I ordered this putter in Aluminum Bronze, with the "Antique Patina" and "Pre-Worn" (sometimes called "melted bumpers") finish, and with a non-welded plumber’s neck. Ordering was a breeze using MACHINE’s form in conjunction with email to Dave Billings and Chris Hoeppner. I had tried an AlBz MACHINE ART model of Mr. Doug’s, and was very impressed with the workmanship, including the aggressive face milling. What really sold me though, was the extremely soft, yet solid feel of the putter head striking the ball. My intention was to capture the classic look of an old, mint Anser 2, with the weight and feel of today’s fine milled putter and in a low to no maintenance finish. Mission accomplished!
After receiving some progress photos and a shot of the head after completion, I waited anxiously for the arrival of “the box”. Right on time, I received a superbly packed box providing excellent protection for the putter, the black AM&E headcover, the stepless shaft I had ordered, and the Reverse Arch grip that came as a surprise.
The putter itself was better than expected. Dave’s handwork is evident, and he later emailed me to say he had done three separate applications of the patina just to get it right. After each application, the bumpers and edges had to be rubbed out again to maintain the aged look. More than just for appearance sake, those buffed lines and edges highlight the topline and bumpers. The result is a putter that is easy to get properly aligned as you look down at it.
Now for the money part! The putter has excellent balance and weight. Toe hang is right at 4:15, just as ordered. Head weight came in at 345g; length 33.5in., also as specified. I didn’t know what to expect from the Reverse Arch grip, but it felt very natural in my hands. The putter and my slight gate stroke seem to be made for each other. The ball comes off the face tracking at the hole. The sound is a muted “thock”. The feel is like “buttah”. I like to hit short, fast downhill putts on the toe (right to left) and heel (left to right), to take some speed off while holding the line. The MACHINE performs this task flawlessly and without a hint of twisting.
As mentioned, I did not order the plumber’s neck TIG welded, but that is an available option. The Fixer head is milled with a universal fitting that can accommodate a variety of necks. In fact, my plumber’s neck could be taken out and replace with something else. The neck goes into the fitting and is epoxied and secured with a set screw through the sole. No need to worry about this arrangement. It’s rock solid.
Bottom line: You owe it to yourself to check out Dave Billings’ MACHINE putters.
www.doglegright.com John
