ODYSSEY Marxman Putting Mat

Putting is one of the few golf activities that I can engage in year-round at GolfBlogger World Headquarters in Michigan. When the snow is falling, the wind blowing and the temperatures plummeting, I can still lay out a small putting course in my family and sun rooms and get some quality time in with the flat stick. At school, I have a putting carpet in my office, so I can calm my nerves by putting a few on my planning period. My carpet is getting old, though, and here’s one that I’m looking at: The Marxman Odyssey Putting Mat.

The Marxman Putting Mat is a high-quality woven carpet that is bound on all sides and will not fray. Distance, alignment and tempo markers help fine tune putting skills and this mat includes the patented putting cup, which is 1/4-inch smaller than regulation to sharpen your aim. The non-skid rubber backing ensures the carpet will always lay flat and never crease.

Tour Links 3’x10’ Dogbone Indoor/Outdoor Putting Green

Putting is one of the few things I can do in Michigan in the winter to work on my golf game (I dislike hitting off plastic mats at driving ranges). I keep a putter and several balls in my living room, and work on my stroke on the carpet at every opportunity.

But what I’d really like is a green that feels a bit more like turf. I havent’ got any room for a permanent set-up, but one like this Tour LInks model just might do the trick. It’s supposed to set up easily and offer tour-like surfaces. It’s also got a couple of “contour inserts” to allow you to work on those less-than-straight-in shots.

The best thing, though, like all elevated putting surfaces, is that it’s got an actual hole.

Splash Board

A training product from guru Dr. Gary Wiren, this indestructible Lexan board has graphics illustrating proper bunker technique. When using the board, the sand wedge will slip easily under the ball and teach you how to use the flange on the bottom of a wedge to your advantage. It comes with supplemental instuctions from Dr. Wiren on how to play difficult shots.

Fairway Pro Divot Simulator

I can’t practice golf during the winter. I want to. I have the time. But hitting balls off a mat destroys what little swing I have and gives me a bad case of golf elbow. And I know I’m not the only one with this issue.

So I’m intrigued by the Fairway Pro Divot Simulator. Using it in place of the hard mat at the range, it “gives” when you launch a ball off its surface. The simulator has an attachment that slips under the existing range mat to hold the simulator in place.

Butch Harmon Right Grip Gloves

A great golf swing starts with a good grip. If you’re not positioning your hands consistently and your grip isn’t what it should be, you might try these Butch Harmon Right Grip Gloves. The gloves have these internal “Soft Bars” that properly align the shaft in your hands. Practice with them at the range, and the muscle memory should stay with you on the course.

The Putting Arc Deluxe

The Putting Arc Deluxe is a beautifully finished wood arc that’s supposed to help you transcribe the perfect putting arc. Your putterhead travels on an inside to square to inside path, taking wristy stabbing actions out of play.

Putting is half the game of golf. I’m good at it, and my putting makes up for a lot of full swing faults. I know that if I can just somehow get the ball on the green, it’s in the hole in no more than two strokes.

True Ympact Swing Trainer

The True Ympact Swing Trainer helps the golfer learn to maintain the correct impact position for consistent ball striking. With this in place, it keeps the player from flipping the wrists, and thus encourages that “lag” that helps Tour players hit it so far and accurately.

One of my major swing faults is that my wrists break too soon. This would surely help.