Zen Oracle Tour putter

	Zen Oracle Tour putter
Contact: www.zenoracle.co.uk Specifications: Available in forstandard 33 or 35-inch shaft, broomhandle, and belly versions. Price: £120 (forstandard) or £150 (broomhandle or belly)

Zen Oracle Tour putter As a journalist I'm naturally sceptical. As a golf journalist and reviewer of golf products I've got more trust in estate agents than the publicity surrounding some equipment I've tried. However there comes a time when you have to hold up both hands and accept most of the claims made for a product - and I've just become a convert to Zen-ism! The UK suppliers of the Zen Oracle Tour putter - the club with a hole in its head - sent me one to try for some early feedback and with minimal practice, my putting was transformed. The club has the shape and weight of an Odyssey 2-ball putter, but with a hole behind the club face which can act as a training device to promote a smooth through swing. With just five minutes practice on the pro-shop carpet in front of some intrigued Sunday morning golfers, I set off to see if both the technique and hardware would marry into results.

Zen Oracle follow through The idea is to build muscle memory, alignment and feel by popping a ball into the hole and one against the clubface. Both balls should release, track and trace an identical line to their target. It's a method currently endorsed by top coach Peter Cowen. After a couple of three putts on the opening holes while getting used to damp greens and the polymer face insert, I proceeded to roll in a six putts from eight to 30 feet - four of them for birdies - which left my playing partners open mouthed and me convinced I'd found a magic wand. The strike from the face is not quite as sweet as the new White Steel 2-ball from Odyssey but being aware of the need of an upswing in the follow through helps create topspin roll on the ball, which seemed uncannily to find it way to the bottom of the cup. The red Winn grip with a light adhesive feel also helps to encourage feel in the finger tips and by returning to my claw grip after a few weeks as a non-believer, my putting confidence has returned. The Golfmagic Verdict Rating: 9/10 Summary: At £120 it's a lot to pay for a putter but you're investing not only in a club for use on the course but a practice aid and a technique that can make a Tour pro drool. Can't wait to get back to the temple to pursue this new putting religion! *Tell us about the clubs in your bag - as well as the balls, shoes, waterproofs - by submitting a user review And if you've got equipment to buy or sell second hand you can do that too, in our popular classified section.