CLEARWATER, Florida – Two of golf’s leading putting technologies have joined forces to create exciting new possibilities for coaches, custom-fitters and golfers of all levels.
Combining the Zen Green Stage with a SAM PuttStudio will benefit existing brand owners, will attract others into a new world of advanced putting instruction, and will raise the bar for advanced putting instruction.
In a major leap forward for putting technology, the Zen and SAM composite unites two of golf’s most respected performance brands to deliver an immersive, data-rich indoor green environment which enables golfers and coaches to train as they play – on real slopes, with real feedback.
For SAM owners, the combined Zen experience will be revolutionary, with enhanced use of the sport’s most advanced adjustable putting green.
By moving the Zen Green Stage to replicate real-world breaking greens, the SAM PuttStudio will display putting metrics automatically onto the Zen’s dynamic putting surface, creating a new kind of learning landscape.
For Zen owners, the combined SAM PuttStudio adds a spectacular overhead projector system simple and entertaining enough for children and families to enjoy, but also comprehensive enough for elite golfers and their coaches.
For the first time, Zen Green Stage users will see the predicted aim and start line of the ball projected before the putt has been hit, adjusted automatically according to gradient, with a vast array of other analytical tools available.
Dr Christian Marquardt, Managing Director of Science & Motion, said: “Science tells us that learning is all about adequate feedback. Training on adjustable slopes improves your ability to read greens, visualize break lines and to adjust your individual putting stroke. The various types of feedback and cues projected onto the surface stimulate the learning system and accelerate improvement.”
By adding a moving Zen platform, which is accessible via the revolutionary new Zen Oracle Enhanced App, the SAM PuttStudio, with its extensive projection and ball tracking features, can generate data far beyond what was previously available on a simple flat putting surface.
The Zen’s industry-leading ability to reliably adjust all four corners of the putting surface in 0.1% increments now enables SAM PuttStudio owners to better learn how gradients affect their putting stroke, and their likelihood to hole out.
Nick Middleton, Founder and CEO of Zen Golf, said: “Zen Green Stage is the only tour-proven adjustable indoor green which truly places the golf course at your feet.”
“The Zen-SAM combined system now gives you the real-world tools to put all the theory into practice” he continued. “We have shared a close working relationship with Science & Motion since 2002, and this long-awaited combination will now enhance the performance of even the world’s top golfers.”
An accompanying learning program will also soon be ready for release. “We have developed a new series of tailored instruction modules for putting coaches to optimize their use of this powerful new toolkit” said Middleton. “It will fast-track them towards being fully comfortable with the system, putting it through its paces with maximum effect.”
Retailers and custom-fitters will also benefit from the new Zen/ SAM composite. “Fitters will find that this world-first new putting environment can revolutionize their custom-fitting activities” said Middleton.
“By evaluating a player’s performance on a tilting Green Stage during the fitting session, you can capture exclusive additional SAM data and analyze their stroke under real-world conditions including mental pressure.
“You will be better able to identify a customer’s ideal putter setup, leading to a more complete fitting, more customer satisfaction, and increased loyalty.
“It is a far more realistic fit than if you were simply standing on a flat surface.”
Zen will also shortly announce a series of sales programs designed to assist both brands’ customers to access the combination in an optimal fashion – and to offer an easier first purchase for those who have yet to invest in either brand.
For all Zen details see www.zen.golf, and for SAM see www.scienceandmotion.com.