Exelys Breakmaster Digital Greenreader

[titaniummd]

Ok, as you can see, I try every little gadget at least, once. Given my desperation to improve my putting, I figured it was worth a try.

I saw this at Sharper image for $50. I saw similar gadgets giving 'reads' of the greens.

http://www.thegreenreader.com/

http://www.exelys.com/

I even tried 'Plumb bobbing' which I think is a mix of voodoo and chance, personally.

Anyways, this digital level gives a degree of slope from 0 to 9.9 degrees in 8 directions. Based upon the distance from the hole, you make the adjustment of your aim based upon the degree of break. It is lightweight and has a faux leather case that can attach to the belt.

Here is the link to the manual to get an idea how it works and what it does:

http://www.exelys.com/icons/documentation/bmmanual.pdf

I have tried it a couple of times while just practicing on the putting green (after visual inspection). It has helped me 'train my eye' for putting just in the few times I have used it. It is not legal for play during tournament use. According the website caddies have used it to map the greens prior to tournament play (they make maps of the greens to show the breaks). Would I continue to use it after learning to trust my eye? I don't know. I will given an update after more applications of this particular device.

[coralpro]

The greenreader is a piece of junk but would have more benefit if it came with a bubble level that spand the top.
Your digital unit could be of some use but accuracy would depend on the area of the green it was placed at. Levels are dependent on their length of stance for accuracy and a small footprint is only going to take that footprint as a reference and with many greens having undulating or varying slopes it could be off considerably. Your idea of using it to train the eye for a particular green would work well. Don't knock plumb bobbing because it does work. It is just the applicant that causes it not to work. Before levels and lasers construction people used plumb bobbing to a great amount of expertise. Many a pro, as do I, still use this technique if they can't pick up the slope with the eye

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by coralpro

Don't knock plumb bobbing because it does work. It is just the applicant that causes it not to work. Before levels and lasers construction people used plumb bobbing to a great amount of expertise. Many a pro, as do I, still use this technique if they can't pick up the slope with the eye

True. For the seasoned veteran, I am sure. For the fledglings, it doesn't.

[coralpro]

That's what I'm pointing to. If a person knows how it does help. It won't be perfect because of the width of the grip or shaft but it has saved me a few times when you have a slope that is very shallow and you can't make out which way the slope actually goes. It doesn't happen often but some course designers intentionall throw in some here or there to try to fool the golfer.

[titaniummd]

Update: I used the knowledge from the green reader to visually inspect the slope. It has definitely helped me read greens and know where to aim.

I don't take it out very often since I don't like drawing attention to myself. I use it only when I am alone on the practice putting green.

[coralpro]

Don't worry what people think. If it helps you to improve your greenreading then it is a plus to you. Once you train the eye you may not even need it.

[titaniummd]

Thanks, Darrell.

[coralpro]

Originally Posted by titaniummd

Thanks, Darrell.

Just think when you start dropping alot of those 8-10 footers or beyond with questionable slope then all your buds will be scratching their heads saying "how does he do that?"

[titaniummd]

I still use the Breakmaster from time to time for practicing. I had missed a 5 foot putt and thought 'it looked straight'. I checked it with the Breakmaster and saw that there was actually a 3 degree break to the left. I went back and tried it again and got it in the hole after that.

The greens are faster here in FL (to me) than in MD.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by titaniummd

I still use the Breakmaster from time to time for practicing. I had missed a 5 foot putt and thought 'it looked straight'. I checked it with the Breakmaster and saw that there was actually a 3 degree break to the left. I went back and tried it again and got it in the hole after that.

The greens are faster here in FL (to me) than in MD.

Something that we deal with down here and you probably have in Florida is bermuda grass greens and their infamous grain...get better at reading slope and you can move on to reading the grain...putting downgrain on bermuda is really noticably faster than into the grain, and the same ideas are applied to putting across the grain as it will break more or less depending on the run of grain and the direction of the slope...it is a big deal on these greens...

Longwinded, but the point that I wanted to make is to practice with a breakmaster on bermuda greens, I would be careful as a proper read for bentgrass could wind you up 6 feet or more from the hole on bermuda...