Quick Answer: The Exputt RG EX500D is the best putting simulator for most home golfers in 2026 — a dedicated high-speed camera tracks your putter path, face angle, and ball roll, then simulates the result on a virtual green, all for about $469 with no camera-tracking competitor anywhere near that price. Want augmented-reality break lines projected onto a real turf surface instead of a screen? The PuttView P7 delivers that, but starts at $11,980 plus an annual software fee. For most golfers building a home practice space, the Exputt is the easy recommendation; PuttView is for golfers who have already committed to a serious dedicated studio.
A launch monitor tells you almost nothing useful about your putting — even premium photometric units are built and tuned to read full swings, not a six-inch tap-in. That’s the gap a dedicated putting simulator fills: a camera or projector system built specifically to track putter and ball motion, then simulate the roll on a realistic green. This guide compares the two real options on the market, what each one actually costs to own, and which one fits a normal home practice setup instead of a commercial teaching studio. If you just want honest roll feedback without any camera or software, our best indoor putting green mat picks are the simpler, cheaper route.
Putting simulators by the numbers
- The Exputt RG EX500D costs about $469, per PlayBetter’s pricing, and uses an ultra-high-speed camera over a 48-by-13-inch mat to read putter face angle, path, tempo, and impact, then simulates the putt on a virtual course green with adjustable speeds.
- The PuttView P7 starts at $11,980 for the Basic tier and runs to $16,980 for the Plus tier, per golfsimulatoradvisor.com and turfteamlandscaping.com, plus a $180–$1,495/year software subscription after the first included year — full pricing breakdown in our PuttView review.
- Putting accounts for roughly 40% of strokes in an average round of golf, which is why a dedicated tracking system — not just a flat roll surface — pays off for golfers serious about lowering scores.
Pair either one with a launch monitor for full-swing data, and you’ve covered the two halves of the game a single sim setup usually misses. All pricing verified August 2026.
Best putting simulators 2026 at a glance
| Simulator | Price | Tracking | Subscription | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exputt RG EX500D | ~$469 | High-speed camera | None | Best overall |
| PuttView P7 Basic | $11,980 + ~$180/yr | AR projector + camera | ~$180/yr | Best AR realism |
| PuttView P7 Plus | $16,980 + ~$1,495/yr | AR projector + camera | ~$1,495/yr | Best for coaching studios |
The best putting simulators of 2026
1. Exputt RG EX500D — best overall
Exputt RG EX500D Putting Simulator
- Ultra-high-speed camera reads putter face angle, path, tempo, and impact on a 48x13-inch mat with a backstop.
- Simulates the putt on a virtual green with adjustable speeds and distance-control training modes.
- Wi-Fi enabled for software updates and online play through the Exputt RG mobile app — no ongoing fee to putt.
Get your putting simulator in two days — try Amazon Prime free for 30 days — so you’re grooving reps at home before the weekend instead of waiting on a slow shipment.
The Exputt RG wins the top spot because it’s the only camera-tracking putting simulator priced for a normal home golfer instead of a studio budget. It captures the same fundamentals a premium system does — putter path, face angle at impact, tempo — and turns each stroke into a simulated putt on a virtual green, complete with adjustable speed settings so you can practice reading a fast tournament green or a slower muni without leaving your living room. The compact 48-by-13-inch footprint fits beside a hitting mat or a launch monitor bay without needing a dedicated room.
2. PuttView P7 — best AR realism
PuttView P7 AR Putting Simulator
- Projects augmented-reality break lines, targets, and drills directly onto a real 60-square-foot turf green.
- Overhead camera tracks every putt for instant, on-surface visual feedback rather than a screen.
- Sold only as a direct or dealer-installed quote, never on Amazon or in stores.
PuttView does something the Exputt can’t: it projects the break line and target directly onto a real turf surface, so you’re reading and reacting to a putt on an actual green instead of watching a screen. That realism is genuine, but it comes at roughly 25 times the Exputt’s price before the software subscription even starts. It’s the right call for a golfer who has already committed to a dedicated practice studio or a coaching business, not a first putting-tech purchase — see our full PuttView review for the complete cost breakdown across both tiers.
How to choose a putting simulator
- Decide if you need AR realism or just accurate tracking. The Exputt’s virtual-green simulation is more than enough feedback for most golfers; PuttView’s on-surface AR projection only matters if you specifically want to read real turf break, not a screen.
- Check the footprint before you buy. The Exputt’s 48x13-inch mat fits almost any room; PuttView’s P7 needs a dedicated 60-square-foot turf install, closer to a small home simulator bay than a corner setup.
- Factor in the subscription, not just the sticker price. The Exputt has no ongoing fee. PuttView’s software tier adds $180–$1,495 a year after the first included year — real money over a multi-year ownership window.
- A putting simulator doesn’t replace a mat if budget is tight. If $469 is still more than you want to spend, our best indoor putting green picks — starting around $60 — deliver honest roll and pace feedback without any camera or software.
- Pair it with your full-swing setup. Neither a launch monitor nor a full simulator bay reads putts reliably, so a dedicated putting simulator or mat is the piece most home setups are missing. See our best golf simulator for home pillar for how it fits into a complete room.
The bottom line
The Exputt RG EX500D is the best putting simulator for most golfers in 2026 — real camera-based tracking, virtual green simulation, and no subscription, all for about $469. Step up to the PuttView P7 only if on-surface AR projection is worth 25 times the price to you, and read our full PuttView review before you commit to a quote. Either way, pair it with a launch monitor for full-swing data and you’ve covered the two parts of the game a single sim setup usually misses.