If there is one thing the LIV tour has taught us, it’s this: There is a lot of money in golf. In 2023, the LIV tour is scheduled to have 14 events totaling $405 million in prize money. Similarly, the PGA tour is scheduled to host 38 events with prize money totaling $460 million.

Enter new and relatively expensive golf technology, PuttView. PuttView is a company that is known for its high-end Augmented Reality (AR) indoor putting greens, but today, we will focus on their new product dropping June 2023: PuttView X.

This AR-based system is the first of its kind as you will be able to use PuttView X to read greens outdoors. The headset might be the most innovative technology hitting the market in 2023, but it will come with a hefty price tag.

And if you’re wondering if the pros use it: Bryson DeChambeau has tried an early version of it and said, “From a visual perspective, this is the best thing out there.”

Whether you want to “become a pro on the green” or just like staying updated on the latest golf technology, this article will answer all your questions on PuttView and specifically PuttView X. Let’s get into it.

PuttView and its products

PuttView is a golf technology company that specializes in three main product lines:

1. Indoor: Putting greens
2. Outdoor: PuttView X
3. Books: Yardage and green maps

For this article, we will mainly be focusing on a PuttView X review in addition to touching on PuttView books. 

PuttView X: What is it?

Who? PuttView 

What? PuttView X: Augmented Reality (AR) Headset

When? June 2023 release 

PuttView glasses cost? Purchase + Subscription

• $14,480 + $745/year subscription (after first year)
• $13,980 preorder price
  • If ordered before June 2023
  • $500 deposit required

• All prices do not include VAT, shipping, or sales taxes. 
• The first year of PuttView X subscription is included.

Purpose of product? Help you improve your putting by becoming keen at reading greens

Battery life?  Two to three hours, and takes approximately one hour to charge

Warranty? According to the website: “We give a warranty that the product is free from defect at delivery. The warranty period for PuttView X and the equipment as of delivery is 12 month for businesses or 24 month for consumers.”

Weight? 1.2 lbs (566 grams). Light and easy to carry

Weight of shipment? 18 lbs

PuttView X: How does it help you read greens?

The PuttView X glasses will help determine where you will aim, give you feedback in real time, and help you read the contours of the greens when putting. The headset you will wear when putting has a handful of functions including:

1. Ideal putt
2. Aiming line
3. Speed variations
4. Contour lines

Photo source: PuttView on YouTube

PuttView X: How does it work?

All valuable putt information is displayed as an overlay onto the real green using Microsoft’s HoloLens AR technology.

Through the HoloLens or the app, you will be able to use hand gestures or voice commands to change the settings and other functions like greens speed. 

Once you have the glasses on, if you want to use the AR functions (such as the ideal line), you will first have to set up and calibrate the putt you’re attempting. This can be done in two easy steps:

1. “New Target”
   1. Walk up to the hole, hover your vision to place the circular pointer over the hole, and say “new target.”
2. “New Ball”
   1. Walk back to your ball, hover your vision to place the circular pointer over the ball, and say “new ball.”

After calibration, your pre-selected AR ideal line will be working, and you’ll be ready to roll. Remember, the functions will not work for a putt longer than 10 meters, or about 33 feet. 

Photo source: Peter Finch Golf on YouTube

PuttView X FAQs

How quickly can the green be scanned?

• Instantaneous
• For longer putts, you’ll have to walk from the ball to the hole.

Is it possible to change the green speed?

Yes. You can change the green speed in two ways:

• Smartphone app
• HoloLens

Can I demonstrate to others what I am seeing?

Yes. PuttView X comes with a smartphone application that can do screencasting, which is ideal for coaching situations.

Is there a maximum putt distance?

Yes. 33 feet or about 10 meters.

Photo source: Peter Finch Golf on YouTube

Can you use PuttView X in tournament play?

No.

Can you use PuttView X in official practice rounds?

Amateurs should not have a problem using PuttView X in practice rounds. Double-check your local tournament rules.

What’s the best way to use PuttView X on the golf course?

1.     For tournament preparation

2.    For instructions

Potentially, the best way to use PuttView X glasses will be in a practice round for a bigger event (outing, tournament, club championship, league play). To help visualize contours and the break of the green, golfers will often ask, “Where would the water flow on this green?” But what if you could know for sure?

PuttView on YouTube

No more guessing! With PuttView X, you will know and understand. This will be especially valuable on courses you haven’t played.

Another great way to use PuttView X glasses would be with an instructor. There is a separate application where you can share your screen, so you could get real-time feedback from your coach. This would be beneficial for seeing if you are aiming and reading the greens right, which would build your confidence and hone your ability to see greens differently even when you’re not using the tech.

PuttView X vs. its competitors

PuttView dubs itself as the “world’s first true Augmented Reality sports application.”

While many other industries, such as the military, are starting to implement AR, I did not find a direct competitor of PuttView X.

PuttView vs StrackaLine

When reading greens, maybe expensive augmented reality glasses are out of your budget. So what other options are there? Let’s look into two of the best green reading tools: PuttView green maps and StrackaLine green guides.

As a golfer of 20+ years, I am confident in saying that both PuttView books and StrackaLine guides are effective products if you are preparing for a big round, especially at an unfamiliar course. Both are very technical tools, and I would only recommend them for highly competitive collegiate players or above. 

I would also recommend these to someone playing a destination course; plus, these green guides could be a great souvenir!

PuttView Books

Products and prices

1. Yardage + Green Map: $49
   1. Tee-to-green measurements 
   2. Green topography 
2. Major Slopes: $39
   1. Tee-to-green topography
3. Yardage Only: $29

• Shipping not included

Product Quality

• Cover is waterproof
• Option to add a leather cover for $35
• Staple binding
• One customer review said, “big fan of the print quality.” 
• PuttView claims the pages are waterproof, but one customer reviewer said he “wishes the pages were waterproof.” 
• Some users have mentioned the pages being a little thinner than StrackaLine.

How many courses can you use PuttView Books on?

• Over 30,000 worldwide

Are these books legal?

• Yes, USGA legal.

Product Reviews

• Out of 94 reviews on their website, 91 of them were 5 stars.
• Out of 12 reviews on  the iOS app, 11 of them were 5 stars (4.7/5).
• A 3-star reviewer “Jack” said the print was too small, making the arrows on the greens unreadable.
• A 4-star reviewer “antika” wished the purchase of the books included access to pin sheets on their iOS app.
• Specs: 6.5” x 3.75”

StrackaLine

Products and prices 

1. Yardage + Greens Combo booklet: $39
   1. Tee-to-green measurements 
   2. Green topography 
2. Greens-only booklet: $34
   1. Greens guide, green topography and surrounding area
3. Yardage-only booklet: $34
   1. Tee-to-green measurements 
4. Greens-only tri-fold card: $24
   1. 8.5”x11” card of basic green topography information
5. GPS and Putt App: $99/ year
   1. Digital yardage books
   2. GPS range finder
   3. Live putt fall lines
   4. Cannot print

• Shipping not included
• Bulk orders and wholesale options

How many courses can you use StrackaLine on?

• Over 13,000 courses with elevation information
• Over 35,000 courses with yardages information 

Product quality

• Cover is waterproof
• Option to add generic leather cover for $29
• Option to customize cover for $10
• Waterproof pages 
• Staple binding 

Are these books legal?

• Yes, USGA legal.

Product Reviews 

• StrackaLine claims over 90% of collegiate golf teams use their Green Guides. 
• All in-house technology.

Do Professionals use yardage books?

“Every PGA Tour player uses our yardage books.” – longyardage.com

Range finders are prohibited on the PGA tour. Therefore, yardage books are used to help map out distances, course elevation change, and near-the-green contours.

Mark Long is a former tour caddie, founder of longyardage.com, and provides private professional services upon request. He also sells his yardage books to PGA Tour players, and you can buy them too!

1. $40-$175
2. 250 courses worldwide
3. Available by the year he walked the course

Are yardage books worth it?

Short answer: NO. Yardage books are for tour players, not so much the average player. 

With that said, I believe PuttView Books and StrackaLine are much more digestible for the average golfer than longyardage.com, and I would recommend PuttView’s and StrackaLine’s books for seasoned players who have a big event at an unknown course coming up.  

“I’ve shown the book to guys I’ve played with in college, and I have to explain things to them.” – Mark Long, Fred Funk’s former caddie

I have bought two yardage books in my day. The first was for the high school state tournament, and the other was at a destination course and I thought it made for a cool souvenir. For efficiency, use your range finder, if permitted. For the average golfer, scrolling through a yardage book is silly, probably too technical, and can really hurt the pace of play. 

Final thoughts: Should you buy PuttView X glasses?

PuttView X: Like putting makeup on a pig, this product will only mask the real issues with your game, as it is not a long-term solution to improving your game. This product is not for the novice golfer, just like going to college is not right for graduating 8th graders. Before you can go to college, you need to prepare by going to high school. Similarly, unless you’re on the cusp of becoming a professional golfer, I wouldn’t recommend this.

Additionally, I was very turned off by the subscription model. We know a lot of money has been poured into this product so they want their money back. With that in mind the subscription model is A conceptually good idea but will golfers fork the bill?

However, let’s say you’re a business exec for Goldman Sachs, and you take a lot of clients out to your prestigious country club, then this could add some good conversation and make you stand out. This product is groundbreaking, and with new technology, comes lots of hype. If you’re into that, like buying flashy Lambos, you could be the talk of the town with PuttView X.

I’m super excited to see where PuttView X and AR will be in years to come. The product is not ready for the masses yet, but remember this is gen one. The biggest opportunity I see with this product is if they can work on sleeking the glasses down and making them more affordable. If these are closer to glasses than a chunky AR headset and only $1000 in 5 years…SIGN ME UP. 

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to getting precise information about the golf course you are playing. The very best and most direct might be the PuttView X glasses. Second to that will be your PuttView or StrackaLine yardage books.