

What is PUTTR?

PUTTR ain’t your everyday putting mat. No, this thing is much more than a slice of green carpet that’s only purpose is to putt a few balls between business calls.

The PUTTR Smart Putting Green is essentially a putting simulator in a (metal) box. Setting up the PUTTR takes seconds. Once you’ve opened the “oven” door and unrolled the mat, the magnetic golf ball return can be easily snapped into place.

Plug in the power cord and you’re ready to roll (no pun intended).

The mat itself stretches to 12 feet (the longest putt you can hit is 11) and it features 27 different spots from which you can putt. The math works out to three different “tees” from each distance from three to 11 feet.

The Brains

The PUTTR Smart Putting Green is nothing more than a mat until you connect it with the PUTTR app. From here, you can set up your profile which will enable you to track your progress and stats.

Pairing is done via Bluetooth. Once paired, it’s time to choose your game or drill. Deciding where to start is easier said than done. There are more than 50 games and drills available. 

I’ll spare you the list and instead opt to share some of my favorite games:

• Beer Pong (drain putts from different spots to knock out cups)
• Horse (yes, like the basketball game)
• Ladder (start close, work back)

Most PUTTR games and drills offer multiplayer modes, something that makes the overall experience even more enjoyable.And each provides a global leaderboard so you can see where you rank against other PUTTR players. 

While some of the game modes may sound a little gimmicky, I can promise you that they are not just some party trick. These modes are practice drills disguised as fun, friendly competition. Whether you’re competing against yourself, the global leaderboard or your buddy, the PUTTR is flat-out fun (and helpful).

After knocking off Phil, our club testing manager, in Beer Pong, I tried my hand at some drills. This is where the real PUTTR magic happens.

Practice with PUTTR Drills

Practice is where PUTTR really excels. PUTTR tracks each putt you hit to provide real, actionable data so you can (hopefully) improve. 

The Lab is a great place to start. Here you’re given speed and accuracy data for each putt. Have a tendency to hammer it home rather than drip it in? You’ll receive a speed score to understand your norm.

PUTTR also captures the angle of entry into the hole so you can more fully understand if you tend to push or pull your putts. 

Once your ego has been destroyed in the Lab, take on the Around the World challenge which requires you to make all 27 putts on the mat (that’s a total of 189 feet).

As with the game modes, PUTTR has numerous drills to help you dial in your stroke.

Performance Stats

As you roll through the other drills (again, I’ll spare you the massive list), you’ll receive a PUTTR handicap and a performance history that captures your make percentage and ball path for each game or drill you play. 

Your PUTTR handicap takes into account your most recent 200 putts which are then weighed against the PGA TOUR average. The stats made it clear that I need serious help in the five-foot range. Guess I’ve been too lenient with gimmes out on the course. 

The data provided by PUTTR (both after the fact and in real time) makes it very clear where your putting deficiencies lie.

Room to Improve

While my time with the PUTTR was largely awesome, there are a few things to consider before you take the somewhat expensive plunge. 

The first thing of note is that the putting mat itself isn’t going to provide the best roll when compared to premium putting greens. The roll is very good but it’s not as “true” as something like PrimePutt or Birdieball. The mat itself isn’t as durable as others, too, so keep this in mind if you have pets.

And, while the PUTTR app is really nice, it can be a bit buggy on Android (you’re better off using an Apple device here). 

Keep in mind that if you want to unlock all of the features of PUTTR, including the Global Leaderboard, the Lab and AI video analysis, you’ll need to splurge for the PUTTR Club membership. This will set you back $19.99 per month or $199.99 for the year.

Fun for All

Overall, the PUTTR Smart Putting Green is easy to recommend. Between the numerous putting games and drills, it’s easy to spend hours practicing your putting stroke with the PUTTR. 

The data is actionable, the entire device folds up into a compact (and unassuming) metal box for easy storage and it just makes putting darn fun.

That, I think, is a big win. 

If you’re looking for a way to improve your putting or just want something to make your next party an absolute blast, you can pre-order the PUTTR Smart Putting Green now.