Rick Shiels tests PuttView’s free green-reading app as a practice tool

Rick Shiels tests PuttView’s phone app in a H.I.T GOLF video published October 4, comparing his own green reads with an augmented reality putting line. The app scans a real putting surface, then overlays a suggested ball path and aiming direction on the phone’s camera view.

The demonstration offers a look at how that feedback can work in practice, including the setup needed before rolling a putt.

Shiels and James begin by scanning the green and placing the ball and hole in the app. They discuss the predicted break, then compare it with their own read. The app’s line gives them something specific to test, while the camera view lets them inspect the shape of the putt before trying it.

There is still judgment involved in setting up the exercise. Shiels estimates the green speed rather than measuring it, and the pair discuss the phone’s position and the usefulness of a tripod. Their session illustrates a training workflow; a few putts do not establish an accuracy rate or a promised reduction in scores.

PuttView lists an ideal line, aiming line, contour lines and recording in its free tier. A paid Pro subscription adds more detailed data, expanded visuals and customization. The free features provide a way to try the scan-and-compare exercise before deciding whether those extras matter.

Hardware is a practical limit. The App Store description specifies an iPhone 12 Pro or later Pro or Pro Max model for the LiDAR scanning feature, and the listing requires iOS 18 or later. A golfer should check those requirements before expecting an ordinary iPhone to produce the same demonstration.

PuttView’s developer describes the app as primarily a practice and training tool. There is also a rules boundary: R&A Rule 4.3a(1) prohibits using equipment during a round to measure elevation changes or recommend a line of play based on the ball’s location. That makes the scan-and-read routine shown here one to use in a practice session.

For an indoor putting area or a practice green, the useful question is whether the overlay helps explain a missed read. Start with a personal read, compare it with the app’s suggestion, then roll the putt and assess the result.