Alex Fitzpatrick’s US Open the preparation looked a little different on Tuesday at Shinnecock Hillswhere he was seen on the practice green with a headset over his eyes. The Englishman was spotted using the device ahead of his practice round, attracting the attention of the media and fans, many of whom were left wondering exactly what he was using.
The answer, it seems, is PuttView X — a smart glasses system built with Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality technology that projects visuals directly onto the placement surface.
Designed to help golfers improve green reading, alignment, distance control and more, the system overlays real-time information based on slope, target line and selected pace. For players who already use tools like AimPoint, it provides another layer of feedback to more accurately interpret rest and speed.
How PuttView X works
Once the glasses are on and placed over your eyes, digital projections are displayed directly on the placement surface in front of you. These images will show metrics like expected ball path, ideal launch line, and how different velocities affect the break. And the visuals update instantly, so players can test multiple iterations of the same putt—by putting it in, passing it, or matching a specific rest and pace combination.
Spending time with the PuttView team at the PGA Show last year and testing the system live, what stood out the most was the fit. I appreciated that you could customize it to your individual style of placement. This feature also allows players to experiment with different reading and speed preferences in a structured environment, a tool that could come in handy later this week. The Shinnecock is an extremely fast and demanding green.
Features of PuttView X
According to PuttView’s website, the system includes a variety of training tools that help players sharpen aspects of their game such as line, speed and green reading. Ideal Line, for example, shows a curved, speed-adjusted ball path to the hole with animated guidance to reinforce proper launch line and pace. The target line, another feature from PuttView, provides a reference for alignment and shows how different speeds break down.
The Contour Lines feature highlights slope and elevation changes. You can also adjust your speed from a deadweight swing to an aggressive putt (up to 3 feet before) to train distance control using the Power feature. And Green Speed ​​lets players set green speed based on the Stimpmeter so the feedback you get matches real-world feedback.
The PuttView X also comes with the PuttView Companion app, which acts as a training center. It allows instructors to mirror a player’s view via screencast, access detailed pitching data, record and review sessions and even control the system remotely from a smartphone during practice.
In theory, with real-time distance coaching, Fitzpatrick’s coach could have given him feedback or instructions virtually while he was alone on the practice green.
