PuttView Yardage Books Review: Better Than a Caddy?

If you want to take your game to the next level, you need yardage books (especially if you play in tournaments). This PuttView yardage book review will break down how they can help your game, how they compare with competitors, and discuss the three different types of books they offer.

If you prefer to watch instead of read, check out my YouTube video below. 

PuttView Yardage Book Review

In 2017, I got back into tournament golf after a seven-year hiatus from competitive events. Within a few events I realized that I was not the type of player who could go out to a course “blind” and play well. Instead, I was the type of golfer who needed to have a plan of attack for every hole instead of trying to “wing it.”

I started buying the yardage books in the pro shops of different clubs throughout Arizona. Some were $5 and displayed basic information such as distance to the green, bunkers, and tee boxes. 

Then I tried out professional yardage books when I played in some mini-tour events that allowed amateurs. These books were much more detailed and somewhat overwhelming as they included distances from every sprinkler head on the course. But they didn’t provide much detail about the slope of the greens.

This is when I started shopping online for yardage books including PuttView, Strackaline, and GolfLogix. After testing out all of them in competition, this is why I think PuttView has the best yardage books out there. 

Three Types of Books 

PuttiVew beats the competition as they offer three different books - priced at $29, $39, and $49. Each book is 6.5” and 3.75” and greens are scaled to no larger than ⅜ inch to 5 yards making them USGA conforming.

Let’s break down each type of yardage book to see which is right for your game.

Yardage Only - $29 

The yardage only book is the cheapest option but still much better than the ones you can buy in a pro shop (assuming golf courses even offer yardage books). This book has plenty of information to help you strategize each hole including:

• Elevation changes. 
• Distances to other tee boxes.
• Penalty to penalty width distance. 
• Compass for green and tee shot to gauge wind direction. 
• Carries and run out distances to pick each tee shot with confidence. 

They also have an overview of the green but no indication of slopes or how putts will break. I use these books for courses that I won’t play often and/or ones with easy to read green structures. 

Major Slopes - $39

The second option is the major slopes' version which is more detailed than the yardage book only option. It has everything in the $29 version and fairway arrows that represent slope above 4% to help position your tee shots.

The real difference between this version and the previous is the detailed thermal green view. This makes it easy to spot contours on the greens and areas around the green to hit better chip shots. While it’s not fully detailed on every part of the green, it’s plenty of information for most golfers.

Yardage + Green Map - $49 

The final option is the yardage and green map, which has the most information possible - it’s like having a caddy with you at all times. This is the one I typically buy, especially if I’m playing a big event (like a USGA qualifier or a course I play regularly in tournaments). This book has everything you need from tee to green and every shot in between.

The yardages are detailed with distances to fairway bunkers, hazards, and even display the width of fairways. After using Decade Golf I love knowing how wide a fairway is based on the “driver decision tree matrix” taught inside the program. 

The real difference between this and the other two versions is the detailed view of the greens. Not only does this version include a thermal view to spot ridges, it has a detailed view to show arrows on all parts of the green. Paired with a pin location sheet you get in tournaments, you can get a much better view of how a putt will break.

It also has information about the slopes around the greens to help with chip shots too. There’s still plenty of room to log notes from past rounds as well. 

30,000+ Golf Courses 

Another reason it’s tough to beat these Yardage books is because of the huge selection of courses. With more than 30,000 golf courses worldwide I’ve only had one instance where a course wasn’t available. 

Plus, they ship them quickly even without paying for expedited shipping. But if you’re in a rush and need one fast they have even faster shipping options. 

Top Questions 

Keep reading if you have more questions about yardage books. 

Are green books legal? 

Yes, yardage books are legal for tournament play. They have more strict rules in professional golf and the PGA Tour - but they’re legal for amateur events (unless the “hard card” of rules says otherwise at a specific event). 

Are yardage books worth it?

If you’re a serious golfer and want every advantage possible, yes they are worth it. If you’re a recreational golfer and don’t play often, you’re fine skipping a yardage book.

But if you’re someone who plays a lot of amateur golf events (like state events, USGA qualifiers, etc.) you need a yardage book. They help you log notes, read greens, and hopefully make better decisions tee to green. 

How do you use a blank yardage book? 

A blank yardage book is much more difficult to use than one that is already filled out. You’ll need to draw out the outline of the hole and green which is time intensive (and I’m a terrible artist so this isn’t the best choice for me).  

What do pros have in their yardage books? 

Pros have immense details in their yardage books. This might include information from past events like wind direction, previous hole locations, what club they used off the tee, and much more. Caddies might have their own book that also helps their players with more information as well. 

Does every course have a yardage book? 

Not every course sells a yardage book in the pro shop - which is why I love PuttView. With more than 30,000 golf courses worldwide, you can order a book to give you an advantage over players without one. They’re also much more detailed and helpful than basic yardage books sold at most golf courses. 

What is the book pro golfers carry in their back pocket?

These are yardage books, typically in their back pocket to help them make better decisions on the golf course. 

Why is the PGA Tour getting rid of green books?

They’re trying to get players and caddies to use more feel vs. green reading books. They’ll instead provide stock yardage books for all players but have much less information in them. This is common at major championships as well. 

Why are there no yardage books at the Masters?

Augusta National simply does things their way… they’ve never let a team come in and use laser technology to map out the greens. They provide a bare bones book for players and green reading is very important. 

Closing Thoughts 

Yardage books are a crucial piece of equipment if you’re a committed golfer. 

I’ve acquired a library of books over the years and feel much more confident when I have one in my back pocket. Paired with a practice round (or two) and some extra research on Google Earth (I’m a golf geek) I have everything I need for competition.

As you can see, they’re not cheap so make sure to buy a yardage book holder as well. This is important if you play in a lot of hot or cold weather. There’s nothing worse than sweat or rain ruining your $49 yardage book (luckily PuttView does have waterproof paper which helps). 

Click here to learn more about PuttView today.

If you’re interested in tournament golf make sure to check out these resources:

• Tori Totlis Interview: How to Thrive in Tournament Golf
• Episode #133 - Q&A: When Should I Play in Golf Tournaments? 
• Mental Golf Type - The #1 Mental Game System to Get in the Zone