I’ve never been a big fan of laying down mats. I understand the convenience, but hitting the same putt over and over at home usually doesn’t hold my attention for long.
Wellputt’s new Wellplay rug was a little different.
We had a rainy weekend recently when plans kept getting canceled so I threw it on and started messing around with some of the games. My kids joined in and what started as something to do for a few minutes turned into quite a bit of practice.
The Wellplay is 13 feet long with Tic Tac Toe on one end, a Bullseye target on the other and different numbers and targets all over the mat. Wellputt has its own games and difficulty levels, but I found it so easy to create your own.
That’s probably the biggest reason I liked it.
Games give practice a purpose
One of my favorite games with my kids was to pick a number and try to get three putts. We are using numbered Tic Tac Toe squares.
If the number is 15 and the first ball ends up on 6, you have two balls remaining to get nine more points.
It’s simple but suddenly every putt has a very specific distance and target. You have to pay attention to the starting line and the speed. I think this kind of focused practice helps make the shot more consistent.
It feels a little more like what happens when I go to a putting green. I can move between targets, make up plays and get lost in practice. Standing in one place having a ball thrown back to me doesn’t hold my attention for long.
I consider this for a junior golfer
The Wellplay also kept my kids interested much longer than the traditional practice of putting. There’s enough competition built into it that they’re still working on distance control and accuracy without feeling like they’re doing a drill.
It would also work well if you have a few friends and wanted to turn practice into a competition.
The quality of the mat is important
None of this matters if the ball doesn’t roll well.
I have used the Wellplay on carpet and hardwood and have been impressed with the speed and consistency. I don’t keep it all the time. It rolls when I’m done and lays mostly flat as soon as I put it back. Occasionally, the ends should be bent briefly in the opposite direction. It’s a quick fix and done in seconds.
I also spent some time with a cheaper version of this concept and the difference is noticeable. More on this in another article.
If you find the practice at home boring, I will give this a try. It’s a great way to focus on shot consistency and distance control without getting distracted.
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