I was lucky enough to be able to purchase an 006 LN a week ago. To the best of my knowledge this putter is a prototype and the first 006 LN that Byron has made other than some welded necks. I have always liked longnecks and currently have 7 of them. The long neck putter is one of the reasons I got into collecting putters. I seam to put my best with a more face-balanced putter. I put this putter into play right away. As soon as I got it out of the box I drove up to the putting green at our club and practiced with it for about ½ hour before it got too dark to see. My first impressing was that I was going to enjoy using this one.

Look:
This putter has the Coldstar finish on it and it is misted throughout. The face is milled with the fine face milling style not the “twilight zone” milling. The pictures I have attached show the fine milling when enlarged. In addition the putter has a sight dot and sound slot. The neck is a bit shorter than some of my other longnecks and that contributes to the putter having a 4 o’clock toe hang vs. being face balanced.

Feel:
This putter head I am told weighs in at 365g as sent to me. I put it on a swing weight machine and it came in at E-5. This is probably the heaviest putter I have ever used. When struck on the sweet spot this putter almost feels like you are just taking a practice swing. I was actually surprised at how soft this one felt. This is one of the softest feeling putters I have used to date. The ball feels soft when coming off the face while it also has a solid quality to it. When you hit the sweet spot it is almost like hitting nothing. The ball just starts rolling towards the target. I had some trouble initially lining things up with a sight dot. I have a sight line on all of my other putters because I like it for alignment. Once I got used to lining things up my putting went along fine.

Overall:
I would rate this design as excellent overall. It fits my eye well and is easy to gain confidence with once the putts start to fall in the hole. In addition the milling and balance are outstanding. I think the only negative comment I would have is the fact that I did not get a sightline on this putter. I may get another with a sightline and use it as a gamer. Right now I will be using this one for the rest of the weekend.

For More information on Byron Morgan Putters, visit byronputters.com

I’m going to finish this review with the exact sentence I start it with.

Hallelujah, the Anser is back.

After a long hiatus filled with funky-looking plastic inserts, 1/2 bicycle-rim sized branding irons, and a slew of “what were they thinking” putters from our friends in Scottsdale…we have a good-old-fashioned Ping Anser again.

For this review, I lent the putter to 2 friends of various handicaps. I also sent a Scottsdale Anser I had to compare it to. The results were unanimous.

This is a VERY tasteful version of a classic design…and a true Anser.

Craftsmanship:

From Ping.com
For golfers preferring the performance of a steel face with an insert feel, the Karsten Series meets the criteria. An elastomer insert in the cavity provides enhanced feel while maintaining the solid response of a steel-faced putter. Weight savings from the new cavity shapes were redistributed to the perimeter to increase each putter’s moment-of-inertia for added forgiveness.

The cast steel head is, by its self, a classic putter. You have a crisp and responsive putter that sounds familiar to most golfers. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that has NEVER putted with a Ping putter Odds are, you are already familiar with the signature sound and feel.

What Ping does differently with the Karsten series, is to add an elastomer insert on the BACK of the cavity. This deadens the sound enough that the putt still sounds crisp, but has an authority to it that inspired confidence in the 2-3 people that I lent this putter to in the past few weeks.

Headcover:

To me, this is one of the more interesting headcovers I’ve seen recently. The design and shape are nice enough, but nothing earth-shattering. The real cool part is that there is a magnet inside the material at the TOP of the headcover. When you put the putter inside it, the magnet grabs the sole, and keeps it nice and snug. No noise, plenty of protection. Brilliant!

The Grip is a Winn style mid-sized grip that offers a nice package when coupled with the headcover. It isn’t often that we see a grip this nice on a club this reasonably priced.

Material:

The first ping putters were made using a casting process very similar to how most of Ping’s clubs are still made to this day. The “norm” for high-end putters these days is to mill them from a solid block of steel. There are pros/cons to both methods, but in the end…it’s what gets the ball in the hole that matters.

This putter is a cast from the same material that the Ping irons are made of. Ping’s own mix of Steel and Mojo that they guard closely. That’s just fine by me…some things should be kept secret.

Address:

From Ping.com:
Multi-level alignment aids are designed into most models.

This pertains to the B60 and C67 models more than the Anser, but it is worth noting.

This putter is as simple as they come at address. Gone are the blue disks, strange lines and shinny finishes. This is a single sightline, and a evenly proportioned cavity. Good stuff when you have more important things to worry about…like the 4-footer for a weeks worth of bragging rights.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
I’ve saved the best part about this putter for my final thoughts.

THE MSRP IS ONLY $99.00! This is a great putter at 2X that cost…$99 makes it an OUTSTANDING value. So, again I say…

Hallelujah, the Anser is back.

Discuss PING putters in our Putter Community

Stats:
Company: Ping
URL: http://ping.com/
MSRP: $99.00
Length: 33″ to 35″
Loft: 2° - 4°
Lie: 71°
Head Weight: 340g - 365g
Swing Weight:
Material: Zinc
Grip: Custom Winn AVS
Head Cover: Custom Magnetic
Manufacturing Type: Cast
Made In: USA

Back in January, I was in Chicago visiting Bettinardi’s “Studio B” and got to see a sneak-preview of the new Mizuno line they were working on. The putters were unfinished. There were variations of the heads scattered all over Bob’s office. His right-hand-man Keith had CAD drawings marked up and piled by his monitor. Bob remarked at one point “I want this to just scream quality. That is what my market expects.”

Over the next several months, I’d visit Bob from time to time, and see several more variations of the new Mizuno line. Necks were shorter, bumpers shaped differently, sample grips were scrutinized. Last month we were sitting in his office, surrounded by putters and there were three heads on his desk. The BC1, BC2, and BC3. All perfectly finished.

Doug: “Are these the finished product?”

Bob: “Yes sir…those are the first 3.”

Doug: “Where do they go from here?”

Keith: “Now you get to tell us what YOU think.”

Keith then shafted, gripped, and shipped the first three finished BC series putters to Putter Talk for review.

Craftsmanship:
Known the world over for the attention to detail, Bob Bettinardi doesn’t put out a product unless it adheres to VERY stringent QC standards. After he’s done, it goes to Mizuno HQ in Japan for further scrutiny. The BC Series putters are no exception. From the solid-ingot that each putter is produced from, to the tenth-gram that each head is weighed in at, no one can dispute the level of craftsmanship that goes into each and every putter that Bettinardi’s name goes on.

The Black Carbon putters are the first time a retail putter has had the Patented “Feel Impact Technology Face” (FIT Face) that Bettinardi developed earlier this year.

The F.I.T Face™ milled area dramatically reduces the surface area of where the ball makes contact with the face and in turn delivers an extremely solid and soft feel to every putt.

After a putter has the Honey-Comb pattern milled into the face, it goes through another step that adds the ‘railroad’ tracks to the sweet spot. This “insert-less insert” is a small series of millings that change the auditory feedback the putter produces when striking a ball. The result is a very soft ‘feel’ that gets the ball rolling real fast.

Also new on the Black Carbon series is the black finish that is plated to the carbon steel. This finish doesn’t glare in the sun, and won’t rust. Best of both worlds? You bet. We found that the contrast that the black putter made against the white ball, and the lack of glare helped in concentration while putting. With a lot to think about when aligning a 6-footer to make your buddy buy lunch, the last thing you want to think about is squinting your eyes.

Material:
A solid block of 12L14 Carbon Steel is milled into a putter at the Bettinardi studio in Tinely park, just outside of Chicago. If you ever visit Studio B, you’ll be able to watch putters come off the line…and the ridiculous amount of scrap metal that follows.

Milling from 12L14 offers a great mix of hardness and mill-ability. The Black Carbon plating procedure isn’t thick enough to change the auditory dynamics of the putter, and offers protection against the elements.

Headcover / Grip:
The BC Series headcovers don’t use the standard AM&E headcover we’ve seen on Bettinardi putters in the past. This time, Mizuno designed a headcover that would allow them to do more than just draw a stitching pattern on a headcover that everyone else is using. The result is a very nice headcover that protects the head, and matches the Yellow-Black theme of the line.

I’ll say that it’s not my FAVORITE headcover of all time, but I’d expect that the next revision will be better. Not that there was anything specifically wrong with this one, it just was a little big in some places, and not big enough in others.

Notable features are that the individual headcovers are marked with the model numbers of the putters they hold. Pretty funny when all three putters initially shipped to me with BC3 headcovers.

The special “Honey-Comb” grip extends the Yellow/Black theme of the package. The attention to detail shows.

Address:
At address, the three putters have their own characteristics. The BC1 looks like your standard Anser 2 style head, with an off-set neck that disappears into the shaft.

The BC2 is more of a traditional Blade with a generously thick flange that holds a thin flange line for alignment. If your head isn’t over the ball on the BC2, you’ll see the white paint-fill of the word “Bettinardi” on the back of the flange. This is distracting, but forces you to keep the putter back where it should be. (You need to have the putter a good 4″ forward to see it…which is a healthy press.)

Looking at the BC3 next to the other two putters shows that it is a very compact design. The BC3 is a interesting evolution of the standard “mallet putter” that a lot of companies push as an afterthought. A wide and deep back coupled with a double-bend shaft offers a clean look at address. The sightline pops out at you to help align the ball correctly at impact. The last mallet putter that I used on any consistent basis was a Zebra back in the 1990s. I could see this putter as a good replacement for that style head.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
There is a lot of competition in the “$300 Putter” marketplace these days. With an innovation like “FIT Face”, you really need to make sure that it’s done right the first time. You don’t get a second chance at something like this. If someone spends $300 on a putter and it doesn’t work, they won’t be back to buy “Round II” when you get it figured out.

Any of these putters would surpass even the most skeptical golfers expectations. With the testing that Bettinardi and Mizuno have been doing both in-house, and with their tour players over the last year, this design is VERY ready for prime-time. With each of the three heads available in several lengths and weights, there is bound to be a putter for every golfer in the Black Carbon series. The quality of the product and attention to detail offer a complete package that is well worth the price of admission. If the Mizuno/Bettinardi relationship is working out this well after only 18 months, the coming years are going to be very exciting in the high-end putter market.

Discuss Bettinardi putters in our Putter Community

Stats:
Company: Mizuno / Bob Bettinardi
URL: http://www.mizuno.com
MSRP: $299.00+
Length: 33″ to 35″
Loft: 4-deg
Lie: 71-deg
Head Weight: 330g 343g 355g
Swing Weight: D-4 to D-6
Material: 12L14 - Carbon Steel
Grip: Winn “Honeycomb” Custom
Head Cover: Mizuno
Manufacturing Type: 100% CNC Milled
Made In: USA

But how times change. Fast forward 45 years later, heel-shafted blade putters are the exception, not the rule. And while Crenshaw’s father paid $20 for the 8802 as a gift to his son - who in turn won all but 2 tournaments with “Little Ben” - people are now easily spending over $200 to roll the ball into the cup. But as the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same. 2007 sees the return of the 8802 with some extra bells and whistles not seen in the past and at a sub-$100 price point. Will this new incarnation mark the return of a once favored and enduring design. With that, let’s meet the Wilson Staff 8862.

Craftsmanship:
The 8862 features a stainless steel head with milled face and milled aluminum insert. There is a decent amount of heft (by the way, the weight is unpublished), and the brushed satin finish does the job of thwarting the sun’s glare. The simple sight line is useful in setting up to the ball, although misleadin. because of the sweet spot’s location (see next paragraph). The stamps on the face and sole are stately but not gaudy. In general, the 8862 retains the simple yet elegant shape of its predecessor.

The red aluminum face insert with hexagonal milling pattern, however, is in stark contrast to the rest of the putter. It is akin to seeing spinning rims on an antique Rolls Royce. It is understandable that Wilson would use such technology to enhance the 8862’s “soft” feel, especially considering that the sweet spot is located closer towards the heel in such a design. Purists will argue that using an insert is bad enough, so why ruin it completely with something so candy-colored. While this is essentially an aesthetic issue, it is a relatively major one.

Headcover:
This cover is a bit of a disappointment in that it’s a simple neoprene sleeve with Velcro enclosure. Although it does the job of protecting the putter head, the overall effect is to cheapen the look of something associated with such golf-related historical significance. It’s possible that Wilson chose this design to minimize cost and adhere to the targeted retail price. But one could argue that the company should have considered using a smaller blade-style cover offered by someone such as AM&E to enhance the putter’s overall appeal.

Grip/Shaft:
The grip is a standard Winn and the stock shaft is a stepless True Temper that are nothing to write home about. The grip is basically what one expects from Winn: decent tack, a touch slippery perhaps. But the Wilson Staff colors look nice on it, and don’t detract from the overall looks of the 8862. It would be nice if Wilson offered a stiffer tipped, lower torque shaft option for those who prefer a firmer feel while putting, but the stock offering is solid enough.

Material:
The head’s stainless steel appears to be quite durable and not as susceptible to rust or scratching as carbon steel (again, exact material grade is not published). And the aluminum insert actually works well with the 8862, especially for those wanting a softer feel. However, there are times when it’s a little difficult to tell whether one has missed towards the heel or toe. In addition there is the occasional hollow feel after stroking the ball, so those could be some issues one may have with the 8862.

Address:
At address, the sight line and relatively thick top line do give the golfer confidence to get squarely aligned to the ball. The slight shaft offset helps one get a clean look at the ball as well. Looking down, there are subtle differences between the 8862 and 8802 that can be discussed in PutterTalk’s “Community” section. Suffice to say here that at address, one does get the sense that 8862 pays pretty good tribute to its predecessor.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
With regard to overall appeal, it’s safe to say that the 8862 falls short of the 8802…However, in terms of what one can get for less than $100, the 8862 is not bad at all. For those whose stroke and eye favor this style of heel-shafted putter, the 8862 is worth a try. This putter won’t break the bank, and it won’t shatter any glasses, spectacles or monacles…as long as one can get past that face insert.

Discuss Wilson putters in our Putter Community

High-Speed Video Clip:


Download this clip: wilson_8862.mov (Quicktime required)

Stats:
Company: Wilson Golf
URL: http://WilsonGolf.com/
MSRP: $129.99
Length: 35″
Loft: 3.5-deg
Lie: 72-deg
Head Weight: 335g
Swing Weight: E-3
Material: Stainless - Aluminum
Grip: Winn
Head Cover: Custom
Manufacturing Type: Cast/Milled
Made In: China

“High MOI” Mallets seem to be the trend in putters lately. When science and sports collide, you end up with some pretty interesting interpretations of classic designs. Golf is no stranger to funny looking inventions. When the 2-Ball arrived on the scene almost 10 years ago, it was seen as a funny-looking putter….until a 90-footer dropped on national TV, and the race was on to the sporting goods store to order Odyssey’s newest invention.

When I first saw the Fussell XCITOUR, I thought it was yet another ‘2-ball’ knock-off…until I got it in my hands. This putter is so much more. The technology is very well thought-out, the craftsmanship is outstanding, and there are some very original design elements. The whole package was an evolution of a design…not the carbon-copy I was expecting.

Craftsmanship:
Often, mallet putters are somewhat of an afterthought to their bladed cousins. Not this one. The entire putter is made up of precision milled aluminum and 303 stainless pieces that construct a very attractive mallet. The high MOI design makes for a very forgiving putter that seems to laugh at mis-hit putts. Off the toe, or off the heel…the Fussell XCitour didn’t feel much different in my hands.

The grip is made by Karakal, and proved to be a little more resistant to dirt and wear than the WINN AVS series. Karakal ought to consider an advertising campaign that boasts this. The feel never got slippery…even on an 80-degree October day. (These 80-degree October days are odd enough as it is.)

Headcover:
Normally, I’m not a fan of magnetic headcovers because they tend to stick to a carbon steel putter. In the case of the Fussell XCITOUR, magnets don’t stick to Aluminum. I DID find that the material that it was made of to be a magnet for dust/grass clippings. That aside, I found it to give adequate protection, and quite easy to get on/off the putter. I also left it on 1-2 greens because I didn’t see it on the ground immediately. I’d say that was more a problem with absentmindedness than the color of the headcover. I have to imagine though, that I wouldn’t be the only person that’d leave a black headcover green-side at least once.

The Accessory kit is one of those things that you’ll leave in the bag. USGA rules don’t allow for changing the characteristics of a club after the round has started, so it’s best to get that part out of the way BEFORE you get to the first tee. If you have to adjust your putter during the round…it’s not the putter.

Material:
Aluminum is known to be a fairly soft material to machine a putter from. The trade-off is usually weight. This is why a majority of the mallets out there are made from aluminum. If you were to make an Anser style blade out of aluminum, it’s weigh about 200g…far lighter than the standard 330g that carbon steel heads weigh.

The Fussell XCITOUR is different in some regards because there is a weight kit that allows you to change the swing-weight of the putter from the standard F-5 all the way up to G-9 with the heaviest weights in place. The included kit has 3 tungston shaped weights that attach to the back of the putter. I was having issues using it with the heaviest weight in place. Your mileage may very. If I were to use the heavy weight, I may add about 8″ to the shaft and use it as a belly-putter. I could see a lot of people in that same boat, and I’m sure that Fussell would offer it in that length if you wish.

Address:
Standing over a ball, you’ll notice some cool design elements right away. The first two are intended…the third is a cool illusion.

Tracer Technology: The three disks give an outstanding optical reference for ball position. I found that when I taped the face, my ‘hit’ pattern for 10 putts was smaller than a dime.

Assured Address Position: There are two white lines that are in-set below the tracer disks. These help to ensure that you are at proper address while setting up. If you can’t see both…either your toe or heel are out of alignment.

The third is that the top of the putter appears to be at the same height as the top of the ball. This is an optical illusion, but had an interesting effect. The putter felt like it was ‘floating’ above the green. I’ll admit that the first few putts on the practice green felt strange, but by the 3rd hole, I was hooked on the whole package.

I’m not a scientist, so I can’t articulate the pros/cons of high MOI. I found this putter to get the ball rolling VERY quickly. (See the high-speed video linked below.) The loft was set at exactly 3.5-deg, so I know it wasn’t laid-down to 1-deg just for the cameras.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
There is no denying that the XCitour is a solid, well crafted putter. There are aircraft grade screws at every turn, precision milled components that scream quality, and an heir of robotic authoritativeness that you would expect in something “Robo-Cop” would have in his bag. In a phrase, this is a bad-ass putter.

Discuss Fussell putters in our Putter Community

High-Speed Video Clip:

Download this clip: fussell_xcitour.mov (Quicktime required)

Stats:
Company: Fussell Putters
URL: http://fussellputters.com/
MSRP: $399.00
Length: 34″
Loft: 3.5-deg
Lie: 71-deg
Head Weight: Adjustable
Swing Weight: D-7
Material: Aluminum
Grip: Custom
Head Cover: Custom
Manufacturing Type: 100% CNC Milled
Made In: USA

The Putter Talk Hall of Fame will focus on designers and their creations, plus add historical background & a timelines to the success. Even some avid collectors are unfamiliar with the stories & the people behind many seminal designs.

Our Goal is to identify the most influential original designs over the years. It is also our goal to honor, without bias, but rather objective appreciation, the designers’ significant impact on the game of golf.

Class of 2007:

With September 15th being the birthdate of pioneer, engineer & designer Karsten Solheim, it is most appropriate to present PutterTalk’s first inductions to its Hall of Fame: The Ping 1-A & The Ping Anser.

History:

Karsten Solheim was born in Bergin, Norway, on September 15, 1911. The family emigrated to the United States and settled in Seattle, WA. He worked with his father as a shoemaker, but had ambitions of becoming a mechanical aeronautical engineer.

In 1945, Karsten became a research engineer at the Ryan Aeronautical Corporation where he worked on the Fireball jet fighter plane. Later, he joined Convair as a project engineer for the Atlas missile’s first ground guidance system. He then moved to General Electric, where he had a hand in the design of the company’s early portable televisions. In 1956, he joined a team of engineers working on the production of the first computer banking system.

A tennis player, Karsten never even tried golf until moving to Ithaca, NY in 1953, where at the age of 42 he played a round with coworkers and became enamored with the game. Putting was particularly troubling to Solheim, who soon concluded that a large part of his difficulties could be attributed to design flaws in his putter which, no matter how consistently he stroked it, would twist just enough to send the ball off course. Knowing that a tennis racket employed perimeter weighting, in which the weight was distributed to the rim to allow the strings to provide greater power, Solheim decided to apply the same principle to the putter.

“Perhaps no individual has had as profound as impact on the golf industry as Karsten Solheim.”
-Ken Lindsay, former president of the PGA of America.

Inspiration:

By placing most of the weight at the heel and toe of the putter’s blade, he would be able to create a forgiving “sweet spot” in the center, allowing the player a much better chance to hit the ball straight. Solheim tested his idea by having a neighbor weld some metal to the back of the heel and toe of a putter, changes that helped the club head to complete a stroke. He then worked out the design of a new putter by gluing two popsicle sticks to the sides of a pair of sugar cubes with a shaft rising from the center. By the time he had constructed a prototype of his new putter, the 1A design, he had been transferred by GE to Palo Alto, CA. Years later, he recalled trying out the putter for the first time in 1959 in his kitchen in Redwood City, CA: “I heard this noise, it startled me so much I dropped the putter on the floor. And then I knew that’s what I would call my new putter: Ping.”

As he continued to work for GE during the day, Solheim spent his weekends visiting golf course pro shops, giving away free putters to resident professionals to elicit feedback to help him improve the design. He was even known to lay out graph paper on the practice green to provide objective proof that his putter hit the ball straighter. One proshop owner in 1959 urged him to manufacture the Ping putter and sell them through club professionals. He also warned him not to quit his day job, advice that Solheim followed for several years.

The Momentum:

To fund the enterprise, he took out a $1,100 bank loan, the only financing he would ever need. First in Redwood City, and then in Phoenix, AZ, after GE again transferred him in 1961, Solheim began to produce Ping putters in his garage at night, hand-grinding the heads in his garage and then heating them on the kitchen stove to fit them on shafts. His sons helped out, drilling holes in the putter heads to accommodate the shafts and adding the grips. To market his revolutionary putter, Solheim began to attend professional tournaments, lingering at the practice green to ask the players to try his putter. Many were reluctant because they considered the Ping to be ugly, a fact to which Solheim was indifferent, insistent that his club should be accepted because of what it could do, not its appearance. Golfers by nature were willing to try almost anything to improve their game, especially their putting. Enough pros gave the Ping a chance to begin to build word of mouth about the new putter, aided to some degree by Solheim engraving his name and address on the head.

Winning tournaments, of course, translated into sales. Casual golfers, hoping the magic would rub off on them, would then invest in the same equipment as the victor of that weekend’s tournament. In the early 1960s the sale of Ping putters was spurred by Gloria Armstong’s win in a his-her tournament and John Barnum’s win of the 1962 Cajun Classic. A Sports Illustrated article on the “musical putter” also helped sell Ping putters.

In 1962, Solheim received a patent on the heel-toe weighting design on his putter, but continued to work on improving the design while also beginning to develop irons.

Inspiration - Round Two:

In January 1966, an idea for a new putter came to him in a flash of inspiration. Unable to wait to get the concept down on paper he grabbed a record sleeve and sketched the design. This would be the first “Record” that would fall in the wake of the Anser.

His wife Louise thought the new putter should be called “answer,” a name that Solheim liked but that possessed too many letters to fit on the club. She then suggested that the “w” be left out. The legendary “Anser” putter was born.

Marketing of the Anser was still limited to word of mouth, but those voices would become greatly amplified by the rise of professional golf on television, fueled by the popularity of Arnold Palmer and the rising star of Jack Nicklaus. When Julius Boros won the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open in 1967 using a Ping Anser putter, sales took off. Solheim, not intending to quit his engineering job, continued to meet the demand for his putters through his garage operation, much to the annoyance of his neighbors, but when GE decided to once again transfer him, this time to Oklahoma City, he decided to try the golf business full time.

The Inductions:

The Ping A-1
The 1-A was the first patented heel and toe weight club of any kind. The 1-A design similarities can be seen still today in many center shafted blade putters. Every heel and toe weighted putter, wood, and iron traces back to this putter — the putter Karsten Solheim created in his kitchen almost 50 years ago.

High-Speed Video Clip:

Download this clip: ping_a1.mov (Quicktime required)

The Ping Anser
The Anser is the most winning design from the Ping lineup of putters. What was seen as one of the most radical designs 40 years ago, the Anser design is the most mainstream, most copied, and modified designs Karsten ever created.

High-Speed Video Clip:

Download this clip: ping_anser.mov (Quicktime required)

Legacy:

With well over 500 tour wins, it is by far not only Ping’s most successful design — but has the most wins of any design on tour. The aftermath is something that not even Karsten could have foreseen. The Ping Anser has gone on to be the inspiration for more putter designs than any other golf club. The Anser design can bee seen in a $5.00 putter at the local discount store… or a CNC Milled putter from Scotty Cameron, Byron Morgan, or budding designers like C&L Putters.

To this day, budding putter designers spend countless hours in front of a mill in their garage or basement, trying to come up with the next “Anser”. Maybe they ought to take a page out of Karsten Solheim’s book… and head to the kitchen.

The 009 is the preferred gamer for a good majority of the Cameron collectors out there. It’s a no-nonsense Anser inspired design that really performs. You can get an 009 with minimal stamping, so you don’t feel bad about playing it. Those that have an 009 play them like a badge of honor. With an entry-point north of $2,000…it’s certainly not a putter for the masses. The standard Cameron putters have a loyal following, but we’re talking about an elite “Tour Putter” here…it’s an entirely different ball game at this level.

Craftsmanship:
Cameron became famous for “Fine Milled Putters” back in 1993 when Bernhard Langer won The Masters with his “Classic I” putter. Fast-forward nearly 15 years and “100% Milled Putters” is still the Cameron mantra. There are two types of putters that carry the Scotty Cameron name. The “Off The Rack” putters that you can buy in most Golf Stores, and the “Tour” putters that pass through the Scotty Cameron putter studio in Carlsbad California. While the quality of the OTR putters is outstanding, Tour putters, like their brothers the OTR putters are all milled on a CNC machine but have received some hand-work by a member of Scotty’s staff. The heads come to the Studio blank, and they are then shaped, stamped, and sent off for finishing. The “Circle T” (CT) is the most common stamp on the 009. It was originally used to designate tour putters, but in recent years, has become more of an icon in its own right.

The Scotty Cameron “Circle T” stamp

The putters are then put on a rack in the studio, where some go off to the tour van to eventually make their way into the bags of players like Davis Love III and Geoff Ogilvy. The putters that don’t go off to the tour, go to one of a select few retailers that carry the Scotty Cameron Tour Putters. These “Distributors” each get an allotment of putters on a regular basis to sell to average Joes like you and me. This is one of the few chances that the average golfer has a chance to play the exact same club that a PGA pro would play. This putter and DL-III’s may have been just feet from each other at one point of their life…maybe in the same block of steel.

The craftsmanship of the putter is simply outstanding…the allure is something completely different.

Headcover:
It’s NO secret that part of the fun of a new Cameron putter is the headcover that it comes with. Tour putters usually come with the coveted “Circle-T - For Tour Use Only” edition. These don’t offer any more/less protection than a standard AM&E headcover…they are just more collectable.

Material:
This particular 009 is Carbon Steel. I THINK I remember reading somewhere that SC Tour putters ate 11L17 Carbon steel. (I’ll update that if I hear differently.) The Carbon Steel 009s are really the entry level material. 009s in Scotty’s GSS^TM are called “Cameron & Co.” and carry a price tag north of $6,000. Solid Copper? You are looking for a BBC, and better have $8,000 available on the AmEx. If you thought explaining a $2,500 putter would be tough, try explaining $6,000 Again…it’s a whole different game at this level.

Address:
The 009 is a refined version of a design we’re all used to looking at. Scotty called its first incarnation the “Classic I”, the next version was called a “Newport”, and now we have the 009. While the Classic I and Newport were both production putters, the 009 is, and (from many sources) will always be FTUO. (For Tour Use Only.)

Whether you know it or not, you are already quite familiar with the address of this putter. The 009 is yet another homage to Karstein Solheim’s Anser design. In fact, the name “009″ is a play off of the “029 Anser” its self. Late Ansers were made in Pheonix Arizona…85029. Since Karsten put his address on every club (in case you wanted to order one) the Scottsdale and Pheonix Ansers had slight differences, so they became known as the “029″ or “Scottsdale” for the early ones. 92009 is a zip code in Carlsbad where Scotty lives, so it became the known as the 009.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
I can tell the same time with a $19 Iron Man or a $50,000 Panerai. Just like watches, there are different putters for different people. If you think an expensive putter will make you a better putter, it probably will. Does the quality of this putter back up the price tag? Largely, but not completely. You are paying for allure, and the “cool” factor of a Tour Cameron putter.

The 009 is one heck of a putter. It isn’t cheap, but neither are Rolexes. There are some that think $2,500 for a putter is a lot. There are others that think $2,500 is insane. Will it sink putts for you? Not without lessons. Will it give you confidence when you are standing over a 16′ snake? Maybe. Will the rest of your group tell stories about you…and your $2,500 putter? You can bet on that.

Discuss Scotty Cameron putters in our Putter Community

High-Speed Video Clip:

Download this clip: cameron_009.mov (Quicktime required)

Stats:
Company: Titleist / Scotty Cameron
URL: http://www.scottycameron.com
MSRP: $2,500.00+
Length: 34-1/2″
Loft: 4-deg
Lie: 71-deg
Head Weight: 350g
Swing Weight: D-7
Material: Carbon Steel
Grip: Cameron “Cord/No-Cord”
Head Cover: AM&E
Manufacturing Type: 100% CNC Milled
Made In: USA

Before I get into this one too far, I’ll say that we’re re-working the review procedure on Putter Talk. I think having a “Points” system has it’s up-side…and down-side as well. Putters are subjective, and I would like to see more people choosing a putter based off of what THEY think…not the reviewer. We’re always happy to offer opinions, but ultimately, judging a putter on it’s own merits seems like a better way to go. More debate about this in the Community Forums if you wish…here we go.

Craftsmanship:
The mission that Chip and Lee (Get it…C&L?) wanted to accomplish was to offer a hand-stamped, 350g ‘Tour Quality” 100% milled putter…for under $300. Several prototypes/months/phone calls later, they had a nice clean design, and a domain name that would become what they are known as: 350milled.com.

The CNC Milling is top notch, the handwork is fantastic, the stamping is well done, and thoughtful. Often, you’ll see people that just start whacking stamps on a putter in the hopes that they’ll have something attractive in the end. This is not the case with the C&L. All of the stamps disappear at address.

Headcover:
This putter came with an AM&E White headcover, with pretty simple stitching. I don’t see it as ever being a “Collectable” cover, but it’ll protect the putter quite well…and that’s what you want in a headcover in the first place. Right?

Grip/Shaft:
This is the first time we’ve seen a putter come in with an Iomic grip. While I have 1-2 that we were sent to review a while back, that project got put on hold, so I was pretty excited to see this one.

The material is very nice, and offers a pretty unique feel. It isn’t slippery like the Winn grips can get, and it isn’t porous like some of the bargain-grips you see at the golf store. There is a dense feeling that is hard to describe until you have it in your hands. There are ‘Ions’ that are supposed to relax your hands…I’ll leave that to a scientist to review. The way that C&L matched the paint-fill to the grip was a nice touch too.

Nippon Shafts haven’t been seen too often on a putter. Normally, you see True Temper or Royal Precision, (Now the same company) so the Nippon was a nice surprise.

I can’t comment on the flex much, but I’ll say that there didn’t seem to be too much torque at all. The overall feel of the putter head was similar to every other putter I’ve used at this length and head weight. This is a situation where not being different is a good thing.

As an upgrade, C&L offers a Graphite Fujikura shaft for an additional $100. I can’t comment on the feel of this shaft, but those that have tried graphite shafts generally like them.

Material:
Soft carbon steel makes for a great putter. Black Oxide makes for a great finish. You’ll find both here on the 350 Milled…living in perfect harmony. I’ve putted with several different carbon steel putters before. There is a buttery feel that you just can’t get from Stainless. The thick top-line makes for a crisp sound. You really need to try one yourself to see hear what I’m talking about.

Address:
At address, the top-line of this putter is abnormally thick. With a head weight of 350g, it has to come from somewhere. My only complaint is that the top-line is a little too shinny for my taste, but I think it was me realizing that it’d been a while since I’d played with a shinny BO putter on a sunny day.

You’re looking down at yet another outstanding homage to the timeless Ping Anser design. The lines are simple, the Black-Oxide finish contrasts the ball well…now it’s time to concentrate on the 4-footer at hand.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
Nobody can dispute that the quality of this putter is FAR past what you would expect for under $300. In fact, I’ve seen putters costing twice as much that I’d put the C&L up against. There are plenty of people that can whack on a putter to make it say whatever you like. There are few that take the time to make it look “right”. C&L definitely have a niche market, and the cater to it perfectly.

In 3-4 weeks, you can have a 350 Milled putter stamped up exactly how you want it…and for less than you’ll spend at the “Big-Box” stores on some of the big name putter makers. I think an interesting idea would be to get the upgraded Fujikura shaft. For only $100 more, you’ll get a completely different experience, and still be under $400 with shipping.

Chip and Lee tell me they are working on another design already. I can hardly wait to see what they come up with.

Discuss C&L Putters in their section of our Putter Communiy

High-Speed Video Clip:

Download this clip: cl_350milled.mov (Quicktime required)

Stats:
Company: C&L Putters
URL: http://www.350milled.com
MSRP: $289.00
Length: 34-1/2″
Loft: 4-deg
Lie: 71-deg
Head Weight: 350g
Swing Weight: D-7
Material: 11L17 Carbon Steel (303 Stainless in October)
Grip: Iomic
Head Cover: AM&E
Manufacturing Type: 100% CNC Milled
Made In: USA

This is one of the more exciting releases that I’ve seen since we launched PutterTalk.com in January. After getting my “Maker’s Proof” 007 last week, I immediately put it in the bag for the next day. I was playing Canterbury Country Club the next morning with a fellow PT member and knew that I’d have a chance to get a second opinion…good or bad about this putter.

Craftsmanship:
With all the CNC milled putters on the market, you have to do something pretty special to stand out. Byron does this by making sure that every millimeter of this putter is designed for a reason. You can pull the head of this putter head from the shaft, find the exact center with a micrometer, mark it, and that’s the point that the head will balance on a golf tee…perfectly. You don’t just program that kind of craftsmanship into a computer and hit the “make me a cool putter” button. It takes hours of design, the knowledge of a true artist, and several prototypes…that end up as scrap metal.

The other point of interest on Byron’s new putters is the “Twilight Zone” milling on the face. Most milling marks are either vertical, or horizontal. Byron’s new milling pattern takes a small circular bit, and circles the putter face creating thousands of little tiny circles. This creates a pattern that can only be called…well…Twilight Zone!

Rubbing a fingernail across it makes very little sound. This is primarily because the putter face is completely flat. If it weren’t for the light milling patter, you’d be looking at a completely flat surface. As you can see from the high-speed video, this gets the ball rolling very quickly.

Something else to mention is that Byron is a one-man shop. When you order a putter, he’s hand-finished it, stamped it, filled the paint, taped the grip, placed the shaft-band, and shrink-wrapped the while thing. Not many putter manufacturers at that level can say that.

Headcover:
The 007 is protected by the “2007 Club Byron” headcover. Byron uses the “gold-standard” AM&E Headcover. It protects the putter perfectly…no need to elaborate past that.

Grip:
A new “Best Grip” is emerging in the high-end putter market. The Grip Master “Tour Laced” started appearing on putters about a year ago. The high quality leather, hand laced around a quality under-listing has all the high-end putter collectors coveting the latest grip that Harry Sewell from Grip Master has dreamed up. Byron recognized the quality of their grips and uses them exclusively on his high-end putters.

This is a special “Club Byron” grip, and has the same logo that is stitched into the headcover, embossed in golf leaf. First-Calss all the way.

Material:
This particular putter was cut from a solid block of 11L17 Carbon Steel. There were 5 made from a solid block of Copper, but those were a one-time run and the lucky few that snatched them up are in for a real treat. We all know the benefits/pitfalls of carbon steel. Keep it oiled up, and you’ll be fine. Keep it in the headcover after a rainy day, and you found a perfect recipe for a rusty finish!

The production 007s will be available in carbon steel, and stainless steel. Carbon putters can finished in an array of finishes from Oil Cans to good-ole Black Oxide like mine.

Address:
The 007 at address is a no-nonsense putter. The lines are clean, and the head is free of distractions. I chose to have mine done without a line, or a sight dot, you are free to choose either for yours.

I’m told that Byron can also make the top-line a little thinner, but I felt that the standard thickness was very pleasing to look at. At address, you see the craftsmanship and materials blend into a fantastic

Feel:
Distance control was a bit of an issue for me on the first outing with this putter. Not because of the putter…because I’m not used to putting on greens that roll at about 13 like Canterbury was that day. I’m used to a 34.5″/340 head, so the extra weight was there, but not too much for me. Byron also tells me that he could easily take up to 15g off if I requested it that way.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
I’m VERY pleased to present our first “Perfect 10″ putter. Byron did an absolutely OUTSTANDING job on this design. It has all the stuff that matters in the high-end putter market. For the street price of $300, it is a serious no-brainer. There are putters that cost 10X as much that don’t deliver anything more than the 007. (In some cases, far less.)

This putter doesn’t just deliver confidence. The Byron Morgan 007 stares the target down, looks back up at you and concludes “Come on friend…you can make this putt with your eyes closed!” (English accent optional.)

Discuss Byron Morgan Putters in our Putter Community.

To purchase a Byron Morgan putter, email sales@turfsurfer.com or PM “Z-Man” or “drewspin” in the PutterTalk Community.

Download this clip: Byron_007.mov (Quicktime required)

These are Putter Talk Exclusive pictures of an unnamed Bettinardi Blade Prototype.

This original design offers a ‘modern’ version of the classic blade putter. Robotic was the first word that came to my mind when I saw it back in February during a visit to Studio B.

The new “Rail Road” milling pattern on the impact zone offers greatly reduced friction, while keeping the soft feel of the D.A.S.S. (Double Aged Stainless Steel) material. Combining these two elements offers a VERY soft feeling putter, and shows the innovation that the Bettinardi Studio constantly offers.

Notice that the insert isn’t really an insert at all. It’s a different milling pattern that is added after the “HoneyComb” milling pattern is in place. This pattern is placed in the optimal area for ball striking.

Expect to see this type of technology from Bettinardi Golf on upcoming releases in the future.

The 3/4 Center-Shaft design gives the putter toe-hang “5:00″ toe-hang, while allowing for a sight-dot to line the ball up against. With the toe being taller than the heel, it is easier to move the ball through your stroke, promoting proper arched path. easier path through your stroke.

You’ll notice that at address, this putter is reminiscent of a classic ‘Bullseye’ style putter with a slight flange. Because of this, I found it very easy to putt with. Something else that I liked was that the bottom is very flat compared to a lot of putters we have seen recently. Setting up to this putter was very easy. I would place it on the ground, and “get into” the proper position with the putter in my hands.

Sinking 6 or 15 footers with this putter was fun for me. In fact, everyone else on the putting green started taking notice this afternoon when I took it for a spin. There were 5-6 “regulars” at the local Muni putting green that all took turns hitting a sleeve or two with it. The consensus was that this putter is a real winner. Not being used to what “Tour Putters” go for, everyone thought I was joking when I mentioned how much they typically cost…one man asked if he could write a check.

He’ll be able to write a check…but he’ll need to contact a Bettinardi Tour Putter Distributor like TKS Putters or Studio B to do it. I should also mention that there are only 9 of these in the world. He’d better be quick about it! (You too!)

Discuss this, and other Bettinardi Putters in our Putter Community.

Download this clip: Bettinardi_Blade.mov (Quicktime required)

Every putter maker that I’ve talked to in the last 6 months has a story to tell. Most tell the same story in their own way, but the end result is always completely unique. Bruce Sizemore has created a series of putters based on concepts that are certainly his own, and spectacularly executed.

I can gush over a nice putter for hours, so I’ll just jump right in here…

Craftsmanship:

The first thing you’ll notice about any of the Sizemore putters is the unique face milling. There are several schools of thought on different face milling methods, but the Sizemore theory is pretty unique. By making a lot of small ‘circular-ish’ mill marks, the putter face becomes incredibly flat.

The Sizemore press release explains their IND*X milling method like this…

IND*X is a state-of-the-art design, produced by our patented, computer-driven milling process. Aesthetically beautiful, with a stunningly luxurious look and feel, the IND*X face finish is CNC-milled technology “pushed to the edge”. Using an innovative cross-milling process in twenty-seven (27) different directions, the putter face is finished in a geometric pattern with exceptionally fine spacing. This structure enhances the mild and controlled feel of the putter.

The end result is a putter face that looks like it belongs on jewelry rather than a putter. Having the insert in place prior to milling the face adds a very nice touch to the putter. While other manufacturers cut corners by putting a gap between the insert and head, Bruce made sure that the fit was perfect before it went to the mill. You’ll find this level of craftsmanship throughout the putter.

There is a level of class in the XB-1 that you don’t often see in a putter…but that’s something that Bruce strives for. He calls it TCA or Total Club Approach. Bruce’s TCA Requirements include:

- Original designs that have a unique look and feel
- Highest level of craftsmanship and construction
- Tolerances less than 1/1000 of an inch
- Tip-Stiff shaft technology for maximum stability
- IND-X(TM) face finishes guarantee the flattest putting surface
- 3-D optical design for superior alignment
- Creative concepts for revolutionary technologies like AIM(TM)

That seems like a tall order, but when you are striving for excellence and catering to a demanding audience, you’d better have some pretty high standards imposed upon yourself.

Address:

Earlier, I mentioned that there is a lot going on in the cavity, but for a reason. Here is where we learn the reason.

The first time I put the putter down to tap a few in, I immediately noticed what the cavity pockets were for. The large one in the center is a fantastic alignment aid. It doesn’t scream “Hey…Line your putt up with me!” but offers more of a suggestion. The smooth grooves work with the head of the putter to make for an easy way to line your putt, and also distribute the weight of the putter in the right places. None of these things are distracting in the least when you are standing over a 6 of 16 foot putt.

Headcover:

Mark your calendars. This is one of the first times I’ve seen a “non AM&E” headcover that was this nice. My wife’s first comment was “Ooh…I like the one with the boot on it!” (Pointing to the rack at the XB-1)

The materials used compliment the putter head very well. The piping is a neat feature, that isn’t over-done. Protecting the putter is a plush grey fur that was longer than I’ve seen used in other covers. It all comes back to the TCA that Sizemore putters want to be known for.

Grip:

My only issue with this putter is that the grip choice was a little ‘off’…but not for a lack of trying. Keeping in mind that this is just a prototype, they were trying to take a Winn grip and imprint their distinct milling pattern into it. I don’t think Winn understood what they were trying to do because the pattern is printed rather than embossed.

After playing a few holes, the grip got very ’slick’ and I felt like I always had to wipe it down. I ended up putting the last 5 holes with a glove.

Sizemore rep Scott Penrod tells me that this is why they are already working with a new grip manufacturer on a grip that harmonizes with the rest of the putter’s attributes. They are tireless on making sure that the “whole package” shows the same level of quality.

Feel:
I was sent two putters by Sizemore. Both were identical except that one had an insert, and one did not. I decided to review the insert putter because it isn’t often that you see an insert executed this well. Being used to a soft carbon putter, an insert was a bit of a switch for me. I’ll say this about it…I liked it.

Distance control wasn’t ever an issue. The ball came off the face true every time, and there wasn’t ever a time that the putter felt ‘clacky’ like some insert putters I’ve used in the past. Copper inserts DO change the sound that the putter makes, but depending on the ball that you are using, this may or may not be an issue for you. (I was using the new Srixon Tri-Speed and thought the sound it made was quite nice.)

“Skip to the end” Overall:
Keeping in mind that this is one of the “Prototype” putters, the ones that you start seeing in a few weeks will look a little different. The production models have the new logo in all the right places, and a few other refinements that are the mark of a true craftsman. I don’t see Sizemore Putters ever being the #1 putter in golf…but that is a good thing. What I DO think people will associate with Sizemore is quality.

The Sizemore target market isn’t the everyday Joe with a 32 handicap that’s teeing it up with a 15 pack of “X-Outs” at a local Muni. They are catering to the single digit golfer that is looking for an esoteric putter that he can trust with a 6-footer at his country club.

When you ask someone what the “best car” is, you’ll often hear BMW or Mercedes. While those are both considered to be premium cars, neither stacks up all that well to an Aston Martin or Maserati. I would consider the Sizemore putters to be in the “Aston Martin” category of putters.

If they can make a prototype putter this good…I expect nothing less than perfection from their finished product. The Sizemore literature says “Precision Putting Instruments” because they are.

Discuss Sizemore Putters on the “Sizemore” section of our Putter Community

Download this clip: Sizemore_XB1.mov (Quicktime required)

Never heard of Dave Billings? That’s just fine by him…but you are more than likely already familiar with his work. Remember HOG putters? How about Yonex irons? Dave was responsible for both. He has seven golf-related US Patents in his OWN name, and “several more” on the way. But being an engineer isn’t where he started out.

Dave has a BFA in Sculpture from the LA campus of Parsons in New York. (For those of you that don’t know, Parsons is the “Harvard” of art schools.) This gives him a VERY good understanding of metals, finishes, and the artistic flare that lets him create a piece that relates to the putter that he’s designing. So when Dave puts a stamp on the putter, a finish on the neck, or applies a treatment of some sort…it is done for a reason.

Knowing what I do about Dave, when I saw the ‘1st release’ putters that he released, I immediately started smiling. Here’s a guy that truly understands the art behind putter making.

Craftsmanship:

Just about any 100% CNC milled putter is going to be well made. What pleased me most, is the level of detail that goes into the process. When I told Dave that I liked my putter at 2.5*, he wanted me to wait for a few weeks because he didn’t have any. “Can’t you just bend it 1*?” I asked. “No. I mill every putter in this series to the loft that the player wants. This way, the bottom is always completely flat.” This is NOT the response that I was expecting…but personifies my dealings with Dave. He takes great pride in the way that his putters are made. The next time I talked to him, he was calling to tell me that the finish didn’t come out how he wanted and was hoping that I could give him another day or so before it shipped. (Keep in mind that this is less than a week after I ordered the putter.) He just wanted it to be right.

The milling pattern that Dave developed is very interesting all by itself. Roll is VERY important when you are talking about modern putters. Some milling patterns get the ball rolling faster than others, and the one that they developed for the ‘Machine’ line is very special. Notice that there are very deep marks that go both up and down. The cross-weave that happens is actually flat on the face at all times. The VERY subtly rounded corners of the marks give a roll to the ball quicker than almost any other putter we’ve tested. (See the movie below for the testing data.)

When the face impacts the ball, you’ll notice that there is a slight top-spin that gently urges the ball on the proper line, without sacrificing any accuracy.

Address:

At address, the M1A is very clean. One of the things that Dave tries to do is keep the artistic stuff OUT of your view when you are putting. You’ll see a lot of his designs that have hammering, stampings, and other subtleties in the cavity, on the back of the neck, on the sole, and on the face. This makes for a neat ‘disappearing’ act when you look at it from the side, and then turn it to address.

When at address, you’ll see the simplicity of the design. Like many other “Anser II” Style heads, everything is where it should be. You’ll notice that the top-line is VERY flat, and just the right size. Some go a little thinner than I’d like, and the thicker ones just look clunky to me. This is a very good mix of the two.

Headcover:
The Machine headcover is a simple black AM&E Headcover with the Machine logo on top. I like this because it doesn’t scream “Steal Me!” and offers great protection to the putter. (Mine has something written on the side, so I’ll wait for a blank one before I offer up pictures.)

Perfectly executed in my opinion. If you want flare, there are any number of after-market headcovers that will fit the bill by various manufacturers.

Grip:

I’ve used enough grips over the years to know that you can’t please everyone with a single grip choice…especially on a putter.

Machine Putters come standard with a Lamkin Crossline putter grip, which I though was “OK”. I WILL say that I like it a lot better than some of the grips I’ve seen…but less than others. 90% of the people that buy a putter at this level are going to put the grip of their choice on it anyway, so I’ll offer up fairly good marks for putting a decent grip on the putter…but not TOO nice so we don’t think twice about cutting it off.

Feel:

This particular putter’s head is made from Dave’s own “Aluminum Bronze” with the neck being a flamed 303 Stainless Steel. I found that this particular combination offered a putter that feels VERY soft. Normally when you think of an aluminum head, you’d think of a head that is too light for a blade style putter. The bronze that is mixed in with this alloy offers the added weight that you need in such a small amount of material. The bonuses are that the putter won’t ever rust, will patina like an old Ping Anser, and is only about 6% lighter than carbon steel. By not milling out a pocket, the weight of the head stays the same as traditional heads — and offers the softest feeling head available.

This brings up one of the more interesting parts about Machine putters. The buyers have the opportunity to pick the head/neck combo that they want, so you can really pick whatever combination of materials that you think will suit your taste. Copper head, stainless neck? No problem. Copper neck with a Carbon steel head? Sure thing. All Carbon? Done. The sky is the limit. Below is a sampling of putters that I was able to choose from for this review. You’ll notice that there are Aluminum Bronze putters both with, and without the patina. If you like it shinny, keep it polished. If you want it to age on its own…let it go. Or, Dave can accelerate it to that point for you.

The list of finishes and materials you can choose from is quite extensive.

Material & Finish Options: 1018 Carbon Steel (Gunmetal, Black Ox, e-
Nickel, Copper) - 303 Stainless Steel (Hand Flamed Rainbow, Cadmium Rainbow, Gun-Kote) - Billet Copper - Marine Brass - Aluminum Bronze (Antique Patina)

Here are some examples of these finishes as well as neck, dot, and line options that he offers.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
I’ll offer up two sentences to sum up the Machine M1A.

Technical: In my opinion, this is one of the best putters I’ve ever owned.

Layman: Holy Mother of Crap, I can’t believe how good this thing is!

Discuss Machine Putters on the “Machine” section of our Putter Community

Download this clip: machine_m1a.mov (Quicktime required)

I purchased this handmade T.P. Mills putter last week. It is about 40 years old, was rusty, and hadn’t seen a putting green in 20+ years. I spent the evening with sand-paper and files cleaning it up a bit. When I was finished, I couldn’t wait to play 18 holes with it. More about that later, but first, let’s take a look at what made, and makes, T.P. Mills putters so special.

Sometime in the late 1960s, a gentleman with the initials P.B. had a conversation with Mr. Truett P. Mills (T.P. as he was known to friends) about making a putter for him. Back then, you had to drive out to T.P.’s garage at 1700 Second St. in Tuscalossa, Alabama, and hand him a check for $50.00 to $250.00 if you wanted a putter…and people did. Why? Because they were, bar-none, the best putter in the world!

Now $50.00-$250.00 may not seem like a lot for a putter today, but in 1967, was a LOT of money for a putter. According to the American Institute of Economic Research, $50.00 in 1967 would be like $303.89 in 2007 money. That doesn’t seem too bad either, but in 1967, a normal putter was $2.00. Or, $12.16 in 2007. A handmade T.P. Mills putter was a luxury in which only the most serious golfer would indulge. I’m thinking this putter was at the lower end of that scale. It is a simple “One” design with “T.P. Mills” on the face, toward the heel, and the “Crossline” and the player’s initials “P B” on the front of the toe.

In 1968, “greens” in the south were covered in sand, and rolled at about 5 on the Stimp Meter. This meant that a lot of the time, your putter needed 7-degrees of loft to get the ball moving. One of TP’s trademarks is the dotted-crossline on the face of the putter. A recent Golf Digest review of a TP Mills putter said “What good is the cross-line if you can’t see it?” What they don’t realize is that you USED to be able to see it. At 7-degrees, the crossline shows at a perfect “+” to show you where to hit the ball.

Craftsmanship:

TP had a lot of these ‘New’ ideas on how putters should be made. For one, people really weren’t milling putters back then. Across the country in Arizona, another “Great Innovator” was casing them out of Magnesium Alloy…while other manufacturers were just pouring metal into molds. Hand-milling a putter out of expensive 1024 steel was unheard of. Today, T.P. Mills is considered the “Father” of milled putters. TP would hand-mill a forged head into the shape he wanted, and then spend days with sandpaper and files making the putter EXACTLY how he wanted it for the player.

Address:
Once the shape of the head was finished, TP would move on to another one of his most profound innovations in putting. By applying a coating of “Black Oxide” to the putter, it provided a contrast to the ball. Back then, putters were either silver or bronze. Having a black putter contrast with a white ball helped the player concentrate on the putt, and not the putter. The added up-side was that the Black Oxide also provided a protective coating so the putter wouldn’t rust. (Those of us in the mid-west have ‘rust issues’ with anything, but back then 90% of TP’s putters were made for players in southern climates.)

Another T.P. Mills trademark is the Sight Oval atop the sweet spot. This showed the player where to aim, without being overly harsh. There are stories about a player taking a hack-saw to an 8802 to put a line in it…TP’s method was considerably more elegant.

Headcover:
A headcover? For a PUTTER? Are you kidding? This is the late 60’s we’re talking about. Cars had seat-belts as an OPTION and my father-in-law’s dad would routinely smoke while operating on patients.

The LAST thing golfers were thinking about was putting a headcover on a putter. Sheish…that’s just crazy talk!

Moving on…

Grip:
My biggest challenge with this putter was that the shaft is a hair thicker than a pencil at the tip, and only a little larger at the butt. Finding a grip that thin wasn’t easy. I ended up with a thinner grip that I STILL had to wrap 4 layers of tape around to get it to fit properly.

I’m on a hunt for an original TP Mills grip to make it complete…contact me if you have one.

Again, back in the 60’s grips weren’t all that important. I’m guessing that this one was a wrapped leather grip. Maybe I’ll send it to The Grip Master to see if they can make one for it.

Feel:
Putter enthusiasts often use “Butter” as a way to describe the soft feel of 1024 carbon steel. I’m not quite sure who coined that phrase, but I’ll bet they were using a putter just like this one when they did!

I have over 100 putters in my “Lab” and can say without hesitation that this is the softest feeling carbon putter there. Whether I hit putts slightly off the heel or toe, the ball seems to get a nice little push from the putter. This putter makes almost no noise at impact. I know it is hard to believe, but the combination of the thin shaft, long flowing neck, and soft carbon steel make for one of the more enjoyable putting experiences that you can imagine.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
When you sit down and look at the history of putters, there are very few names that stick out as innovators that changed the face of golf. T.P. Mills is at the top of that list with VERY select company…for good reason. This putter, which by all accounts was made in/around 1967, bests more modern putters than anyone would believe possible. I used it for 18 holes last week and had one of the best putting rounds of my golfing career. No three-putts, and three one-putts. All this from a putter that was made when my father was graduating high-school.

Watch the High-Speed video of this putter below, and you’ll realize that even by today’s standards, this putter gets the ball rolling VERY quickly.

While I was walking the course, I found myself wondering about the day this putter was made. I imagine a hot Sunday night in Tuscaloosa. T.P. sitting on a chair in the living room watching “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” with a piece of sandpaper in one hand, a putter head in the other…and his son David across the room watching him work.




Discuss T.P. Mills Putters on the T.P. Mills section of our Putter Community, or discuss this review Here.

Download this clip: tpmills_one_hm.mov (Quicktime required)

The conversation started like this…

Puku Rep: Hello Mate! (They are a New Zealand company.)
Mr. Doug: Ok…so how do you pronounce this?
Puku Rep: Puku. (Correctly)
Mr. Doug: PooKoo?
Puku Rep: No…Puku. (Correctly again)
Mr. Doug: Pooku?
Puku rep: No…Puku..like book with a P.
Mr. Doug: Like Book-u?
Puku Rep: Exactly…only with a P.
Mr. Doug: Puku?
Puku rep: PERFECT!
Mr. Doug: I hope the putter isn’t this confusing.
Puku Rep: I think you’ll find it is full of surprises!
Mr. Doug: I really need to pay attention then!

The next 30min were spent showing me the ins-and-outs of the Puku putter. Unlike other putters, it’s not quite as simple as loading it and pulling the trigger. There is a LOT to get to with this putter, so you’ll want to read the whole review before you make a decision on this putter. In the end…you are either going think they are crazy…or crazy like a fox.

Craftsmanship:
One of the first things that I noticed about the Puku JME was that it is a VERY solid feeling putter. This has to do with the materials used, and the engineering that was used to put it all together. The stainless steel head is cast, the face is “double milled”, and then the whole head is electro-plated. The other aspect of the craftsmanship is the grip…but we’ll get to that later.

Headcover:
Here is the one part of this putter that I think they missed the boat. I think 80% of this headcover is very cool…the remaining 20% is pretty bad. Here’s what I like.

#1 - It’s VERY fuzzy inside.

#2 - The ’suede’ exterior is nice and classy.

Here’s what I don’t like.

#1 - The zipper on the back is pretty ‘cheap’ in my opinion.

#2 - They missed an opportunity to put a pocket in there for the cool stuff the putter comes with.

Because there isn’t a section for ’stuff’…let’s talk about the 2 ‘Tools’ that this putter comes with. (…maybe there should be.)

Adjustment Tool: This is going to be important. DON’T LOSE IT! You’ll need this little guy if/when you want to adjust the grip. (Again…we’ll get to the grip in a minute.)

Divot Repair Tool: I’ve seen MANY Divot repair tools in my day. This one is the ONLY one that I’d want to take to a knife fight. You could SERIOUSLY hurt someone, or yourself, with this bad-boy. Measuring in at just under 6″ (3.5″ of that is spike) I don’t see anyone having this in their pocket for more than 1-2 holes. I crouched down to read a putt with it in my pocket and about put it through my femoral artery. I have a feeling that this tool won’t spend a lot of time in people’s pockets. I *DO* think that this is one of the best divot tools out there. Bar-none.

Grip:
Ok, ok…we’ll talk about the grip now. There are a couple of interesting things about this grip.

The first thing you’ll notice is that it is reverse-tapered. (Thin at the top, fat at the bottom.) This is done to help people stop breaking their wrists. It’s quite effective. Even stroking a few putts with it on the carpet, it’s real tough to break your wrists at any point of your stroke.

The second thing you’ll notice is that it’s completely round. This goes towards another part of the putter that we’ll get to in another minute.

The third, and final thing, that you need to know about this grip is that it is fully adjustable! You can, with VERY little effort, change the length of this putter from 31″ to 39″. It’s as simple as inserting the tool into the lock, opening the lock, adjusting the length as desired, and then locking it into position. (I told you not to lose that tool!)

This is one of the cooler aspects of this putter. Now…I know it’s coming, so I’ll head it off at the pass. The swing-weight DOES change with the length of the putter, but the head is already 420g, so you are already WELL over the 350g max that others preach. The weight of the grip off sets some of that.

This putter IS heavier than most, but it doesn’t ever feel like the sledgehammer that you’d think it would be at 420g.

Address:

One of the OTHER things that this putter has going on is that it’s centrally balanced. What does that mean? Let me put it this way. If you were to spin this putter in your hand with your eyes closed, you couldn’t tell where the face was…and it’s not even center-shafted. This makes for an interesting alignment routine. Normally, I am ‘feeling’ how the putter is aligned while looking at the hole while walking up to the putt. I found myself (more than once) with the putter pointed the wrong direction when I looked down to set myself up.

Once I figured out which end was up, I found the address very pleasing. There is a very thin sight-dot that offers just enough direction that you know WHERE to hit the ball on the face, but doesn’t shove it down your throat.

The soft look of the finish didn’t ever glare in the sun. I found that it ‘matched’ the ball more than other putters I’ve used in the past. Not that it was a bad thing, but I found myself looking at the putter now and then on the back-stroke. NOT a good thing…but I think it was more me than the putter.

Feel:
The overall weight of this putter makes it a little tough to have a lot of ‘feel’. As we’ve discussed before, a good part of putter “Feel” is the sound it makes. I think that the sound this putter makes is a little ‘tingey’ for me and the others that tried it. The curious thing is that it sounded a lot SMALLER than the putter really is. When you have a 420g head, and a big thick grip in your hand, you expect more than “tink” when you hit the ball. (I’m not sure WHAT I was expecting…but “tink” wasn’t it.)

“Skip to the end” Overall:
There is a putter out there for everyone. The Puku has a couple of VERY cool innovations…but it may be a bit too many for one putter. The adjustable grip is pretty neat, but that is a “set it and forget it” thing for many. The centrally balanced aspect is VERY neat when you get used to not having ANY toe hang. The reverse-taper grip helps eliminate wrist breaking…which is ALWAYS good.

All together, Puku put an impressive putter together with the JME. If you can find one, it’s worth the effort to play a few rounds with it to see if it’s for you. Plus…you’ll get a free weapon with the included divot tool!

Discuss Puku Putters on the Puku Putters section of our Putter Community, or this review Here.

Craftsmanship:
This putter is a steel head that’s cast, and then face milled. The 375g head feels solid. When comparing it to other putters in it’s price-range, I think the craftsmanship is spot-on. I don’t see this as a collector’s item…it’s a putter that is meant to be played, or even used as a training aid.

Headcover:
Here’s a great example of a mallet putter with a REAL nice headcover. We’ve seen REAL bad ones in the past. You can tell that the designers at Pro-Found really took their time with this one. It is very solid, velvet lined, and the strong magnets keep it locked into place when it’s banging around in your bag.

Grip:
Profound Putters uses a Feeltec V3 Classic Paddle seamless design grip. It is very similar to the Winn AVS, but feels like it wouldn’t wear out as easily. That is a good thing if you ask me. I didn’t get a chance to play in in-climate weather with this putter, but I think it would remain pretty tacky all the way through.

I’m not a fan of skinny grips, and this one seemed to be nice and thick, without being overly squishy. Great grip in my opinion.

Address:
This is the part of the review you need to pay attention to. This is one of the best advancements in putting alignment I’ve seen in years. I’m not sure why no one else thought of this before, but it’s fantastic. Let me explain…or better yet, here is how the Profound Putters website explains it.

The 3Dinsight tracks are geometrically constructed by using the simple concept that a circular plane, or a disc, can be seen as a perfect straight line when two criteria’s apply. Parallel and perpendicular eyes to the edge of the circular plane.

Depending on misalignment one of the tracks will increasingly disappear behind its sidewall, while the other will appear increasingly elliptical. In other words, the image changes depending on eyes position in relation to the club head.

The mantra at Profound Putters is “Hide the Orange”. I wasn’t sure what that meant…until I picked up one of the putters. The Dark Ace’s alignment uses two white lines, that are the TOP of a 3-D allignment method they call “3Dinsight” The inside of the ‘hoops’ that make the white lines are orange. If your heel or toe is in the air, you’ll see orange. This is what keeps the putter’s MOI in the right place, and ensures that you’ll at least be striking the ball correctly. Whether or not you’ve read the green correctly is another story.

I have a pretty decent stroke, so I saw slivers of orange from time to time. My friend that picked it up in my office IMMEDIATELY said “The orange lines are distracting.” Mission accomplished.

Here is how the putter’s designer further explained the optical concept to me.

When you see no orange with a correctly fitted lie angle, your eyes will always be over the center of the clubhaed and over the ball, a unique visual alignment indication at all times. The putter then communicates your perfect set up or not through the whole round. It is actually the same indication as you get when practising with a mirror on a level surface, then you get eyes over ball indication. With our putters you get that same indication at all times, which helps you repeat your perfect set up position and AIM. To be able to get the ball rolling over that exact spot you chose as intermediate target, then you cannot have a skew view and aim, you need to be over the plane made up by ball center and targetline. This is what Profound Putters call Eyes on plane for true aim, and their unique alignment system get’s it right every time by that simple mantra - hide the orange - can it get any simpler then that.”

Feel:
The Dark Ace has a fairly thin face, with an elastomer block behind it. This gives enough ‘bounce’ to the putter’s face that it feels soft, without the sound of a traditional floating face. It never felt stiff or surgical to me. This is not a milled putter, but if you are looking for a “2-Ball” you aren’t going to get that kind of feel anyway.

The “Ultra High” MOI (5462 g/cm2) of this putter helps get the ball rolling very quickly, and is a LOT more forgiving that traditional mallets. Poorly hit putts went straight, whether off of the heel or toe. Being Face-Ballenced helps the putts along too.

“Skip to the end” Overall:
I think the Profound Putters Dark Ace is gunning for a chunk of the “2 Ball” market…and I think they deserve at least a piece of it. The putter is thoughtfully designed, well constructed, and has all the accouterments of the other putters in its class. It is gimmicky? Sure…but that is a good thing in this case. (When the 2-Ball putters showed up on the scene, it was a gimmick too.)

My only complaint is that they don’t have any visible presence in the US market. I expect that will change in the coming months, and think that it’ll just be a matter if time before you, or someone in your group, are “Hiding The Orange.”

BTW: To