Creating something for practicing putting?

[MacGregor9]

I want to start practicing putting at home instead of driving down to the golf course just to putt a little.  There's also times where its late, but I feel like putting around.

We have carpet in the house, but it's quite thick and isn't anywhere close to a green. So I've been thinking building something that I could practice putts on. My idea was to get maybe a 4x8 foot plywood board, and cover it in either felt or some other similar material. I would just staple it on the bottom so it is tight. Then I would cut a hole at the end of the board.

Does anyone else have any ideas or things they use? I would buy something, but most of the stuff I've checked out has been on the expensive side.

[tristanhilton85]

Check this out:

http://thesandtrap.com/b/training/build_your_own_8_x_8_indoor_putting_green_cheaply

[nobackswing]

putting indoors is the best practice because you can take all the variables out except your stroke.  i use a leveled wooden board to putt 3.5-footers on thru an opening about 2.5 inches wide.  i can hit hundreds of putts while watching TV.  and if i miss i know it was my stroke and not a misread or a spike mark.

[dsc123]

If you've got room for something like the indoor putting green erik made go for it.  I've really wanted to do that but settled for one of these instead: http://www.golfgalaxy.com/Golf-Galaxy-Electric-Putting-Return-Mat/ELECTRICPUTTINGRETURNMAT/Product

Putts don't roll straight on my carpet, but this has worked well so far.  I can get up to 8.5 feet. The downside is that it is sloped up at the end to get you to "accelerate."  I'd prefer just a flat surface and learning to hit it the speed i think is right rather than the manufacturer.  but you can't get a hole unless you're putting on top of something that's a few inches taller.

[1puttit]

Originally Posted by nobackswing

putting indoors is the best practice because you can take all the variables out except your stroke.  i use a leveled wooden board to putt 3.5-footers on thru an opening about 2.5 inches wide.  i can hit hundreds of putts while watching TV.  and if i miss i know it was my stroke and not a misread or a spike mark.

This is what I do as well. I use a 4' steel ruler I got at the hardware store. I covered the bottom side with felt. I raise the hole end a couple of inches so I'm putting up hill a bit. Great practice aid that forces you to hit the ball straight (since the ruler is only a couple of inches wide).

[MacGregor9]

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't have the money to create the 8x8 putting green, but that will definitely be something I'd like to do in the future. I like the ruler idea. It would really help making sure my stroke is putting the ball where it's supposed to go. The board idea is also good. That way I can just do it in my room, or while watching TV. Thanks guys, I'll have to try some of these out.

[mtsalmela80]

I bought one once, I found it way easy to roll it straight down to the cup, based on the fact that its a narrow piece of material, with straight lines. So your eyes and hands naturally line up to the cup. It would be comparable to laying down alignment rods on either side of your putting path straight to the cup.

Normal plush indoor carpeting is not really good for anything, but I find that area rugs provide a good stimp. You can probably buy a cheap Chinese area rug with a really tight knit for a fraction of what those putting carpets cost.

Originally Posted by dsc123

If you've got room for something like the indoor putting green erik made go for it.  I've really wanted to do that but settled for one of these instead:http://www.golfgalaxy.com/Golf-Galaxy-Electric-Putting-Return-Mat/ELECTRICPUTTINGRETURNMAT/Product

Putts don't roll straight on my carpet, but this has worked well so far.  I can get up to 8.5 feet. The downside is that it is sloped up at the end to get you to "accelerate."  I'd prefer just a flat surface and learning to hit it the speed i think is right rather than the manufacturer.  but you can't get a hole unless you're putting on top of something that's a few inches taller.

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

I found it way easy to roll it straight down to the cup, based on the fact that its a narrow piece of material, with straight lines. So your eyes and hands naturally line up to the cup. It would be comparable to laying down alignment rods on either side of your putting path straight to the cup.

And i thought i was making those because of the better surface....