PuttBayYou do not need camera terms or a tape measure. PuttBay watches the live picture, measures what it can, and tells you exactly what to move next.
Setup pauses your session while it uses the camera and starts the session again when setup closes.
Follow these steps
In the PuttBay app, these steps are interactive: the app performs the checks for you and provides the named buttons. Here they are plain instructions you can read on any device.
- 01
Choose your putting camera
PuttBay is proven on the Arducam OV9281. Other webcams that really deliver 60 pictures a second should work and are still being tested; setup tells you plainly if yours falls short. Aim the camera straight down, 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) above the mat, with the long side of the picture along the putt. Put the ball near one end with 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) of roll in view, plug the camera straight into the PC, then choose its live picture.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the selected putting camera is connected.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 02
Check the picture
Use bright, steady light across the whole mat. Avoid dimmers, glare, and changing window light. PuttBay checks the light, sharpness, and camera speed.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the picture is bright, even, and sharp enough.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 03
Set your start spot and aim
Drag the gold start spot to where your ball will begin, then point the arrow at the screen. Choose Narrow, Normal, or Wide to match where you place balls. The setup roll fine-tunes the arrow.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the target line has been found and confirmed.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 04
Measure the ball
Use a normal white golf ball. PuttBay checks whether the ball looks large and clear enough in the picture and tells you how to move the camera if it does not.
Automatic check: PuttBay measures whether the ball is large enough in the picture.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 05
Check left and right
Make the one gentle side roll shown on screen. This tells PuttBay how the camera picture matches your mat.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the setup rolls have been measured.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 06
Measure the mat
A camera PuttBay already knows is finished after the side roll. A new camera asks for two more clear putts toward the screen once. The first screen putt aims the untouched gold arrow for you.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the setup rolls have been measured.
In-app button: Open putting setup.
- 07
Check one putt and save
Roll one normal putt at the screen. PuttBay checks it the same way it measures play. Then review the start spot, arrow, start zone, area the camera sees, camera height, picture speed, and longest putt this setup can read. Name and save the setup.
Automatic check: PuttBay checks that the putting area is calibrated and ready.
In-app button: Open putting practice.
Starting setup again keeps what PuttBay learned
Choose Set up again in Settings whenever the camera or putting mat moves. The Putting tile also offers it while the camera is stopped. PuttBay remembers what it learned from a completed setup, so the same camera usually needs only one setup roll next time.
Drag the gold start spot or arrow, or use the small aim buttons. Aim the other way turns the arrow around. After setup, choose Adjust aim on the Putting tile or in Putting practice to change the same spot, arrow, and width without measuring the mat again.
The gold start zone
The dashed gold start zone is where PuttBay watches for a ball to begin moving. It is fine to leave several balls inside it. Choose Narrow, Normal, or Wide to match your space. If part of the start zone leaves the area the camera measures, PuttBay says how far and which way to move it.
Put the ball view on the projector
Choose Pop out on the Putting tile, then choose Next screen in the ball view. With a controller, press the right stick while the ball view is open. You can also press Page Down on the keyboard or drag the view yourself. Drag any edge or corner to resize it. Choose Reset size, press the left stick, or press Page Up to return to the default size. Move the pointer over the ball view when you want its controls; they slide away again so the camera picture fills the window. The controller shortcuts work while GSPro is in front; the Page Down and Page Up keyboard shortcuts work only while PuttBay is in front. It stays above GSPro when GSPro is windowed or borderless. If it disappears over a full-screen game, switch GSPro from exclusive full screen to borderless so Windows can keep the ball view above it.
Why camera speed matters
A camera that delivers 30 pictures each second can read a putt of about 14 feet on a stimp-8 roll. A camera that delivers 60 pictures each second can read about 42 feet on that roll. These are approximate distances; green speed changes them.
PuttBay is proven on the Arducam OV9281. Other webcams that truly deliver 60 pictures each second should work and are still being tested. Setup measures the rate and ball picture on your camera instead of promising from the name on the box. A faster camera gives PuttBay more views of the moving ball, but setup still decides from what it sees.
If a camera promises 60 but delivers 30, add more steady light and close every other camera program. If that does not help, plug the putting camera straight into the PC by itself. PuttBay pauses instead of sending a putt it cannot measure honestly.
If the picture repeatedly brightens and darkens, remove any dimmer and try a steady lamp. Window light can also change the picture during a putt.
If the ball looks too small
PuttBay tells you how much closer the camera should be. Move it closer to the mat or use a camera view that makes the ball larger. Software cannot restore detail the camera never saw.
When PuttBay refuses a roll
PuttBay saves the roll and tells you why instead of sending a number it cannot trust.
- Not sent because the camera did not see enough of that putt. Keep the ball in view a little longer and try again.
- Not sent because the ball did not roll far enough for a reliable measurement. Roll the putt a little farther and try again.
- Not sent because the ball did not appear to roll freely. Let the ball roll without touching anything and try again.
- Not sent because that roll did not travel toward the target. Aim along the gold line and try again. If the arrow points the wrong way, choose Aim the other way.
- Not sent because the camera could not measure one clear, steady roll. Check the light and camera view, then try again.
- Not sent because that putt was too fast for this camera. Try a gentler putt, or use a faster camera.
- Not sent because the camera or putting mat appears to have moved. Re-check the putting mat before the next putt.
- Not sent because the camera picture was not clear enough. Add steady light and check the camera view, then try again.
- Not sent because the camera lost sight of the ball during that roll. Clear the camera view and try again.
- Not sent because the camera missed too much of that roll. Close programs you are not using and try again.
A ball outside the dashed gold start zone is not used. Move it inside the start zone and leave it still before putting, or choose a wider start zone in Adjust aim.
Optional height check
If you already know the camera height, open Advanced details and enter it there. The second height box and area corrections are in the same section. This is optional. A large difference can help catch the wrong camera or a partly hidden ball.
Optional printed stickers
Printed-sticker setup is not available in this beta. Use a normal white ball and roll it toward the screen; that is the complete setup path in this build.
Record what the camera sees
If support asks for a recording, open Settings > For support and choose Record 20 seconds. PuttBay saves the camera picture on this PC so you can include it with a problem report.
Review the result
Every measured putt keeps the camera and setup conditions that were in use. PuttBay also marks any result that was less certain, so replay and stats never pretend it was fully trusted.
Open Putting practice and replay to learn where replays are kept, how to turn clips off, what the putt length means, and how PuttBay follows a left- or right-handed player.
Why a putt did not reach GSPro
By default, PuttBay sends a measured putt only when the putter is selected in GSPro. The Putting tile shows the club GSPro last reported. If GSPro has not reported a club, the tile says that instead of guessing.
A held putt is still saved in Putting practice. Select the putter in GSPro to resume normal sending. If you deliberately want to putt with another club selected, choose Send putts anyway on the Putting tile. That choice lasts only for this session. Choose Stop sending anyway, stop the session, or disconnect GSPro to return to your saved choice.