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The Boomerang Putting Professional arrived today, along with the 12 foot Carnoustie Professional Putting Mat, via USPS Priority Mail. Communication with the BoomGolf was excellent and today's delivery date would indicate the product was shipped within 1, possibly 2 days of my order.
Due to the timely delivery and very odd looking package, I wasn't sure this was my Boomerang. Its hodge-podge of three standard letter sized padded envelopes all taped together looked as if it was packed by the most novice of eBay estate sale scavengers. There was no other protection, no invoice or packing list, and no indication on the package that this was sent by Boom Golf... but after picking it up and handling it I was pretty certain this was the putting contraption that I had ordered, and fortunately it appeared to have been treated kindly by the USPS.
I have to say this is a minor point as I did receive the items in new condition, the packaging was not something that inspired confidence in Boom Golf. Alex, if you're listening, you might want to take a look at ULINE.COM for an appropriate shipping carton. You may even find one that is cheaper than the three padded envelopes used.
After everything was unpacked I had just one hurdle... the poly plastic clamshell the Boomerang itself was welded into. I say welded as this was not the kind that you can snap apart, but the one with a welded edge that requires you to use a sharp razor-knife to completely destroy the packaging in order to free your purchase. I have, more than once, cut myself opening this kind of package and I really don't care for them. I understand the clamshell packaging is popular, attractive, and cost effective, I just would have much appreciated a snap apart one. I can see the welded variety is needed in cases where pilferage is to be discouraged, but there is nothing to be pilfered here (it's one large piece). And considering the 30 day satisfaction guarantee... wouldn't it be nice that the customer have the ability to easily return the unit in the original packaging, let alone not having to use a sharp knife to open it in the first place, especially when the costs are no different for the non-welded designs.
One more annoyance... Goo. The ramp of the Boomerang seems to be covered with a thin soft vinyl. The instruction booklet (which is also the main graphic flyer of the packaging) is overlaid on the ramp so to be very visible through the packaging. But some rocket scientist decided that wouldn't be good enough and used an adhesive to GLUE the flyer to the ramp. You have all been there... a sticker with little reason, stuck all over your new toy. Some are engineered to be removed with no residue... others leave behind a sticky mess that can only be removed with industrial strength chemicals. Guess which one this was?
I tried warm water and detergent to no avail. I was hesitant to use lighter fluid or Goo-B-Gone for fear of it attacking the vinyl... but with careful application managed to remove it while inflicting no apparent damage. But why should I have had to go through this? So now I have spent 15 minutes with the damn box cutter getting the package open and cleaning the sticky goo of my Boomerang. I really should have reverse-rolled my Carnoustie mat before going through all of this as it would have been "primed" by the time the Boomerang was finally ready to go.
Finally time to play with it!!!
The Good
This is a very clever device. Not much to it, but there doesn't have to be. It is much more challenging than any other device I have used, and more reliable in getting the ball back to you for the next shot than most (until of course you catch two balls in the thing). Will I be sending it back? No. I like the fact that it has no cord or batteries, and it is clear this will grove your stroke more conveniently than most anything else.
So What's Wrong With It
The main thing... the Mat, while FAST, does not roll true. I have tried it on a plush pile carpet, laminate over slab floor, and on my pool table, which I can absolutely guarantee is flat and level. The problem is that the mat is convex when laid out with the curl down, and concave when laid out curl up. I have reverse rolled this thing the other way and left it for quite some time and it is nearly flat... but it is still clearly convex on one side and concave on the other. I think the roll is better on a flat hard surface then when placed on carpet, but it does not completely correct the rolling characteristics of the mat
This means that any balled rolled on the convex side will tend to roll off the edges of the mat if it is not rolled exactly along the ridge line. Any ball not returned directly on this line from the ramp will run off the edges of the mat before it ever gets back to you. Just using the putter to drag a ball on to the mat makes the high center quite noticeable.
Here is my setup. Note the floor molding on the near side... wished I had one on the other side of the mat!!!
Now there may be a way to eliminate this (maybe even several). You could turn the mat over... but then you're kinda putting down a trough. You could do what I am considering... glueing the mat down to a laminate plank, with a couple of nice moldings on the side (kind of like a miniature bowling lane). Or maybe just a few pieces of that temporary double-sided carpet tape would do the job. OR... maybe just having this thing down on the floor for a while will allow it to flatten out a bit more (I kind of doubt it though).
Which brings up another question; the package says (or perhaps I should say that little booklet that was goobered to my ramp says) "For Best Results * Always store your Boomerang when not in use". I don't want to store it... I can't think keeping the mat rolled up when I'm not practicing is better than leaving it set up flat. I'll only pick it up if it gets in the way of folks shooting pool. Is there a reason for this statement?
One last suggestion... the level adjustment consists of a set of "channels" molded into the underside of the ramp in which the main support cross member is pressed into to adjust its grade. The channels have no kind of radiused clip design to accept the round cross member... just friction, which I think may be lost over time. It seems the mold for this device could be easily modified to make the settings more positive.
In closing... it is important to note that, with the exception of the mat issues discussed above (which may indeed "iron" themselves out over time), none of the "shortcomings" I cite above prevent this contraption from doing what it was designed to do, and what it does do it does well. But considering its price point (and the fact that it is made in China), I think there are a few rough edges that could be smoothed out to create a better purchasing experience for the average consumer. But even as it sits now, I can't help but recommend this as a great invention that provides a fun, challenging, and useful regimen to hone your putting... especially your speed control.
Due to the timely delivery and very odd looking package, I wasn't sure this was my Boomerang. Its hodge-podge of three standard letter sized padded envelopes all taped together looked as if it was packed by the most novice of eBay estate sale scavengers. There was no other protection, no invoice or packing list, and no indication on the package that this was sent by Boom Golf... but after picking it up and handling it I was pretty certain this was the putting contraption that I had ordered, and fortunately it appeared to have been treated kindly by the USPS.
I have to say this is a minor point as I did receive the items in new condition, the packaging was not something that inspired confidence in Boom Golf. Alex, if you're listening, you might want to take a look at ULINE.COM for an appropriate shipping carton. You may even find one that is cheaper than the three padded envelopes used.
After everything was unpacked I had just one hurdle... the poly plastic clamshell the Boomerang itself was welded into. I say welded as this was not the kind that you can snap apart, but the one with a welded edge that requires you to use a sharp razor-knife to completely destroy the packaging in order to free your purchase. I have, more than once, cut myself opening this kind of package and I really don't care for them. I understand the clamshell packaging is popular, attractive, and cost effective, I just would have much appreciated a snap apart one. I can see the welded variety is needed in cases where pilferage is to be discouraged, but there is nothing to be pilfered here (it's one large piece). And considering the 30 day satisfaction guarantee... wouldn't it be nice that the customer have the ability to easily return the unit in the original packaging, let alone not having to use a sharp knife to open it in the first place, especially when the costs are no different for the non-welded designs.
One more annoyance... Goo. The ramp of the Boomerang seems to be covered with a thin soft vinyl. The instruction booklet (which is also the main graphic flyer of the packaging) is overlaid on the ramp so to be very visible through the packaging. But some rocket scientist decided that wouldn't be good enough and used an adhesive to GLUE the flyer to the ramp. You have all been there... a sticker with little reason, stuck all over your new toy. Some are engineered to be removed with no residue... others leave behind a sticky mess that can only be removed with industrial strength chemicals. Guess which one this was?
I tried warm water and detergent to no avail. I was hesitant to use lighter fluid or Goo-B-Gone for fear of it attacking the vinyl... but with careful application managed to remove it while inflicting no apparent damage. But why should I have had to go through this? So now I have spent 15 minutes with the damn box cutter getting the package open and cleaning the sticky goo of my Boomerang. I really should have reverse-rolled my Carnoustie mat before going through all of this as it would have been "primed" by the time the Boomerang was finally ready to go.
Finally time to play with it!!!
The Good
This is a very clever device. Not much to it, but there doesn't have to be. It is much more challenging than any other device I have used, and more reliable in getting the ball back to you for the next shot than most (until of course you catch two balls in the thing). Will I be sending it back? No. I like the fact that it has no cord or batteries, and it is clear this will grove your stroke more conveniently than most anything else.
So What's Wrong With It
The main thing... the Mat, while FAST, does not roll true. I have tried it on a plush pile carpet, laminate over slab floor, and on my pool table, which I can absolutely guarantee is flat and level. The problem is that the mat is convex when laid out with the curl down, and concave when laid out curl up. I have reverse rolled this thing the other way and left it for quite some time and it is nearly flat... but it is still clearly convex on one side and concave on the other. I think the roll is better on a flat hard surface then when placed on carpet, but it does not completely correct the rolling characteristics of the mat
This means that any balled rolled on the convex side will tend to roll off the edges of the mat if it is not rolled exactly along the ridge line. Any ball not returned directly on this line from the ramp will run off the edges of the mat before it ever gets back to you. Just using the putter to drag a ball on to the mat makes the high center quite noticeable.
Here is my setup. Note the floor molding on the near side... wished I had one on the other side of the mat!!!
Now there may be a way to eliminate this (maybe even several). You could turn the mat over... but then you're kinda putting down a trough. You could do what I am considering... glueing the mat down to a laminate plank, with a couple of nice moldings on the side (kind of like a miniature bowling lane). Or maybe just a few pieces of that temporary double-sided carpet tape would do the job. OR... maybe just having this thing down on the floor for a while will allow it to flatten out a bit more (I kind of doubt it though).
Which brings up another question; the package says (or perhaps I should say that little booklet that was goobered to my ramp says) "For Best Results * Always store your Boomerang when not in use". I don't want to store it... I can't think keeping the mat rolled up when I'm not practicing is better than leaving it set up flat. I'll only pick it up if it gets in the way of folks shooting pool. Is there a reason for this statement?
One last suggestion... the level adjustment consists of a set of "channels" molded into the underside of the ramp in which the main support cross member is pressed into to adjust its grade. The channels have no kind of radiused clip design to accept the round cross member... just friction, which I think may be lost over time. It seems the mold for this device could be easily modified to make the settings more positive.
In closing... it is important to note that, with the exception of the mat issues discussed above (which may indeed "iron" themselves out over time), none of the "shortcomings" I cite above prevent this contraption from doing what it was designed to do, and what it does do it does well. But considering its price point (and the fact that it is made in China), I think there are a few rough edges that could be smoothed out to create a better purchasing experience for the average consumer. But even as it sits now, I can't help but recommend this as a great invention that provides a fun, challenging, and useful regimen to hone your putting... especially your speed control.
), but through those four holes I had a total of FIVE putts, including a 25-footer to save par after a terrible pitch shot.
