Q: How can I hit a downhill putt on the Boomerang?

A: The short answer is you can't because it's impossible to putt down hill on an incline. But, although you can't practice a "downhill putt" as such, you can still practice an inch perfect lag putt and because you don't need to fetch balls you can do so hundreds of times an hour.

The first part of the Boomerang challenge is to lag a ball into the target which is only a shallow depression. This requires a level of accuracy you can't duplicate anywhere else. You will only get a ball to remain in the Boomerang's target if it's literally inch-perfect and all other putts will come back to your feet. Thus, despite being an incline, the first putt you need to master in order to beat the Boomerang is an inch perfect lag putt.

Q: Dave Pelz says you should practice putting 18" past the hole - how do I do that on the Boomerang?

A: After you've trapped a ball into the target use a second ball, struck with the correct amount of force, to return both balls to your feet.

The force required to dislodge the first ball is the equivalent of putting the second ball 18-20 inches past the hole. Any less and you risk trapping both balls in the target, any more and the putt can spin out and fail to come back all together.

Even though the target is enclosed and you can't see the ball travel past the hole, you can measure your distance past the hole on your matchplay putt by how effective it is in releasing your first putt from the target.

Q: How will it effect my distance control if I putt on the Boomerang all the time?

A: Firstly I don't recommend you practice exclusively on the Boomerang . Alternate your practice between an actual putting green and the Boomerang and your distance control will rapidly improve due to improved feedback and repetition.

Remember too that the Boomerang has six levels that allow you to practice any length putt from 3ft-30ft so exploit that facility, mix up your practice and constantly challenge yourself. Whenever you get into a groove, change the height setting and see how good you are on a new distance. Or keep the height setting and vary the distance you stand from your Boom.

Distance control is what the Boomerang is all about. Just don't practice on a slow surface and expect to be dialed in or medium or fast greens. The opposite is also true - if you practice on our Carnoustie Tournament Mat and then go out to play on slow winter greens chances are you'll leave everything short. MY GOLDEN RULE is always practice on the same speed surface you intend to play on.

Q: How long would my Boomerang putt be if I hit it on a putting green?

A: It's simple to work out how far a perfect Boomerang putt would roll the ball on a flat surface.

After looking at the table above you might be asking why the force required to hit a 10ft uphill putt is the same as the force necessary to hit a 17ft putt on a flat surface?

Well, let me explain... If you set your Boomerang on level 2 and release a ball from the target the ball will travel 10' 2" along our Carnoustie Tournament Mat. So, putting from where the ball comes to rest, if your ball rolls up to the front of the target, just misses and rolls 10' 2" back to your feet it will have traveled a total distance of 20' 4". But that doesn't mean the force necessary to hit a 10' 2" putt that inclines 4.5" is equal to the force required to hit a 20' 4" putt on a flat surface.

To calculate the equivalent flat distance putt first you need to subtract the distance the ball has traveled on the Boomerang and therefore the effect of the Boomerang on the ball in both directions (2x18 inches). Total distance 20'4" - 3'0" = 17'4" flat distance. I asked my good friend Geoff Magnum to check these calculations and he confirmed the above calculations are correct.

People who putt by-the-numbers who often ask "how far would this Boom putt be if I was hitting it on a real green?" But I tell them that the fastest way to a feel for better distance control is to choose any longish putt that you can replicate over and over and practice synchronizing the ball and putter speed because the effects on your distance control will be immediate and astonishing.