Even Non-Golfers Can Enjoy “Accelerator 3” (The Best Putting Mat and Ball-Returner Under $40)
Written: Jul 30 '09 (Updated Nov 02 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Unique, helpful markings on mat. High-quality mat/turf. Needs no electricity/batteries. Generally well-designed/crafted. Fun to use.
Cons: Costs about twice as much as some (inferior) models. Could be slightly improved (read review).
The Bottom Line: You could get a somewhat comparable product for half the cost ($39.99), but you'd miss this higher-quality mat's handy markings and superior ball-return. Unlike competing products, mat lays flat immediately.
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| henry_thoreau's Full Review: Accelerator 3 Putting Trainer |
Prefatory note #1: To better understand what this product is and does, you should view a photo of it from the user's actual vantage point (use the following URL, but note that the frontmost portion of the mat is missing in this "cropped" image):
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418fV-uZ4pL._SS500_.jpg
Prefatory note #2: Don't confuse this "improved" product with its still available predecessor, the "Accelerator 2." The latter product is essentially identical except for its significant lack of an attachable, "full-length" ball-return track to accurately return the ball all the way (even across a carpeted floor), even when the user stands a full seven or eight feet from the hole.
Prefatory note #3: I must confess that I myself am not regularly a golfer, but that doesn't keep me from using this "putting trainer" as a "target-practice" amusement in the walk-in closet (measuring 9.5 by 6 feet) of an upstairs bedroom that I'm gradually converting into a billiard/game room.
Prefatory note #4: This product is "MADE IN USA."
"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" My namesake's Waldenesque words could well apply to the elegant design of this Accelerator 3 Putting Trainer, which I recently ordered from The Golf Warehouse (tgw.com) and received in one business day via "UPS ground" shipping (from Wichita to my Kansas City 'burb). This is neither the cheapest nor the costliest product of its ilk, but it may well be the most sensible, stylish and satisfying one. [This is not to say that the "Accelerator 3" couldn't be further improved in several minor respects, as I'll explain further below.]
Instead of using an electrical solenoid to loudly "kick back" the ball to the user, this machine, er, device relies entirely on gravity to gently, promptly roll the ball back to you (usually within about five seconds), time after time. Well, in point of fact, occasionally the ball might enter the nearly 4-inch-wide hole, tightly jiggle, come to a stop, and remain visibly, precariously perched inside that shallow cup. Whenever that happens, your next successful putt will virtually always knock that obstinately "stuck" ball forward (through the cup's rear "exit hole" and into the hindmost, beginning portion of the ball-return lane), from which point the prodigal ball (closely followed by the ball that forced it forward), will belatedly return to you. [Note: Very occasionally, "the ball that forced it forward" impishly replaces the previously "captured" ball (i.e., it doesn't exit the cup) until your next successful putt compels it to return to you.]
Whether or not you manage to get the ball into the target hole (whose quite sufficient diameter is precisely 3 & 7/8 inches), nearly every ball will be automatically returned to you. The rearmost part of the unit encompasses a "trough" that is actually the beginning of a lengthy ball-return lane or track. When you miss the target hole, the ball will generally continue all the way up the gentle incline and over the rearmost edge, where it drops into the return track, makes a right-angle turn, and continues forward until it virtually reaches you. In reality, you'll need to use your putter to tap each returned ball back onto the mat for your next shot. [Note: Assuming you're a right-handed golfer, you'll be conveniently facing the returned ball, which you can easily tap toward (rather than away from) you. Indeed, one possible advantage of this "Accelerator 3" product over some competing models is that the ball is returned slightly to the right of the mat (not to the left of the mat).]
Note that the mat's whitish "3," "5" and "7" numerals indicate the exact distance (plus half an inch) from each respective numeral to the front edge of the target hole. Whenever I assume a typical putting posture, I often prefer to be no closer to the target hole than about seven feet (i.e., I directly face the "7" numeral, near the farthest, front end of the mat). Standing in that position, I noticed that the ball was consistently returned (directly adjacent to the right edge of the mat) to almost exactly three inches short of the "7" numeral. In other words, the ball wasn't being returned fully seven feet. This was because my medium-pile carpeting quickly brought the rolling ball to a stop after it had exited the end of the smooth, ball-return track.
To counteract that slightly vexing ball-return shortcoming (i.e., to bring the ball all the way adjacent to the mat's "7" marking), I used a piece of thin, smooth cardboard (cut to a length of about 9 inches) from the bottom of a shoebox. I placed one end of that piece of cardboard slightly underneath the terminal end of the ball-return track; simultaneously, I placed the inner edge of that length of cardboard slightly beneath the adjacent mat's right edge. (Thus the cardboard is temporarily held in place.) By slightly sliding (adjusting the exposed length of) that cardboard forward or backward, I soon had the golf balls pretty consistently returning precisely adjacent to the mat's "7" marking. From there, it's easy to use my putter to drag or tap the ball toward me (from the carpet onto the adjacent mat) for the next shot.
I generally use at least four balls during each little session of "target-practice" (putting) fun. Thus there are usually at least two waiting, "reserve" balls on the carpet to the right side of the mat while I'm busy watching my most recently putted ball (or while I'm preparing to putt the next one).
Even "too gently hit" balls that don't quite make it all the way up the modest (roughly 20 percent), final incline (and, hopefully, into the target hole) will generally roll back down that incline and then partway back to the user. Only very occasionally (e.g., to retrieve really badly aimed balls that exited the foot-wide mat--to the left or the right--before reaching the final, upwardly sloped section) will you need to move your feet in order to reach a ball (with your putter) and tap it all the way back to where you want it for your next shot.
Unlike comparable products, this "Accelerator 3" features a mat that includes rather conspicuous markings indicating your approximate distance from the target hole. [Those markings are subtly "whitish" but not unpleasantly bright white.] I want to emphasize that the user will continually find the mat's "distance" markings eminently helpful and pleasing as points of reference. Indeed, now that I've used this mat, I wouldn't be quite as satisfied with an otherwise comparable model whose "entirely green" mat lacks any such handy (not to mention visually appealing) markings.
Moreover, this mat's various markings indicate not only your approximate distance from the target hole but also the approximate (slight) distance you should move the putter backward before striking the ball (not to mention the approximate amount of "follow through" that you'll want to apply after the putter contacts the ball). And, not less importantly, the mat's markings will assist you in correctly aiming your shots.
Contrasted with some competing products (especially some of the cheaper ones), this mostly green mat features not only the aforementioned markings but also higher quality construction. The bottom layer of this 1/4-inch-thick mat, like a decent living-room carpet, is relatively hard and durable; and the softer, thicker, upper portion of the mat comprises artificial turf that rather impressively simulates the look and feel of a real putting green. The ball rolls nicely across this turf, making it reasonably easy for the skillful user to make successful putts, even from seven or eight feet away.
Although there's no enclosed "user's manual" booklet, everything you'll need to know is clearly printed on the exterior of the colorfully illustrated product box. Most significantly, one end of the box bears instructions for "how to make a putt every time" by taking advantage of this mat's unique markings (indicators). The most important portions of those instructions (whose printing is accompanied by adjacent illustrations) are as follows:
"Step 1: For accurate ALIGNMENT, square the putter blade parallel with the squaring lines at each putt length.
"Step 2: The Accelerator BACK STROKE marks indicate the proper stroke length. Prepares your swing for accelerated follow through.
"Step 3: The final stage of your stroke. The Accelerator ACCELERATION arrows assist to generate the motion for proper follow through on the putting stroke."
The easily attachable ball-return track comprises three main sections that evenly connect to each other via some little black-plastic connectors (thin, flat, rectangular pieces) that you insert into some molded-in slots on the underside of the track. You don't necessarily have to connect the ball-return track to the main, rear unit that encompasses the target hole; and you don't necessarily have to connect all three segments of the attachable ball-return track. Thus you can adjust the track for the particular putting distance you're presently practicing. With the addition of each ball-track segment, you can have the ball returned to you approximately at the helpfully visible three-feet, five-feet, or seven-feet mark on the mat.
The upper surface of the ball-return track is slightly concave, which keeps the rolling golf ball from escaping the track. [Picture a tiny bowling ball somewhat loosely rolling within a rather narrow track (back to the user), and you'll have the general idea.]
Although the black plastic of the ball-return track is quite appropriately smooth (and hence not overly "noisy"), the analogously black plastic of the main, upwardly sloping unit (that incorporates the target hole) is mostly not smooth but rather attractively "textured" (not to mention "ribbed" on the unit's exposed outer sides). Even the bottom of the target hole's cup is likewise "textured" (not perfectly smooth). That textured surface appears somewhat to slow--and occasionally even to stop--the most recently entered ball. [But such intermittent "ball capturing" is not only harmless but actually fun, as I explain elsewhere in this review.]
How could this third incarnation of the putting "Accelerator" be further improved?
Although I'm actually quite delighted with my "Accelerator 3;" and although I do warmly recommend this product to virtually any fun-loving consumer, here are several suggestions to the manufacturer to make it even better than it already is (in case an "Accelerator 4" is in the offing).
Add one or two additional "half-length" sections of attachable ball-return track. As I explain elsewhere in this review, on my carpeted floor, when all three linkable sections of the ball-return track are in place, the returned ball will end up approximately three inches short of the conspicuous (and convenient) "seven-feet" mark on the mat. Although it's easy to temporarily place a piece of thin, smooth cardboard at the end of the ball-return track so that each returned ball will roll all the way to the "seven-feet" mark, there really ought to be one or two extra, shorter sections of matching (black, concave, plastic) track so that the ball could be elegantly returned a full seven (or even eight) feet even on carpeted floors.
Slightly increase the width of the mat. Although 12 inches does generally seem perfectly adequate once you're actually using this product, 13 or 14 inches could prove welcome. Certain "aim-challenged" users would thereby not have to manually retrieve so many "errant" balls that veer off the foot-wide mat before reaching the upwardly sloping, main part of the unit.
Include a "backboard." The rearmost end of the unit rises about five inches above the floor; however, there's essentially no "backboard" present. That's all right most of the time, but very occasionally an energetically putted ball goes over the rear end. Hence an appreciable "backboard"--with a height of at least two inches--could prove helpful. As things stand, when I place the rearmost end of the unit directly against the back wall, very occasionally a ball goes over the rear end of the unit and immediately smacks the wall, from which the ball may conveniently bounce into the beginning portion of the unit's ball-return lane. However, still more occasionally, the errant ball may instead jam between the wall and the upper rear edge of the unit (or end up on the floor beside the unit) and require some old-fashioned, manual retrieval--which lazy ol' Henry disdains.
Somewhat increase the height of the "side rails." Similarly, the slight height of the rear (black-plastic) housing's side rails occasionally allows a poorly aimed ball to angle over the edge (and end up on the floor). Even a modest increase in rail height could help spare Henry himself so much dreadful "ball-retrieval" exercise.
Perhaps slightly increase the degree of rearward slant in the bottom of the cup. I've mentioned elsewhere in this review that the occasional tendency of a successfully putted ball to remain (quite visibly) in the bottom of the hole's shallow cup and not be sent to the return track (until a subsequent successfully putted ball dislodges the temporarily "captured" ball) is actually scarcely an issue. Nevertheless, a slightly increased rearward, downward incline in the bottom of the cup (toward the cup's "rear-exit" hole, which sends the ball to the beginning portion of the ball-return lane) could surely eliminate all such "ball sticking." [At the same time, though, such an "improvement" would remove one of the intermittent elements of the putting "game" that I myself find positively amusing. Hmmm. Perhaps the manufacturer should just ignore this particular suggestion!]
Increase the thickness of most of the black-plastic parts, especially the main (upwardly sloping) housing. Although the main black-plastic housing (incorporating the target hole) is visually quite satisfactory; and although (in coming years and decades) it will probably manage to endure virtually any amount of sensible, adult use, it really ought to be significantly thicker (still stronger) than it is. I can't believe that increasing its presently "adequate" thickness by at least three times would add that much to the cost of its production. Given that this product costs more than twice as much as fairly comparable (albeit more or less inferior) competing models from the likes of Wal-Mart, I should think that "enhanced durability" would be a given here. Fortunately, the plastic used here is significantly less brittle--and thus less prone to crack--than many plastics used on analogous "putting-practice" products manufactured decades ago. But I fail to see why the thickness of the plastic must be so perceptibly slighter on today's otherwise improved putting/ball-return devices--including this one.
On a truly trivial note:
When I initially unrolled the presumably long-stored mat, I noticed at least one or two fairly faint, half-inch "bands" where the color of the green turf appeared subtly lighter. I surmised that this was because the turf's fibers had been relatively more compressed at this or that point along its length; or perhaps the mat simply wasn't fully stretched out at those points. In any case, the "slightly lighter green" effect wasn't even visible when I stood above the most detectable "band" and looked at it directly; but it was somewhat visible when I stood near the front (terminal) end of the mat and looked (from an angle) at that same area (about seven inches before the "upward-sloping" section of the mat begins). Mind, I'm really picking nits here. The noticeability of that half-inch, edge-to-edge "banding" was initially slight, has already become slighter, and will likely become virtually invisible if I continue to use the mat, keep it unfurled, and somewhat farther stretch it out. Just don't be surprised if you, too, spot something of that trifling nature when you first unfurl your otherwise "perfect" mat.
Dimensions of this product's various parts
Believe me, before selecting and ordering my "Accelerator 3 Putting Trainer," I did more than a bit of research of multifarious "putting green" products. And I discovered that there were no available answers to many of my preliminary questions regarding dimensions of such products' respective parts. Thus, to help prospective purchasers of this "Accelerator 3," I've painstakingly measured my unit's noteworthy parts to compile the following list:
Diameter of the target hole: 3 & 7/8 inches.
Width of the green mat: 12 inches.
Thickness of the green mat: one fourth of an inch.
Width of the black-plastic housing that incorporates the target hole cup and the beginning of the ball-return lane: 15 inches.
Distance from the rearmost end of the black-plastic unit to the front end of the green mat: 9 feet, 3 inches.
Distance from the rearmost end of the mat (green turf) to the front end of the mat: 8 feet, 11 inches.
Distance from the center of the target hole to the front end of the mat: 8 feet, 7.5 inches.
Length of all three "linked" (black-plastic) ball-return track pieces (i.e., the entire ball-return track that attaches adjacent to the right side of the mat where the "upward incline" begins): 62.25 inches.
Length of each of the three linkable ball-return-track pieces: 20.75 inches.
Width of each of the three linkable, ball-return-track pieces: 1 & 5/8 inches.
Dimensions of the section of "upwardly inclined" green mat (incorporating the target hole): 14.5 (L) x 12 (W) inches.
Length of the flat portion of the mat (before the "upward incline" begins): 93 inches.
The fairly durable cardboard product box, which you can easily use to "store" the product between uses, measures 18.75 x 16 x 5.5 inches.
Just for the sake of this review, I tried to obtain a net weight of this product (which is not indicated on the product box), but it was so lightweight that it didn't quite register on my digital bathroom scale. Suffice it to say that it's easy to lift and transport. (See the above dimensions of the product box.)
THE UPSHOT:
You could scarcely go wrong with this "Accelerator 3." Not only is it reasonably durable (especially the mat itself), but also the mat's unique, whitish "distance," "backstroke," "follow-through" and "direction" indicators set it apart from all competing "putting-mat/ball-return" products I've seen.
About forty years ago I was fleetingly impressed with an electric putt-return product I'd received as a gift. But the magic that simple gravity can achieve has lately seemed to me still more impressive--not to mention fun.
Recommended:
Yes
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henry_thoreau
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Member: Mike
Location: Olathe, KS USA
Reviews written: 222
Trusted by: 258 members
About Me:
I expect to return to "full-time" reading/rating by January. (Currently hindered by MAJOR home-improvement project!)
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