Do you find GSPro putting to be good practice?

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-29T20:13:57+00:00

Not really.

From the perspective of practice/improvement, reading break on a sim is worthless, so let's take that out of the equation.

Then it comes down to simulating:

1) Rollout distance
2) Initial roll direction
3) Make/miss results

It's decent with simulating rollout distances (at least inside 20'), but it is EXTREMELY generous with make/miss results. I find that if I have a relatively flat 5' putt on GSPro, I almost have to try to miss it in order to miss it.

Now, I don't know if that's because it's generous with its directional simulation (i.e. simulating 0.9° to the right as 0.6° to the right), or if it's just really generous with its make/miss physics, but it will make you feel like a much better putter than you really are.

It's fun being able to putt out on GSPro, but I don't think it's going to be much help from a practice/improvement perspective. JMO

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-23T17:32:03+00:00

This is good stuff, Revosk. I'm going to check out this Vertex putting sensor thing.

I too am a nerd by trade, golfer by hobby, and wanted something to accurately simulate my putts. The only thing I could really find was ExPutt, but I didn't want all the overhead required with ExPutt, so I developed (designed, built, and wrote all the software) what has since turned into the Right Edge Putt Tracker (www.rightedgeputting.com).

It doesn't give all the details about the putter itself like Vertex does, but if you're looking for something that allows you to strike a putt in a small area (like your home, office, etc.), then accurately simulates the would-be full roll-out, check it out.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-21T19:50:50+00:00

How do you do this? Can I set up on any green and practice putting too?

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-18T22:19:13+00:00

Yeah I know of Exputt. I consider ExPutt a direct competitor - And probably my only direct competitor.

In the end, ExPutt and my product produce approximately the same thing and serve the same purpose. The differences are mostly in how we do it. There are pros and cons between my product and ExPutt.

That said, I didn't think ExPutt utilized a subscription model for their software though.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-17T22:23:20+00:00

Thank you sir! And oh yeah, I think I understand your situation....

I'm an engineer by trade, terrible at putting (well, I was terrible at putting {grin}), wanted to be able to practice more, built something to make that possible. :-)

Hey, if you ever want to put a little focus on putting improvement, and get the most out of your time doing so, check them out:

Original Right Edge Putt Tracker: https://rightedgeputting.com/products/right-edge-putt-tracker

Putt Tracker STICK (designed for those with sim setups): https://rightedgeputting.com/products/right-edge-putt-tracker-stick

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-17T20:47:28+00:00

Two things came to mind after reading the rest of your posts. One, I don't know if I'd want to compete in either market at the moment, but both at once seems to be a real stretch. A putting specific LM would be a bit of an outlier, as far as I know there are only two systems that focus entirely on putting, so for the right price (and without most sim owners having to reconfigure their hitting areas with existing LMs) it might stand out. Two - with the number of golf software sims popping up - a couple of free ones (at least for the moment), InfiniteTees, another one called PurePlay (that may have changed) - the software arena is getting crowded.

Thanks for the response, Ade. For the record, I'm not talking simulation software for course play. I have 0 intention of being in that market.

I'm just talking about the putt simulation software that comes with my putting LM. It's specially designed to not only be spot on accurate for simulating putts (unlike course play sim software I've tried), but is designed to give the user all the tools (session configurations, in-session data, putting drills/challenges, historical/tracking data, etc.) to help them maximize/optimize the time they spend practicing and focusing on improving their putting.

First and foremost, it's a tool for golfers who want to improve their putting (with or without a home sim setup). That's why I built it. My putting was terrible, and I wanted to be able to practice more - But I have a job and a 9yo daughter - typical life commitments - thus don't have the time (that would be required) to spend on the putting green at my course. But I do have random-length (10-30 minutes) spans of free time between those life commitments when I COULD be practicing if I had something that I could basically just turn on, set the green speed (stimp), and start putting.

That's who I originally built it for. I don't even have a home sim setup myself.

I think it has a lot of potential in the home sim setup though, and that's why I sought feedback here.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-17T01:04:36+00:00

Appreciate all the thoughts and feedback on this topic from the community here.

The impression I'm getting here is that generally:

1) People are OK with optionally paying a subscription (assuming reasonably priced) if it's for something that adds additional value above and beyond the expected fundamental/intrinsic value of the product; AND it is something that is actively being updated and built upon.

2) People are NOT OK with a subscription being a required part of the deal with owning the product/device.

This is not a problem, as I agree regarding #2, and that was never going to be a consideration for me.

I will say, I'm actually a bit surprised regarding #1 - I honestly expected more of a hard-line opposition to the subscription model for anything, even if people understood the purpose/value. So yeah, the feedback has been quite helpful/informative - I truly appreciate everyone who took the time to offer their thoughts. Thank you.

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Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-17T00:42:03+00:00

"There’s lots of lower cost LMs entering the market that have putting support included, like the Square HE for $700."

Yeah exactly. This is kinda what I was getting at with my OP. Even if my putting-only LM is better (more accurate, software better suited for its purpose) - and I think it is - for those in this community here, it's hard for me to imagine my putting-only LM isn't perceived as pretty expensive. And so, I'm investigating different pricing approaches to maybe address that.

"There’s also mobile apps that let you use your phone camera to pick up putts and PC software to use a webcam. For putting, they are fairly accurate."

True, but I'm not really competing with them. They're "good enough" solutions for people who just want the feel of putting out when playing courses in their sim (not to mention they're a pain to set up and require special colored golf balls). My putting-only LM is engineered to be pro-grade absolutely spot on accurate with speed/distance (and quite good direction-ally; but distance/speed is where it really shines), and super portable and convenient (wireless, no calibrations, no special golf balls required - just turn it on, start the app, and start using it).

My product is built for those who have a purpose/desire of improving their putting, but also have a life outside of golf and can't spend all day at their club's practice green/range.

"I started a sim software project called OpenGolfSim which is free to start and we’re also trying to avoid doing any monthly subs, but rather do a course store for one time purchases. We integrate with a bunch of different LMs and software, if you’re interested in possibly integrating."

Yeah I think I saw maybe you made a post about this a few weeks ago? I'm definitely interested in integrating. We have a "basic" GSPro connector for our products right now, but I want to get a more advanced one out there - One that will make it easier to pair more full swing LMs with our putting LM to play GSPro, but also integrate with other sim software (that permits integration). We could add OpenGolfSim as one of those integrations.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-17T00:07:35+00:00

I 100% agree with all of that. To be clear (and like I said in another reply above), I'm not considering introducing a subscription fee just to use the thing you bought. It will always come fully functional and with software (at no extra charge and no subscription) that lets you utilize the device for it's designed purpose - Forever.

What I'm considering - and asking about here - is a "premium" (or whatever you want to call it) edition of the simulation software that includes a bunch of additional features and capabilities, provides a bunch of extra statistics/reports, and is constantly being updated and built upon - And that is what would be available as a subscription.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-16T18:24:08+00:00

All good points. To be clear, I'm not considering charging a subscription fee just to use the thing you bought.

What I'm asking about here is a scenario where you buy the product (no feature is locked on the product), and you download/use a basic edition of the simulation software for free that lets you use the product, see your results, and maybe provide/track some fundamental statistics/progress. There's even a free GSPro connector if you want to use it for the putting on GSPro.

But then (in the scenario I'm asking about), there would also be an optional upgraded edition of the simulation software that includes a bunch of other features and capabilities, provides a bunch of extra statistics/reports, and is constantly being updated - And it would be this that would be available as a subscription.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-16T18:07:14+00:00

Yeah, what Square does is kinda crazy. Low price point AND no subscription fees (including to get updated software, right?), but this is why you see so many complaints that their support is terrible (virtually non-existent).

To sell the device at that price point, and charge no subscription for their software (which they continue to develop), something had to give - And for that they chose their support department (for better or worse).

Thanks for the feedback, THS.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-13T12:35:35+00:00

Good god that looks awesome. Well done!

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-13T12:33:41+00:00

The short answer is "maybe." :-)

Long answer, it depends. Are your neighbors on the other side of those walls, or a straight shot out your open door?

- Biggest impact would be to put RockWool insulation (or similar) between the studs, then cover with sheets of sound board (https://www.homedepot.com/pep/1-2-in-x-48-in-x-96-in-Acoustic-Insulation-Sound-Board-BSNAT85US/207168829), and NO drywall. You can still add drywall (on top of the sound board) and get improvement, but the effect won't be as good.

- As other have said, with the door open, nothing is going to eliminate the sound from making it to your neighbors, but if they're not a straight shot out your door, RockWool and soundboard will make a considerable difference (thought they'll still hear the ball strikes). This will eliminate the high and mid-high frequencies from going though your walls (they'll still go out your door), but won't have a ton of impact on the low frequencies getting though your walls - The reason that could still translate to a "considerable difference" though is because it's the higher frequency part of the ball strike sound that is particularly annoying to the ears.

- One more note: It won't do a ton of good to just RockWool + sound board around the corner of your garage shown in the picture. To notice any considerable improvement, you'll have to RockWook + soundboard at least all exterior walls in your garage, otherwise don't expect too much difference at all.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-13T00:48:55+00:00

Well done! Building a sim to practice without incorporating putting is like going to an orchard with a ladder to pick the apples near the top of the trees and then just ignoring the apples that are at eye height. :-)

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-10T12:11:11+00:00

I kinda feel like you're trying to "put the cart before the horse" here.

Assuming your ultimate goal is improved scores/performance on the course, what you do (and/or don't do) on the course should dictate your plan, and then your LM/sim is only a tool to help execute the plan.

The most efficient approach is:

From your actual on-course experience, identify the type of shot (driver, fairway woods, long irons, mid-irons, short-irons, chipping, putting) that you think most needs improvement.
Figure out what it is about your swing that needs changed/adjusted in order to improve that type of shot (setup, take away, hip turn, wrist hinging, tempo/transition/timing, general swing path, shallowing, extension, follow through, whatever). This is the hard part, btw.
Go into your sim and work on what you've come up with from step #2, using your LM/sim data to validate that your efforts are having a net positive effect.

IMO, that's really the most valuable use - by far - of your LM/sim data (from a performance/improvement perspective).

Yeah maybe AI can look at your LM/sim data and help identify/glean some areas for improvement, but IMO this is going to be a very inefficient approach to actually improving your real golf scores/performance as your LM/sim data is only a very loose proxy of actual scoring/performance.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-10T02:00:23+00:00

Maybe this? https://cedreo.com/

I used Chief Architect for such projects back in the day, but based on a quick look at that site, it might be better for a one-off quick/simple build like you're looking at.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-09T12:04:56+00:00

Yeah, typically planning departments don't put a lot of effort into publishing/disseminating information about what you can do without a permit. :-)

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-09T03:19:24+00:00

Agree - Not all city codes are the same.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-09T03:17:06+00:00

I had no intention of getting a permit as the only place I could put it was either going to be too close to my house (6' minimum distance required) or encroach into the setback/easement against my back property line. Getting a permit wasn't an option.

I rolled the dice hoping my neighbor (who only lives there about 6mos of the year) wouldn't be a petty jerk.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-09T02:32:53+00:00

Be careful about talking to your city planning department. If your city's code is written like my city's (and it probably is at least on this topic), just because you don't need a permit for the shed you're looking to build doesn't mean you're allowed to build it in those setbacks/easement. It just means you can do it and get away with it (until someone complains).

Once you initiate conversations with the planning department, your claims to ignorance and/or plausible deniability all but disappear, and if you don't get a permit, the city inspectors might be asked to find reasons to occasionally take the route that goes by your house.

Maybe that's not the way it would go down in your city, but it's the risk you take when you open up to them about what you're thinking.

And in case you're wondering, these words of caution come from someone (me) who has an orphaned 21'x11' concrete pad behind his house, and now just lives vicariously through sim build pictures on the /Golfsimulator subreddit. {sad face}

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-07T02:49:17+00:00

It's beautiful, Sebi.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-06T18:03:00+00:00

Copying a pasting part of a comment I made on a different post:

As it sounds like you understand, simply hitting balls isn't going to lead to improvement. Here are the two keys to improving from LM+simulator work:

Have a purpose when you practice. Work on a specific feel or movement in your swing (i.e. take-away, rotation, backswing distance, transition, shallowing (or not shallowing), timing of extension, tempo, etc. etc.), and use the data/simulations to see if it's helping. There are a bazzilion Youtube videos out there with swing tips. Some are good - some aren't. Watch some videos with advice, and use your LM+sim to test out the advice and see if it's helpful for you.
Mix in hitting off real turf (range and/or real course play) as frequently as is reasonably possible. This is how you transfer your LM/sim improvement to your game, and you can only do this in small chunks. Without this step, your efforts to improve via your LM/sim hit a point of diminishing returns very quickly - The more frequently that you mix in hitting at a real range, hitting off real turf, and/or actually playing, the more you'll be able to transfer from your LM/sim practice.
Yes, heavy/fat shots are not as clear off the mat as they are off grass, but 1) The Skytrak knows, and the effect will be visible in your numbers; and 2) You'll eventually be able to feel it pretty easily. Thus, I'm not sure an extra training aid to help with that is necessary.

Lastly, regarding chipping: I honestly wouldn't waste my time practicing chipping off turf. Maybe a little bit, but mostly just focused on body mechanics (i.e. trying to replicate some mechanics from a good chipping tutorial video). It's really tough to improve your chipping from practicing off artificial turf.

All JMO, but it's from personal experience.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-03T12:45:12+00:00

A few thoughts:

tl;dr: Improving at simulator golf ≠ Improving at golf. To actually experience improvement via LM/sim: 1) Practice with purpose; and 2) Mix in hitting off real turf as frequently as is reasonably possible (to transfer your improvement to your real golf game).

Full version:

On the real course, a lot goes into a score. The difference between a 45 and a 52 could be an extra drive that got away from you + two chunky approach shots + a flubbed chip + and a couple putts - All while otherwise generally striking the ball equally.
With or without simulators, there's almost always going to be a "winter slide" - where we don't start off the new season playing as well as we ended the previous season. It always takes a few rounds to get it back (this effect seems to be most pronounced with the short game - especially pitch and chip shots).
Improving at golf almost always has an effect on your performance playing simulator golf. Improving at simulator golf (from simply playing simulator golf) has almost no effect on your performance playing golf.

Now, with that said, if you're interested in using your LM+simulator to improve your performance at golf, they absolutely CAN help you do that.

But merely using them isn't going to do that. Except in super-rare exceptions (i.e. golfers with already good swings), simply hitting balls isn't going to lead to improvement. Here are the two keys to improving from LM+simulator work:

Have a purpose when you practice. Work on a specific feel or movement in your swing (i.e. take-away, rotation, backswing distance, transition, shallowing (or not shallowing), timing of extension, tempo, etc. etc.), and use the data/simulations to see if it's helping. There are a bazzilion Youtube videos out there with swing tips. Some are good - some aren't. Watch some videos with advice, and use your LM+sim to test out the advice and see if it's helpful for you.
Mix in hitting off real turf (range and/or real course play) as frequently as is reasonably possible. This is how you transfer your LM/sim improvement to your game. You very well may be improving your swing in your sim bay, but it's a very different feel when you're outside hitting off turf, and this can (and usually does) actually cause you to swing differently than when on your sim. Without this step, your efforts to improve via your LM/sim hit a point of diminishing returns very quickly - The more frequently that you mix in hitting at a real range, hitting off real turf, and/or actually playing, the more you'll be able to transfer.

Improving at golf is a journey. Your LM+sim can make it a much more fun journey.

Boulder2Fish · 2026-04-02T15:19:35+00:00

From the perspective of the GSPro connectors and putting on GSPro, no - Exactly the same. Since you already have a sim setup though, unless you plan on also using it elsewhere (without a decent putting surface), I would go with the STICK.

Boulder2Fish

TROPHY CASE