There’s only one word to describe the number of putters on the market, “bewildering". Some are conventional in appearance and some are strange looking. However the operative question is do they work, i.e. putt the ball into the hole?
Rankmark has done consumer preference testing of putters for several years and we have come to the conclusion there are two basic ways to compare them, sensory feedback and results. Obviously there is a certain amount of interdependence of the two. For example you use your sense of feel, how the putter looks and the
contact noise as part of your judgment plus of course whether the ball goes in the hole. So ranking putters is a mix of objective results and subjective factors. Having said that I believe there is anecdotal evidence the two most frequently used methods are “What’s in my favorite pros bag?” and “What was my neighbor playing when he won the club championship?”
I am finding there is another method though, not as popular yet but gaining. It’s the answer to the question, “What do I play?” Readers of this newsletter and visitors to our web site seem to think perhaps I, who try out every new club, have some deep dark secret of what is best which with some prodding I might share. Well, I don’t, meaning there is no secret but at the end of the newsletter I will tell you which putter I am currently carrying.
Our evaluation was conducted using 185 golfers – 125 with handicaps of 11 and higher and 60 with 10 or less handicap. It took almost three weeks to complete the test with more than 8,000 putts struck, measured and recorded. We began with putters from 27 manufacturers and had our testers evaluate each in terms of feel, appearance and ball contact noise.
The nine with the highest scores were:
Ashdon Round-A-bout G-360
With the look of a classic blade or mallet and crafted out of 17-4 stainless steel, the Round-a-bout putter is engineered with a milled face and a brass insert, giving the golfer a soft but solid feel on every putt. All the mass has been built into the putter directly behind the ball, and traditional heel and toe weighting gives the golfer the feel and confidence needed to make more putts. With the shaft centered in the middle of the putter and a guide line on top of the circle, the Round-a-bout putter gives the golfer the easiest alignment ever developed in a putter. Weighting 360 grams, the putter slows the golfer's tempo down and allows for a smoother swing, giving you more control and confidence with every putt. The circle on the putter is exactly the size of the ball (1.68"), this shows the golfer the ball is always centered for a solid hit every time. Since you have a circle against circle (the golf ball) you create a true roll every time because you push the ball alone the ground instead of lifting the ball, thus friction creates a true roll every time with no bouncing and jumping. Available in blade or mallet and comes in 33", 34", 35", and 36" lengths.
Round-A-Bout G-360
Never Compromise GM2 Exchange
The Exchange Series features a system of interchangeable weights that allows custom tuning to suit conditions, surfaces and a player's tendencies. Weights can be manipulated to create a clubhead that ranges from 320 to 370 grams. Customized Weighting Technology can dramatically improve stroke tempo, distance control, accuracy and adaptability to variuos surfaces and conditions.
GM2 Exchange
Nickent Pipe PP/004
The Plumber-Neck Blade features a shorter PIPE® section than the mallet and no perimeter bars on the outside of the clubhead. This enables a blade putter with a substantially higher MOI than other blade putters on the market. This design is ideal for players keeping their hands ahead of the clubhead through impact. This tends to make the putter more forgiving and easier to use, even in a Blade model, which is the reason it’s so popular.
PP/004
Odyssey White Hot XG Putters
The White Hot XG is the next generation of White Hot Technology. Inspired by proven, high-performance, multi-layer golf ball technology, the White Hot XG is Odyssey's latest advancement that utilizes a multi-layer insert for phenomenal performance on the green. It combines two materials with different properties to take the level of feedback, feel and distance control to an all-new, extreme level.
• Elastomer Core Material - Soft for great feel, and highly resilient to get the ball rolling quickly.
• Thin, outer striking surface - Firm for fine-tuned responsiveness.
• Textured Impact Zone - Enhances feel and clearly defines the sweet spot.
All together, it allows weight to be shifted to the perimeter of the putter head for a high MOI, creating even better forgiveness and truer roll than previous models. It's the softest, most responsive insert we have ever created.
White Hot XG
Ping JAS Craz-E One
Lightweight, high-grade aluminum and dense, tungsten heel/toe weights compose this latest addition to the JAS Series. When added to the aluminum body, the tungsten weights maximize the perimeter weighting to earn it the distinction of being PING's highest MOI putter (and thus most forgiving) to date.
The proprietary C805 aluminum offers both strength and a pleasing feel and sound while a deep black anodized coating ensures durability and an eye-catching appearance.
JAS Craz-E One
Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2
By combining the finest milled stainless materials with precision inlay technology, the Studio Style™ line of putters provide superb feel and sound for a soft yet responsive touch. A pure, high grade machined inlay of German Stainless Steel® (GSS) is attached to the precision milled Studio Stainless Steel body through a special vibration pad, and the entire inlay is surrounded by an elastomer cushion to further enhance the soft feel. The Studio Style line features two body styles, the softer flowing lines found in the Newport and Newport 1.5 and the crisp, boxier lines of the Newport 2 and Newport 2.5 models. Two neck variations are available, a square plumping neck with a full shaft of offset, and a shorter flare neck with only a half shaft of offset.
Scotty Cameron
Studio Style Newport 2
Tour Edge Bazooka Automatic High Inertia
High moment of inertia (MOI) putters are taking the game by storm! Now, Tour Edge introduces one of the largest, highest MOI (the ability to resist twisting) putters on the market - the Bazooka Automatic.
Making putting easy, the Bazooka's patented 90-degree bend shaft does the work for you by keeping the head square throughout the entire stroke. For the ultimate in feel, the 100% milled in Chicago, T-6 aluminum head moves the center of gravity lower and back further than today's most popular putters. Each putter is entirely made in the USA and comes with a magnetic closure leather headcover.
Bazooka Automatic
High Inertia
Guerin Rife Two Bar Mallet
• Forged/milled 6061 aluminum body. Charcoal grey anodized finish.Also features 303 stainless steel face plugs and backweighted bars. Putter head weight is 355 grams.
• Features patented and USGA conforming, RollGroove Technology.™ LieAline Fitting System, and Four-Point Stability weighting.
Lining up center vertical notch with cavity alignment line guarantees consistent setup.
• 85% Face balanced (slightly toe down) with no offset shafting.
• Available in right-handed 33", 34", 35", and left-handed 35" shaft length and 71 degree lie angle. Available in offset and straight shaft
• Each putter includes a head cover,LieAline bending tool and Speed Weight Kit.
Two Bar Mallet
Yes C-Groove Dianna
The C-Groove Dianna model is a a toe-down blade that offers heel-toe weighting and is the newest in our selection of variable weighted putters.
• 330 to 350 gram head weight based on variable weighting system; Loft: 2.5 degrees; Lie: 72 degrees std. (2 degrees flat or 2 degrees upright also available).
• Straight shaft with a plumber connection hosel.
• Traditional looking in appearance, without alignment lines.
• Available in RH models only, shaft lengths 32" to 37".
C-Groove Dianna
Each will receive Rankmark’s “BEST OF THE BEST” designation for 2007.
Next we conducted a comparison test using each of the 27 putters for putts from six, nine and 12 feet. The results and the percentage of putts made were:
Dunlop Redneck Lurch
The ultra lightweight aluminum hosel helps keep the weight more evenly distributed throughout the putter, positioning the sweet spot in the center of the face. Standard putters with heavier hosels tend to be “heel-weighted” causing pushed or pulled putts on all but the best strokes. The putters are also finished with a platinum champagne plate that adds to their distinctive looks.
The red hosel also softens the impact of the stroke on the ball resulting in increased feel. The putter head is 100% CNC milled from a forged block of 8620 soft carbon steel.
Redneck Putters come with a bright red premium Winn grip and a matching headcover as well.
Redneck Lurch
Heavy Putter B1
100% CNC milled from a forged billet. This is a mallet putter that is face balanced and has a center shaft hosel configuration with no offset. The head weighs 475 grams and there is a 250 gram weight in the grip end of the shaft that creates a balance point that is 75% higher up the shaft than a conventional putter. The overall weight is 900 grams.
B1
Nicklaus Master Touch
• 3D circular milled face.
• Cast construction.
• Golden Bear All Weather Rubber Grip
• Available in classic Heel Toe Model or Center Shafted Model.
• Model 1 Heel Toe, MRH Only
• Model 2 Center Shafted, MRH
• Model 3 Heel Toe, MLH
• New for 2007: Lady model (RH only)
Master Touch
Louisville True Center
Louisville Golf's True Center putter features a persimmon insert and rewards time well spent on the practice green learning its distance characteristics.
• Heel-toe weighted design in a very traditional appearance.
• A white siteline appears on the top of the flange.
• The model tested, the TC-1, features a full shaft offset.
• Loft of 3 degrees and lie of 72 degrees.
• Weighs in at 325 grams.
• Comes in right- or lefthanded.
• Length is 35 inches for men, 34 inches for women.
• Persimmon insert in stainless steel head moves more weight to heel and toe.
• Other models include blade, center-shafted and semi-mallet.
• MSRP as of this writing is $115 (subject to change without notice).
True Center
Nike OZ Black T100
The Nike OZ Black T100 mallet putter uses its large 100 gram tungsten plug to aid in alignment and sink more putts. The rearward/central position of the tungsten plug helps reduce skidding and serves as an alignment tool.
The Nike OZ Black T100 Putter is a break from tradition with its modified mallet design that will have you in the bottom of the cup all season long. It's unique double bend steel shaft counterbalances your stroke to prevent opening or closing the clubface during the putting stroke, resulting in straighter, truer putts. Come see what the Nike OZ Black T100 Putter can do for you and give it a try!
OZ Black T100
Pinfire Eagle
Developed through years of research by our renowned touring professional staff. The Eagle has revolutionized the putter industry. With its six dimension sighting system, balanced weighting, and CNC milling. Pinfire Golf was able to create the "perfect putter".
Features:
• Center Shaft
• High Moment of Inertia
• Face Balanced
Eagle
Daito Stealth
Increased back-end weighting provides a higher moment of inertia, helping to reduce backspin and improve resistance to torque or twisting on impact, especially on off-center hits, resulting in straighter putts.
Stealth
Carbite Tri07
The new Tri 07 putters are made of soft touch stainless with a vibration dampening cartridge in the cavity back. With heel and toe weighting for face balance and additional weight directly behind the expanded hitting area this putter is online all the time even on off center hits!!! No skid, just solid on line hits!!! All Carbite putters come with Winn “The Best Grips in Golf”.
Tri07
Frankly Frog The lightweight totally machined aluminum putter head features two heavy tungsten weights positioned low and behind the face to give it perfect balance and an extremely high “Moment of Inertia”, which means it provides maximum forgiveness and gives positive roll to the ball immediately after impact. It features bold white sight lines to allow for easy alignment of the “frog green” head.
• Stabilizes your stroke…perfect balance means more putts struck solidly
• Keeps your putts online for greater accuracy
• Feels “sweet” giving you greater confidence on the green
Frankly Frog
Ashdon Round-A-bout "When Ron first showed me the Round A Bout putter he said it would improve my short putts. What I discovered was it also really improved my long putts. Because of the weight and balance of the putter, I am getting the ball closer on the long putts of over 20 feet. I put my Odyssey putter in the closet." - Joe Livesay
Available in right- and left-handed.
Round-A-Bout
Each will receive Rankmark’s “BEST OF THE BEST” designation for 2007.
Please note the Ashdon model was the only putter that made both lists.
In analyzing these test results we seem to have proven there is no “scientific way” to pick a putter. The method appears to be to keep trying putters until you find one that feels comfortable and knocks the ball in the hole… and then of course, keep practicing.
Finally and as I promised earlier, the putter I am using presently and was using prior to this testing session is the Heavy Putter.
