Want to putt like a pro? Time to train like one!

His private life might be in turmoil right now, but Tiger Woods remains the best player in the world by some considerable distance. And we all know why. It’s not because he can hit the ball miles. It’s not because he controls his Taylormade R9 Forged Irons so well. It’s not even because his short-game is so good. No, the reason he is No.1 is that he is the best putter in the game. Bar none. Which makes it all the more puzzling that putting is the part of the game the average player works on less than any other.

Since it was launched in Dubai last month, interest in this putting training system has mushroomed. Tour players, coaches, club-fitters and mental trainers are all raving about it… and with good reason. We all understand the benefit of data recorded in a high-tech putting lab, particularly rhythm, face angle, point of impact on the face and loft at impact. After all, if you know what exactly what’s happening in your putting stroke, you’re better placed to fix it, right?

But what if you could get all that information instantly? And what if you could get it as you practised on a real green rather than having to be indoors putting on a piece of carpet? Now that would be something.

The ZENIO was developed by Dr Richard Jaekel, who has spent nearly a decade on the European Tour working with players and coaches to find out what they wanted to know about their putting. Dr Jaekel then used the latest sensor technology to develop a system that delivered it. For such a complicated piece of equipment it’s remarkably simple.

A device the size of a matchbox clips onto your putter, a sensor pad is stuck to the face and all the data from your stroke is transmitted to your phone, PDA or even laptop via Bluetooth. That’s it. No wires, no labs, no fuss. Just the information you want, presented graphically in a way you can clearly understand.

And it’s not just a training tool. You can also use the ZENIO as a putter-fitting device by measuring performance with putters of different head shape, weight and length. This is particularly useful for players who switch between a variety of different putters and can’t decide which one is best.