Rife Putters Roll to Victory

Rife Putters continues its dominance on the Champions Tour as Keith Fergus wielded a Rife 2 Bar blade putter to victory on Sunday at the Cap Cana Championship.

As the self-proclaimed “number one putter on the Champions Tour,” Rife regularly counts up to 20 putters in play at any given Champions Tour event. According to Rife, the company doesn’t pay a dime of sponsorship money. Instead, players bag Rife putters on performance alone. 

The Rife 2 Bar blade, which was released three years ago, features Rife's LieAline self-fitting lie angle technology; two backweighted bars with adjustable weighting; and RollGroove face grooves designed to impart quick topspin. 

Rife is now set to release its new Rife IMO putter in April. In an interview with PutterZone.com, Rife President Matt Molloy stated that the IMO (for Inline Momentum) line “is based on the premise that most golfers don’t benefit from ultra high MOI putters, because their miss-hits aren’t far enough off center to take advantage of the technology.” 

Therefore, instead of distributing the bulk of its weight to the perimeters of the putter, the IMO putter has 80 percent of its mass lined up directly behind the sweet spot. 

The Rife IMO putter has already “raised eyebrows” on tour, Molloy said. And, indeed, Jesper Parnevik raised some eyebrows when he shot 61 with the IMO in hand the Bob Hope Classic earlier this year. 

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SeeMore Putters Shine in Sunday Spotlight

Tiger Woods may have been the biggest winner over the weekend, but the SeeMore Putter Company was a close second.

Woods earned just over $1 million for clinching the Arnold Palmer Invitational with yet another heroic putt, while Zach Johnson earned $408,000 after finishing third with his trusty SeeMore FGP putter (Sean O'Hair didn't do too bad with his TaylorMade Monza Corsa putter, either). 

Meanwhile, Karrie Webb won the J Golf LPGA Phoenix International with a SeeMore M5w in hand (pictured here), netting $225,000 in the process. 

Of course, this is far from the first time that SeeMore has enjoyed the spotlight. Johnson won the Masters with his SeeMore FGP, while Payne Stewart won the U.S. Open with an FGP as well.

For more on SeeMore's remarkable comeback story, read PutterZone.com's SeeMore m1 putter review.

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The Palmer Putter Duel

The final trio is about to tee off on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational—setting up a duel of three distinctly different flatsticks.

Zach Johnson is wielding the same SeeMore FGP putter that he rode to victory at the Masters two years ago. Sean O’Hair is playing with a TaylorMade Monza Corsa putter. And Tiger Woods, of course, is using his trusty Scotty Cameron Titleist Newport 2 putter.

The Newport 2 is modeled after the classic PING Anser archetype. The Monza Corsa is large mallet with TaylorMade’s AGSI grooved face insert. The SeeMore FGP is a no-offset blade featuring SeeMore’s RifleScope alignment system.

Each of these putters is quite different from the other in look, style and features, once again proving that putting is, by far, the most personal and invidual part of the game.

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Drill Bits: Use Your Putter Cover

This isn’t exactly a putting drill, but it’s something to drill into your head—use a putter cover! Not only will it save your putter, it might save your wedge, too. 

PutterZone.com is always amazed at how many golfers are so careful to cover their driver while leaving their putters exposed to “bag chatter,” the nicking and denting that occurs as clubs rattle around in the golf bag. 

Unlike driving, putting is a game of inches, half inches and, at times, centimeters. For this reason, putter designers go to great technological lengths to create milling patterns, grooves or inserts that deliver consistent impact as precisely and reliably as possible. 

In other words, a nick in the putter face can undo a lot of hard work—and it could conceivably knock your putts off line, too. 

A putter cover comes in handy around the green, too. How many of us have pulled a wedge and a putter out of the bag to finish a hole, only to drive or walk off with the wedge forgotten on the fringe? At best, it’s inconvenient to retrieve the wedge. At worst, the wedge vanishes into the bag of a thief. 

But if you are in the habit of using a putter cover, you can leave it on until you’re ready to putt. And when you are ready to putt, you can toss the cover next to your wedge. And guess what? After putting, your first impulse will be to re-cover your putter, compelling you to retrieve your putter cover—and making it nearly impossible to forget the wedge lying next to it. 

The good news is that your selection in putter covers has never been broader or cooler. Check out the Como!Come! putter covers (pictured here), WinWin putter covers and Dance with Dragon putter covers offered by Japanese golf equipment purveyor Tour Spec Golf. Tattoo Golf has some sweet covers, too. 

The bottom line is that if you leave your putter uncovered, bad things can happen. This game is hard enough as it is, so do yourself a favor and cover up your putter. 

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Quick Hit: Slotline Raider Putter

After a period of extended hibernation, the once-dominant Slotline Golf is back in a big way with three new lines of putters. The Slotline SL-784 Raider putter picks up right where the brand left off, offering some of the highest MOI properties available in a blade putter. By inserting heavy tungsten pods into the heel and toe of a milled 6061 aircraft grade aluminum head, Slotline achieves extreme perimeter weighting for heightened forgiveness. The Raider also features Slotline’s signature “slot and line” alignment system.    

Sweet

The Slotline Raider putter delivers high MOI in a surprisingly light package at 340 grams, resulting in a unique combination of stability and playability. The large head gives this blade a mallet-like quality, in terms of both visuals and performance. The Slotline alignment system is timeless, and the overall design aesthetics are classy.

Bittersweet

Some will find the oversized head to be distracting, while others will find it to be visually comforting. 

Who’s It For?

Golfers who prefer the look of a blade but who seek the stability of a mallet. 

Final Word

The Raider recaptures Slotline's original high-MOI mojo and presents an innovative alternative in the blade category. 

Lowdown

Street Price: $199

Head Weight: 340 grams 

Lie Angle: 71 degrees

Loft: 3 degrees

Length: 33 to 35 inches 

Toe Hang: Half past 4 o’clock

Material: Milled 6061 aluminum with tungsten

Included Accessories: Head cover 

Ready for a deeper look? Read PutterZone.com’s Slotline Raider putter review.

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How Goosen Got His Groove Back

Retief Goosen literally got his groove back on Sunday, wielding his trusty Yes! Tracy C-Groove putter to victory at the Transitions Championship on Sunday.

The Yes! Tracy is the same putter with which Goosen won the U.S. Open in 2004 and 2001, yet Goosen hasn’t exactly been monogamous when it comes to flatsticks, especially lately. 

However, he recently returned to his first love, the Tracy, and the results speak for themselves. 

How solid was Goosen’s putting performance throughout the tournament? He sank 55 out of 55 putts from five feet and in, and 62 out of 64 from 10 feet and in. He holed a five-footer to clinch the victory, netting $972,000 in the process.

Goosen doesn’t get a dime from Yes! for playing its putter—but when a flatstick helps you win majors and millions, you probably don’t care about that. 

Yes! still offers its original Tracy model (pictured here), as well as two new iterations, the Tracy FC forged carbon steel putter, and the Tracy III Plus featuring an interchangeable hosel. Other new Yes! models for 2009 include the Yes! Dawn blade putter and the Yes! Jennie mid-mallet putter.

All Yes! putters feature the company’s proprietary C-Groove technology, which consists of concentric face grooves designed to impart immediate topspin and truer roll. Click here for PutterZone.com’s recent interview with Yes! Golf’s Blair Philip.

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Quick Hit: PING iWi D66 Putter

In advance of its 50th anniversary this year, PING recently launched its iWi putters featuring classic PING designs with a twist—customizable weighting technology. The PING iWi D66 putter comes with a pair of 12-gram steel weights inserted into ports in the heel and toe. An optional weight kit includes pairs of 20-gram and 28-gram tungsten weights that can be mixed and matched to suit personal preference. The iWi putters also feature a stainless-steel face insert with a soft elastomer backing. 

Sweet

The D66 is a beautiful design, beefy without being bulky. The iWi series’ customizable weighting technology can make a substantial difference in the behavior of the putter as it relates to your personal mechanics. The face insert is tight and firm, offering vivid feedback. 

Bittersweet

The optional weight kit is rather pricey at $69, but the ability to fine-tune the putter’s weighting can result in lower scores. 

Who’s It For?

Golfers with an arcing stroke who want to tinker with head weight and weight distribution.

Final Word

The PING iWi D66 merges high technology with rock-solid looks and performance, resulting in excellent playability.  

Lowdown

Street Price: $169

Head Weight: 345 grams to 377 grams (adjustable) 

Lie Angle: Customizable at point of purchase

Loft: Customizable at point of purchase

Length: 33 to 36 inches 

Toe Hang: Varies depending on weight distribution

Material:  17-4 stainless steel with 304 stainless steel insert

Included Accessories: Head cover 

Optional Accessories: Custom weighting kit ($69)

Ready for a deeper look? Read PutterZone.com’s PING iWi putter review.

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Insider Interview: Never Compromise Putters

While Never Compromise has seemingly been in hibernation since the launch of its Never Compromise Exchange Series putters more than two years ago, its putters have continued to rack up huge results on the professional circuits, proving the old axiom that quantity doesn't equal quality. Now, Never Compromise is teeing up its new X-Ray putters, which are the successors to its Exchange putters. The new "NCX-RAY" putters will be available starting in May. PutterZone.com first reported on the X-Ray putters in January, and just yesterday published some exclusive closeups of their new Suspended Face Technology (SFT).   

PutterZone.com spoke with Never Compromise’s Business Unit Leader Adam Sheldon to find out more about the new Never Compromise X-Ray putters—and about where the Never Compromise brand is headed. Following is our exclusive interview:

What sets the new Never Compromise X-Ray putters apart, and how will they benefit the average golfer? And what does the name X-Ray signify?

The putters feature a “Suspended Face Technology.” SFT technology limits the surface area in contact with the ball to improve directional dispersion, and also provides consistent ball velocity across the face.

The dual density insert uses isolated ribs embedded in a softer composite which provides ultimate dampening yet a responsive feedback.

By using the ultra lightweight face material, we were able to reposition up to 80 grams. That’s nearly 25 percent of the head weight of the putter that we were able to move into the extremities of the design, which gives these putters great MOI properties.

The name X-Ray came from the fact that we wanted to visually show the lightweight insert, and what better way to do that than a translucent material? You can see through it, similar to an x-ray.

Additionally, the NCX-Ray putters incorporate a gray-and-red alignment feature. This helps golfers achieve a consistent setup and improved alignment.

In an age when golf brands are expected to release new product lines or line extensions each year, if not every six months, Never Compromise has been pretty quiet in terms of product launches for the past two years, causing many folks to wonder what happened. Where has Never Compromise been all this time?
Our Exchange putters have been very successful, which was why we created eight models over the last two years, but we felt that this was enough variation for that line.

Never Compromise has been hard at work preparing for this new launch, but at the same time we have been testing new designs out on the PGA Tour. In fact, last year Never Compromise putters earned over $34 million in prize money.

The new Never Compromise X-Ray putters seem to represent a bit of a stylistic departure from earlier Never Compromise putters. Was that a conscious decision?

Yes, we wanted to change the look of the X-RAY. We felt that the insert was too cool to hide! We really wanted it to stand out, but we needed to keep our successful gray alignment feature in the product, too. By moving away from the standard look, it really allowed us a lot of design freedom, and I think that this is very apparent in the new putters.

Do you foresee expanding the NCX-RAY line later this year, or adding a new line to the Never Compromise family anytime soon?

We already have new designs being tested, and we will bring them to market once we get validation from the professional tours. We also have some new product lines in the making. So, yes, there is more to come from Never Compromise!

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Exclusive Never Compromise X-Ray Putter Photos

As reported by PutterZone.com back in January, Never Compromise plans to make a splash in 2009 with its new Never Compromise X-Ray putters, a.k.a. NCX-RAY putters.  

Since then, some promotional photos have made the rounds, but PutterZone.com is the first to publish the accompanying close-up shots of the X-Ray putters' proprietary insert with Suspended Face Technology (SFT). These photos reveal the translucent quality of the face, from which the putters get their X-Ray moniker.

The dual density SFT face reduces the surface contact area with horizontal ribs embedded in a softer composite. Stay tuned for more details on the NCX-RAY putters in tomorrow's Insider Interview with Never Compromise on PutterZone.com.    

The Never Compromise X-Ray putters will be available beginning May 1 at a suggested retail of $149 to $159, depending on the model. 

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TaylorMade R9 Review

Anticipation is at a fever pitch for the new TaylorMade R9 driver and R9 fairway woods, which promise unprecedented customization with a quick turn of a wrench. The R9 clubs were officially released today.

The TaylorMade R9 driver and fairway woods feature TaylorMade’s groundbreaking Flight Control Technology (FCT), which allows you to change the face angle, lie angle and loft with eight individual club head positions. 

Such customization is compelling, but is it worth the cost of 

$399 for the driver and $229 for the fairway woods? Following is PutterZone.com’s TaylorMade R9 review, specifically a TaylorMade R9 fairwood wood review. 

The Storyline

TaylorMade's Flight Control Technology consists of a detachable club head that can be secured around the shaft in eight separate positions, with each position changing the face angle, lie angle and loft of the club. 

The individual positions can affect side-to-side ball flight by up to 40 yards, meaning that they can take the slice out of your slice or the hook out of your hook. 

The TaylorMade R9 driver also features Moveable Weight Technology (MWT), which features variable weight cartridges that can be added to ports in the heel, rear center and toe to promote more of a fade or a draw, further enhancing the scope of trajectory compensation. 

The stock shaft is the Fujikura Motore 65 with High Inertia Tip (HIT) technology, which is designed to store and then deliver more energy at impact.

The View from PutterZone.com

I rarely review anything that isn’t directly related to putters. However, having just received a TaylorMade R9 fairway wood (the 15-degree 3 wood) in the wake of my personal fitting on the MATT system at the TaylorMade Performance Lab in Carlsbad, California, I am inspired to share my initial thoughts after my first trip to the range with the R9 (just a few hours after UPS dropped the box on the doorstep of PutterZone.com HQ). So begins my TaylorMade R9 fairway wood review...

First off, is the Flight Control Technology as simple to use and adjust as advertised? That was my biggest question, and the answer is a resounding yes. 

With a few turns of the included wrench, I quickly separated the head from the shaft via a screw in the sole. The screw does not actually release from the head, quelling any concern about dropping and losing this vital connection.

Removing the head revealed a red coupling at the bottom of the shaft with clear markings for each of the eight positions: Left, Neutral, Neutral Upright and Right, and four positions in between. Each position represents a different combination of face angle, lie angle and loft. 

From there, adjusting the head position to two degrees closed—or “L,” the position recommended by my fitting at TaylorMade Performance Lab—was a breeze. All I had to do was align the L on the red coupling with the vertical serial number on the back of the head, slip it on and screw it tight. In less than a minute, I had taken a standard wood and adjusted it to my personal specifications. 

The different positions are echoed on a black shaft sleeve, enabling you to visually confirm your club head position when the club is assembled (see photo).   

After my fitting, I feared that the two-degrees closed position might give me the visual heebie-jeebies at address, but to be honest, my eyes barely noticed difference when I set the R9 to L. 

 

I’ve always loved the crisp, clean feel of TaylorMade’s woods (my driver is the older R5). I can’t say that the feel of the R9 is noticeably different or improved over other recent TaylorMade woods, but my ball striking and ball flight were vividly improved by the R9’s ability to adjust to my game. Also, the Fujikura Motore 65 regular flex shaft, which was the recommendation from my fitting, seemed to bring added snap to the point of impact. Overall, I was very impressed with the results. 

The Bottom Line

The TaylorMade R9 driver and woods deliver on their promise of easy adjustability and remarkable flexibility. The new Flight Control Technology takes do-it-yourself personal fitting to the next level. The TaylorMade R9 3-wood earns its asking price with its crisp feel and technological prowess. The R9 clubs are ultimately going to help a lot of golfers bomb the ball with newfound precision accuracy. 

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Nickent Tour Prototype Milled Putters Have Arrived

Nickent Golf is set to make a splash in the putter category with its new Nickent Tour Prototype Milled putter line.

The Tour Prototype Milled putters will be available for purchase on the Nickent web site starting next Tuesday. The price is $179, which sounds like a sweet deal for a 100-percent milled carbon steel putter. 

Each Nickent Tour Prototype Milled putter is milled from 8620 carbon steel for “precision and the ultimate in solid feel.” They feature a proprietary face insert with "Alternative Groove Technology," which is milled from anodized 7075 aluminum to produce “an extremely true roll with a soft feel.”

The five new Nickent putter models include two heel-toe blades (MP/01 and MP/02), a Zing-style putter (MP03), a mid mallet (MP/04) and a softtail design (MP/05, pictured here). Each of the models is fairly traditional in look, offering a stark contrast to Nickent’s edgy PIPE putters. 

The standard loft of the Nickent Tour Prototype Milled putters is 3 degrees, and the available lengths range from 33 to 36 inches. The head weight on all models is 345 grams.

According to Nickent, the putters will be made in “very small quantities,” so don’t expect to see an abundance of them at your local chain retailer. 

P.S. Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's review of the new Nickent Tour Prototype Milled putter.

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Get—And Keep—Your Groove On

Time flies when you’re having fun on the golf course, and soon enough you’ll be barreling down the road toward 2010—at which point you may want to think about asking Santa Claus for a new wedge or two…or three. 

Indeed, the beginning of the end of sharp U-grooves on short irons and wedges is coming in 2010, in the wake of a ruling last year by the USGA. This ruling will reduce both the volume and sharpness of allowable grooves on clubs with lofts of 25 degrees or higher, which will ultimately reduce achievable backspin on approach shots. Which could mean that you'll be faced with longer putts and higher scores. 

Cleveland Golf’s CG Zip Groove wedges, TaylorMade’s Z TP wedges and Titleist’s Vokey Spin Milled wedges are some of the popular wedges that, in their current incarnations, will be non-conforming on the professional tours come 2010. 

According to the USGA, “The revisions are designed to restore the challenge of playing shots to the green from the rough by reducing backspin on those shots. The initial focus of the new rules will be competitions involving highly skilled professional golfers and will have little impact on the play of most golfers.”

The ruling goes into effect on the professional tours on January 1, 2010, and on the organized amateur circuits in 2014. The rest of us have until 2024 before our favorite razor-sharp U-grooved wedge is technically illegal. 

In the words of golf writer Chuck Stogel, “For recreational golfers who don't keep handicaps—which roughly means 15 million of the 20 million-plus golfers in the U.S.—or don't even follow USGA rules, the new groove restrictions won't matter, except that eventually only conforming clubs will be available for purchase.”

And therein, friends, lies the rub. When, exactly, is “eventually?” And what difference will it make to your game in the long run? 

Well, when using the Cleveland Golf CG14 Zip Groove wedge ($109, pictured here), for example, I have noticed a significant advantage in stopping and holding greens compared to traditional “V” grooved wedges. 

This increased spin control has allowed me to lower my lofts for chip shots. I am now able to use a 50 degree CG14 at a lower trajectory for chip shots and have noticed a similar bite action that I would get on my old 56 degree Cleveland 588 wedge. I’m far from alone in my affection for the CG14, as it is the top-selling wedge here at Golfland Warehouse. 

So should we all start hoarding wedges to ensure that we have enough sticks to keep spinning the ball the way we like through 2024? 

I don’t think it’s time to panic just yet, but I do recommend keeping a close eye on supply trends. If and when you start to see the supply of your favorite wedge drying up, then it might be time to purchase a backup or two, because your current wedge will wear out over time, and by the time it does, you might find it difficult to get your groove back. 

P.S. Just be thankful the USGA has no plans to target the grooves on your TaylorMade, Rife or any other grooved-face putter! 

This report was authored by Nick Taylor, proprietor of Golfland Warehouse, the official retail affiliate of PutterZone.com. The Golfland Warehouse Report is an exclusive monthly series designed to keep golfers informed about the latest equipment, technology and ideas in the world of golf, with an emphasis on putting and the short game.

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Quick Hit: DeLaCruz Sweet Slot Putter

The DeLaCruz B-2 putter by industry legend Dick DeLaCruz and his son Richard (under the banner of DGD Golf) is loaded with ingenuity, most notably in the form of a proprietary “sweet slot,” which runs from topline to sole behind the face. This unique sound chamber is designed to offer finely tuned audio feedback. The putter also features a heavier-than-standard 400-gram head and 28 milled “micro grooves” across the face. 

Sweet

The DeLaCruz B-2 blade leaves no stone unturned in the pursuit of quality. The sweet slot is music to the ears, offering remarkable feedback. The finely milled micro-grooved face imparts solid topspin. The look of the putter is clean, classic and purposeful.

Bittersweet

The 400-gram head will strike some as a bit too hefty, but others will find it smooth and reassuring. 

Who’s It For?

Golfers seeking exquisite audio feedback in a finely crafted, high-performance putter. 

Final Word

The DeLaCruz sweet slot putter is a masterpiece of both form and function.

Lowdown

Street Price: $325

Head Weight: 400 grams 

Lie Angle: 71 degrees

Loft: 4 degrees

Length: 33 to 36 inches 

Toe Hang: 4 o’clock

Material: Milled 303 stainless steel

Included Accessories: Head Cover 

Ready for a deeper look? Read PutterZone.com’s DeLaCruz Putter Review.

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Scratch Putters Coming Soon

Scratch Golf, renowned for its exquisitely crafted high-performance wedges and irons, is about to dip its toe in the putter waters with a run of limited-edition flatsticks.

Details are scarce at this point, but the company says that Scratch putters will be hand finished and individually numbered in limited runs of 100 pieces, starting with two designs, a traditional blade (pictured here) and a mid mallet. 

The Scratch putter heads are milled from 303 stainless steel. They are currently in the prototype phase, with production models coming soon. No word yet on pricing. 

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Quick Hit: SeeMore SB1 Silverback Putter

With its SB1 Silverback mallet putter, SeeMore bucks the ultra-high MOI trend in favor of a more center-weighted design. This design enables the putter to more easily swing on a natural arc, which fits right in with SeeMore’s signature RifleScope alignment system. An optional weight kit allows the golfer to fine tune the head weight to his or her personal preference. 

Sweet

The SeeMore SB1 Silverback putter is all about performance, as evident in its clean lines and purposeful design. The optional weight kit costs just $15, and custom lie angle, length and grip options are included at the point of purchase. The RifleScope alignment system is a perennial winner. 

Bittersweet

Some may find the aluminum head to lack resonance, while others will appreciate its crisp feedback.

Who’s It For?

Golfers who seek the stability and visual comfort of a mallet while maintaining an arcing stroke. 

Final Word

SeeMore scores again with a unique mallet that has a serious nose for the hole.

Lowdown

Street Price: $225

Head Weight: 335 to 359 grams (adjustable)

Lie Angle: 68, 70 or 72 degrees

Loft: 3 degrees

Length: 33 to 36 inches (available in ½ inch increments)

Toe Hang: None (face balanced)

Material: Milled 6061 aerospace aluminum

Included Accessories: Head Cover (three choices)

Optional Accessories: Weight Kit ($15)

Want a deeper look? Read PutterZone.com’s SeeMore SB1 Silverback putter review. 

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Quick Hit: Cleveland Classic 1 Putter

Who says a $69 putter can't deliver the goods? After all, PGA Tour pro Jerry Kelly recently bought a Cleveland Classic putter at retail and stuck it in his tournament bag, so that should tell you something about the playability of this inexpensive flatstick.

Sweet

The pure, buttery feel of this putter holds its own against many putters costing two or even three times as much. True to its name, the Cleveland Classic 1 putter boasts a classic look, opting for class over flash.

Bittersweet

The stock grip and head cover feel a bit cheap, but then again, a $69 putter has to cut a few corners somewhere, right?

Who’s It For?

Golfers with a slight arcing stroke seeking rock-solid performance and classic looks on a shoestring budget.

Final Word

Simply put, the Cleveland Classic 1 is a screaming deal.

Lowdown

Street Price: $69

Head Weight: 340 grams

Lie Angle: 70 degrees

Loft: 3 degrees

Length: 33 to 35 inches

Toe Hang: Half past 4 o’clock

Material: 17-4 Stainless Steel

Included Accessories: Head Cover

For more information on this putter, read PutterZone.com’s Cleveland Classic 1 putter review.

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TaylorMade Performance Lab Review

What if you could experience the exact same clubfitting system used by Sergio Garcia, Paula Creamer and other professional golfers? What if you could tap into the most advanced personal fitting technology in the world? What if you could have clubs affordably built to your personal specifications and delivered to your doorstep in a matter of days?

Well, at TaylorMade Performance Labs, what sounds like a dream is actually a reality. 

Indeed, when you book a two-hour session for $400 at a TaylorMade Performance Lab, every facet of your game, including putting, is precisely analyzed by TaylorMade’s proprietary MATT imaging system. 

But can the average golfer benefit from subjecting his or her swing to the unerring eye of such high technology? Following is PutterZone.com’s review of the TaylorMade Performance Lab experience at Aviara Golf Academy at the Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad, California. 

The Storyline

TaylorMade established its MATT (for Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade) system nine years ago, basing it on technology originally developed for the motion picture and video game industries.

Initially, the MATT system was accessible only to TaylorMade’s tour staff professionals. Four years ago, however, it was made available to the rest of us with the launch of the TaylorMade Performance Labs.

The TaylorMade Performance Lab in Carlsbad is one of seven locations in the nation, and one of 10 worldwide. 

The TaylorMade MATT system consists of 28 reflective markers placed on the golfer and six reflective markers on the club, which are then captured by nine high-speed cameras. A computer crunches and quantifies the data in real time, immediately rendering a three-dimensional animation of the golfer’s swing. The system ultimately crunches a wealth of data, including ball position, posture lines, impact location, swing speed, club path, lie and face angles at impact. 

A fitting professional analyzes the data and, along with the computer, makes specific equipment recommendations based on your swing and mechanics, including head type, shaft flex, shaft length, lie angle and face angle. Afterward, you have the option of purchasing custom-fit TaylorMade clubs built according to the recommendations at competitive prices. Included in the session price are printouts and a CD-Rom detailing your session and club recommendations.  

The View from PutterZone.com

As an average recreational golfer, I had to face some common assumptions and hesitations before pursuing a personal fitting, such as: (1) it’s too expensive; (2) I should wait until I really improve my game before going to the trouble of a fitting; and (3) although I wouldn’t admit it out loud, do I really want to see all of my swing flaws laid bare on a computer screen? 

Well, it turns out that it’s not too expensive, considering the return on investment. And waiting to improve your game before getting properly fitted equipment is doing things backwards, because you need the right equipment in order to maximize your potential. As for having all of your swing flaws laid bare, well, you’ll just have to get over it. I did. And so begins my story… 

As instructed, I arrived 20 minutes before my session to loosen up on the range. I was greeted by the fitting professional, Robert Assman (pictured here), who set me up with balls and tees. Trust me, you want to warm up as much as possible before putting your swing under a microscope.

At the appointed time, Robert steered me into the “lab,” which is really a nondescript little structure that just happens to be loaded with high technology. After a brief questionnaire, Robert applied the MATT sensors to my body—white knobs protruding from black Velcro fittings around my waist, knees, elbows, shoes and hat. 

If you ever get a bit nervous on the first tee with others watching you, then you’ll relate to the fact that it was initially a bit unnerving for me to be hitting balls into a net while a fitting professional and a computer performed real-time autopsies on my swing. Soon enough, however, I settled into a groove, assisted by Robert’s easygoing manner. 

Robert started me with a six iron, followed by a wedge, driver and putter. Along the way, I was able to watch three-dimensional, 360-degree replays of my swing on an overhead monitor. It was rather mind boggling to see the MATT system in action, revealing every detail about how I was approaching and striking the ball. At one point, Robert played my swing next to Justin Rose’s swing (see image above). Talk about humbling.   

Simply put, the technology was a marvel to behold. Better yet, however, was the fact that Robert truly brought the data to life, showing me how and why certain things were happening.

For example, the computer imaging revealed how I tend to throw my hands out on the downswing, forcing me to compensate by shortening my arms at impact. But it was Robert who explained that the casting of my arms is largely due to the fact that my torso has a tendency to drift right and away from the target, throwing my “stack and tilt”-inspired swing off kilter. That knowledge alone immediately made me a better golfer. 

During the putter analysis, I was appalled to learn that with the Anser-style Daytona blade, I had the face several degrees closed at address. Oh well, it's fairly common for the eyes to play tricks, which is why many amateurs are plagued by alignment issues. My setup alignment was improved when we switched to a center-shafted putter without offset. As a toe-flow blade fan, however, that’s a tough pill to swallow. Can I have a mulligan?

Ideally, I would have liked to see more time applied to the putting portion of the fitting session, including more insights into such facors as putter length, other hosel options and different grip sizes. But that’s just nitpicking, considering that there’s only so much you can do in a few hours.

After the fitting session, we returned to the range, where Robert had me test a variety of clubs reflecting the recommendations developed through the MATT analysis. These recommendations included a TaylorMade Burner Rescue #3 to replace my three iron, a set of TaylorMade Tour Burner irons (4 through SW) with an upright lie angle with regular flex Nippon steel shafts, two traditional blade wedges, and a TaylorMade R9 driver and R9 3 wood adjusted to two-degrees closed. The fitted irons, in particular, brought an immediate and noticeable improvement in my ball striking. 

The great thing is that I can acquire the suggested clubs at my own pace. If I can’t afford the R9 driver at the moment, I can still get started by replacing my current irons and save up for the R9. The important thing is that I know what I need to purchase in order to raise my game, be it now or later. I will publish a follow-up review after I put the new clubs into play. 

The Bottom Line

The TaylorMade Performance Lab experience is highly recommended for any golfer wishing to tap into the power of properly fitted equipment. The MATT session offers convenient and relatively affordable access to tour-level fitting technology amid a friendly, non-intimidating environment. It’s hard to imagine an easier way to immediately raise your game.   

P.S. The best lodging option for a TaylorMade Performance Lab experience in Carlsbad is the adjacent Four Seasons Resort. It is by far the closest lodging option, just a two-minute drive from the lab. Also, it enables your family to enjoy some pampering while you’re off playing with TaylorMade’s high-tech toys. Click here to check out the resort. 

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PING Karsten Putter Wins Again

Putters with small price tags continue to rack up big wins on the professional circuits.

As PutterZone.com recently reported, two putters with a combined retail price of $188 racked up victories on the LPGA and Champions Tours on the same Sunday in February.

One of those putters was a PING Karsten Series B60 played by Angela Stanford at the SBS Open.

Now the PING Karsten Series has struck again, with a Karsten Anser model helping Mark Wilson win the recent Mayakoba Classic. Cost of putter: $89. Winning on the PGA Tour and netting $648,000 along the way: priceless.

So surprises here. In PutterZone.com’s review of the PING Karsten Anser, we concluded: “The Karsten Anser delivers proven performance in an attractive package, making a serious value statement in the process. If you want bang for your putting buck without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong with PING’s Karsten Series putters.”

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Insider Interview: Slotline Putters

After seven years of dormancy, Slotline Golf is back in a big way with more than a dozen new putters introduced in recent months. So far, so good: The Slotline 385 blade recently earned top honors in PutterZone.com's 2009 Power Picks for the Best Buy category. 

Slotline was founded by Duke Duclos, an aerospace engineer whose “Inertial” putters popularized the concept of “moment of inertia,” or MOI. Duclos was also an early adopter of multi-material putter construction, and his signature “slot and line” alignment system has spawned several imitators. By the late 1980s, Slotine was a giant in the putter business, but the company later fell on hard times. In 2007, however, Slotline Golf was acquired by Dynamic Brands, which also owns Bag Boy and AMF Golf. Dynamic Brands quickly set the rebirth of Slotline into motion. 

Chad Lehr, Slotline’s product manager, wields 20 years of experience in the golf industry. He started in golf retail after college and later worked in research and development for the Ben Hogan Company (where he worked with the future owners of Bag Boy). In 1996, he moved to Carlsbad—ground zero for the California golf industry—where he spent 10 years as a sales representative for Royal Precision, providing shafts to all of the top golf club companies. When his old friends acquired Slotline, they recruited him to take charge of updating some of the original Slotline models while creating new designs as well. PutterZone.com recently spoke with Chad to get the latest scoop on Slotline. Following is our exclusive interview:

Can you tell us about the rebirth of Slotline Golf—how did it come about? 

The owners were looking for opportunities to acquire a strong brand with a technology story and Slotline came across their desk in late 2007. As you know, Slotline was the number two putter company in the late 1980s and had quite a following.  In a rather short period of time, Slotline sold over one million Inertial putters and introduced MOI to the golfing public. Now, some 30 years later, MOI is the buzzword in the industry and people have a good understanding of its advantages in golf clubs. It was a wonderful opportunity to take a brand that at one point was a household name, dust it off and bring it back with updated original Inertial putters and also some new designs.   

What are the advantages of Slotline putters for the average golfer?

The advantage of a Slotline putter for the average golfer is very similar to that of using a 460cc driver. Since most golfers miss the sweet spot of the putter on a regular basis, a high MOI Slotline putter will give them a better chance of making the putt or leaving their miss within tap-in range. When you miss the sweet spot with your driver now, you’re misses aren’t nearly as bad as they were a few years ago when we were playing with 320cc Ti drivers. And if you can improve your misses, you’ll improve your score.

You relaunched Slotline with three families of putters—the 300, 500 and 700 series. What distinguishes each series?

The differences between the three families of putters are materials and processes. The 300 Series putters are cast from 431 stainless-steel and each putter has 30 grams of tungsten located in the sole.  The 500 Series is one-piece forged 6061 aircraft grade aluminum that spends 90 minutes on a CNC machine before it reaches final shape, and anywhere between 132 grams and 206 grams of our proprietary Tungsten blend is used to bring the head to final weight.  The 700 Series starts as a solid 2.4 pound block of 6061 aircraft grade Aluminum and spends 2.5 hours on the CNC machine before reaching final shape. Then anywhere between 62 grams and 166 grams of Tungsten is inserted into the head to bring it to final weight. Also, the MOI readings differentiate the three series: the 500 Series has higher readings than the 300 Series and the 700 Series readings are higher than the 300 and 500.

Word is that there’s been a good response from the tours, the Champions Tour in particular. How do you go about introducing your putters to the world’s top players?

Our reps will be on the Champions Tour every week representing Slotline. Getting a putter in play is a process. We have a couple of Slotline staff bags filled with putters on the practice green every week and our reps are there to answer questions and work with the players. And hopefully when a player takes a putter, he puts it in play. As you know there are a lot of great products out there and everyone is after the same thing, so even though we may give a putter to a player, there isn’t a guarantee it will go in the bag for that week’s tournament. It may resurface a few weeks down the road, if not right away.  We do have one advantage over other start-up putter companies, though, and that is the brand, Slotline. A lot of the players on the Champions Tour are very familiar with Slotline and many of them used a Slotline putter on Tour at some point. So we are confident that as the season goes along, we will be successful in getting our putters in the bags of some of the best players in the world.   

 

You are working on three prototype putters that you hope to unveil on tour soon. Can you tell us about these putters, and will they eventually make it to retail? 

There isn’t much I can tell you about the new putters other than they are multi-material construction—stainless steel, Aluminum and tungsten—and spend a lot of time on a CNC milling machine. I have had the opportunity to present the first prototypes to a retired former winner on the PGA Tour and a current major winner on the Champions Tour. Both gentlemen liked the look, loved the feel and raved about how the ball came off the face. It was hard to get the putter back when we were done. At some point they’ll make it to retail, but I have quite a bit of work and testing to do before that happens.

Thank you, Chad! Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's upcoming Slotline mallet review, or click here for earlier Slotline reviews. 

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Mizuno Bettinardi BC6 Putter Review

Mizuno Golf is set to unveil the third installment in its Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putter line with the upcoming introduction of the BC6 and BC7 models in early April.

The BC6 and BC7 echo the classic looks of the PING Anser and Wilson 8802 blade, respectively, making them the most traditional designs in the Black Carbon portfolio.

But do these new models do justice to their Black Carbon predecessors? Following is PutterZone.com's Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon BC6 ($249) putter review—the first review anywhere of this model.

The Storyline

After taking a break from putters and focusing on the irons business, Mizuno partnered with designer Robert Bettinardi three years ago with the intent of becoming a major player in the putter market. First came the Mizuno Bettinardi A Series and C Series putters, followed by the Black Carbon line, which is now being expanded for the third time with the Mizuno Bettinardi BC6 putter and BC7 putter.

(For more information on the Mizuno side of this equation, read PutterZone.com’s interview with Mizuno’s Chuck Couch and review of the Mizuno Bettinardi BC4 putter)

Robert Bettinardi started making putters in 1990 and quickly became one of the world’s elite putter designers. In addition to producing putters for Mizuno, he has a thriving operation of his own, including a state-of-the-art putter fitting studio at his headquarters near Chicago.

Bettinardi is renowned for his attention to detail, which includes milling all of his putters in his own facility. In a recent interview, he said, “My office is just 20 feet from the shop floor, and I can see the product being made…I design and manufacture the product, and that is important.”

Incredibly, a recent article in Golfweek about America’s top putter designers failed to mention Bettinardi, which is akin to writing a story about Mt. Rushmore without mentioning Thomas Jefferson.

The calling card of the Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putters is Bettinardi’s Feel Impact Technology (F.I.T.), which consists of finely milled notches in the carbon steel putter face. These notches reduce the contact surface area by 70 percent for enhanced feel and responsiveness. The F.I.T. portion of the Black Carbon putter face is surrounded by an elegant milled honeycomb pattern that is Bettinardi’s signature.

The BC6 is the first heel-toe weighted Black Carbon putter to feature a plumber’s neck. It comes in stock head weights of 330, 343 and 355 grams for putter lengths of 35, 34 and 33 inches respectively. These head weights can be mixed and matched with different lengths, however. The stock loft is four degrees and the stock lie angle is 71 degrees. Mizuno also offers custom lofts, lie angles and grip sizes.

The View from PutterZone.com
I selected the Mizuno Bettinardi BC4 as one of my top Power Picks heading into 2009, and the BC6 picks up right where the earlier models left off—with superior feel and a sleek, distinctive look.

Words probably don’t do justice to the feel of the Mizuno Bettinardi BC6 (and other Black Carbon putters). Soft? Perhaps, but it’s much more than that. There’s an underlying firmness, too. And when you strike it just right, you are rewarded with the purest of velvety bass notes. Such is the difference between a mere piece of metal and a masterfully designed instrument. On feel alone, I believe that this putter has the ability to raise your game.

Of course, some would argue that feel is a secondary concern for most golfers. After all, aren’t alignment and forgiveness more relevant when it comes to getting the little white ball into the hole? Not so fast, I say.

For one, superior feel translates to improved command on the green. If your putter speaks clearly to you, I think it raises your game. You become more consistent in your ball striking, reducing the need for forgiveness. You become more aware of your mechanics, reducing the need for alignment assistance. Your distance control is enhanced. You sink more putts.

This isn't to say that alignment and forgiveness are unimportant. Far from it. But I believe that feel is equally important to long-term performance.

Additionally, if you fall in love with the feel of your putter, the less likely you are to commit serial putter adultery. You will enjoy a lasting relationship. You will want to practice more, further improving your putting game. Which brings me back to the BC6. This is the kind of putter that I look forward to pulling out of the bag on the basis of feel alone.

From the initial photos, I thought that the BC6 was close to a traditional Anser design, but it’s actually curvier and softer in its lines than a true Anser. Still, with its heel-toe weighting and plumber’s neck, it’s what I would call Anser-esque. In terms of cosmetics, the BC6 features the exact same black finish, paintfill schematic and grip style as earlier Black Carbon putters

I love the fact that Mizuno goes the extra mile by offering different head weights with different shaft lengths, allowing golfers to achieve their desired swingweight without being shackled by the one-weight-fits-all mentality.

There’s not an ounce of trendiness in the Black Carbon line. These are straight-up, performance-driven, big boy putters—no overweighting, no oversizing, no gimmicks and no moving parts. Just pure carbon steel crafted to perfection.

The Bottom Line
With its new Black Carbon models, Mizuno Bettinardi is back with one of the sweetest sweet spots in golf. The BC6 is an exquisitely rendered putter that merges traditional design with cutting-edge craftsmanship. By keeping its focus squarely on performance, Mizuno Bettinardi must now be in any discussion about the best putters on the broad market.

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