The SKLZ Team appreciates Don’s feedback on the Putting Gate’s quality and value. After reading Don’s review, we checked the quality of the inventory we have in-house. We were unfortunately surprised to find the adhesive problem Don noted, since we had the product fully tested at the factory several months ago and had not received any adverse customer comments or product returns to-date. As a result of the adhesive issue, however, we have ceased sales of Putting Gates on our website and are contacting our direct consumers and our retail customers to inspect their stock. We will provide return authorizations and offer a credit to anyone who has purchased the Putting Gate and has experienced any product issue. Customers can contact SKLZ Customer Service at customerservice@sklz.com to receive their credit. We are already re-evaluating the adhesives and process used to attach the Velcro® to the rubber base in order to resolve the issue before re-introducing the Putting Gate to our customers.

The SKLZ Team designed the Putting Gate to mimic one of the most common putting drills used by PGA Pros and Instructors to ensure that the critical path of the putter head before and through impact is square to the ball—the critical factor in avoiding pushed and pulled putts. This drill is commonly performed on practice greens using tees. The goal was to develop a training aid that is easily portable, yet elegant enough to be used in a home or office setting. With the cherry wood block design, and rubber bottom designed to create as little friction as possible during takeaway, we believe we have achieved these objectives.

The shallow 1.0 mm indentation line is designed not only to hold the ball in place, but also to create an intentional hop if the ball is struck improperly by hitting down on the ball. Under rigorous testing it was proven that the ball does not hop when struck properly in the center. We re-tested this concept again after reading Don’s comments.

As a training aid, the purpose of the Putting Gate is to force players to think obsessively about square contact while maintaining distance control. Through repetition training, the Putting Gate helps players develop a purer, more consistent, and stress-resistant stroke. This training is especially critical for longer putts of 20-30 feet when breaks are usually in play. In these situations, golfers typically swing inside-out or outside-in to “steer” the ball to and through the break, when in actuality, the initial alignment and squaring the face are more critical to success. The Putting Gate teaches these tactics with a proven training technique that initially may lead to some discomfort and missed putts, but ultimately leads to a more solid putting stroke.

The Deuce Two-Ball Trainer packaged with the Putting Gate is designed to deliver more effective, accurate feedback than using just one or two unattached balls. To perfectly align two balls to achieve accurate feedback would be extremely time consuming, while the two-ball trainer is engineered to be perfectly balanced to provide immediate feedback on whether or not you are “toe hitting” or “heel hitting” the ball. Our Deuce features two balls spaced apart just right to provide this feedback without being too punitive and frustrating.

SKLZ is committed to researching, designing and producing the most innovative and effective golf training aids for the professionals and amateurs who rely on SKLZ to help them maximize their games. We always welcome feedback from golfers of all abilities in our effort to help make the game more enjoyable for all of us.

-SKLZ Team

First off, Welcome to the forum. Glad you posted your first post here. I'm also very glad to see that you have found the same problem with the glue failing and the velcro strips falling off the rubber mat. Also happy to read that you are pulling the product in order to correct said problem.

I don't know why YOU didn't notice the ball hop when using your Putting Gate, but I sure noticed the ball rolling off line on every putt. As I mentioned, I didn't sink ONE putt when using your product, which is not at all normal for me. After I stopped using the Gate, I was able to sink my normal average number of putts again. Could be ME, but I have no idea WHY is would be me and not the Putting Gate at fault. As I mentioned to you in my reply by email, I didn't have this issue when I placed the ball IN FRONT of the rubber mat instead of in the indentation line as you call it. Again, it could have been ME, but I still don't see why if it was ME, moving the ball to in front of the mat improved my aim so much.

As for the DUECE,2 ball trainer, I don't understand how it would be HARDER to align TWO seperate balls to the target line, as it is to align your 2 ball trainer. HOW exactly is it harder to set 2 balls on the ground square to the target line, then it is to set your 2 ball device square to the target line? Having done both, I don't see your point. I'm NOT saying your 2 ball trainer doesn't WORK. ALL I'm saying is I can do the SAME THING with 2 regular golf balls. and do the same drill in the same manner. And using 2 ragalar golf balls means I don't have to carry one more item in my bag when I don't have to.

You have my email address as well as my phone numbers should you wish to discuss any of this. Be happy of offer you my opinions on how to improve your Putting Gate for the future. In my return email, I sent you a few of my ideas, with my offer to correct two of my issues with your product. My offer of my assistance is still available if you wish to take me up on it. When you are ready to re-introduce your Putting Gate, I'd be happy to re-test it and do a follow-up review on it for this site.