Everything you need to set up webcam putting in ShotBridge, from camera selection through calibration and testing. Follow these steps in order for the best results.
Before you start the PuttLinx wizard, you need to select and position your putting camera. Getting this right is the foundation for accurate putt tracking.
Open ShotBridge and navigate to Settings. Under the Camera section, click Rescan to detect connected cameras, then select the webcam you're using for putting.
Mount your camera so the length of the camera's field of view runs down the target line toward the hole. The longer the ball stays in the frame during a putt, the more frames PuttLinx captures, and the more accurate the speed and direction calculation will be.
For best results, use a global shutter camera like the Arducam OV9281 (~$49 on Amazon). Standard rolling shutter webcams can produce motion blur on fast putts, which reduces tracking accuracy. See the camera recommendation on the homepage for details.
The detection zone tells PuttLinx where to look for the ball. Only movement inside this zone will be tracked.
Go to Setup & Calibration → PuttLinx Setup in the left sidebar. You'll see a live camera preview with a 4-step wizard on the right: Draw Zone, Calibrate, Test, and Done.
Click and drag on the camera preview to draw a rectangle around the area where the ball will travel during a putt. This should cover the putting surface where the ball rolls, not the entire camera frame. You can click Redraw Zone if you need to adjust it.
Make the zone large enough to capture the full putt path, but tight enough to exclude unnecessary areas. The zone should cover the area where the ball starts and where it exits the frame. Avoid including edges with equipment, feet, or other objects that might cause false detections.
Calibration tells PuttLinx the real-world size of your detection zone. This is how it converts pixel movement into actual ball speed, so accuracy here directly affects putting accuracy.
After drawing your zone, click Next → to advance to Step 2: Calibrate.
Using a tape measure, physically measure the width and length of the area covered by your detection zone on the mat. Use the camera preview as a visual guide — the blue rectangle shows exactly what area you need to measure. Measure in inches.
Enter the width and length values (in inches) into the Zone Width and Zone Length fields as accurately as possible. These measurements are the foundation of the pixel-to-speed calculation. Even small errors will compound into inaccurate speed readings.
The zone measurements are how PuttLinx converts pixel velocity into real ball speed (MPH). If your measurements are off by even an inch or two, every putt will read faster or slower than it actually is. Take your time with the tape measure and be as precise as possible.
The test step lets you verify that PuttLinx is detecting putts correctly and that the horizontal launch angle (HLA) is reading in the right direction.
After entering your measurements, click Next → to advance to Step 3: Test.
Place a ball inside the detection zone and hold it still for about 2 seconds. PuttLinx will arm itself, then putt the ball. You should see the detected speed (MPH), HLA (degrees), and frame count appear in the results panel.
Once you're satisfied that speed and HLA are reading correctly, click Finish Setup →. PuttLinx is now calibrated and ready for live play. Your settings are saved automatically.
PuttLinx has a built-in HLA gate of 10 degrees. Any putt registering above 10° HLA will be automatically rejected as a misread. This prevents false or erratic detections from being sent to GSPro.
Follow these recommendations to get the most accurate and consistent putting experience from PuttLinx.
Even, consistent lighting across your putting area produces the best detection results. Avoid harsh shadows or variable light sources that change throughout a session. If your sim bay has dimmable lights, find a setting and stick with it.
If possible, use the recommended Arducam OV9281 or another global shutter camera. Rolling shutter sensors create motion blur on fast putts, which reduces the accuracy of the speed calculation.
The zone width and length measurements you enter during calibration drive the entire pixel-to-speed conversion. Take the time to measure carefully with a tape measure. Even half an inch can make a difference across a range of putt speeds.
Orient your camera so its longest field of view runs along the ball's path toward the hole. The more frames PuttLinx captures of the ball in motion, the more data points it has for calculating speed and direction accurately.
Keep the area inside your detection zone clear of extra balls, tees, and other small objects. One ball in the zone at a time gives PuttLinx the cleanest possible detection.
If you move your camera or change your mat setup, run through the calibration wizard again. The pixel-to-speed mapping is specific to your exact camera position and zone measurements.
