Rife Two-Bar hybrid putter
With its technology it ticks all the boxes
Posted: 27 May 2008
by Bob Warters
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Technology: | Features Rife’s patented RollGroove technology, Two-Bar alignment, dual response insert technology, LieAline fitting system and adjustable speed weighting.Distinctive Rife soft-feel grip. Available in 34- and 35-inch shaft (right-handed), with left-hand option to follow. |
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Price: |
£129 |
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Rife Two Bar hybrid face
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I first came across the Rife brand last year nestled alphabetically between Reebok and Ryder Cup in a list of golf businesses. Further investigation revealed that their putters were designed by Guerin Rife and that our own Justin Rose was one of his disciples.
Rose used the Barbados model to win the Australian Masters and continued his good form with powerful finishes in every major before clinching the European Tour order of merit at Valderrama. The brand had got our attention.
Rife had been experimenting with new designs and at the Munich trade show in October introduced this Two-Bar Hybrid putter with interchangeable weights blending features of the original Two-bar with the Barbados model used by Rose - and subsequently by Andrew Romero to win on the PGA Tour - to give it wider appeal, akin to custom-fitting a putter to suit a golfer's idiosyncrasies.
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Rife LieAline system
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A key to my attraction to the Rife Barbados was its face with horizontal grooves. As Lancastrian Harold Swash had discovered when creating his C-Groove technology of crescent grooves (now used in Yes! Golf putters), grooves in a putter face help to put top spin on the ball and keep it hugging the putting surface.
Rife developed his own RollGroove technology, limiting the surface area of a conventional putter to reduce side-spin and produce a softer, more forgiving feel at impact. He introduced it to the Two Bar hybrid and discovered that pros like the effect of less skid, a truer roll and better distance control.
Already convinced of this, all I needed now was to understand fully how a combination of adjustable weighting and LieAline fitting could improve my putting.
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Using Rife's 'bend-to-fit' device
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Fortunately I didn't need to make any adjustment to the lie of the putter, by using the 'Lie Bender' device provided. The combination of my own height and claw-grip putting style, together with the putter length I'd requested (33 ins), meant that the notch behind the clubhead exactly fitted the sight line to ensure the sole lay flat on the ground as opposed to ' toe up' or ' heel up'.
The putter also came with the two lighter weights already fitted. With the greens still slow from in early May, I discovered after one round that I need a little more oomph! at impact, so opted to insert the heavier weights and it gave me a far better roll for less effort, while keeping the clubhead square.
The hybrid also gives the option of other configurations, says Rife. For example if you are missing putts to the right of the hole the golfer can try the lighter weight in the outside (toe) bar and vice versa if missing putts left of the hole.
The two spare weights and a wrench tool fit neatly into a zip pocket in the blue and white head cover which has a magnetic flap.
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Rating: |
9/10 |
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Summary: | As we see almost every week with a different brand in a Tour pro's hand at each tournament, the putter is a personal choice based on feel and confidence on the day. I like to look down at address and not be overawed by 'too much going on' in the clubhead to distract my concentration. I like to feel that the clubface will deliver the ball on the line I choose and keep it rolling towards the target. In recent weeks this club has ticked all the boxes though at approaching 130 quid, I fear it's a high price to ask for , as yet, a little-known brand. But Rife is confident that more Tour players will switch to its novel product and consequently the club golfer will gain the benefit of the latest technology to hole more putts.
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Discuss this story
Hi, Has anyone had any experience of these? Might go and try out the new two-bar hybrid today...
Posted: 05/05/2008 10:52
Craz-e, is there a putter you haven't loved? 
Posted: 06/05/2008 06:57
Had the phone call today to say my putter is in and the pro will set up the lie angle for me. Now all I have to do is find some time to get there which wont be easy due to work commitments.
Posted: 06/05/2008 19:54
OK finally got my Two bar on Saturday but have not had the chance to use it! It feels better than the one I tried due to the fact it is a 33 in version and has now been set up with the correct lie. I will let you know how it performs.
Posted: 12/05/2008 18:35
I have played two rounds now with the Rife two bar (heavy weights in) and find it really good. Great feel off the face of the putter and cosistant roll. Not too sure if having the lie set up makes that much difference at my standard but at the moment it just "feels" right.
Posted: 18/05/2008 07:23
I like the look of the adjustable weighting sytem on the 2 bar. Do any other putters have an adjustable weighting system ?
Posted: 18/05/2008 13:22
I know it sounds stupid but to me your clubs are tools and have to do the job, but your putter is more like a work of art and if it is ugly it ain't ever gonna stay in my bag. And I would put the Spider at the top of the ugly tree and throw it off. My 2 ball would be one branch down said ugly tree. Does this make sense ? However the Rife seems quite "modern art".
Posted: 18/05/2008 17:11
42 putts OHMIGOD. I said I was having trouble putting I didn't say I was blind  I think the worst putting round I have ever had is 37. There is always the odd chip and one putt to bring the numbers down.
Posted: 18/05/2008 17:29
I shot 78 with 42 putts, that putter got thrown a long way. Now on the road to recovery. With a new putter. After 30 years of playing I stood over a putt and had no idea what to do, how to stand, how to line up, where to focus the eyes, everything felt alien to me. It was a bizarre round, I totally collapsed and it got worse. I felt like the putter just was wrong, in every way. I had a mental collapse of epic proportions. I had a four stab from 30 feet and 5 three putts. The putter was pretty though, milled this and shiney that, looked the part.
That all came from pissing about with buying new shiney boutique style putters over the previous 2 years and just being cocky about the whole thing, as if I was 20 again. My brain told me to grow up.
Posted: 18/05/2008 17:48
Shameless plug - but I have a 33 inch centre shafted 2 bar mallet that is up for grabs if anyone wants it, comes complete with weight kit and lie angle adjustor, but no DVD - £70 paypalled and delivered. PM me if you want me to email pics.
Posted: 21/05/2008 09:25
Stuart, check out the Swap Shop thread, there is one in there which might interest you.
Posted: 22/05/2008 00:05
Darren, I think most pro shops stock them now? 2 or 3 places near my have the new hybrids in... Cheers Pen, I saw it but automaticcly thought it was knotty's. Thanks
Posted: 22/05/2008 09:57
Darren Saw them at Direct Golf at Tonbridge. Looked good and was able to try them out. Still very tempting.
Posted: 27/05/2008 20:24
Darren you can buy them direct www.rifeputters.co.uk sure the stockist info is on there too
Posted: 28/05/2008 17:07
Have you seen the one I've got in the Swapshop thread? Pm if you want any more info
Posted: 28/05/2008 17:55
Ive got a 2 bar mallet, the black version, excellent condition, no cover but has the weights and bending tool. 35 inch. £70 posted and paypalled
Posted: 28/05/2008 18:38
I have a Rife 2 bar mallet that I use in the winter months and an Island series Barbados for the warmer months. I used the Barbados most of last year and went to the 2 bar mallet in November. Both fantastic. I find the extra weight of the mallet in winter gets the ball up to the hole from distance during the colder months when the greens are slow and bobbly. On longer puts my distance control with the Barbados in winter was awry, either having to give it a real whack and it would sail miles past the hole or just not getting there. Just switched back to the Barbados and been putting very well with it now the balls are rolling across the greens. Will possibly try the new hybrid but the Barbados has been great these last few weeks. Justin Rose was using the Barbados last yera and seemed to do rather well. He ditched it early this year, probably being paid to use another manufacturer, and he seems to have struggled. Probably more so with his back!
Posted: 28/05/2008 20:17
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