PuttBayQuestions, answered.
The basics
What is PuttBay? A Windows app for home golf simulators. A camera over your mat reads your real putts and sends them to GSPro, while your launch monitor keeps handling full shots in the same round. It also has a 3D practice green that rolls like GSPro.
Do I need a launch monitor? Not for the practice green. It works with just the camera and your mat. For full rounds in GSPro you'll want a launch monitor for your full shots, with PuttBay handling the putts.
Do I need GSPro? For camera putts in GSPro rounds, yes, with your own license. PuttBay doesn't include GSPro. The practice green works without it.
How much does it cost? PuttBay is free during the beta.
Does it work on a Mac? No. PuttBay is for Windows 10 and 11, like GSPro.
GSPro and launch monitors
Which GSPro license do I need? An Open API (Open Connect) license lets PuttBay send camera putts and pass through your launch monitor's full shots in the same round. With a launch-monitor maker's own GSPro license, GSPro handles the device and putting itself, so PuttBay can't add camera putts to those rounds, though the practice green still works.
GSPro only takes one connection. How do both work? PuttBay takes that one connection and sits in the middle: full shots come from your launch monitor through PuttBay, and putts come from the camera. How it works
Which launch monitors work? The Rapsodo MLM2PRO through the free springbok connector (proven), the Garmin R10 (in beta), and the FlightScope Mevo+ and Mevo Gen2 (in beta, on either GSPro route). Full list
What about the Mevo+? It's in beta. With GSPro's FlightScope license, GSPro drives the Mevo and putts itself, and PuttBay's practice green still uses your camera. With an Open API license and the free flighthook connector, PuttBay supervises the connector and your camera handles the putts in the same round. Mevo+ putting options
Does PuttBay get around my Rapsodo membership or approval? No, never. Rapsodo's own requirements still apply. PuttBay just makes the steps quick and warns you before your approval runs out mid-round.
What is springbok? A free community connector for the MLM2PRO that you install yourself. PuttBay finds it, points it at PuttBay, starts it minimized and reconnects it with one press. PuttBay never bundles or downloads it, and changes only two of its settings: where it sends shots, and its own camera putting (switched off, so the two apps never fight over your camera). "Put springbok back as it was" restores both.
Putting
Which camera do I need? One that really delivers 60 frames a second or more, hanging straight down over your mat. The Arducam OV9281 is proven, and other genuine 60 fps webcams are being tested. The camera kit
Can I use my laptop's webcam? Most laptop webcams deliver 30 frames a second, which can't read a lag putt. PuttBay checks during setup and tells you.
Do I need markers, stickers or an orange ball? No. A normal white golf ball, no printed markers and no color sliders.
How long does setup take? About five minutes: choose your camera, tap your ball, point the arrow at your screen, roll a few short putts, save.
What does it measure? Ball speed and start line: what GSPro needs to play the putt on the course's green.
What if it misses a putt? If a putt can't be read cleanly, PuttBay tells you PUTT AGAIN, with the reason, and you re-putt from the same spot. It never sends GSPro a guess.
I take a long time over the ball. Is that a problem? Not at all. PuttBay keeps the ball ready until it actually rolls.
Does it work for left-handed golfers? Yes, and for mixed groups taking turns on one mat (Friends mode).
How accurate is it? We'd rather show you than tell you: Check my accuracy in the app compares PuttBay with a tape measure, putt by putt, on your own mat. We'll publish our own measured numbers once they're done.
The practice green
Why does it matter that it rolls like GSPro? GSPro slows fast putts more than a real green. Practice on a green that rolls differently and your pace won't carry over. PuttBay's green uses GSPro's public roll model at stimp 6-13.
Does it tell me the break? No. You read it from the grid and its rolling white dots, like a real green.
Can friends play? Yes. Local multiplayer on one mat, each player with their own ball color.
The beta
How do I join? Sign up here. We're bringing golfers in by hand, starting with setups like ours.
What happens to my data? Your putts stay on your PC. PuttBay never sends anything on its own: a problem report is a file you save and choose to send us. Privacy
PuttBay is an independent product and is not affiliated with GSPro, Rapsodo, Garmin, FlightScope or Square.