PuttBayYour putting camera kit.
Everything we use in our own bay, and why. Parts we've tested say tested. Anything else says so.
Comparing cameras? See the best webcam for putting on GSPro, ranked.
The camera
Arducam OV9281 global-shutter USB camera: tested. This is the camera PuttBay plays with every day. It's a monochrome, global-shutter camera rated for up to 120 frames a second. It clears PuttBay's 60-a-second bar, and its global shutter keeps a rolling ball sharp, not smeared.
Other webcams: being tested. Any camera that really delivers 60 frames a second should work. The catch is the word "really": many webcams say 60 on the box and deliver 30 in real life, especially in dim light. PuttBay measures your camera during setup and tells you plainly if it falls short, before it ever reads a putt.
Why 60 frames a second matters
A putt only spends a moment in the camera's view. The faster it rolls, the fewer pictures the camera gets of it.
- At 30 frames a second, a camera runs out of pictures on anything much firmer than a short putt. It can't read a lag putt at all. PuttBay refuses 30 fps cameras rather than guessing.
- At 60 frames a second and up, there are enough pictures for the putts you hit indoors.
- A global shutter takes the whole picture at once, so a fast ball stays round instead of stretching.
The mount
- Straight down, 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) above the mat, with the long side of the picture along your putt.
- It has to stay put. A mount that slowly sags during a session moves the picture, and PuttBay will ask you to check the camera. Ceiling mounts and solid overhead bars work best; a tall light stand with a boom arm works if it's weighted.
- Leave 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 m) of roll in view in front of the ball.
The cable
- Plug straight into the PC, not through an unpowered hub.
- If you need length, use a quality active USB extension rated for the camera's speed. Long passive cables can drop the camera mid-round.
The light
This is the one most people skip, and the one that matters most in the evening.
- A lamp over the mat. Even, bright light on the ball, with the fewest shadows across the mat.
- Evening light and your own shadow are the hardest conditions for any camera. PuttBay will say "light quality low" when the light drops (coming soon).
The ball
- A normal white golf ball. No orange ball, no colored stickers, no color sliders. PuttBay measures the ball during setup.
Checklist
| Part | What we use | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Arducam OV9281 global shutter, USB | Tested |
| Other camera | Any genuine 60 fps webcam | Being tested |
| Mount | Solid overhead mount, straight down, 6-8 ft | Tested (height and angle) |
| Cable | Straight into the PC; active extension if needed | Tested (direct); extensions vary |
| Light | A lamp over the mat | Strongly recommended |
| Ball | A normal white golf ball | Tested |
PuttBay is an independent product and is not affiliated with any camera maker, GSPro, Rapsodo, Garmin, FlightScope or Square.