Q:
How can I hit a downhill putt
on the Boomerang?
A:
The short answer is you can't because it's impossible to putt
down hill on an incline. But, although you can't practice
a "downhill putt" as such, you can still practice
an inch perfect lag putt and, because you don't need
to shag balls, you can do so hundreds of times an hour.
The
first part of the Boomerang challenge is to lag a ball into
the target which is only a shallow depression. This requires
a level of accuracy you can't duplicate anywhere else. You
will only get a ball to remain in the Boomerang's target if
it's literally inch-perfect, all other putts will come
back to your feet. Thus, despite being an incline, the first
putt you need to master in order to beat the Boomerang is
an inch perfect lag putt.
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Q: Dave Pelz says you should
practice putting 18" past the hole - how do I do that
on the Boomerang?
A:
After you've trapped a ball into the target use a second ball,
struck with the correct amount of force, to return both balls
to your feet.
The force required to dislodge the first ball is the equivalent
of putting the second ball 18-20 inches past the hole. Any
less and you risk trapping both balls in the target, any more
and the putt can spin out and fail to come back all together.
Even though the target is enclosed and you can't see the ball
travel past the hole, you can measure your distance past the
hole on your matchplay putt by how effective it is in releasing
your first putt from the target.
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Q: How will it effect my
distance control if I putt on the Boomerang all the time?
A:
Firstly I don't recommend you practice exclusively on the
Boomerang . Alternate your practice between an actual putting
green and the Boomerang and your distance control will rapidly
improve due to improved feedback and repetition.
Remember too that the Boomerang has six levels that allow
you to practice any length putt from 3ft-30ft so exploit that
facility, mix up your practice and constantly challenge yourself.
Whenever you get into a groove, change the height setting
and see how good you are on a new distance. Or keep the height
setting and vary the distance you stand from your Boom.
Distance control is what the Boomerang is all about. Just
don't practice on a slow surface and expect to be dialed in
or medium or fast greens. The opposite is also true - if you
practice on our Carnoustie Tournament Mat and then go out
to play on slow winter greens chances are you'll leave everything
short. MY GOLDEN RULE is always practice on the same speed
surface you intend to play on.
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Q: How long would my Boomerang putt
be if I hit it on a putting green?
A:
It's simple to work out how far a perfect Boomerang putt would
roll the ball on a flat surface.
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SURFACE
- USGA: FAST
stimpmeter 11-11.5
(Carnoustie Tournament Mat)
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Setting
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Incline
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Boomerang
Putt
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Equivalent
Flat Distance
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Level
1
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3.5"
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8'
3"
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13'
6"
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Level
2
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4.5"
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10'
2"
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17'
4"
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Level
3
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5.3"
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11'
6"
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20'
0"
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Level
4
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6.0"
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12'
7"
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22'
2"
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Level
5
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6.6"
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13'
6"
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24'
0"
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Level
6
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7.1"
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14'
5"
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25'
10"
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Note:
To reduce your length of putt either reduce your
surface speed or move closer to the device
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After looking at the table above you
might be asking why the force required to hit a 10ft uphill
putt is the same as the force necessary to hit a 17ft putt
on a flat surface?
Well, let me explain... If you set your Boomerang on level
2 and release a ball from the target the ball will travel
10' 2" along our Carnoustie Tournament Mat. So, putting
from where the ball comes to rest, if your ball rolls up to
the front of the target, just misses and rolls 10' 2"
back to your feet it will have traveled a total distance of
20' 4". But that doesn't mean the force necessary to
hit a 10' 2" putt that inclines 4.5" is equal to
the force required to hit a 20' 4" putt on a flat surface.
To calculate the equivalent flat distance putt first you need
to subtract the distance the ball has traveled on the Boomerang
and therefore the effect of the Boomerang on the ball in both
directions (2x18 inches). Total distance 20'4" - 3'0"
= 17'4" flat distance. I asked my good friend Geoff Magnum
to check these calculations and he confirmed the above calculations
are correct.
People
who putt by-the-numbers who often ask "how far would
this Boom putt be if I was hitting it on a real green?"
But I tell them that the fastest way to a feel for better
distance control is to choose any longish putt that you can
replicate over and over and practice synchronizing the ball
and putter speed because the effects on your distance control
will be immediate and astonishing.
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