We’ve all heard the saying … “drive for show, putt for dough.” Yes, you can bomb drivers in a golf simulator, but what about working on that money-making putter stroke?
Putting may seem like the simplest part of golf, but it's often where games, rounds and tournaments are won or lost. If you're looking to shave strokes off your scorecard, putting is the place to focus.
Luckily, with today’s technology, you don’t need to head to the local course to work on your short game - you can improve your putting right from home with a golf simulator. But how do you putt on a golf simulator, and is it really effective?
Let’s dive in and explore how you can make the most of your setup.
Can You Putt on a Golf Simulator?
Absolutely, you can putt on a golf simulator, but not all golf simulators will be able to read putts. This all depends on what launch monitor that specific simulator is using; some of the more budget friendly launch monitors cannot read putts at all.
However, some of the mid- to high-level launch monitors can provide data that can help you immensely improve your putting stroke. Many modern systems have become excellent at replicating the putting experience.
While early simulators struggled to capture the nuances of putting, today’s technology has improved significantly. Golf simulators now offer realistic putting environments to practice everything from lag putting to precision shots inside five feet.
Launch monitors from Trackman, Foresight, Uneekor and SkyTrak are some of the best for putting. They are capable of reading putts and giving you the feedback you need to improve. The data you receive from a launch monitor covers essential metrics like ball speed, face angle, and break, helping you dial in your short game.
How Do You Putt on a Golf Simulator?
Putting in a golf simulator is simple: many golf simulator softwares allow you to set your distance, and from there you just aim for the hole and make your stroke as you would on a real green. But instead of rolling across real grass, the ball rolls on a simulated putting green surface or turf, and the launch monitor reads its movement to give you feedback.
A golf simulator can handle putts of all types—straight, breaking, uphill, or downhill—allowing you to simulate the feels on a variety of greens right at home.
How Does Putting Work on a Golf Simulator?
You may be wondering, how do golf simulators handle putting? The magic lies in the launch monitor. These devices use cameras, radar, or infrared sensors to track the ball's movement and provide feedback on the shot.
Having a hitting surface that is flush to your surrounding flooring or turf can help, especially if you have a radar launch monitor that sits behind your hitting area. If your hitting surface is elevated above your surrounding flooring, the ball will drop off the surface and the radar unit might lose sight of the ball, which won’t allow the unit to gather enough data to give you an accurate reading. It’s also nice to see in person how your putt is rolling without having it fall off the edge of your golf mat.
If you have no option to have a flush hitting surface with your surrounding flooring, then you will want to look into the photometric launch monitor options as those types capture data just within a foot or two of ball impact.
Some golf simulators also allow you to practice on simulated putting greens. You can adjust the green’s speed - and sometimes the slope - to mimic real-world scenarios. This allows you to practice a variety of putts from fast downhillers to tricky breaking putts. Essentially, golf simulators with putting give you a highly accurate and adaptable environment to refine your short game.
Oh yeah, and most importantly, there are golf simulator softwares like GSPro that allow you to adjust the gimme circle. Sometimes, you’re dialed in and don’t need one, while other times, a 20-foot gimme circle will do.
Best Golf Simulators with Putting Capabilities
When looking for the best golf simulator with putting, it's important to consider both the launch monitor and the software. Some simulators are better suited for putting than others, and the right choice depends on your budget and the level of data you're after.
Below are not the only options for golf simulator putting, but they are some of the better ones:
1. GCQuad by Foresight Sports
The Foresight GCQuad is renowned for its ability to track putts with exceptional accuracy. Its four-camera system captures intricate details like the ball's launch angle, roll, and skid, making it an ideal choice for golfers serious about improving their putting. It works well with putting drills and can simulate a variety of greens.
2. Trackman iO
Another high-end option, Trackman iO, is known for its combination photo- and radar-based system that excels at tracking long-range shots and putts alike. It provides precise data on your ball’s speed, path, and break, and it also offers features like custom green simulations.
3. SkyTrak+
If you’re looking for something more affordable, SkyTrak+ offers solid putting feedback at a lower price point. While it may not have the full features of the GCQuad or TrackMan, it's a great option for recreational golfers looking to practice their putting at home.
4. Uneekor Launch Monitors
Uneekor launch monitors utilize high-speed cameras mounted overhead or directly next to the ball to capture multiple data points during a putt. This includes ball roll, spin, launch angle, and even the exact moment of impact between the club and the ball. The precision of these systems makes them highly accurate for putting, where even the slightest misalignment or variation in speed can lead to missed strokes.
How Does a Golf Simulator Track the Ball?
Wondering how a golf simulator tracks your ball during putting? It all depends on the type of launch monitor you’re using. Camera-based systems from Foresight, Uneekor or Skytrak use high-speed cameras to capture multiple images of the ball, tracking its movement and providing feedback on things like ball speed and launch angle. Radar-based systems, like the FlightScope Mevo+, send out radio waves that bounce back when they hit the ball, tracking its speed and trajectory.
The longer the radar-based systems can read the ball, the better. That means that having a flat putting surface all the way to your impact screen should help; using a hitting mat where the ball falls off and onto a lower surface could cause a radar-based launch monitor to quickly lose sight of the ball, so the data might not be as accurate.
These systems are highly effective for putting, giving you instant feedback to help you refine your stroke. Whether you’re using a golf simulator putting green or simply practicing on a flat surface, the launch monitor provides all the data you need.
Putting Drills to Try in Your Golf Simulator
Once you've got your simulator set up, it's time to start practicing. Here are a few drills to help you improve your indoor putting:
1. Straight Putt Drill
Use the simulator to practice straight putts of different lengths, working on your speed and aim. Focus on making consistent contact and maintaining the right tempo.
2. Breaking Putt Drill
Set up your simulator to practice breaking putts. Adjust the green to simulate different breaks, and use the feedback from your launch monitor to adjust your aim and stroke.
3. Lag Putting Drill
Work on distance control by setting up long putts and focusing on getting the ball as close to the hole as possible without overshooting.
Whether you're using a high-end launch monitor like Foresight GCQuad or a more affordable option like SkyTrak+ or Uneekor EYE MINI Lite, golf simulators can be an incredibly effective tool for improving your putting. By offering real-time feedback and the ability to practice in different conditions, a golf simulator allows you to fine-tune your short game and lower your scores. With plenty of options on the market, there's no reason not to bring the practice green indoors.
So, do golf simulators have putting? Absolutely! And with the right setup, you can take your putting to the next level; the
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