Tell me about your new driver and I’ll ooh and aah about the new paint color and the claims of another 15 yards off the tee. However, what amazes me more is how many people still have the same beat-up putter from high school or bargain basement deal found in the discount bin. Since getting the ball in the hole is where the scoring takes place, it seems like spending a bit of money on a high-quality tool is a pretty darn good idea. In the case of Bettinardi putters, they are the definition of a high-quality instrument!

Bettinardi putters are designed by Robert J. Bettinardi at his state-of-the-art facility in Chicago, IL. Putters are conceived by Bettinardi, computer designed and tested, and finally milled into shape on $350,000 metal lathes from blocks of steel. While that description may lead you the think the Bettinardi putters are generically rolling off the conveyer belt by the bushel-full, the reality is the the process is very exacting and many potential putters don’t make the grade. In fact, by the time they are finished, many putters will go through machining in 6 different lathes before they’re ready for the logo carving and the hand-painting. For my first experience with Bettinardi I was tasked to review the Bettinardi BB32 counterbalance putter which is the latest craze to sweep the putter market.

What is a Counterbalance Putter?

Counterbalance putters aren’t a brand-new idea but with the impending ban on long putters, many guys who make their living rolling the rock are looking for an alternative way to quiet the hands and guarantee a smooth, consistent stroke. As you have probably seen or experienced, belly putters connect the shaft to your core and long putters connect the shaft to your sternum to guarantee a more pendulum-like action. Fundamentally, a counterbalance putter adds weight above and below your hands on the shaft of the club to help stabilize the putter throughout the swing of the putter head. The idea of a counterbalance putter is to give the player all of the advantage of a belly or long putter and to make the transition much easier. In other words, it’s much harder to make a yippy stroke with a counter balance putter. Said another way, the goal is to make the same stroke every time when putting – to square up the putter face to the target line, to get the ball rolling quickly, smoothly and with the right speed. Counterbalance putters are by their size, weight, and center of gravity going to help that happen more easily and with less room for operator error.

The Bettinardi counter balance putter works by adding extra shaft length and a longer grip to add weight above your hand position. To offset the longer shaft, extra weight is added in the head of the putter. This moves the balance point of the putter more towards the middle of the shaft rather than closer to the putter head like conventional putters. The result is a putter that is extremely balanced and solid feeling throughout the swing. The putter I have been using is the mallet-style BB32 counterbalance putter with 38” shaft and 17” Winn grip. Since I normally putt with 33” or 34” putters, this gave me about 5” of shaft and grip above my normal hand position on the grip. The head weight of the BB32 counterbalance is 395 grams which is heavier than most conventional putters. NOTE when ordering I measured from the ground up to my stomach in my normal putting stance to make sure that the 38” shaft wouldn’t contact my body. The shafts go up to 40” so you can get the proper length.

At first glance, the putter is very eye-catching. It’s bold colors make it clear that this is an American product, and everything from the red, white and blue stitching on the white premium-leather head cover to the bold Bettinardi lettering on the red grip and in the carving on the bottom of the putter itself let you know that you have got your hands on a Bettinardi gem. It’s easy to see the care and precision in this putter right through to the hand-painted “B” on their beautiful honeycombed putter face.

I hadn’t seen a Bettinardi putter in person until this review, but was very aware that they are a tour-proven commodity. In fact, PGA Tour star Matt Kuchar even has his own line of Bettinardi putters. Additionally, Freddy Couples, JB Holmes, Bo Van Pelt, Brian Gay and Edoardo Molinari also carry a Bettinardi putter. Knowing that these guys make a living with a putter, I figure there must be something to the Bettinardi name. Kuchar uses a line of putters designed for his arm-clasp method where he holds a longer shaft against his left forearm. Brian Gay uses a traditional blade-style putter and puts with a traditional stroke. Since I putt with the Ballard method which is very core focused, I chose the counterbalance putter that closely resembles the belly putter, without actually touching your body. The counterbalance putter comes in the BB32 mallet design, the BB1 blade or the extremely high MOI BB55 design.

Since this was my first experience with a longer putter I was curious to see how I would be able to adapt to the added length. When I got to the course I instantly knew I was holding a thoroughbred. The 17” slightly-oversized Winn grip felt very comfortable in my hands and because of where the balance of the putter is, I didn’t feel the added weight of the head in a negative way. It simply felt more solid and true all the way through the swing of the stroke. As I used it through my rounds and tried the putter as a ‘Texas wedge’ from off the green, I found that by moving my hands a bit higher on the grip, it was no problem to dial in a bit more distance on my putts.

I was pretty sure the added weight of the putter would be excellent on faster greens but I was concerned that it could be more difficult to use on slower greens. In practice, I actually found that the putter is probably the best I’ve ever used on different green speeds. By slightly varying my hand position to be an inch higher on the grip and making a longer stroke, slow greens were not a problem. Precisely because of the added stability, a longer stroke was more fluid and the putter behaved beautifully.

The mallet-head in the BB32 counterbalance putter is larger than the Odyssey mallet that I have used for years, but it has a very classic look and I was instantly comfortable with its shape and feel through the ball. I have also been using a putter with an insert for years, and was curious as to how the sound would strike me with the ball coming off the metal honeycomb face. Although I first noticed a “clicky-ness,” particularly with cheaper balls, it was minimal with higher quality balls. Plus when the feel is so solid through the strike it soon was a non-issue for me.

We get to review a good number of putters at Three Guys Golf, and there are some great designs that we’ve tested. For me, it’s easy to see why this counterbalance Bettinardi is getting serious looks on Tour, and it should get serious looks from amateurs as well. After several weeks of testing, this putter is in my bag to stay, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you would like to get a Bettinardi putter, you can truly get the putter you want. Their website at Bettinardi.com is well designed and functional, and will take you through the variety of options you can get for the putter that will fit you like a glove. They had our putter out to us to test in a flash, and all the comments I’ve read that say that the folks at Bettinardi have given them excellent customer service and the same attention to detail found in the putters they make. The BB32 counterbalance putter will run you around $350, and there are signature models that can run you up to $500. I heard Bob Bettinardi say that they are expensive because that’s how they are made. They are made by skilled craftsman on top-of-the-line equipment, to the most exacting standards, in the heartland of the USA. This is a putter you can keep for life, and be proud to have in your bag. So, next time you’re trying to decide if that new $400 driver will get you that extra 5 yards over last years model, you may want to take a look at a $350 Bettinardi putter that may do you one better than that, and actually lower your score.

Check out all the Bettinardi putters on the Bettinardi website

In 1998, when I took up golf for real, I bought a used putter from one of my buddies – it was a Scotty Cameron Catalina. Being new to the game, I had no idea who Scotty Cameron was or that I was in possession of a future classic blade. What I did know was that try as I might, I never really became comfortable with it. Stubborn and cheap, I toiled for six years trying to master that putter but in 2004 I finally gave up and sold it to golf galaxy for $120.  Ok, simmer down, I know it was stupid. Had I held on to it, I could have fetched over $250 but I was in a bad way and needed to rid myself of the nasty karma. But think about it, what other club in your bag can actually be called and investment? Certainly not the big stick, whose value drops quicker than a Ford Pinto. On the other hand, a quality putter is worth every penny (even if you can’t putt with it) because at least it holds value.

Until fairy recently I was oblivious to the boutique putter industry, but due in large part to my work on this site, I have realized how many small shops are out there making wonderful putters. One such company is NEAD Custom Putters, which is also sold from the website WantsAndNeads.com.  Clever, yes.

So what does Scotty Cameron have to do with a NEAD putter review? Only the fact that I was going to be charged with reviewing a blade putter (a style that I have struggled with for years). Originally the NEAD putter review was to be done by fellow blogger, Matt Murley, but alas Gene Nead was fresh out of left handed putters (another nail in the lefty coffin) and proof he is not making thousands of putters to be shipped out across the land. Alas, it was therefore incumbent upon me to handle this review. Because of my admiration for the company, I was honestly quite concerned because my history with blade putters is not exactly glorious.

My putting performance aside, the NEAD AS10 is a stunning piece of craftsmanship. Deep milling on the face gives it undeniable status and it is literally impossible to take a bad picture of this putter. She is what I call “Instagram gold” that garners likes and comments of “wow” and “#putterporn”. Even after 15 or so rounds, the shine and luster are the same as the day it showed up on my doorstep. I am also keen on the NEAD stamp on the heal of the putter which is both understated and bold.

The back of the putter features a the company namesake, NEAD and simple alignment aid leaving the only untouched surface the sole which ice smooth.

Beyond the face of the putter, perhaps the most unique visual feature is the copper toned shaft which is extremely rare. So rare, I can honestly say I have never seen one in person or at least cannot recall a time.

The grip is a light tan leather with NEAD stamped upon it, and despite the fact that I am basically all in with SuperStroke grips, I have not had the guts to replace the NEAD grip. To me, it would feel like defacing a piece of art. Plus, I have come to really like the leather stitching which helps to set your hands.

Taken as a whole the NEAD AS10 is a wonderful blend of traditional styling with aggressive touches. This should actually not come as a surprise as Gene Nead had deep roots in the NASCAR industry, so a little vroom vroom is to be expected. Gene’s history is actually quite fascinating and I would recommend you read the interview he gave to My Golf Spy.

Here’s the thing about boutique putters, you really cannot get the full sense of the beauty until you actually take it out on the course. I can recall checking out the NEAD putters at the 2014 PGA show and being impressed, but it was not until it actually went into my bag that I got “new putter tingles”. Much like a piece of art you buy from a gallery, the appreciation is not complete until it hangs on your wall.

When the NEAD AS10 finally did find a home in my bag there still was the small issue of the fact I have never putted well with a blade. Honeymoon period aside, I still love this putter and I can absolutely make putts with it. Not being a techno geek, this is why I think this putter is so effective:

The deep milling helps to get the ball rolling quickly and keeps the ball on line. I have become much more aggressive with this putter as I feel incredibly confident that I can get the ball on line and have it stay there which is super important for putting bermuda greens that break hard at the hole. I also think the weighting is nearly perfect, such that I am able to have great feel for long putts. On shorter putts where I think the blade typically gives me trouble, the NEAD putter is very solid and resists any twisting. Even with a much thinner grip than I am used to, I found the putter to handle slight off-center strikes and be very accurate inside that 6 foot range.

NEAD Custom Putters are located in my home state of North Carolina. Specifically NEAD is located in Charlotte NC which also happens to be NASCAR Country. So when Gene is not busy with his crew chief duties he is meticulously crafting putters one at a time (albeit with some pretty cool equipment that may or may not be on loan). Currently NEAD offers a select number of styles and finishes but can also do custom work as well. Pricing depends on the individual putter but they typically run about $400.

You can learn more about NEAD Putters on the NEAD Custom Putter website.

At what length are you willing to go to improve your putting? For me it’s simple: if I could get a consistent roll from a tattered piece of driftwood that’s duct taped to a PVC pipe I’d throw it in my bag. That certainly wouldn’t be as cool as wielding one of the fancy $400 milled putters, but at the risk of tarnishing my highly touted reputation as a golf purist I’d have to consider it, right?

The people behind the Mantis Golf Company have taken a different approach to help you with your flat-stick issues by creating a very unique and uncharacteristic putter that might surprise you. We as golfers are so often consumed with the material makeup of a putter, or how it was created, or the alignment aspects . . . the list goes on and on. Mantis, however, took it back to the basics and from there made just one big change: Color.

OK, let’s first address the 300lb Jolly Green Giant in the room. Yes, the putter is green. Yes, the putter resembles the head of a praying mantis and yes, your friends will more inclined to think you’re parading around the streets at night in a mask with some magical ring rather than thinking you’re on to something when it comes to improving your putting skills.

I’ll admit it, the first time I came across the Mantis as the Vegas PGA show my thoughts were a bit scattered. There’s been white, black, silver and even Nike Golf has dabbled in the trendy Red with their concept putter, but green? After spending a little time with the people from Mantis though, my inner Kermit the Frog started to show itself and I became much more interested in the science behind the Mantis, which ideally is what it is all about.

My scientific background doesn’t travel beyond the understanding that when water gets cold it turns to ice so bear with me.

Everyone is aware that maintaining eye contact with the ball is key to striking a putt well. With your eyes not completely locked into the ball it is easy to get distracted by things such as a shiny white putter head or some overly dramatic alignment aids. What the Mantis did with its patented putter head color – that’s right, it has a patent – allows your eyes to lock in more on the ball and not be so easily distracted by the putter head moving away and coming back to the ball. It’s a very simple theory.

The design elements of the Mantis putter combine to instill confidence, facilitating a golfer’s ability to watch the ball, not the putter – leading to greater focus, concentration and putting results.

             – Mantis Website

The smart people in white coats (or maybe green coats) at Mantis Golf Company have figures that show an impressive decrease in eye movement when using their putter. It was this science that intrigued me the most, and when I thought about it, it really made sense.

Science is cool but how does it putt?

On the Mantis you’ll find a soft polyurethane face that puts a real nice roll on the ball. The overall sound of the ball coming of the face is a little too “pingy” for my liking but it’s nothing you’ve never heard before in other putters. Mantis ships their putters with an extremely comfortable Winn Grip that is in the company colors and also includes a head cover that’s kept in place via the very popular magnet method.

What I like about the Mantis is you know you’re holding it. What I mean by that is the weighting is top notch. Being a mallet it is of course face-balanced and very easy to swing and it didn’t feel out of the ordinary when I compared to other mallets I’ve played with in the past. My putting stroke has a very strong arc and for that reason I use a blade style putter, so making the switch back to a mallet was a bit nerve-racking at first, but after taking it out for a few sessions on my practice green at home I really started getting a feel for how it putts and how this green head of the Mantis could really be of some assistance.

Practice green stats aside, what really mattered was how it performed on the course, so I took the Mantis for a couple of spins around one of my local tracks to see how well it stood up under real game condtions. At home on my indoor green I was really pleased with the outcome, but a straight 6′ putt indoors on simulated carpet is more for technique work. But I found on the course the Mantis to be much like it was on my indoor green.

The ball really “pops” off the face and I remember saying a few times “WOW, this thing is hot!” I had zero problems with my lag putts, with that pop I spoke of the ball almost runs to cup off the face and there were no issues getting the ball close on those long nerve-racking putts. Not being able to go beyond six feet at home, my stroke during those sessions wasn’t exactly powerful, so the first time I had a lengthy putt I was really surprised at how fast the ball came off the face and started trucking towards the hole. 

I must admit that the Mantis, being a mallet, really had me stressing when the closer putts were not dropping like I’m used to. My strong arc path wasn’t a very good fit for the Mantis and its Mallet head, but lucky for me one of my friends that joined me the day I played was willing to give the Mantis a go for our second round. Dan, being a fan of the mallet style putter, instantly feel in love with the Green Machine. So much in fact he was willing to throw me some cash right there on the 18th green for it!  Yeah, he was a beast with the Mantis, probably the best I’ve ever seen him putt.

Even though my love affair with Mantis was limited to lag putts and my home indoor green, I still found the science behind the Mantis putter to the most interesting aspect. The putter did blend in very well with the greens we played on and my practice green at home. I can easily see how it could calm the nerves of players that might be more yippy than confident. It sure helped Dan with his yips.

The Mantis comes in either left or right configurations and is available in 33″, 34″, 35″ lengths or you can order it uncut.  The Mantis retails for $159.99 and you can purchase it directly from the Mantis Golf Companies website.

UPDATE: I just spoke with Sally Sportman who is the director of Media & Public Relations for Mantis and she informed me that Mantis has a new “Blade” style putter in the works and will be debuting it at the PGA Show later this month.

 For the Techie:

• Putter Weight: 350g
• MOI: 5000 cubic g/cm
• Material: 431 Stainless Steel
• Construction: Perimeter weighted
• Face Insert: Polyurethane
• Grip: Custom Winn Grip

“7 minute abs, just like 8 minute abs but a minute shorter”. Yeah this brilliant idea proposed in Something About Mary was my first thought when I saw the new Smart Square putter from Cleveland. Seriously, it does harken back to the two ball putters we have all owned at one time or another. Props to Cleveland for not shying away from the comparison. They are sticking with the 7 minute ab story- it’s like the two ball but better. Ok, let’s roll up our sleeves and see what she can do.

Great golfers are often compared to artists, implying that the game requires more than just technical skill. The same is true for the craftsmen who have dedicated their careers to creating the perfect putter. Commonly referred to as boutique putter shops, companies like Kenny Giannini are quietly making some of the finest flatsticks available. For years my only exposure to high end putters was the plastic cases in Golf Galaxy that guarded the Scotty Camerons. Well folks, I am here to tell you that if you dig a little deeper, there is far cooler stuff to be found.

While the Kenny Giannini company is fairly new, Kenny has been around golf his whole life and has been in the putter business for over 35 years. Mr. Giannini got his first start at the Ben Hogan Company and then continued to perfect his craft at Cleveland and Mizuno. Notably, at Cleveland Golf, Kenny developed one of the first completely milled putters.

Now, Kenny is producing his own line of putters and by producing I do not mean just slapping his name on it. Kenny oversees and is intimately involved in all aspects of the process. There is not a single putter that goes out of the door that Mr. Giannini has not personally touched. Go ask a big “signature putter” designer that same question and you will likely get a whole lot of “uh, um, mmm”.

Starting with the looks, the Kenny Giannini G-50 putter has a fairly standard mallet vibe. You won’t find any over the top bling, but you will find a number of subtle touches that set it apart from the mass produced flatsticks. For example, notice the etching on the face – it not only looks bad-ass but also helps the ball come off of the face straight and true.

Flipping it over, you will see the groove that runs parallel to the face. This is called Slotted Soft Face Technology (SSFT). In laymen’s terms, this helps to balance the putter face and give you forgiveness on off-center putts.

On top of the putter you will find a single alignment aid, which is plenty for me as I am not a huge fan of bells and whistles blaring “hit it here!”. Speaking of toned down bling, in my opinion, high end putters have a certain obligation to add at least a few touches that let you know this putter is not one of a million. While the Kenny Giannini putter is fairly modest, I think the face and logo meet the required “boutique bling” quota.

Now for some nuts and bolts. The G-50 putter is 100% milled out of a single piece of carbon steel, not slapped together by some machine. Nope, this guy is just one of a small number that is produced with a level of craftsmanship not possible in huge golf companies. The G-50 is 370 grams which puts it slightly on the heavy side but something I prefer. Additionally, the G-50 differs from the G-5 as it is offset by 1/4 inch, causing the toe to be a little heavier than the heel, which benefits a modest arched putting stroke.

On the course there was zero break-in period as the putter feels very natural and is easy on the eye. Still, whenever I get a new putter, I like to take out my Putting Alley just to make sure I am finding the sweet spot and getting the ball rolling on a straight line.

A couple of things I noticed (or did not notice). There is minimal impact sound. I prefer not to hear a loud click or ting or, god forbid, twank when I putt. The Giannini putter surely makes a sound but it is so easy on the ear that it goes virtually unnoticed. The other thing (and most important) is that it rolls super easy and true. For me, a mallet is just a better putter. I have more confidence and I can control the head better than a blade. Whether I am lag putting from 40 feet of grinding out 5 foot par putts, I feel like I can make anything and everything. Part of that confidence comes from the fact that the head resists any torque if I mis-hit the ball a touch (which is nice).

Finally, there is the all important headcover. Look, you just dropped good coin, it better come with an equally crafted cover. Truth is, I feel zero obligation to keep stock headcovers on my clubs. Not one of my woods has the company headcover on it. However, the putter is a whole different story. I absolutly prefer to have the stock putter cover, provided that it is 100% awesome. Checking that box is not a problem with Kenny G (I wonder how many people call him that and how much he wants to smack them?). This leather putter cover not only keeps her safe and sound but also tells the world you have a big time putter.

You can check out the whole line of Kenny Giannini Putters on their website.

When making a list of Golf Mecca’s a few places come to mind. Let’s see, Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas and a little town they call Scottsdale. For those of you who have not visited Scottsdale, think of it as the Beverly Hills of the Phoenix area with the crown jewel (at least in terms of golf) being TPC Scottsdale. It seems reasonable, then, that when Ping went looking for a name for their newest Anser putter, slapping the moniker ‘Scottsdale’ on it seemed to make sense.

Ping Scottsdale Anser 2 TR

Right Hand, 350g Head Weight

Ping took a different approach to their new line of putters – the Scottsdale TR series. TR stands for “True Roll” and that’s the outcome you’ll expect thanks to their new innovation called “Variable-Depth-Grove Technology”. Yes, I agree, TR is a much better term than VDGT. By varying the depth of the groove from the deepest in the center to shallow as you move out from the center area of the putter face, Ping has proven that the TR system provides a much more consistent distance control when hit flush in the center or just off center towards the heel or the toe, and since none of us strike every putt perfectly (not even the Pros), this is a new technology that I was eager to try.

To start, I used the Anser 2 on my putting green at home to get a feel for it and it didn’t take long before I was draining those 7 foot putts with relative ease. I was truly surprised at how well the putter felt in my hands. I’m not sure what it is about the Ping grip, maybe Tiger could clarify, but it felt like an extension of my hands as I was hitting my putts. Never before has a putter felt that good in my hands as I was using it.

The insert that Ping uses is made from Aluminum so you’ll get the typical “ping” sound the clubmaker is known for but not the high-pitch version from years past. The TR technology I think is here to stay, and just like Ping proclaims, the off-center putts don’t come up short at all. Deliberately making off-center putts is nothing that I wanted to practice but I had to bite the bullet for the review and I was literally stunned at the results. I nailed my distances all day long on all three courses. My lag putting was outstanding and watching the alignment line on my ball stay straight as can be and not wobble back and forth was neat to watch.

I put the Anser TR though a three round test and came away feeling like my putting was clearly the better part of my game. I was rolling the ball better than I ever had and my distance control was not only a big surprise to me but my playing partners as well. The solid feel of the putter in my hands and the remarkable roll and touch that I was able to put on the ball let me know that Ping certainly has a winner with the TR series and their variable-depth-grove technology.

You can see the whole line of Ping products on their website. 

If I were to ask you to list the top putters on the market today, I would bet dollars to donuts you would mention the name Odyssey. For years Odyssey has been producing solid putters, but in 2013, the Odyssey Versa has become one of the hottest flat sticks around.

The Odyssey Versa line comes in many different configurations. Six that come in either black/white or white/black plus the “2 Ball” version that is available in white. That gives players seven unique styles to choose from (thirteen if you count the two color choices)! For our review we received the Versa #1 in black/white.

Odyssey Versa #1 – Black

Odyssey took a huge leap forward in the development of the Versa, choosing to make the entire head of the putter an alignment aid versus sight lines or hidden dots. Two bold contrasting colors of black and white (or white and black depending on the version) make aligning your putt virtually stupid-proof.

The first time I grabbed the Versa I was a bit overwhelmed. The contrasting black and white head can give you the feeling of cluelessness if you’re not ready for it, but as I took the handle in my putting grip, took my stance, and looked down at the ball for the first time, the uneasiness of using this unique putter went away. I did have my doubts though as I began to stroke a few putts to get the feel of the Versa. Can seeing yourself misaligned by a mere degree be that noticeable? Once I had the feel for the putter I started focusing more on what this putter is all about and that’s alignment.

It didn’t take long for me to realize just how great the Versa is. Having only my previous putter to compare to the Odyssey at this point it was a no brainer. Using my putting green at home and putting from 7’ I was deadly accurate. Every putt I attempted was directly at the hole. A few times I misaligned myself on purpose to see if there was a difference and it was boy oh boy it was dramatic. The black and white contrast of the face acts just like a flashing neon STOP sign forcing you to reassess your position. That wasn’t the only great thing about the Versa though. The face of the putter has an incredibly soft feel to it when it makes contact with the ball, almost like a soft insert, but the roll is fantastic and true. That was a combination that I really liked.

Of course the at-home putting green was never going to be a true test so I took the Versa out to the course for three rounds to see how well it performed where it matters. Even though my putting numbers were not off-the-charts amazing over the 54 holes I played, I did manage to show some progress in some key areas like lag putting and putts in the 10-15’ range. The confidence of knowing I was aligned properly really made a difference to me.

The more I played with the Versa the more I liked it. The Versa feels great in your hands and with that soft feel coming off the face you have a great touch on your putts. There is no second guessing your alignment which improves confidence. There is no second thought in my head about where the ball is going; only speed.

At a price point of $169.99 I think the Versa is a fantastic putter for any player looking to decrease the number of putts per round. Odyssey also has done something I think is very smart. They now have an option where you can order your putter with a SuperStroke grip for an additional $20.00 Not bad at all!

If you’re one of those players that battles with proper alignment I can highly recommend giving the Versa a try.

You can view the entire Versa line on the Odyssey website.

Believe it or not, my first real putter was an old Scotty Cameron I bought from a friend in 1998. For eight years I tried to master that club before I finally decided it was either cursed or I was just not skilled enough to use it. Since that time I have primarily owned mallets or some version of an over-sized putter. So, when it came time to review the Rife Iconic Z, I was nervous to say the least. I was, however, determined to give a blade putter another go because, outside of the results, I love the look and the feel of them.

Knowing I was going to have to make an adjustment to a blade putter, I first took the Rife Iconic Z to the practice green for about 20 minutes, where I promptly missed about 80% of my putts. Dejected would be an understatement for my outlook. I mean, holy cow, I have to write a review for a putter that I cannot use to make Country Club gimmies.

What to do? That was my question. My plan was two-fold. First, I decided to replace the standard sized grip with a mid-slim Super Stroke grip. Secondly, I broke out my Putting Alley which I find to be a great aide to breaking in a new putter or finding your lost groove. What resulted was no short of a celebrity makeover. Overnight I was rolling putts that just a day ago I could not make to save my life.

Six weeks and about 15 rounds with the Rife Iconic Z, I now believe I am cured of the blade yips. I give a lot of credit to the super stroke grip which I think helped with my control, but the putter itself has found a place in my bag that I did not expect it to keep. I had always planned to simply review the putter and then go back to my mallet, but so far I have not been able to make the switch. The 350 mg weight seems perfect for greens that are of average speed as it allows me to have the feeling of “tossing” the head toward the hole to get the distance right on long putts. Short putts are equally straight forward where it is easy to make crisp contact that gets the ball rolling on a straight line.

Ideally, you want the ball to start rolling as quickly as possible rather than skidding, which is why Rife developed Roll Groove Technology. You will note the fairly heavy grooves on the face of the blade which creates the traction needed to minimize any skidding.

The Rife Iconic Z is made from stainless steel and comes in three finishes: sterling, phantom, and rose gold. While not super tricked up, the Iconic Z has a pleasing shape with just enough bling to set it apart from the blah putters of the world.

For me, the beauty of a classic blade putter is the simplicity. I love the sharp angles, perpendicular lines and the overall vibe I get. Sure, I like mallets and other shapes of putters, but I am always drawn to the shape that most resembles the original tools of the game.

You learn more about the Rife Iconic Z and their other putters on their website. 

Last year, Adam reviewed the SeeMore M9 putter so I had a bit of familiarity with the brand, but until I visited the website I had no idea about the number of styles and customization options that were available. SeeMore offers everything from broomstick to conventional heel-toe weighted putters with a multitude of additional options. However, the one consistent feature in all of the SeeMore putters is the inclusion of the RST or Rifle Scope Technology.

What is RST? It’s so simple and effective. Basically, if you line up over the putter and can see the two white alignment lines but cannot see the red dot, the club face is square and you ready to roll the putt. On the other hand, if you see the red dot during your stroke, you’ve managed to open or close the face relative to square. In my case, I putt on an arc so as long as I don’t open or close the face related to my chest, the dot stays hidden and I roll the putt right on line. In other words, RST makes it super easy to get in the right position over the putter because it shows you if your face is square at impact.

SeeMore Si3w Specs and Performance:

SeeMore Si Series putters ‘feature precision cast 303 stainless steel heads with soft thermo plastic urethane (TPU) face inserts. This means it has an expanded sweet spot with enhanced perimeter weighting, softer feel and slightly less rebound for those preferring the performance of a tour-level elastomer insert. For most players I think the expanded sweet spot is absolutely a great benefit as it allows for slightly off-center hits.

Plus, I just really like the feel of an insert and having the ball come off the face with minimal noise and clank. Note, this insert is also milled so that it does have some grip which helps reduce skid and get the ball rolling as early as possible. This specific putter is 340 grams with a 33 inch shaft and standard 70 degree lie angle. However, nearly every aspect of the putter can be customized.

I putt mostly with my right hand and tend to keep the handle slightly ahead of my hands to further streamline my transition from chipping to putting. Because of this technique, I opted for the offset, or ‘whistle’ shaft, which is where you get the ‘w’ in Si3w. To finish it off, I opted for the orange oversize FeelTec grip and blue headcover that features the familiar SeeMore logo and American Flag.

It’s always a gamble when we get a new putter to review because we have little idea how it will actually suit us, and often times it takes a few rounds to get the feel for it. In the case of the SeeMore Si3w, it was pretty much love at first putt. Truthfully, it was just about the best of any putter I’ve ever tried out of the box. During my first round with the SeeMore, I rolled in a bunch of mid range putts and was always very comfortable getting in my stance and making good contact.

I also really like the elastomer insert and the sound and feel of the ball off the face. I was equally pleased with the FeelTec oversize grip as it is firm without feeling tough, and in my opinion, it enhances my feel on shorter money putts immensely. After several rounds, I’ve noticed that the 340 gram weight is best suited to medium and fast greens which brings up the question of whether you should have more than one putter.

The fact is, some putters are better suited for slow greens while others for fast so it makes sense to have more than one flatstick. Granted, this can be expensive, but in the case of the SeeMore Si3w (which is very reasonably priced at $165), it is not a crazy splurge to have more than one putter weight.

You can visit the SeeMore website to see all of the styles and options available.

Axis1 Umbra Putter Review: The putter is perhaps the most personal piece of golf equipment any golfer owns, which is why preferences vary so widely. With that said, I think Bob Rotella is correct in his assessment that we should approach putting like we were a kid and not overthink the whole process. Unfortunately, we grow old, miss too many putts and begin to question everything – including our flat stick. This is exactly why having trust in your putter is so important. If you trust your putter, you make a more confident stroke and utilize your natural hand-eye coordination.

Confidence in your putter starts with how it feels in your hands and how natural your stroke is. The Axis1 putter is designed to have the center of gravity at the exact place where you are meant to hit the ball. This means that the putter is incredibly well-balanced and won’t spin right or left when you pick it up. Axis1 was not the first company to believe balance was critical to a putter’s design, but they updated the materials with space-age precision and attention to detail.

I played my first round with the Umbra putter without ever hitting it on a practice green or in a store. For some reason, Adam likes to spring new equipment on us just before we tee off. So, after negotiating the funky head cover that protects all the science in the putter head, the first thing I did was spin it in my hand to feel how it moved. My first thought was  ‘man, this feels so natural.’ Interestingly, this was a common first impression for a few of my buddies who also remarked on its exceptional balance.

Axis1 Umbra is labeled as a mallet design but it is really very different than most traditional mallets. I would say it is more of a cross between a blade and a mallet. In the end, I don’t care what it is called as long as it putts well. One design feature it does share with many mallets is the alignment aid on top. These are called  ‘L-frame alignment sight lines’ that are reminiscent of a two-ball putter. Conversely the length of the blade and the feel of the ball off the face are reminiscent of a toe and heel-weighted blade putter. A bit of the best of both worlds.

One aspect that did take a little getting used to was the counter-weight in the heel that comes forward from the face (see the bent shaft near the blade). At first, I found myself not making a full stoke because I was not comfortable really putting through the line because I was worried about the shaft hitting the ball. However, with a little practice, I didn’t even see the counterweight. In terms of impact, the face of the putter is smooth although it sounds a little pingy when you hit it. However, I stopped noticing that after a round or two. Moreover, we have been told that there is an Umbra version that has a damper insert to mute the sound if you prefer a deeper sound off of the face.

As I mentioned, I played my first round with the Axis1 without ever practicing with it. Despite that fact, I made a couple of birdie putts from the fringe and was a few strokes below my handicap in my first round using it. Since that time, I’ve spent a decent more time practicing with it and have grown to trust that the ball will go exactly where I’m looking.  and I mean, really go where I’m looking.

The Axis1 comes with a Wynn AVS slightly oversized-grip that feels great. My distance control has been really good even though it’s a different swing-weight than my normal putter (I tested the 350g and there is a slightly heavier 400g for faster greens) and I am comfortable using it on both fast and slow greens alike. While clearly not a scientific test, I feel like I have hit more short-to-mid length putts right in the dead center than I can remember for a while.

These putters are $300 at your normal outlets, and if you consider what you are shelling out for your new driver, and how much more you hit this club during a round, it’s not that hard to figure out. This may just be the club that has you playing with the exuberance of a kid again as you watch those putts roll right in the center of the hole.

You can see the whole line of Axis1 putters on their website.

Never one to rest on their laurels, TaylorMade recently sent us the newest version of the Ghost Spider putter, the Ghost Spider S. I just realized I have no idea what “rest on one’s laurels” means, but I’m pretty sure it works in that sentence. Anyway, having been fortunate enough to review last year’s model, it only made sense for me to have a go at the new Ghost Spider S so we could compare apples to apples (or insect to insects).

Truth be told, Adam sprung the newer model on me about 5 minutes before we were teeing off in a “toughie day” tournament. Normally I would never mess with the putter mojo within such close range of a tournament, but this one tourney was on the silly side and I was dying to try out the new putter. So on to the practice green!

Keep in mind that I was a big fan of last year’s model, and it’s been the only putter in my bag since I first tried it out. In a nutshell, the Ghost Spider was big, crazy looking, and super-stable. As a man wrestling with the yips, it was a lifesaver . . . it was the closest I had come to a point-and-shoot putter, and this was something that I needed at the time.

At first glance, the Ghost Spider S appears to be a bit smaller and cleaner than it’s predecessor. The head is indeed 20% smaller than the previous model (dubbed “Itsy Bitsy Spider” in the development stages), and it looks as though they decided to drop the “crazy” and just make a simple, efficient mallet putter. If you look closer, you realize that the same Spider shape is in play, but somehow they’ve tweaked the putter head to disguise the funky skeleton of the Spider line.

Little bit different, right? The biggest change, aesthetically, is that TaylorMade went with a black centerpiece and a single straight line for alignment. While the elimination of the old basketball court/male-gender-symbol look is the most obvious change, the fact that the centerpiece is now black is also a significant difference. TaylorMade says that the new centerpiece minimizes distraction – I can’t speak to that simply because I am essentially a moron, but I think it looks a bit more sleek and I certainly had no trouble lining up the face. And for you Star Wars geeks out there, don’t worry, it still looks like a storm-trooper. One thing to note – when standing over the club, there is a clearly raised portion of the black alignment aid that you can’t really see in the above picture. It looks cool, and also seems to play a role in lining up the putt. See below:

The Ghost Spider S still utilizes the Pure Roll insert with ridges designed to maximize, well, a “pure roll”, but that’s not to say it’s the same insert – TaylorMade has definitely tweaked the feel on this go’round. Again, I liked the old putter’s feel, noting that it was rubbery (which sounds bad) yet surprisingly still cool and satisfying on impact. The new Spider S has toned down the rubbery feel, heading more towards the ‘click’ direction, at least as far as a rubber insert can head in that direction without wearing tap shoes. The end result is a feel that smacks more of the top of the line putters. Solid and tight – not soft, not hard, just right in zee middle.

Pure Roll!

And actually, what I just implicated about the insert I think can be said for the new Ghost Spider S overall – this version takes a significant step out of the radical/not for everybody category and into the premier club category. Simply put, the Ghost Spider S wants to be taken more seriously than it’s predecessor, and I think it has earned that respect. TaylorMade has subtly fine-tuned every aspect of the putter, maintaining the Spider heritage based on high MOI and stability, but ultimately creating a brand new top of the line club.

I will not be adjusting these weights, but you can.

Let me put it this way, this is the first time I’ve ever played with a putter that I would believe costs $250 or more (it doesn’t, it retails at $179.99), which I think of as a whole new level. As a lefty, and a frugal lefty to boot, I rarely get to stroke a Scotty Cameron or a nice Rife or any of the other big boys over $200 . . . when I do, the feel of those putters is something I don’t quickly forget. With the new Ghost Spider S, I finally have an idea of what it’s like to play a round with one.

You can see the whole line of TaylorMade putters on their website.

You may have noticed the one big, white putter that a lot of guys are using on Tour lately . . . it’s the Taylor Made Ghost Spider putter. It’s big. It’s white. And the one thing that jumped out at me when I first witnessed Beau Hossler and his grillpiece wielding it at the U.S. Open – it’s square.

Next time my clubs will be free!

As a man who was fully immersed in a case of the yips with my 2 more-traditional putters, I was ready to give a mallet putter another shot. And what I found on TV as well as in the store was that the Ghost Spider seemed like a slightly new version of the mallet putter so we figured it was worth a review. And to be clear, the putter head is big by most standards, but not ridiculous or clunky like some misguided efforts made in the past by manufacturers hoping to reduce “twist”. In other words, go to a store and try every mallet putter on the rack – the Spider will not feel bigger than any other model, but somehow it stands out as unique, and sometimes that is all our brain needs to think a flatstick has the answer.

So like any good yips victim, I put the Spider in my bag and have used it for about ten rounds now. I’m not very technical when it comes to putting, so I may not have all the scientific info that you are craving, but I can say that this thing is basically as close to a “point and shoot” putter that I’ve ever tried. I was able to immediately eliminate the true shanks that had haunted my putting game for the last few months . . . it’s just an easy club to take back, swing through, and put a good stroke on. Within the first round I played with the Spider, my foursome was already commenting on what a good roll my putts had.

Aside from not being technical about putting, I was also clearly just a very bad putter for the last few months, so I understand that this could make my opinions decidedly less relevant to some of you out there. Fair enough, and for that reason I’ll point out yet again that this is just one Golf Guy’s opinion:

– The Spider has Taylor Made’s “PureRoll” insert with ridges designed to promote a better roll coming off of the clubface. I am always indifferent to whatever technology companies put in their putter faces, and I generally call BS on that stuff seeing that so many guys on Tour still use good old metal blades and get the job done (oh how I cringe when I see Tiger using that circuit board on a stick). One thing to make note of, however, is that the insert produces a truly unique feel to the putter, definitely different from the Odyssey inserts. It’s nothing crazy or out on the fringe, just different, and to me it feels a bit more energetic and still solid. Any friend of mine that tried the club would immediately notice the different feel of the face on impact . . . it’s hard to describe (mainly because I’m an idiot), but I’m going to try anyway: it’s like it makes no apologies that it is a rubber insert, but somehow you don’t feel like it’s cheesy, it’s just a solid, good feeling strike. And as disgusted as I am with myself for knowing this/benefiting from this, it seems to be super forgiving on mis-hits, because most strikes feel great. I’m sure this is also a testament to the putter head itself, because a mis-hit is seriously hard to produce with this putter.

– Given how the putter performs, the shape and design of the club kind of take a back seat and I don’t really applaud or dislike any one particular aspect. The alignment aid makes sense on paper, but my first thought was that it might be distracting. In practice, I don’t really see much genius to it when I’m standing over the ball, but it’s also not a distraction, it’s almost an afterthought because somehow the whole clubhead lends itself to lining up in the right direction. Plus, I honestly don’t have the bandwidth to try and figure what the heck is going on with that alignment design, it’s like a Picasso drawing to me, so as they say on MTV, “I’m over it”.

If forced to come up with an overall way to differentiate this putter from others, I would say that the Taylor Made Ghost Spider gives me the sense that I’m aiming a path towards the hole that is 2 inches wide, while other putters make me feel like I am aiming a line that was drawn with a pencil. In other words, in my mind, putting with the Spider is like painting with a wider brush, and I honestly have no idea if that’s a positive thing or a negative thing for most golfers. For me, it has worked wonders as I am putting a great roll on the ball and not getting too caught up in the details . . . and draining a lot of putts. Still, I’d be interested to know if someone with a better putting stroke would prefer the more precise vibe of other putters, or maybe they would put the alignment aid to better use than my ADD-addled cranium and make the Spider just as precise.

The bottom line is, if you’re anywhere close to considering a new putter, the Ghost Spider must be on the list of new sticks to try.  Its increased presence on Tour is reason enough, but I think most folks will understand what’s going on once they swing it a few times. Like my one friend who can also appreciate struggling with the flatstick said, “this putter should be illegal”.

You can see all of the Taylormade equipment on their website and other high res images on our Facebook Gallery.

Rife Two Bar Hybrid Putter Review: Ever go to a golf tournament to watch the pros warm up? Guess what, they spend most of their time on the putting green. You know why? Because it’s where they make their living. All those guys can hit the ball, but it’s the ones who are making the putts that are at the top of the leaderboard week in and week out. I remember my father-in-law’s caddy telling me that during a stretch of years when Hale Irwin was pound-for-pound the best golfer on the planet, it wasn’t his ball striking, no it was his putting.

Despite the fact that Rife has only been around since 2004, they have become one of the fastest growing putter companies in the world. They now boast 100 tour players and 40% of the putters that are used on the Champions Tour. Most recently, Matt Kuchar used a Rife putter to win the Player’s Championship and place 3rd at the Masters. So yea, Rife knows what they are doing.

For the past six weeks I have been using the Rife Two Bar putter in various conditions and I can tell you that I have been quite impressed. Believe it or not, my very first putt was a center cup 8 foot birdie putt, so suffice it to say we got off on a good start. Since that time I’ve used the Rife Two Bar Hybrid Putter for roughly 16 rounds and in some friendly putting green competitions. To date, I remain very happy with the Rife and have gotten a number of positive comments from those who have tried it. Actual comments include:

“good looking putter”

“great balance and feel”

“putts come off the face as smooth and clean as anything I’ve ever seen”

“this thing putts really true”

“this thing is so easy to line up”

It’s true, the Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter make getting your eyes over the line of the target a piece of cake with the sighting notch that’s on the top of the putter, and with their LieAline Fitting System, it is a snap to quickly adjust the putter to your height so that the lie is perfect for you.

The other piece of science behind the Rife Two Bar Putter is their Twin In-Line Moment of Inertia (MOI), which basically means they have weighted the putter so that the head resists twisting when you hit offline putts, even on noticeably off-center hits. When you consider the fact that amateurs do not hit the sweet spot every time, this is a huge advantage because it will allow your putts to hold the line even on mis-hits. In other words, it’s hard to hit a yippy putt with this putter; it’s just begging to hit dead-online.

Okay, you are getting the point right? So before we tackle the more technical features, let me just say that I love the AVS Winn Custom grip they’ve put on the club. I would go so far as to say that it is my favorite putting grip that I’ve tried. It has a great, comfortable feel that still allows plenty of sensitivity to the putter head.

Back to the specs: Another great feature of this Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter is that Rife provides interchangeable weights (conveniently stored inside the putter cover). This means you can go from 360 grams for faster greens to 345 grams for slower greens. The logic here is that most pros use different putters for different green speeds… a heavier putter for fast, and a lighter putter for slow. One thing I did notice to that end – I enjoyed the putter immensely on medium and fast greens with their weighting system. During a few rounds on extremely slow greens, I was aware that it’s hard to make a ‘wristy’ stroke, even if you want to… this putter wants you to make a nice smooth move at the ball, and so I might not be as inclined to use it if I was back in the era of the “Big Three” from Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf. But thankfully, most of us don’t have to play on shag carpets like that very often, and the interchangeable weights for this putter are a big plus in my book and make the putter very versatile for different conditions.

And along with it’s sharp looks and clean manufacturing, I should mention that Rife’s patented RollGroove insert made of milled anodized aluminum has a pleasing sound on impact, but most importantly gets the ball rolling right off the putter face without skidding or hopping. Many putters contact the ball and put a bit of a knuckle-ball kind of action on the putt after initial contact, that you can only see with a slow motion camera. Unfortunately, this skid creates putts that can move offline like a knuckle-ball, and as the skid transitions to rolling, the putt can lose speed from the friction involved. The grooves on this putter physically grab the ball, and get it rolling almost instantaneously. Practically speaking, this means that people will be remarking to you, as they have to me, about how beautifully you are rolling the ball across the green (and hopefully into the hole).

True story– one of the guys I putted against asked if the insert was legal, because he couldn’t believe how smoothly the ball came off the putter face. I assured him, it is! I’m not going to lie, this putter can’t read the greens for you; however, if you can do your part, this Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter will do it’s part and then some.

So, check out the Rife line on their website  and give a look at the new finish they’re putting out in their tropical series- even more styling than before. Then give one a test on a green near you.

You can see all of the high res images in our Facebook Gallery.

SeeMore m9 Putter Review: If the only thing you knew about golf came from watching commercials, you would surely be convinced that the driver is by far the most important club in the bag. While the big stick may be the club that we use to hit the ball the farthest, the reality is that the driver accounts for less than half as many strokes as the putter does.

Why, then, do we gladly shell out $300 for a new driver every year or two but are content with a putter we found at Play it Again Sports? Because most mid-handicappers (me included) are morons, which is why we don’t use alignment sticks, barely maintain a pre-shot routine, and ignore the multitude of good advice we read every month in golf magazines.

One of the very few cool things about writing a blog (and I mean very few) is that you get to test out golf equipment. This spring I was given a SeeMore putter to use and I must say it has been very eye opening on a number of fronts (no need to thank me for omitting the obvious pun).

First a bit of history – SeeMore Putters was founded in 1998 and got a huge media bump in 1999 when Payne Stewart sank a monster putt on 18 to win the US Open. Unfortunately, we lost Payne Stewart the following year and sales of SeeMore putters lagged to the point where they almost closed up shop. Then in 2006, former Odyssey executives Jim Grundberg and Jason Pouliot purchased the company and SeeMore was again off to the races. Since 2006 SeeMore has grown rapidly and has found a new champion in Zach Johnson who used a SeeMore putter to win the 2007 Masters (in which he putted a mere 27 times in the final round). Currently, Zach Johnson still uses a SeeMore putter and continues to be one of the best putters on tour.

Now back to the SeeMore m9 putter: the most unique feature of the SeeMore Putter is their RifleScope Technology, or as I call it, “hide the dot”. Simply put, if you line up the putter correctly you will not be able to see the red dot. If you can see any part of the red dot or if the shaft is not dead center between the lines you have either set up with the blade slightly open or closed. Stupid simple but really powerful if for no other reason than you feel totally locked in as you stand over your putt.

Hide the dot and you are good to go!

My take: I have primarily putted with an Oddessey #9 putter which is why I chose the m9 seeing as it is a similar shape. The major difference for me was that with the SeeMore m9, the shaft drops in near the center of the club rather than on the heel. It took me about two rounds to get the feel for the putter, but once I got it, I started rolling the ball really well. In fact my 3rd and 4th rounds with the SeeMore putter I had only 26 and 27 putts. While I am still only 12 rounds in with it, my putts per round have declined. Yes, I know the new putter mojo is still at work but I also believe that the riflescope feature absolutly helps me to be mentally locked into the line so I can concentrate just on speed.

Technically speaking the SeeMore m9 has a head weight of 335 grams, has 2.5 degree loft and can be shipped with a custom lie between 68-74 degrees. Additionally because the hosel is an internally milled you can always have the lie adjusted. Essentially, this feature allows the putter to be bent with greater integrity, because the stud is being bent, rather than the shaft.

In terms of look, the SeeMore m9 has very clean lines and features a platinum finish over the milled stainless steel body. Sidebar: is the term “hand milled” code for bad-ass? Either way, what it means is that there are no seams or imperfections. The entire club looks perfect with even the hosel being set with precision. If your driver is the burly lumberjack in your bag, your putter is your honey. Putters need to be hot and the SeeMore m9 is a looker!

Of course you don’t want your SeeMore putter rattling around in the bag so they provide a leather head cover that features a stitched American flag on the side – yup, it’s money!

SeeMore Putter Cover

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the customer service. SeeMore offers lifetime access to their staff of helpful folks. They also provide a number of putting drills and tips on their site. Speaking of drills, I used the Putting Alley a bunch when I got the new putter so that I could make my small adjustments to my setup. You can see my SeeMore m9 in action on our Putting Alley review.

In short I love the SeeMore m9. You can see the whole line on their website.

You can also see all of the high res images on our facebook page.