You do not like them, so you say.

But try them, try them, and you may.

Try them and you may I say!

— Sam-I-Am

Prior to the start of my the Mantis ‘B’ putter review, I did a little reading and frankly was concerned with how it would fit my game. Basically, I saw three potential problems.

1. It’s heavy. 355g worth of heavy.
2. It has a full-face polyurethane insert.
3. It comes with a soft, oversized grip.

But if “Green Eggs and Ham” taught me anything, it’s that I really should try things before I decide I don’t like them.

Earlier this year we reviewed the Mantis mallet putter. Following up on that success, the company has recently released the Mantis ‘B’ blade putter, taking advantage of the same visual and perceptive science as the mallet in a more classic blade form factor.

Yep, it’s green

If you are a little behind on your cognitive science homework let me get deep into the gory scientific details. On second thought,  let me sum it  up. The Mantis ‘B’ blade putter reviewed here are green. Not just any green, this green is the result of a good bit of research and development by Mantis. Enough so that they hold a patent on this exact green. Golf greens are… (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?) Golf balls are white. You putt better if you’re looking at the golf ball and not the putter, so Mantis created a green putter to blend in to the visual background and let you focus on your golf ball.

If that sounds like a lot of marketing voodoo then ask yourself this: How many times have you stood over an important putt, and when you started to take the putter back the head swung all over the place? If you saw the head wander, you weren’t watching the ball, and chances are you missed the putt. I am the world’s worst for this – the putter wobbles, I panic and make all kinds of strange corrections, and the putt goes who-knows-where.

If Mantis had stopped there this would be a very short review, and probably a very short-lived putter. Lucky for us the folks at Mantis kept their thinking caps on and applied that kind of thought and attention to detail to the rest of the putter.

The Mantis ‘B’ blade is a pretty classically styled blade putter. The shape is reminiscent of the Ping B60, of which I am a huge fan, if not quite as flowing and rounded. Let’s call it a half hourglass. Pretty is as pretty does, and the shape of the head follows conventional putter wisdom by positioning more weight at the heel and the toe for a higher moment of inertia (MOI) to prevent twisting and minimize the discrepancy between the distance of on- and off-center hits. The Mantis B does a very good job of this – more than once I hit a ball that I knew was well on the heel and watched it track right into the cup. 355 grams of weight in the 304 stainless steel head doesn’t hurt in that regard either.

The face of the Mantis ‘B’ is a full-face polyurethane insert like the one found on the original Mantis mallet. With an insert, especially a full-face insert, it’s important that it’s installed both flush and flat, and the Mantis gets high marks for both the quality of the installation and the quality of the insert itself. I’m not a big fan of insert putters, but the feedback from the Mantis insert is very good with most balls. Distance control is outstanding for an insert putter – I had about 15 minutes of practice with this putter before the first time I took it on the course, and the first putt I hit with it was a 30 footer from the fringe that stopped 2 inches from the hole, on the high side, thankyewverymuch. The entire round was like that –  I tried it on both fast and slow greens, and with just a little acclimatization, distance control was, for the most part, very good.

For this review I tried the Mantis ‘B’ with several different types of golf balls and unsurprisingly it performed best with firm, urethane-covered tour performance balls. Lower compression balls with softer covers were more than acceptable as well. Ultra low compression/soft cover balls, however, were a bit of a minefield. In the middle of my third round with the ‘B’ I started blowing balls past the hole with what seemed like no effort at all. I was at a loss to explain it, until I checked my golf ball and found that I had replaced a drowned ProV1 with a Callaway Supersoft. I like the Supersoft, and I like the Mantis, but the combination is tough to control on fast greens. If you’re faced with shaggy greens and are having a hard time getting the ball to the hole, the combination of the Supersoft’s marshmallow cover and the Mantis’ polyurethane insert might just give you the extra distance you need.

From the top, the Mantis B has a relatively thin top line, and the simple white alignment aids make it easy to align the head. The green finish is non-reflective, which makes the ball stand out even more. And the heel/toe weighting creates a nice pocket cavity that’s almost perfect for scooping up conceded putts. I know that seems like a little thing, but once you get used to it you’ll never want to go back. Another nice detail that’s easy to overlook is the hosel. The ‘B’ has a full shaft of offset in the neck, but rather than use the much more common plumber’s neck hosel, the Mantis ‘B’ blade has a hosel that fits inside the shaft. This means less club between your eye and the ball, making it easier to focus on the ball and let your green putter blend into the background.

One part of the Mantis ‘B’ that doesn’t blend into the background is the sole, and it’s a crying shame that you don’t get to see more of it than you do, because the shiny chromed sole is far and away the sexiest part of this putter. The highly polished chrome plate on the sole also lets the club glide across the green, and so far it has proven very durable.

The Mantis ‘B’ comes with a custom Winn midsize grip in the company’s green and white colors and bearing the Mantis logo. There is no provision on the Mantis website to customize the grip, but the Winn midsize is very popular with many people. I’m not usually one of them – I prefer a firmer standard-sized grip, but on the ‘B’ the bigger one works very well, and I appreciated the extra girth when wielding the hefty 355 grams at the far end of the club. In a perfect world Mantis would offer both the ‘B’ and the original mallet with a SuperStroke grip in the company colors, but Mantis is still a young company, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to discover that they’re working on just that.

The Mantis ‘B’ is very toe-weighted, with a 4:30 toe hang. This weighting rewards an arcing stroke, and my biggest miss with the Mantis ‘B’ putter came from being too cautious to release the toe on putts inside 4 feet. I broke out my homemade version of the Putting Alley, and the situation improved somewhat. I usually prefer a light putter, and those extra 20 grams or so made it difficult for me to really let the putter swing freely on short putts. I was able to adapt by choking down on the grip and using a less arcing stroke for shorter putts, and on longer putts the weight of the putter almost seemed to release itself, which contributed to the Mantis B’s effectiveness at getting the ball to the hole.

The Mantis B comes with a headcover embroidered with both the Mantis logo and the “B” logo of the blade. My sample was very well executed in a very pliable vinyl with a hook and loop closure. I would prefer a magnetic closure like the mallet version, but the hook and loop did the job and doesn’t seem likely to scratch the finish.

And the finish deserves a bit of discussion. Before I actually got my hands on the Mantis I expected that I would have to baby it to prevent the finish from chipping or flaking or otherwise coming off. Nothing could be further from the truth. After the first 9 holes I treated the Mantis B no differently than I’d treat a plain stainless steel putter, and it still looks perfect. I’m not sure what the coating is, it feels almost like plasti-dip. Whatever it is it was applied beautifully, the finish is smooth and even. Overall the fit and finish of my sample is top-notch, particularly for a putter that lists for $159.99.

The Mantis ‘B’ blade will catch your eye because it’s designed to not catch your eye, but it might just find a place in your bag because it’s a darned good putter, in any color.

You can check out all the Mantis putters on the Mantis website.

Remember Hello Kitty, the unstoppable feline that took over the world a few years ago? Well, there is a new cat on the block and its name is Loudmouth Golf. See, I write about a ton of apparel companies but by far the most unique is Loudmouth Golf – not only because their clothes are made from eye-popping patterns but also because they have set their sights far beyond the golf course.

A little history here. Loudmouth Golf was the third company to send us gear to review and probably the single biggest reason why we decided this whole blog thing might be a good idea. So not only am I indebted to Loudmouth for their unreasonable “leap of faith”, but I have also gotten to know a number of folks on staff. Basically, I am a card-carrying member of the Loudmouth Nation (jeez it pains me to write “nation”). Anyhow, you get my point – I dig the company, regularly wear their gear and am convinced they are absolutely crushing it.

My epiphany came when I realized that the Loudmouth Golf is not just about pants, short, hats or umbrellas. Loudmouth is literally about any item you might buy… just like Hello Kitty. Yea, that Hello Kitty, the one that took over households that had 4-11 year old girls. Blankets, t-shirts, mouse pads, pillows, shoes, bikes… you name it, Hello Kitty made it.

Well, Loudmouth is clearly taking a page from the Kitty book and the product line extension into sunglasses is just one more piece of evidence. While they currently only offer three models (in two colors), Fairway to Heaven Shagadelic, Stroke of Luck and Swingblade, the line is sure to grow.

I am gonna tell you right now that I am a sunglass snob. Long ago, I decided that there were two things I was willing to spend a lot of money on… shoes and sunglasses. The way I see it, if your feet and eyes are happy, the rest of your body can manage. Hence, most of the sunglasses I buy are over $240. Part of my rationale is that I figure if I buy expensive sunglasses I will be less likely to lose them. The opposite philosophy is “I lose my sunglasses all of the time so I get cheapo ones”.

So, I guess you could say Loudmouth sunglasses split the difference. Clocking in at a cool $99, they won’t break the bank but they also are not quite up to the level of your high end Costa Del Mar or Maui Jim.

When I first heard that I was being sent a pair of the new Loudmouth sunglasses, I was obviously prepared for the most gaudy and flashy eye-wear imaginable. Remember, this is not my first Loudmouth rodeo. I own about 7 pairs of Loudmouth shorts and pants and none are ever confused for any other brand.

Much to my surprise then was the subtle use of the trademarked Loudmouth pattern. Only on the lower sides and inner arms is there any hint that these are anything but your regular brown sunglasses. Well, the lens is a bit brighter than most (a reflective red), but all things considered, pretty tame stuff.

Alright, you are a Loudmouth fan and you want to wave your Loudmouth flag, do these cut muster? I think they mostly do. Really, not many people want to wear crazy sunglasses but a hint of flare… that’s ok. Just enough Shagadelic to let everyone know whose team you play for without going all clownglasses on us.

Per my earlier admission to being a sunglasses snob, the Loudmouth glasses are definitely not as good as my $240 Costa Del Mar which I wear all of the time (and have had for over 3 years). For example, the plastic arms feel a bit “plasticky” when you fold them in and out, but then again they are made from plastic.

On the other hand, they are darn comfortable. I have worn them for full rounds of golf and did not have any issues with them digging into my head or nose. They are also quite sturdy and can be tossed around without too much concern. As an example, I pretty much have neglected putting them in any kind of case for the past month or so and have had zero issues.

In the end, however, what you pay for in sunglasses is the lens. Without any training, nearly anyone can tell the difference between a $20 pair of sunglasses and a $200 pair simply by walking outside into the sunlight. With a quality lens, colors are sharp and everything looks crystal clear. Cheap lenses just make stuff look darker. The lenses used in the Loudmouth glasses are “pretty good”. Not fantastic, but definitely on par with glasses in the $100 range.

Personally, I have worn these on the course, driving, and at the beach and the lenses are good enough that I have not immediately ditched them for my regular pair. The rose color gives enough shade to cut the bright light but also adds enough contrast so you don’t feel like you are just in a dark room. Additionally, the lenses are made from a polycarbonate so they resists scratches. In my case, no scratches so far (and I have yet to put them in a case).

So maybe I am not the target audience but I know at least one person who is… my 14 year old son who thinks they are all that. The kid never wears sunglasses but he picks them up all of the time. Heck he played golf in them last weekend and it was overcast the entire time.

What can I say, the boy knows what he likes and Loudmouth Golf is always his go-to golf shorts. Hello Loudmouth.

You can see all of the sunglasses on the Loudmouth Golf Website.

I recently tested the Bettinardi Studio Stock 15 putter. Now I am going to write a review. How’s that for an intro? Thanks.

In a nutshell, Bettinardi is a premier putter brand that has been around the Tour since 1999, earning its first major championship merits when Jim Furyk used one in winning the 2003 U.S. Open. Matt Kuchar is currently their featured Tour player, which supports my initial feeling that Bettinardi is a bit further down the road than a “boutique” putter shop. The good folks at Bettinardi might cringe when I say this, but my brain thinks of them as a smaller, slightly younger version of the Scotty Cameron thing. High-end putters, increasingly in attendance at big-box golf stores, legitimate track record.

Bettinardi currently offers 6 different series of putters – BB Series, Counterbalance Series, Queen B Series (women’s), Studio Stock Series, and Signature Series (high high-end). It’s tough for me to get a full grasp on Bettinardi’s offerings, as their website plays things pretty close to the vest. It’s a good, crisp, corporate website, I just can’t find any ‘big picture’ explanation of what each series of putters is about (is it the color that constitutes a “series”, different theories, different weights, yadda yadda). Perhaps this is by design and Bettinardi would rather their putters and their Kuchars do the talking. But still, if I was shopping online, I would have very little material to base a trigger-pull on.

I tested the Studio Stock 15, a face-balanced mallet with a simple half-oval shape. Truth be told, this is my first ‘premium’ putter ever, being a man that longed for Scotty Camerons back in the day but never had the chutzpah to drop 300 to 400 clams on a flatstick. And so it goes I’ve spent the last 15 years or so using standard putter offerings that ring up at the $120.00 mark and being perfectly happy. That’s not to say that I’ve always been happy with my putting game, but being from the old school I always had it in my mind that the putter was the one club that required very little pampering. I mean, guys were draining putts with the old two-sided Bullseye putters back when I was significantly shorter, and Nicklaus won the ’86 Masters with that piece of furniture on a stick . . . it’s clearly all about the stroke and not the club, right?

Well, like anything in golf, yes and no. I think we can all agree that putting has a lot of headgame in it, and if you can feel confident and/or excited over the ball, the stroke is going to go a lot better. And like anything in life, if you’ve got a top notch piece of equipment in your hands, you’re jacked.

At the risk of sounding more like a scientist than a blogger, since I put the Bettinardi Studio Stock 15 in my bag two months ago, I have been in a state of total jackedness. Here’s why:

Looks – This thing looks awesome, and you’re a fool if you don’t agree. I’ve always been a fan of black putters, and all of the Studio Stock models come in Corona Black (like a really dark gray). What I didn’t see coming, however, was the subtle rainbowy finish that looks like oil in a puddle of water, creating a gentle semicircle of flare on the flange. Good lord I hope that makes sense. I don’t think it does, actually, but the pictures should do it justice.

Oh, and don’t forget the whole orange theme, which, Rickie Fowler fan or not, adds a little pop to the overall vibe of the putter. One thing I must note – what you first notice about this putter’s looks is the cool design on the sole of the club (I say this with confidence, btw, because every person that picks up this club comments on the sole before anything else). But after wielding it for a few months, I must admit that this is the last thing on my mind when I think about this putter. I still think it looks cool, I just don’t care.

This is a consistent theme with me and clubs – I see other people getting all lathered up about certain aesthetic aspects of clubs and I briefly get on board with the concept, but once I start hitting them, the whole “looks” thing goes out the window. Maybe this happens to everybody but all our hot air about a club’s looks has already been released into the atmosphere. Which brings us to . . .

Performance – Put your barf bags away, I’m not about to tell you that I drain every putt I look at with this club. Your man Adam will attest to the fact that I’ve been struggling with my game-time putting for a while now, and my stroke is anything but consistent. So yes, I still miss putts with the Bettinardi. What’s different, though, is how consistently excited I am to stroke putts with this thing in hand.

The feel of the ball coming off the face of this putter is absolutely addictive. It’s like a soft version of what a milled putter usually feels like, but not wimpy soft and not like an insert at all. It’s hard to describe (obviously, given that last train wreck of a sentence), but my addiction has me logging more time on a practice green in the past two months than in my whole life prior. I’ve gone from range rat to putting green spazz, and my token collection has the Bettinardi to thank. Stream of consciousness regarding the feel – I’d say it’s definitely not a click but a smooth crunch. Gross. But awesome.

Bettinardi calls the Studio Stock 15 “one of our most forgiving models yet, with just the right amount of weight displacement towards the perimeter”. I would agree with the forgiving part, because mis-hits do tend to work out just fine, more so than with my last few putters. Sadly, when putting I miss the sweetspot at an alarming rate for a decent golfer, and with the Bettinardi I’ve been able to fool the outside world a bit more with putts that still have a legitimate roll. You can feel the negative feedback when you mis-hit a putt, and while it is not punishing, it makes you nuts that you didn’t get the sweet feeling that pure contact gives you with this sucker. Again, it’s honestly addictive. I find myself staying on the putting green for 10 minutes longer than I should (to my kids this is called “working late”) because I’m just jonesing for more of that solid contact feel. That sounds ridiculous, but what can I say – it’s true.

‘Feel’ blubbering aside, one thing I do expect from a $400 putter is that all the scientific requirements – weight, angles, twist-reduction stuff – have been met. I figure that kind of cash should at least buy you the peace of mind to know that any missed putts are the result of user error only. I do believe that Bettinardi has satisfied this requirement – the weighting of the putter allows me to feel the ‘release’ of the putter through the ball, something I struggle with at times. And quite frankly, if I were ever to shell out $400 and not feel like the technicals are up to snuff, that putter would be smashing through the front window of Headquarters in no time.

Wrapping Up – I don’t have much more to say about performance, which I fear will be frustrating to you, the reader . . . again, that’s you. It’s a well-made, 400 dollar-costing putter. It putts great. Know what I mean?

If I tried to get any more detailed than I already have, I’d be doing you a disservice. At some point it becomes about the whole package, and I believe that this putter delivers one hell of a package.*

I would assume that all of the Bettinardi lines offer the same level of quality and badassery, but again, I can’t really glean anything from their website. But judging by the Studio Stock 15 and the fact that all the other Bettinardi putters are in a similar price range, I’d guess it’s tough to go wrong. Bettinardi seems poised to fill that new gap between the Scotty Cameron space, which one could argue to be played-out, and the many boutique putter manufacturers that aren’t quite as battle tested. Feel original without the risk of owning anything less than the best. . . one way to look at it.

You can check out all the Bettinardi putters on the Bettinardi website.

* This package includes a great putter cover and a damn good grip. In fact, this grip makes me wonder if the Super Stroke thing might just be a fad – plasticky rubber in a round shape doesn’t stand a chance against an old-school solid grip like this. Why hasn’t Super Stroke stepped up the quality of materials anyway? Just askin’.

If there were a Tropicana bikini contest for drivers it is doubtful that PING G25 driver would ever get to wear the victory sash or even crack the top 5. Yet, somehow PING drivers have been a steady contender in everyone’s “hot list” and a staple in golf bags for what seems like forever. Sure Bubba Watson swings a PING driver and is no doubt a flashy ambassador, but the brand as a whole still wears a one-piece bathing suit.

So does this mean the marketing folks at PING should be set out to pasture and replaced with a bunch of wizbang spiffed up go getters? I say no and I actually believe that PING has never set their sights on the sexy award.

If you think about golf clubs as girls, they can be divided into two groups: those you date and those you marry. What if PING is the marrying type? You know the one that does NOT make your life a soap opera, the one that does NOT break your heart, the one that does NOT stand you up, and the one that is NOT a potential train wreck every time you see her. Instead, what if PING is your steady, your life long companion, the one you know and trust, the one that has your back. What if being the girl you marry is what PING is going for? Too creepy? Stay with me . . .

I have had many PING clubs in my bag over the years and currently still carry a PING G10 five wood because it is the safest most consistent club I own. At 185 yards, I feel like I can land it on a dime and it gets me out of so many jams I am going to be hard-pressed to ever replace it. So, while  it has been years since I had a PING driver in my bag, I was pretty darn sure I was going to enjoy reviewing it.

My PING G25 driver review started like buying any other PING club – the online fitting. While probably not as good as an in person fitting with a Pro, the online version does a good job of recommending the right shaft and loft. In my case, I am always right between a stiff and regular shaft as my swing speed is about 94 mph. For what it is worth, I ended up with the regular shaft 10.5 loft driver.

The club itself is not fancy but I would classify it as distinguished. Matte black with a simple alignment aid on the top and a shiny bottom that features only the branded PING G25. Worth noting is that even after 20 or so rounds, the bottom of the club has shown very little wear, which is very refreshing compared to many drivers we review that look 2 years old after a month of play.

As with most PING clubs, the first thing that comes to mind is forgiveness. While PING has definitely earned their reputation for forgiving with clubs like the G25 irons, they also make darn good player clubs like the S55 irons. With that said, the G25 driver is more on the forgiving side. That is not to say a player cannot benefit from the G25 driver. I am a 9.5 handicap and hit the ball straight but not particularly far. My average drive is about 225 with 265 being my outside range. I have reviewed about 5 drivers this year and the PING G25 driver is as long as any of them and longer than most.

Regardless of the distance, the reason the PING has remained in my bag for so long is that it just goes straight all the time. Even with mis-hits I am not wildly far off. The large clubhead gives you a tons of room for mistakes, but when you catch it just right it is a bomber.

Again, not super sexy but when I am hitting 12 fairways and never playing out of the woods, I am all in. I also don’t want to give the impression that the G25 is ugly, because it is far from that. It is just that you don’t have any extra glamour. It is your basic step up and smash it driver. Your working class bigstick.

Under the hood, the PING G25 driver does offer a touch of adjustability. You can change the loft by plus or minus a half degree which will make a 1% adjustment to the face angle. Per usual, I don’t mess with the setting, but that’s just me.

As I mentioned, the PING website takes you through a basic fitting which in part will spit out a recommended shaft. The shaft that came with my driver and was used for this review was the TFC189 which is weighted toward the butt end of the club in order to partially offset the heavier club head. I am a self-admitted dope when it comes to shafts, but I am convinced that the shafts PING uses are well matched to the club (plus they look super cool).

Hey what about the PING G30 Driver? Yep, the PING G30 driver has just come out which means the G25 driver is now an older model. Unlike many companies, PING does not roll out multiple versions of a club each year (which, by the way, I believe is a business model that is proving to be counterproductive for both consumers and companies). My guess would be that it will be the PING release cycle that becomes more normal as we enter into 2015. But, my point is, that even though the G25 is now one generation old, it is still a rock solid choice for the majority of golfers.

Anyone who plays to a 10-30 handicap is a perfect candidate for the PING G25 (and likely a bunch of single digit handicappers as well). At every level, PING nails it. The sound is great, the looks are fine, the adjustably is sufficient, the forgiveness is welcomed and the distance is plenty respectable. Get it, you get the whole ball of wax. Maybe you miss out on one “wow” factor, but you don’t get burned by a glaring deficiency.

So for all those married guys out there, when you go shopping for your next driver, think about your wife (I assume you love her). Think about why you are still married (besides the huge inheritaence from her dad). Yea, it is the stability, the dependability, the no surprises that keeps you together. Sure you might miss the wild nights in Vegas with that girl in the short dress, but in the end it just meant trouble. Meet PING: the girl you can marry.

Learn more on the PING website.

You remember those old Reese’s commercials when some dude with chocolate slams his chuckwagon into someone with peanut butter and the world rejoices? I think I just stumbled onto civilization’s next ‘duh’ moment with the Hydro Flask, a reusable water bottle that actually keeps things cold, hot, or whatever temperature you started with.

Yes, the thermos was invented 1,200 years ago and the water bottle was invented back when feudalism reigned, but for some reason it took until 2008 for someone to consider merging the two. The result is a water bottle that incorporates double-wall vacuum insulation, BPA-free materials, and food grade stainless steel . . . all in the name of keeping your water cool or your coffee hot.

This is a fairly simple concept and product, so I will spare you my usual 2,000 word diatribe. My wife and I ordered the 18 oz. bottle and the 21 oz. bottle, in orange and pink respectively, and put the Hydro Flask into play. Here are some examples of what happened:

1. Cold Stays Cold: Over the past 10 years my wife has converted me into a water addict. Don’t worry, I am not one of those all-American healthy guys that does everything the doctor tells him – I am also addicted to ice cream, beers on courses, and honking 4 foot putts. But anyway, I now drive to work with a reusable water bottle and leave it in my car for the ride home. For the past few years, this meant enjoying a nice gulp of boiling hot water during the months of July and August. But now with the Hydro Flask in action, I simply drop a few ice cubes into the bottle in the morning and when I get back in the whip at the end of the day I have cold water waiting for me.
2. Hot Stays Hot: My wife is a coffee drinker. Of course she’s always used the same coffee travel mug things that everyone uses. Apparently these things do a good job of mitigating spills, but nobody ever thought to make one that actually keeps the stuff hot. Even the stainless steel looking ones are just show ponies. So now my wife gets in the car and has hot coffee waiting for her for up to 12 hours if she so desires. I’m hoping that doesn’t rank as one of her desires, purely for breath purposes, but there’s some benefit to having the option.
3. Perfect for Golf: When you walk 18, you know that after the first 3 holes you will be drinking lukewarm water for the rest of the way, unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon some cold pondwater in one of the course’s coolers. With the Hydro Flask, you are pulling cold water for the entire round. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but on the hot summer days, it is. In fact, anything that can enhance your ability to venture out when everyone else thinks it’s too hot is a win. Course is empty and you can have a glorious experience.

I also ordered the Hydro Flask Growler, a 64 oz. canteen that is shaped like a, well, growler. Hydro Flask is headquartered in Bend, Oregon, land of intense craft-brewing, so I’m thinking this is a nod to the craft beer world. Anyway, Adam and I have spent a round or two of golf trying to determine when exactly a growler would come into play. Maybe on a course that actually does a TSA check of your cart to make sure there is no cooler . . . just empty 5 cans of cold beer into the growler and tell those clowns you have doctor’s orders to stay hydrated on the course? Or perhaps when you hit one of those newfangled outdoor concerts when everybody is expected to buy beers for $7 a pop instead of bringing their own? In either of those scenarios, we concluded that bringing contraband in its natural form was always still too feasible to bail out for the growler option. If you can’t figure a way to hide 12 cans of Coors Light from a course ranger then you and I cannot be friends, and the last time I worried about violating an outdoor family-friendly concert rule was never. Okay, so what the heck is this growler good for?

1. Sports: If you’re headed out to exercise in hot weather, you gotta have cold water or Gatorade on hand. If you don’t want to be Tim Allen and roll up with a big-ass cooler for a pickup game of basketball, the growler is a perfect solution. Ice cold water, 64 ounces of it, at your disposal. And if I haven’t made this clear yet, ice cold water. Stays ice cold for a very long time. The website says up to 12 hours – I haven’t counted, but it’s a long time.
2. Boozin’: Last weekend I decided that beer was making me a doughboy, time to take a breather. But, another free concert was on, and like any good parents, my wife and I felt compelled to corral the kiddos and hit the lawn. Now we all know there ain’t no concertin’ without some boozin’, and that’s when the true genius of the growler hit me. Instead of using the ice in the cooler for my Moscow Mules, which gets manhandled by all the grubby mitts and is already tainted by dirty beer cans and what have you, I realized that I could throw some ice into the growler and keep it separate from the riff-raff. Eureka! The ice stayed ice, and I’m talking zero meltage, for about 6 hours. If I tipped the growler over, no water would come out. Even better, my drinks were made with clean ice, not the stuff with pieces of my kids’ cheez puffs floating around in it (organic cheez puffs, of course). My apologies to those of you brilliant enough to follow me on Twitter, I realize this last point is a repeat. Oh, and I’m sorry for sucking at Twitter.

WARNING! Different bottle sizes have different mouth sizes. Please heed this information when you choose your Hydro Flask, this actually screwed us up a bit and we all have different size holes for no good reason. Gross. This also comes into play with the different accessories, sport lids, etc. Just sayin’.

Check out the Hydro Flask website and see what they have that might work for you. Different shapes, colors, lids . . . somewhere in there is your winner. Products range from about $24 to $50 – not as cheap as the ones you pickup at Wal-Mart, but clearly more bang for the buck. The Hydro Flask is about as no-brainer as you can get for a golfer or really anyone who requires liquids to exist.

When the founder of Bombtech, Tyler ‘Sully’ Sullivan, announced that he was working on a putter, the obvious question was could he replicate the success he had with his Grenade driver. Sure, we thought he had done a bang up job with the Grenade driver, but the technology in a flatstick and a big stick are worlds apart.

The most obvious feature of the Bombtech putter is the weight. It’s about as heavy a putter as we have reviewed, weighing in at a stout 445 grams. Even my wife, who is not a golfer, instantly noticed how heavy it is compared to other putters. But she also noted one of the big advantages. In her words: “It takes a little more to pull the putter back, but it actually makes it easier and smoother to swing it through the stroke.” And in that short observation, you get a lot of the science at work in this new mallet.

As noted in our Bombtech Driver review, Sully works with engineers to design what he believes is a superior product. While I will dig into many of these topics, Sully brings his perspective in this article. As for my opinion, I will start with my general belief that the short game is mainly feel, imagination and lots of practice. There is  no putter on the planet that can magically eliminate 3 putts or because human error is a fact of existence. However, a superior putter can help with these issues and I believe the Bombtech putter does so by addresses a couple of key problems.

One, we don’t always hit the putter in the sweet spot–and that translates to offline puts as the putter twists in our hands. MOI, or the moment of inertia has been thrown around a lot in the past few years, but the Bombtech designers did a ton of work to use form, materials and distribution of that large chunk of carbon steel to make sure that off-center hits were as minimally damaging as possible. I can certainly attest to the fruit of their labor! I spent some time hitting off the toe, the heel and the center and was very impressed how well the putts stayed on line and kept their distance.

Two, we have trouble with the fluidity of our stroke, especially under pressure— and that means that we will stab or swat at the ball, or push, pull or yank our strokes when we are nervous. I can also tell you that this putter is extremely easy to swing smoothly through the hitting zone. The added weight compared to other putters is a true revelation in terms of promoting a smooth, non-wristy stroke through the ball-striking path. If you can pull it back and let it go, the putter tries really hard to stay on a smooth arc which correlates to much better and more consistent rolls. Bombtech starts with a huge block of steel, and like many boutique putter companies, uses computer-guided metal lathes to work the steel into the beautiful mallet you see here.

Three, many of us have putters that skid before they start rolling— and that contributes to offline rolls and varied distance. Bombtech has put a loft angle of 2.5 degrees into the face of the putter so that it will skid less and start rolling quicker. They have slow-motion footage comparing the Grenade Golf Putter to other well-known putters, and the results are easy to see with your own eyes. Links are on the article mentioned above.

We have reviewed quite a barrel-full of putters here at Three Guys Golf and we have been very impressed and grateful to the companies, craftsmen and engineers that have taken the ‘flatstick’ to new heights. I’d like to say from my experience that the Bombtech Grenade Golf Putter belongs in a short list of putters you should be glad to have in your bag. It’s a true contender, and at a street price of $200, it’s pretty stunning what they’ve packed into this stick.

I first took the putter out with an Odyssey mallet I’ve used as my default for nearly 20 years, as well as several other boutique and name-brand mallets I’ve reviewed over the past few years. No doubt, the Bombtech was the heaviest, without question. For example, I recently reviewed the Bettinardi BB2 counterbalance putter that I would classify as “heavy”, and the Bombtech is heavier than that.

On the course: To give some context, I was putting on some greens that were the fastest I had seen in recent years. I don’t like to exaggerate, but folks were actually gasping when they hit their putts and when I tapped a little 8 footer down a slight incline, and the ball rolled a cool 15 feet past the cup I knew these conditions would be a great test for the Bombtech putter. At the end of a 45 minute putting session, I was extremely pleased with how quickly I was able to make putts with the same consistency as my normal putter. And in certain situations where I was a little shaky on a brutally quick side-hill putts, the Bombtech helped give me a smoother, less wristy stroke than I sometimes put on with a lighter putter. What I found was that the ball rolled off the face beautifully, and held it’s line extremely well.

Since most of us don’t play on lightening fast greens I also tested the Bombtech putter on medium/slower greens. Perhaps because I have so many years feeling the distance of 8 to 10 footers with a lighter putter, moving to such a weighted flat stick is often difficult because judging distance is quite different. Again, the Bombtech does a phenomenal job of getting the ball on line but there is absolutely an adjustment period for judging distance. On slower greens I found myself hitting the ball past the hole farther and more often than normal. With that said, it is more a matter of learning the putter to dial in the distance.

That brings me to two of the main things I noticed about the Grenade Golf putter: it feels effortless to swing and it sounds beautiful when if comes off the milled face. I don’t ever underestimate a balanced feel and satisfying sound on impact. Those benefits to my peace of mind while I am putting are immense. If you are more used to an insert, you might hear a little more click off the metal face than you are used to but I guarantee you that with a bit of time with this putter you will hear exactly how solid it is through impact from the sound alone.

The mallet head design looks excellent to my eye during setup which is also as a design benefit. Plus, you can pick up a ball of the green using the back of the mallet (my back says thank you to all designers who make this work). The aligment aids which include the notch in the head and green stripes are spot on and really are helpful to getting you lined up correctly. And honestly, the well-balanced feel of the putter really helped me forget how heavy the putter is. There is no other way to describe the swing of this putter than ‘super smooth.’

Finally, it is worth noting that the headcover is a branded Rose & Fire ballistic nylon model. We are big fans of Rose & Fire headcovers and reviewed the motorcycle leather version a few months ago.

So, if you are looking for an excellent putter designed to facilitate as smooth and easy a putting experience as you could hope for, at a very reasonable price, in this guy’s opinion you should give this new Bombtech Grenade Golf Putter a very hard look.

You can learn more on the Bombtech website.

PING, TaylorMade, Titleist, Cleveland, Nike, we all have a perception of those brands that are based on the combination of  experience and marketing. However, none of those names in itself has any connotation of the product’s performance. In other words, Nike is not an adjective or verb so it is only through years of commercials that we attach it to real feelings.

On the other hand, some companies choose names that are intended to incite an emotion. Hence the name Powerbilt – obviously it is supposed to infer an association with a driver that delivers what we all want – power. Ironically, it was the name Powerbilt that was at the root of my initial concern. 

You see, it’s a bit of a catch 22. Without a flashy name, I likely would have never remembered Powerbilt, but the name itself was a red flag for a driver hiding behind a smoke screen of clever naming. Add the fact that Powerbilt’s most noted ambassador is not a golfer but rather an MMA fighter and you can imagine why I feared the worst.  

Despite all of my initial concerns, reviewing products from new companies is always fun because I have no idea what to expect, so there is the chance I will be pleasantly surprised. Sure I had read about Powerbilt, but I had never seen one in person, let alone hit it. Therefore, I decided my first trial would be 100% straight to the course.

On that particular late afternoon, I walked right past the driving range and headed straight to the tee box (apparently everyone else is working at 1pm on a Wednesday). To be clear, there was literally no one else in sight so I even surprised myself when I exclaimed out loud “oh on my gawd” just after contact. No, not because I could tell I ripped it 325 (why is that the magic number reviewers like to use?)  but rather due to the unexpected sound.

Softball bat is what I would liken the sound to, or maybe the old Nike Sasquatch, but definitely a loud “ting”. As I walked down the fairway, however, there was my ball in much the same place it always is (give or take a few yards). 

Over the course of that first round I continued to hit drives to my typical landing spots with roughly the same accuracy and distance as I am accustomed to. Thankfully, the sound also became more of an afterthought rather than a jolt to my system.

 
What I did notice though was my ball flight was lower than most other drivers I hit. This is in part due to the fact the driver has a 9.5 degree loft. Still, the ball definitely stayed lower than I am accustomed to, with the trade-off being that it also rolled out more than usual. NOTE: the Powerbilt DFX driver is not adjustable, which is actually 100% fine by me, but you do need to make sure you get the right loft.

In addition to the supercharged name, Powerbilt also is literally super charged with nitrogen. Now I am no chemistry major but I am pretty sure that this is also what is in my son’s paintball gun. Clearly, the nitrogen in the driver is not exactly the same as what is used to power projectile war paint, but you get the idea. So in the age of endless widgets to make the ball go farther, I am not in a position to say whether this chemistry experiment works, but I can tell you that over the course of 8 or 9 rounds I hit a bunch of drives farther than normal and with roughly the same forgiveness.

Truth is, one of the reasons I was intrigued by the Powerbilt driver was because I had read the results from My Golf Spy’s driver tests and the Powerbilt was near the top for guys with sub 100mph swing speeds (hey, that’s me). Unlike MGS, we are not exactly scientific in our approach to reviews. On the other hand, we play in real conditions on courses that we are extremely familiar with so understanding distance and accuracy is something I am comfortable speaking to, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Powerbilt stacks up with the big brands, AND, considering the fact that it retails for significantly less makes it an actractive alternative.

As with the name, the Powerbilt looks are unique. While top view is pretty plain Jane (sporting a matte black finish and midsized head), the bottom incorporates orange stripes to give it a high-tech look. The reality is, however, the bottom of the club should be a non-issue as you never see it. On the other hand, how it sets up and how it looks at address are important. For me, I like the clean topline with a simple alignment mark. The face is also deeper than many drivers which helps with confidence to make square contact.

The Powerbilt DFX driver also comes with a number of options for aftermarket shafts. In my case it was the Fujikura Motore F3. While I am a not a shaft geek, I do believe that adding aftermarket shafts from companies that specialize in just that is always an advantage.

So if you are the kind of guy who likes to buy new drivers, but you’re not thrilled about dropping $400, the Powerbilt is a great option. The Tour model runs $299 and the MOI version just $249 so you can save a chunk of change. You can see the whole line on the Powerbilt website

If you are a child of the 70’s like I am, then you surely remember the iconic tube socks. Yup, the ones that went up to the knee and had three rings around the top. Money! I don’t know about you, but I would hike those puppies up just as far as they would go. Unfortunately, they must have been designed by a five year old as they were about the worst fitting socks imaginable (talk about one size fits none). Worse, they lost the elastic after about a week (which was not all bad because for the 1st few times you wore them you would have rings indented on your calves)

About five years ago I got a free pass for a GolfTec lesson which included getting hooked up to about 8 electrodes while being stared at by a wide-eyed kid (Note: that is NOT me in the picture). The idea is to provide you with a complete swing analysis then show you how to get it to look like a PGA Pro that you resemble (go figure that out . . .). Now, I am personally not a fan of GolfTec, but I was blown away by the graphics and tools that it provides. For the first time I could really see what my swing looked like. I could see my takeaway path and how the club was aligned at impact. The fact that they wanted to turn my swing into Ernie Els is another story.

Ahh, this does not look promising…

Since that time, I have wished that there was an easier (and less expensive way) to get similar swing diagnosis. Fortunately, there is now a way, and it is called Swingbyte. This little contraption easily snaps onto any club and is then linked up to your phone or iPad via Bluetooth.

So while Swingbyte does not give you every data metric available, it does provide you with enough to better understand and work on your swing. For me, that primarily means swing path. Like a lot of amateurs, I struggle with an over the top swing. With the Swingbyte, I can get instant feedback on my swing path. Even better is that I don’t even have to hit a ball. That’s right, I can make swings on a mat or ground and get the same results.

Now, rather than heading out to the range, I can just step outside, lay my phone down next to me and take swings to hone my preferred swing path. Really, that is the key, being able to make a swing (or swing adjustment) and see what it really means.

Additionally, if you want to hit real balls or 1/2 distance balls into a net, you are able to get accurate data on club speed, face address, face path and club path. Basically everything you get when you hit ball in a simulator.

As I mentioned the Swingbyte attaches to the top of your golf club right below the grip. The clasp is easy to put on and take off, so switching between clubs is not an issue. While every so often the clasp comes off, for the most part you don’t have to mess with it.

In order to connect your device, you just have to get the Swingbyte app and then connect to it by choosing Bluetooth in your settings. This will work on both a phone and iPad. The phone is fine, but checking the graphics is far easier to see on a larger iPad. That way, you can just lay the iPad on the ground and glance down at it after every swing. Performance wise, the Bluetooth works pretty well. Some days it gives me a bit of trouble and I have to recalibrate it or restart it, but for the most part it stays connected.

If you want to further investigate a swing, you are able to choose from a number of vantages like overhead, behind and 360 degrees. I find the down the line view works the best. Additionally, the color of the path lines will indicate club speed at any given point so you can work toward having the most power at impact.

The other features I like to use is the history and “compare swings”. Each and every swing you make is logged into the system so you can view them on the web. This helps you to see progress in metrics like swing speed. You can then compare swings from different times so you can determine if the changes you are trying to make are actually sticking.

Another available function is the side by side video and swing analysis. Using your phone or iPad, you can video your swing and then watch it with the swing tracer to check your technique at any point. While this feature seems very useful, I never used it because I feel like I get the required feedback and swing information with just the lines drawn by the swing tracer. However, I could definitely see this being useful for a coach to use to help with teaching a student.

And don’t forget your putter. Swingbyte can also help with the flat stick. For the putter analysis, everything is the same but on a smaller scale. This way you can really see what type of putter you are (pendulum or arc). Plus, you can see if you are making square impact or if you have an open or closed putter face.

Swing training aides are a tricky business. I would bet most end up collecting dust after the new car smell has worn off. This is partly true with Swingbyte as I don’t want to take it out to the range every time. The good news for Swingbyte is that it is nearly as useful at home since you do not need to hit actual golf balls to get in some training time and analysis. In fact, I have taken 70% of my Swingbyte swings at home either with practice swings or golf balls into a net.

The final bit of good news is that Swingbyte is darn cheap for what you get. Similar aides like Trackman (albeit a lot more powerful) are thousands of dollars. Swingbyte is $169, giving you a lot of bang for the buck.

Golf is obviously a hard game and improving requires that you a least have a decent idea what you do and what your are trying to do. Without understanding your swing, you are kind of chasing ghosts. Swingbyte is a great tool to give you real data on how you swing the club. It will also allow you to experiment with your swing to see how the swing plane and club impact is affected in nearly real time. For me, it was a huge help in grooving a take away that got my club in a better position to fire down the line. Now, it is just a matter of coming back to it every so often to make sure I am still on track.

You can learn more on the Swingbyte website.

There is a new putter in town that is all the rage – it is commonly referred to as the “Boutique Putter”. Somehow, I have drawn the short stick for every such putter review but this time I struck gold when I drew the assignment to review the new Kenny Giannini G6 putter.

I know I know, product review guys claims “THIS” putter is the best ever after just claiming that “THAT” putter was outstanding and a game changer. I’ve been pretty fortunate to review some outstanding putters here at Three Guys Golf and with no intent on discrediting any of those fine companies, I have to say not one of them has impressed me to the level that the new Giannini G6 has.

My first encounter ever with Mr. Giannini was back in 2013 at the Las Vegas PGA Show when I had the opportunity to chat with him at his booth. During our conversation he asked me what I was currently putting with and when I told him an Odyssey Versa he just smiled and chuckled. “You guys and your inserts.” He then went on to educate me about why using a putter with an insert isn’t the most practical solution if you’re looking to gain any form of consistency with your putting. It was a rather humbling moment to say the least.

Prior to attending the PGA Show in Orlando I knew there was a new line of putters coming from Giannini, so I made it a point to make their booth one of my first stops and when I arrived. Gusten, one of their reps, placed the G6 in my hands and I instantly fell in love. The “Flow Neck” design of the G6 is simply gorgeous with its classic look and beautiful finish; it stood out over the others new putters in the 2014 lineup. I loved the look and feel of a blade putter and from the first time I was able to hold the G6 in my hands, I literally couldn’t wait for the day it arrived on my doorstep.

As a certified geek when it comes to the techy/nerdy side of golf and equipment, I really enjoyed learning about Mr. Giannini and his history as a club designer and craftsman. The putters he creates are the real story though, so let’s get into it.

For starters, all Giannini Putters are all billet milled using a solid one-piece of carbon steel and they all incorporate the Trademarked and Patented milled Soft Slotted Face Technology (SSFT®) slotted sole. You read that correctly, you simply will not find this technology on any other putter, period!  This “slot” that is present on the sole of the club is milled into the body of the putter just behind the face. The placement of the slot provides for the inertia of the ball striking the face to be distributed across the face, thereby allowing the putter to square up to the intended line on “slightly” off center hits, be it the heel or the toe.  The “gear effect” where the heel of the putter will pass the toe on a toe strike or vice versa on a heel hit just isn’t there, which makes it an unbelievably well balanced putter.

Where other companies may have incorporated a slot similar to this one, none of them are performance-based. For most putters, the slot is just is an audible enhancement, creating a different sound. The SSFT on the Giannini putters is 100% performance-based and when you hit a putt for the first time you’ll be utterly amazed at how well the putter head travels through the impact zone. Dropping putts will become a mere formality and not the rare occasion.

Here are the specs on the Giannini G6 we received for review:

Giannini G6: 35” with PureGrips “Big Dog” putter grip, ¼ inch offset with a ¾ toe hang in the “003” non-glare finish.  The ¾ toe hang is ideal for the inside-square to inside putting stroke which is another reason I enjoy putting with it some much. It fits my stroke path perfectly.

If you recall our last product review from Giannini, the G5 Mallet, you will see there have been some dramatic changes to the appearance of the new line. A new branding of the putters featuring a scripted Giannini logo on the back of the club that has replaced the square enclosed G logo. You’ll also notice Giannini has a new finish that is very appealing; it’s called “003” and this new finish has a non-glare attribute which is great on the course but also helps in accentuating the new white scripted logo. You also have the choice of the platinum finish.

In speaking with Gusten and Tim from Giannini I found it remarkable how much they take into consideration the suggestions from people who have played or are currently playing their putters. Several of the changes they have made, all of which I believe have made the new line outstanding, came from suggestions from existing players and reviewers. According to Gusten and Tim, this is all in the pursuit of creating a putter that doesn’t compromise their basic premise of the company’s tag line “The Look, The Feel, The Balance of Winning”

The “Big Dog” is a new grip from PureGrips that I was a little hesitant to try. The Fat grip craze is all over the place (even juniors as young as 7 years old are using them) but I’ve been a traditionalist for a long time in regards to the size of my putter grips. Not that I haven’t tried them, it just hasn’t been a good fit for me. Luckily Gusten talked me into the grip because even though I was leery of an oversized grip, I’ve been putting lights out with it and couldn’t been happier. The “Big Dog” is a very heavy grip and because of its weight it acts similar to how a counterbalanced putter is used. The putter practically putts by itself, I just have to be there to hold on! With PureGrips being the grip of choice for Giannini LLC, it’s pretty sweet how they have incorporated the scripted Giannini logo into the grip.

No worries if you’re not a fan of the larger grips. The PureGrips pistol grip is the standard for all Giannini putters and they are both available in a wide variety of colors.

Much like Adam’s assessment of the putter cover he received with the G5, I’m a huge fan of the G6 cover as well. Giannini matched my red grip to a red cover and it looks fantastic not only protecting the club but also when it’s safely tucked into my bag. The stitching is outstanding, it’s obviously not going to fall apart on you any time soon, and the lining reminds me more of an exotic fur coat than a putter sleeve. The best part . . . magnets! Most putter companies have gone away from using magnets in their putter covers due to cost, but when you’re dropping close to $400 on a flatstick it’s nice to see Giannini didn’t choose to trim the budget on an important piece of the package. Once the cover is placed over the putter head, it isn’t going anywhere!

The first couple of days with the G6 I mainly stayed at home and used it on my backyard green to get a feel for it. I’m not the type of player that likes to show up for a round with a foreign entity in my bag, so having the putting green out back really assisted me in getting the feel for it and how the ball was reacting to the milled face. In a single word it was flawless. The ball rolls off the face in such an elegant manner that it was pure pleasure rolling the ball. The sound coming off the face is pure and in no way has that distracting high ting you’ll find in some boutique putters.

My first on course outing took place several days later at one of my favorite tracks in town, Rio Secco Golf Club. I chose Rio because they have some of the best greens in town and I didn’t want to deal with a crappy putting surface the first time I put the G6 into play. Even with a 3-putt on the first hole (completely my fault, not the putter’s) I managed to record 28 putts with 9 1-putts. Both personal best!

I have played a total of 5 rounds with the G6 and have been averaging 1.7 putts per round. Along with that statistic my 3-putts have significantly decreased, a number that I NEED to be lower for sure.

As chaotic as my golfing life has been over the past three years, it is a newfound blessing knowing that every time I walk up to a green the last thing I’m worried about is how I’m going to putt.

The craftsmanship and advancement in the club design is remarkable, the appearance is extraordinary, and when you take into account the spectacular performance what you have on your hands is one SEXY putter.

You can purchase the G6 for $355 on the Giannini website. But be sure to check out all the putters in the new Giannini line and find the right one for your game.

Yea, I’m one of “those” guys….you know the guys that totes everything short of a practice net to the golf course. Wallet, phone, keys, money, snacks, yardage book, camera, GoPro and sometimes a video camera. By the time I am done, my pockets can tend to be a bit “overcrowded”. Heck, just getting the cart and unloading all of my crap into my bag has seriously been one of the largest burdens of my rounds. That’s no longer the case though now that I’ve put the Cobra Bio Cart Bag into play.

If you watched any U.S. Open coverage last weekend, then you’ll recognize these suckers: Martin Kaymer cruised to victory last weekend wearing the Adicross Gripmore shoes. For a bit less prize money, I did the same.

I freely admit that I am a sucker for pimped out putters. Yes, I know looks should not be the decided factor when choosing a flatstick but I just refuse to comprise on aesthetics. Even though Low Tide putters have only been around for about two years they have quickly made a big impression on those who follow the boutique putter market. First off, they are downright beautiful. With three basic models – Fin, Whale Tail and Rip Curl – Low Tide Putters have come out of the gate with eye popping designs.

Long before I ever touched one of these putters, I was checking out pictures on the Low Tide Twitter and Instagram feeds. If nothing else, these guys are pretty darn sharp when it comes to displaying their product, although I probably should not be surprised since the two founders of Low Tide are not exactly graybeards.

The history of Low Tide Putters is the age old garage-to-boardroom success story (although I think they are still somewhere between those two points). Still, the fact is the company was founded by two friends with complementary skill sets and a whole lot of desire to create a putter that is both beautiful and functional. Barely removed from the long nights spent creating the first prototype, Low Tide Putters are now getting great reviews. I, for one, fully expect that it is only a matter of time before the larger population takes notice as well.

For my review, I chose the Whale Tail because I tend to prefer more of a mallet shape (at least in terms of performance). Milled out of a single block of stainless steel, this putter is definitely a head turner. The shape is aggressive and bold and reminiscent of the butt-end of weapons used in Game of Thrones. Couple the unique shape with the rainbow torched finish and you have a flatstick that is sure to be noticed by everyone in the foursome.

A few side notes on both the shape and the finish before I move on. I am not sure how much time was spent measuring the gap in the back of the putter but it is literally the exact space needed to pick up a golf ball. It is hands down the easiest putter to scoop up a ball with. The finish is absolutely beautiful and the rainbow effect varies on how the sun shines upon it. The top of the putter is also quite shiny, even to the point that it caught the sun almost too squarely. With that said, the finish starts to dull over time so there’s a little good news/bad news: the glare goes away but the rainbow “wow” factor is also diminished (but not eliminated).

On to the course…for some reason, I always seem to get new gear about 10 minutes before I am going to play golf, which either means I am very lucky or I play way too much golf. Either way, my first experience with equipment often occurs on the #1 tee box or green. In the case of the Low Tide Whale Tail, my very first putt was about a 35 footer. No, I did not roll a gagger, but I was caught equally by surprise. Have you ever taken a big gulp of what you thought was juice without knowing it had been spiked with vodka? Because you had certain expectations for the taste your brain gets short-circuited trying to match perception to reality? Well the same thing happened when I struck the ball. Specifically, I never anticipated that the Low Tide Putter would have a pronounced tingy sound. Maybe because the putter is beefy in nature or that the name includes the word “low”, I just never expected the sound it produced.

So, for me, I am not a huge fan of tingy putter sounds but as I expressed my surprise, two of my playing partners said they really liked the sound. Obviously, it is a personal opinion, but it took me a little time to get used to the sound. Now, months later, I don’t even notice it.

If you did not pick up on that last line, I said months later. Yes the Low Tide Putter has stayed in my bag. From a performance standpoint, what I like most about it is the weighting and feel. I, along with nearly everyone who has used it, immediately comments on the balance. It simply feels natural in your hands and comfortable to swing. This in turn makes it easy to become very confident with both long and short putts. I know this is not scientific, but in my brain, a mallet is slightly less accurate than a blade but a whole lot more forgiving. This is basically how I feel about the Low Tide Putter. I have played rounds when I putted lights out and days when nothing would drop but rare is a day when putts are nowhere close.

Now let’s step back a moment to talk about why you would consider a putter from a company run by two young guys with 1/millionth the R&D budget of Nike or Titleist or any other big brand name. The simple answer is that they live and breathe this company which means they will go the extra mile to make a custom putter that you will have and treasure forever. In my case, the Three Guys Golf logo on the sole of the blade gives me a…well it is so damn cool.

Beyond the bling, Low Tide will work with you to get the exact specifications that you want and will even make suggestions based on your putting stroke. For me, they took a look at a video of my stroke to gauge what specs I should get. The point is, Low Tide is committed to each and every customer’s satisfaction because they have to. Like any small company, they cannot afford to blow off any customers, which means you/we win!

Finally, I just want to touch on a few of the other products Low Tide Putters offers. Specifically, the putting puck which is super cool (although I don’t have one). Made from a solid piece of metal, you can throw it down anywhere (your carpet or the green) and have an exact replicate of a hole. No more trying to putt to a tee in the ground. The other cool item they have (which I do own) is a divot repair tool. Last year we wrote a whole piece on cool divot repairs and ball markers and had I known about the Low Tide version, it would have surely made the list.

So if you are in the market for a custom putter (or any putter), I would highly recommend Low Tide Putters. Between the three basic models and the availability of custom options you are sure to get just the putter you want.

Check out all of the putters on the Low Tide Putter website

One of the benefits of writing for Three Guys Golf is that I get to try out gear I would have otherwise never have the chance to see, let alone review. In this case I was given a pair of the new Dagwood James Black canvas shoes. I can honestly say that I would have never stumbled upon the Dagwood brand had it not been for Three Guys Golf, so don’t feel like you are “out of the loop” if you’re in the same boat as me.

Confession time..I have stopped using every GPS device I have ever owned or reviewed. Don’t get me wrong, my dismissal of these units was not because they did not work or were not useful, but rather simply because they end up in my bag uncharged. Maybe it is just me, but I pack GPS unit in my bag after my round which means I end up forgetting to take it out and charge it. Flash forward, to the next round and my GPS is safely packed away with 10% battery.. Adding to my reasoning for not using a GPS is because I often play the same course and have unfounded belief that I can accurately judge distances without a measuring device. Superpowers aside, I am actually well aware that I would benefit from a GPS, but until I can find one that meets my basic nature I am going to have to rely on yardage markers and hunches. Good news, I think I have finally found my GPS soulmate. The Bushnell NEO XS GPS is not fancier than the ones I quit using but it does one thing none of the other do . . . it comes back in the house with me. The simple fact that it is a watch style GPS has been a total game changer for me. Starting with some facts (or at least my opinion of facts). The Bushnell NEO XS is pretty darn light and thin. At no point does it bother me and I often forget to take if off after the round, which is fine because it is also a waterproof watch. I found out about the waterproof after I realized it was on my wrist after a shower. Hey oh, good thinking Bushnell! Just as important is the display which is super easy to read with big numbers that contrast in bright sunlight. Plus, there is no issue reading the numbers if you wear polarized sunglasses like I do. That is not the case with some units which require me peeking under my glasses to read. Then there is the little fact that it is on my wrist the whole time, which saves me from having to tote it around or worry about losing the sucker. I mean, I guess some guys like to bring out the arsenal of technology before each shot, but not me – just give me the yardage (heck if I could dial in to 132 yards I would not be a 10 handicap). Function wise, the buttons are all intuitive. To start the game just click “play golf”. The GPS quickly finds course around you so that you can choose the correct one. A few minutes later you are ready to go. On the course, the GPS will move from hole to hole but you can always toggle holes if for some reason it is showing the wrong hole. The other button I like to use is the “Golf” button. After you hit a ball simply click this button and it will start calculating how far you hit the ball. A handy feature if you are trying to dial in you club distances or when you bomb a drive and want some additional satisfaction for exactly how deep you went. Because I play 80% of my golf on the same course, I really only need distances to the front middle and back. Sure hazards are fine but 99% of the time I don’t use them. Fortunately, the Bushnell includes up to 4 hazard distances just in case. The code for the hazards is slightly confusing but typically, I can figure out that “RGB” means “right green bunker”. There is a key to all codes in the manual. Beyond the basic “Front, Center, Back”, the Bushnell NEO has a couple of other bells and whistles that make this a great product. First, the battery life is solid. You can easily get 3 rounds of golf in before charging. In “watch” mode it will last about a year (but I am not sure who would buy this GPS unit and only use it as a watch). The point is that what chows the battery is the GPS and since it is super easy to forget to turn off the GPS, there is a feature that will automatically return the unit to “watch mode” after a set amount of time. For example, I set the Bushnell NEO XS to turn off after 4.5 hours. If I am stuck behind a slow group and end up on the 17th fairway after 4.5 hours, the GPS will ask me if I want to resume playing so that I do not have to restart the round. In other words, you won’t have to fear forgetting to turn it off or having it turn off before your round ends . . . best of both worlds situation. Another feature that is kind of cool (even though I don’t use it) is that the NEO has an odometer, so I can tell my wife that I just walked 5 miles so there is no reason for me to go to the gym. After really digging my newfound love with a GPS device, there was still one looming issue. My home course moved 3 greens last summer and for some unknown reason, the management has never gotten the course remapped. That means everyone’s SkyCaddie is useless for three holes. Not surprisingly the Bushnell NEO had the same issue. However, after a little poking around on the Bushnell website I found a form to submit changes to a course. Bing, bang, boom, two days later my course has been updated! Heck yes, that is what I call customer service! So bottom line: if you want yardages but not the hassle that comes along with a larger device the Bushnell NEO XS is a great option. It only runs about $199, which is roughly half the price of handheld models. Sure, it will not give you yardage to every tree on the course, but it works great for simple access to accurate yardage to the green.

You can learn more on the Bushnell website