Putters: Classic shapes for 2009
'Less of the Starship designs'
Posted: 9 February 2009
by Tony Dear
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The Axis 1 putter - it's weird and could be heading for Europe
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It seems manufacturers aren’t making those over-the-top mallet putter designs any more, even though I spotted some weird innovations at the PGA trade show in Orlando last week. At one time putters like the TaylorMade Rossa Spider, Odyssey’s XG Sabertooth and the semi-steering wheel Ping Docs were all the rage. But judging by many of the new models, they're not as much in evidence in 2009.
"There seems to be less of the Starship Enterprise look," said Heavy Putter founder Steve Boccieri, whose putter designs are also tending to focus on more classical shapes. "I’m sure there are some out there, but I think they’re a bit of a fad, and their time might have come and gone already. You don’t see too many of them on the Tours now, either.’
Inserts remain popular, however, and face groove technology is beginning to take hold - whether it's Yes! Golf's crescent-style C- Grooves or the horizontal-grooves GEL and Rife.
Dr. Paul Hurrion, who designs putters for Groove Equipment Limited (GEL), believes grooves on putterfaces will one day become the norm.
"It’s like metalwoods which were too weird for a lot of golfers 25 years ago, but look at them now. I don’t think it will take that long for putters with grooves to become standard. I’m convinced they will - at least, they should."
Putter fitting and customisation is also a hot topic, most notably Ping is introducing putters with moveable weights. Here's my favoured five from the PGA show in Orlando and the best of the rest.
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My Favourite Five
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Ping iWi Anser
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PING iWi ANSER
Six models in the iWi range come with two 12g sole weights as standard. Nine possible weight combinations are possible with the optional weighting kit, sold separately.
Price: £120
Specs: Head Weight: 345g. Adjustability: +/- 4˚ (based on black colour code). Loft: 3˚. Heel-toe balanced. Right and Left.
Looks: Classic Ping shape with nice stainless steel finish and yellow lettering. What’s not to like?
Feel/performance: The two-piece stainless steel/elastomer insert gives a pleasing, cushy strike. A fondness for the shape did wonders for my confidence.
Website:
www.pinggolf.co.uk
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Yes! Golf Ashley
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YES!GOLF ASHLEY
Single alignment line, chrome-plated 304 Stainless Steel and patented
C-Groove Technology. Another model from the burgeoning Yes! Golf stable that's building a worldwide reputation with Tour players and club golfers.
Price: £127
Spec: Head weight: 355g. Adjustability: +/- 2˚ (from standard 72˚ lie angle). Loft: 2.5˚. Face-balanced. Right only.
Looks: Pretty simple and basic, and all the better for it. Rounded back edge.
Feel/performance: In my limited experience of this brand Yes!Golf putters don’t necessarily have the best feel. It’s all about the roll as the crescent grooves help the ball hug the ground and roll consistently.
Website:
www.yesgolf.co.uk
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Odyssey Black i Series No.1 putter
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ODYSSEY BLACK SERIES I NO.1
Tungsten weight in the rear of the head lowers centre of gravity to lift the ball out of its depression on the green. Precision-milled from 1025 carbon steel with Elastomer core insert infused with urethane in hitting surface for optimum responsiveness. Optimized head weighting for truer roll.
Price: £180
Spec: Head weight: Not specified. Adjustability: +/- 3˚ (standard lie angle not specified). Loft: 3˚. Heel-toe weighted. Right and Left.
Looks: Love the shape and the nickel-plated finish. Very attractive, sophisticated looking putter.
Feel/performance: Impressive feel; not too squidgy, not too firm. Great roll. Everything you’d expect from a top-of-the-line Odyssey putter.
Website:
www.odysseyblackseries.com
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SeeMore SB1 with distinctive red dot
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SEEMORE SB1
All the MOI, face-balanced and alignment benefits of the typical modern mallet with the additional alignment benefit provided by RifleScope Technology (the famous red dot). 100% CNC milled from aircraft grade 6061 aluminium.
Price: £159
Spec: Head weight: 334-380g. Adjustability: +/- 2˚ (from standard 70˚ lie angle). Loft: 3˚. Face-balanced. Right and Left.
Looks: Not my favourite shape but one of the best looking mallets I’ve seen in years. Big fan of the 6061 aluminium finish too.
Feel/performance: Every time I pick up a SeeMore putter in a shop or t an exhibition and test the RST, which is really just a fancy name for the positioning of a red dot behind the shaft, I think to myself I’ve got to get a SeeMore putter.
Website:
www.seemoreputter.co.uk
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Scotty Cameron Fastback as used by Rory McIlroy to win in Dubai
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SCOTTY CAMERON STUDIO SELECT FASTBACK 1
The Fastback 1's sleek lines will remind players of the Newport head style, including the milled sight line for alignment. But it's the signature rounded flange that has given the Fastback its name. Precision milled 303 stainless steel head, factory interchangeable weights. (Two days after I tried this club in Orlando, Rory McIlroy an identical model to win the Dubai Classic).
Price: £179
Spec: Head weight: 340-360g. Adjustability: +/- 2˚ (from standard 71˚ lie angle). Loft: 4˚. Face-balanced. Right.
Looks: Another smart, compact mallet with Scotty Cameron’s distinctive and attractive, silver steel head with red marking.
Feel/performance: Every time I pick up a Scotty Cameron putter, I feel I really must not let so beautiful an object down - by missing! This is a typically classy number.
?Website:
www.scottycameron.com
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The best of the Rest
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GEL Ruby with horizontal grooves
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GEL RUBY (£100)
A great looking, great feeling putter designed by Paul Hurrion which incorporates horizontal grooves cut into a patented aluminium insert.
Website: www.gelgolf.co.uk
HEAVY PUTTER MID-WEIGHT (£150 approx).
It's 150g lighter than the original 900g Heavy Putter and the Mid-Weight will be available in five models, promoting a smooth, pendulum action. www.heavyputter.co.uk
MERLIN (£99 approx)
From the makers of the Alien Wedge, this is one ugly putter and the concept of the multiple alignment lines seems very odd but compensated for my own inconsistent alignment rather than helping me develop better alignment. After identifying which alignment line I should use, I holed virtually everything. Yet to secure a European distributor.
Website: www.simmonsgolf.com
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The Axis 1 putter
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AXIS 1 (TBC)
Another very odd looking device that yet to find a distributor in Europe. The design theory was lost on me to but was conceived by an industrial engineer who also develped Spaceball – a 3D computer mouse used to control the Rover Expedition to Mars. The heel weight is shifted in front of the putter face which moves the centre of gravity to more or less the same position as the sweet spot, and in line with the axis of the shaft. Apparently it promotes a true pendulum action and stood up to the challenge of getting the ball in the hole quite frequently!
www.axis1golf.com
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Frankley Golf's Frog putter with 'weighted eyes'
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FRANKLY GOLF FROG (£155)
Frank Thomas’s Frog putter as ugly as its name suggests ugly but is small enough to get away with its back-positioned tungsten weights. Looks aside, the feel, balance and performance are superb - as you’d expect of a club designed by the former technical director of the USGA.
Website: www.franklygolf.com
What's in your bag?
For a chance to win one of the latest Golf Buddy hand-held GPS measuring devices worth over £300, tell us about the putter in your bag. Submit a comprehensive review - you can also choose any other equipment - balls to drivers, golf gloves to sets of irons, shoes to powered trolleys - and give it a rating.
At the end of February and then at the end of March, we'll assess the entries and award a Golf Buddy device to each of TWO worthy winners.
To submit a review CLICK HERE
Tony Dear has been writing about golf for more than 10 years. A former assistant pro from Southern England and journalist with top-selling golf magazines, he now lives in Seattle and is a member of the Northwest Golf Media Association.
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Discuss this story
No doubt with all the snow and ice we've been experiencing you've been practising your putting on the living room carpet, fetching out all those putters gathering dust in the garage to see which one might be making a comeback. Tell us which one you currently favour in your bag - write us a review, too for the chance to win a Golf Buddy GPS - and which others you own. You might even wish to sell one or two surplus to requirements in the Classified section of the forum. ED
Posted: 09/02/2009 12:08
I have a Victoria II and a Scotty Futura I'm more than happy with both of them - Victoria is a recent aqcuisition so she is in the bag at present
Posted: 09/02/2009 12:26
Still have the Original Frankly Frog putter sitting in my house, as good a putter as I've owned and helped me win our club championship with some long putts coming down the stretch. My current putter is a Yes Tracy which I got custom fitted for at Yes HQ in Southport. It looks like it's going to be in the bag for some time as it's improved my putting another level. Only thing that may dislodge it is a Scotty Cameron Circa Number 2 in Charcoal mist. Pure golfing porn!!
Posted: 09/02/2009 12:35
I,m in love with marilyn at present however here are a few of my past loves.all faithful at one time t
Posted: 09/02/2009 12:48
I've got a Wilson Staff 8877 Goose neck Blade, which has improved my putting touch no end! It has a very narrow head with only a single 1cm alighnment line on the back. This means you have to line up the putt more through eyeline and feeling. Great putter For Slick Summer greens but not heavy enough for winter greens! Hence the TM Rossa Itsy Bitsy Spider that is in my bag at the moment! This putter virtually lines itself up! Its got great feel off the AGSI face and the fact that you can change the weights to make it heavier, Good for the slow wet Winter greens!
Posted: 09/02/2009 12:51
I have an Odyssey Rossie 2. She's lovely, if a little battered, and I have no intention fo switching her in the near future! I've put a lot of effort into her, including shortening her so she suits me better and sticking on a new grip and re-affixing the head when it fell off! I love the feeling off the face, which is soft enough to make up for my ham-fisted attempts to gently push the ball towards the hole! BB
Posted: 09/02/2009 15:29
Just got myself this lovely..Rife Aussie For a SS milled putter it feels nice and soft with a good rolll. The lie angle can also be adjusted by the user withRife's Lie Aline bending tool, although that is no longer part of the price. The weight is also spot on (for me at least) giving (myself at least) the ability to putt stone dead from near or far.
Posted: 09/02/2009 18:28
I'm currently dallying with a Zen Oracle RDE Mallet but given the inclement weather have yet to really try it in anger on proper greens. Like the feel at impact and the roll but it will do well to oust the TM Spider from the bag. In the background having a rest is my Dave Hicks iXi mallet which really needs a very soft feeling ball to get the best from as its quite quard itself.
Posted: 09/02/2009 20:35
Here she is - my latest mistress. I've done the dirty on the 2ball and gone for a more classy women. Beautiful curves and a face to die for- I want to grow old with this one The 'Nicky' from Yes. 34" and 2 deg flat. She is an absolute stunner.
Posted: 09/02/2009 22:36
The utterly beautiful, almost living creature which sits pertly in my bag adorned with a stunning orange and black headcover is my adored and adorable original Fisher Touch blade which has served? me brilliantly for almost five years and has never let me down despite one or two lapses on my part! 
Posted: 09/02/2009 22:47
I use one of these:- Scotty Cameron original Napa. After purchase I subsequently realised that it was an exact copy (good old Scotty) of the Wilson 8802 blade puter. There really isn't anything comparable to putting with a bladed putter. But boy are they unforgiving, if you are having a bad putting day then these things make you look like an idiot. But when its going well, its a joy.
Posted: 10/02/2009 00:11
I use one of these:-
Scotty Cameron original Napa. After purchase I subsequently realised that it was an exact copy (good old Scotty) of the Wilson 8802 blade puter. There really isn't anything comparable to putting with a bladed putter. But boy are they unforgiving, if you are having a bad putting day then these things make you look like an idiot. But when its going well, its a joy.
Totally agree, Creo. I putted with a blade for years only giving her up when my brain started melting.
Posted: 10/02/2009 08:24
I use one of these:-
Creo, You could be looking down on My Wilson Staff 8877! That is exactly the same view at address I have! Stunning Putters! are they based on the same design?
Posted: 10/02/2009 14:24
Creo and 1 over. I'm after one of these putters, I want the 8802, hopefully I will have shortly as I have my eye and money on one. I prefer the older style putters to the new space station look alike. I am currently using a very old putter I got for 50p made by H Roffe of Scotland.
Posted: 10/02/2009 15:59
I gotta Wilson 8802, I gotta YES Emma, I gotta Rogue TPA, I gotta TaylorMade TM100 thats not my current wand........... They call it Odyssey #2 White Hot.....thats the one in my bag.... (sorry for the Tin Tins Style "thats not my name" pun, very bad I know) 
Posted: 10/02/2009 16:13
ive used an odyssey 2 ball since they came out a few years ago. ive tried a few others since but ive always went back to the 2 ball. i remember my 1st game with it. i thought i couldnt miss!!!!!!!!! i dont know what it is with this putter but i cant see past it. saying that though ive just bought a minted 2nd hand odyssey marxman. sorry i just couldnt resist when i picked it up. yet to try it yet because of the weather but i like the feel of it. if the past is anything to go by i will end up with the 2 ball back in my bag. i sold my old ping b61 and ping zing 2 last year. they were good putters to me in their day. i understan some guys like old putters compared to new styles but i reckon you use what works for you regardless of age,make or price.
Posted: 10/02/2009 16:54
Perfection! 
Posted: 11/02/2009 15:18
This: MacGregor "Bobby Grace" DCT Bellaire Putter - Face Balanced.
Posted: 11/02/2009 21:04
Not an ugly stick amongst 'em - well done lads  Perhaps good taste will prevail.
Posted: 12/02/2009 09:45
I am using the Spherical Blade Emperor Series Putter It has improved my putting tremendously in the short time from when I won it in a competition on this site to the time the snow and ice hit.
Posted: 12/02/2009 13:23
I've played with a Yes! Dianna I bought second hand since I started golf (coming up for two years – of which this will be the first season I will actually be playing regularly!). I will however be soon to receive an old PING ANSER 4. The Ping is 33" and bought as an experiment to see if this would be better than my 35" Dianna (I seem to grip so far down the club at least one finger is on the shaft). If this pays better, either Dianna is getting the chop or is being locked in the cupboard!
I also tried a Never Compromise mallet putter I got for a very nice price, but I just prefer a blade I think.
Posted: 12/02/2009 14:00
<a href="javascript penBigWindow("a000a83d-bcce-4efc-922a-936f2e848c13.jpg%20")"> </a>Better Piccie!
Posted: 12/02/2009 14:24
1 over, Croe et al. Uber respect to you all! There is no way I could use those bladed putters! I struggle to line up my Rossie 2 most of the time! Those piddiling little sight lines would be worthless for me! This is an online example of my baby! - Sadly mine's not in such mint condition! Still love her though! I agree with Taz as regards the fact that no-one seems to have an ugly flatstick (with the possible exception of BoB's Frog one! Looked it up and I'm sure it's one a mother (?!) could love!) BB
Posted: 12/02/2009 15:03
Still trying to decide between beauty and the beast Short-term High-MOI fix or learn to love a classic? It's a toughie!
Posted: 12/02/2009 15:15
BB, I have to admit since I bought the TM Itsy Bitsy Spider last month I haven't used the Wilson!  But I will use it tomorrow mornig in a fourball that im playing!...... I Promise!  Im actually in a bit of a kerfuffle! I really love both Putters and have had similar results from both, They both have Sublime feel and Balance but I cannot choose between either one of them as to which one will take the Prize as First Team Keeper or Subs bench Reject! Damn!.... I feel like Harry Redknapp!..... Hmmn Cudacini or Gomez? Decisions Decisions?
Posted: 12/02/2009 15:17
Blimey Global ( ) Our threads and thoughts musta passed in Cyberspace!
Posted: 12/02/2009 15:18
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