Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)i bought the 9' putting green for a little less than $300 from sports authority.the few reviews that i read said Tour Links was either the best or very good.having set it up and used it for a bit, i would not say it is worth $300.
first off, i wanted a flat putting green with a hole that actually dropped down.having some ability to change the break would be nice but that wasn't a critical point for me.some of the other putting greens would elevate the hole end by sloping upwards.other putting greens had a little ring that held the ball.and finally, i saw a mat on ebay that had a sloped wedge with a hole in it.the other methods of representing the hole weren't satisfactory to me for various reasons.this putting green was the only pre-made system that basically elevated the whole green so the ball could drop down.
the 9' putting green comes with a set of rigid plastic bases that sort of click together (may take some effort and help from another person).the "mat" came rolled up and it is basically a thin mat that rests on top of the bases.no method of attachment was evident and i guess it is designed that way.it did seem a little short, but the manual said that under heat (sunlight), it would expand.it did curl up at first at the end, but i guess that it would eventually lay flat.the standing part of the set is not attached to the main putting green and is meant to slide to wherever you'd like.
i have to say that the mat was kind of disappointing.it is really just a thin piece of fake turf (1/4"ish thick).i thought it would have some sort of cushion or pad underneath, but it doesn't.also, b/c it isn't taped down, it slips a little if you walk on it.i'm hoping that it is at least made to last and won't fray or come apart like some other cheap putting mats.after it settles down some more, i may use some velcro tape to hold it down, but maybe it's meant to expand/contract a little - especially if you want to leave it outside.i'm keeping mine inside in the basement so that's not something i'm too concerned about.
it also comes with two clip on attachments that hold the string to guide your ball, two pieces of slope adjusting pads that you can place under the mat, a plastic straight bar that you can use to align your putts, a hole reducer ring, a flag pin with ball lift, a sharpie pen and stickers to put on various parts of the set.
setting it up literally took 10 minutes.very easy setup and i was putting right away.construction seems solid and i'm not a small person and i could walk on it w/out any flex or bounce.the ball rolls fine on it and i don't have a stimpmeter or anything, but it felt like a real greens.and i guess that's the most important thing.
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this is definitely a better set than the $50 carpets you can get at the local sports store.they include the 3'x9' kidney shaped pads, the izzo pad, the callaway pad... all feel cheap. but, is it $300 better?i don't think it is so i can't recommend it wholeheartedly.
another option i saw was birdieball's foam pad putting green that costs much less.i didn't like the idea of a foam though nor the ring holes.i mean, i'd like to try to replicate the actually greens as much as possible and the pale blue foam pad seemed to be too distracting.
i also saw bulk putting green mats on ebay for under $100 that seemed decent.if i were more of a do-it-yourselfer, i'd have bought that, built a base to elevate it and cut out holes... the key word is "if" so i didn't go for that.(maybe in the future)
so, if price really isn't an issue, and you're lazy like me, go for it.it's a pretty decent set to practice your putts.
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well, it's been a while since i've bought this so i thought i'd put up an update.the system is still solid although the mat seems to be a lint magnet.what i realized soon enough was that this system is really only good for straight putts (although the underlay pads can be used for some sloping) b/c of the narrow width.also, i find the 9' to be a little too short.if you have the funds, i suggest a more interesting layout and a longer distance.
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Product Description:
The best all-in-one putting trainer ever developed, the Tour Links training aid delivers positive feedback to all aspects of your putting stroke. The product--which includes a putting surface and a host of feedback tools--will help you improve your line and shorten your stroke for maximum efficiency. The kit starts with a string guide that lets you follow your club path as you swing, along with a stroke-groover block that helps you maintain squareness at impact. It's also easy to improve your alignment thanks to the ball marking tool. And golfers will love the alignment hash mark, which teaches you proper head and body position. Other features include contour mats that create realistic breaks and a cup reducing ring that hones your aiming skills. Suitable for left- and right-handed golfers, the training aid includes a three-year warranty.
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