I think putting greens at stores are rigged

[Fraser]

My wife was getting some running shoes from Dick's today so I went upstairs to the golf section and am mucking about on their putting green with a belly putter. Never used one before and was hitting it surprisingly well, from one end of the mat to the other. Then I watch each ball a little closer and lo and behold they were bending more and more towards the hole, especially at low speed.

I studied retail psychology a little at University and wondered whether the 'greens' were slightly biased towards the hole to make you feel you are putting better and will make a purchase on spec.

Anyone else notice this?

[Uber$winG]

I think you’re onto something Fraser.

[iPutt]

Yea I noticed this too. I went to Golf Galaxy and hit at least 5 putts strait in across the matt. It would definatly make sense to make you feel better about yourself and make you think it's the putter not you.

[par3forme]

It's the same marketing concept as having slightly concave mirrors in department store dressing rooms that make you look thinner when trying on clothes.

[Harold]

I'm sure it's sloped so golf balls tend to be a bit more likely to go in. I also believe at some of the courses I play at the putting or practice greens have the same thing done to them. It's funny how I can do a one foot jump shuffle while putting lefthanded from ten feet out and it magically drops or gets close time and time again. When I go out for my round though it's always a different story. Pressure has nothing to do with it unless we are talking pressure rollers to "help" flatten the area around the holes.

[Harry Longshanks]

This is hilarious. A few years ago, someone brought this up on another board, and I (as well as several others) concurred that putts seemed much easier to make in the stores.

Someone took issue, saying that it was impossible because there is no way the store could make little ditches/channels from every spot on the green.

I responded that they probably just had a very slight decline to the hole, like a shower drain. Except the guy just couldn't process it. He kept saying "No, if they make it slope down one way, it would be sloping up and away from the hole when you are putting the other way - to the hole at the other end of the green." We all tried to explain that it was like the area around a shower drain - just a few feet in diameter, like a very slight funnel. Not that the whole green was sloped.

But the guy just couldn't understand. He kept flaming away that it was physically impossible. People even ended up posting basic line-drawings, but the dude never got it.

Anyway, I agree, I think some stores "cheat" a little in order to make you think you are putting great. That's why I always go to my local store, which has a real live putting green out back. (How cool is that in this day and age?)

[Smallville]

That's why I always go to my local store, which has a real live putting green out back. (How cool is that in this day and age?)

That is cool, and an excellent idea. What kind of area is this located in? Like a strip mall setting, or what exactly? How do they have a putting green out back? How big is it?

[Stacey_E]

Yeah, I never buy a putter based on how it putts on those "greens". I will use them to hit putts and see how the face and head feels and looks. If I like that, I'll buy the putter and have the lie bent. Only time on a real green will tell you if you need to tweek the weight or grip.

[CG031]

Everything breaks into the hole for sure, I've noticed it. At golfsmith, I make everything, lol!

[Soup Fan]

I think the moon landing was faked.













JK, I am sure your are right. If I were trying to sell putters for $200+, I would rig the greens too.

[Brady0626]

I put worse at stores than on the green. Probably from impatience. Once a little girl was putting all the balls into one hole and I grabbed one and she basically threatened me with a putter. I calmly obliged.
And if someone thinks practice greens at a course are easier to put on you should see most of them here. Our greens are relatively flat, and our putting green resembles a windy day on a lake. It's stupid to practice on it before tournaments.

[titaniummd]

The Dicks Sporting Goods in Gaithersburg, MD has very fast 'greens'. It must be a Stimpmeter of 14 or something crazy.

However the Dicks Sporting Goods in Summerville, SC is set up like the Original Poster Alludes. You can sink anything from anywhere.

I can buy into the 'drain theory' of the holes. It's like "Why shouldn't I buy this putter? I mean I cannot miss - even if I try hard."

[Harry Longshanks]

That is cool, and an excellent idea. What kind of area is this located in? Like a strip mall setting, or what exactly? How do they have a putting green out back? How big is it?

Large metropolitan area. The store has been there for 63 years, and was probably considered far away at the time. But now the city has grown around them. NEt to a Home Depot, Lowes, etc. on a highway (one of those surface street, 4 lane jobs [2 each way] types with lights every 500 feet through a busy commercial area). They have their own covered (mat) range too so you can test clubs.

The green is about the size of an average practice green at a course, and is very well maintained.

I put worse at stores than on the green. Probably from impatience.

You should ask them to install one with hidden funnels around the holes.

Once a little girl was putting all the balls into one hole and I grabbed one and she basically threatened me with a putter. I calmly obliged.

I might have wet myself if I'd seen that!

[firstcut]

I hear the WWE might be fake too.

[Brady0626]

Large metropolitan area. The store has been there for 63 years, and was probably considered far away at the time. But now the city has grown around them. NEt to a Home Depot, Lowes, etc. on a highway (one of those surface street, 4 lane jobs [2 each way] types with lights every 500 feet through a busy commercial area). They have their own covered (mat) range too so you can test clubs.

She was like five though. I feel sorry for her future husband.

[Stillhacken]

I thought the same thing about Golfsmiths greens.

I couldnt believe how good I was putting in there with every putter I tried until I fanned the head open on a putt on accident and I was thinking this is going to be bad then I watch the ball roll down and take a left turn and cozy up to the cup. Yeah....o.k.
The cups are probably a little bigger too!

[iacas]

She was like five though. I feel sorry for her future husband.

She had you by the balls. Uhm...

[ks8829]

I don't think this is true in my opinion, I am sure you tried putting from different directions and besides there is a honeymoon period built into some putters that you try.

I would consider trying that same putter on an actual putting green and see what happens.