Putter Fitting Tips: Swingweight

The concept of putter swingweight is simple yet complex.

Swingweight is determined by a variety of factors, including the length of the shaft; the weight of the head, shaft and grip; and the manner in which these various components shape the balance point of the club.

Simply put, however, swingweight is the sensation of how light or heavy the putter feels in your hands (in contrast to the actual fixed weight of the club). And because shaft length is the most common fitting variable at the point of purchase, it is the most common variable affecting a putter's swingweight.

To understand swingweight, visualize stabbing an apple with a four-foot spear and swinging it around. Now, chop the spear in half and swing it around. Your sensation of control over the apple will change dramatically. The apple will feel lighter and easier to control at the shorter length. In other words, the apple itself still weighs the same (ie: actual head weight), but the swingweight of the spear has been altered.

Expanding on that example, if you have a 350-gram head on a 33-inch putter, it will feel lighter than if the same 350-gram head were on a 35-inch putter.

Most putter manufacturers, however, don’t account for swingweight differences, using the same head weight for all shaft lengths. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong with one or the other, but it does mean that the different lengths will feel differently in terms of their weighting.

Some manufacturers, however, do offer heavier heads in conjunction with shorter shaft lengths. Also, some putters come with interchangeable weights, which give you options for modifying both the actual weight and the swingweight of the club.

There is no "right" answer to swingweight. It comes down to personal preference, and specifically to how the club feels in your hands and how it fits your stroke.

Generally speaking, the phenomenon of swingweight is simply added reason why you should establish your correct putter length before making a putter purchase. Yes, you can shorten or lengthen a putter after it has been purchased, but this will change the swingweight and thus your relationship to that putter.

read more...

Preview: Cleveland T-Frame Mallet putter

A new putter will hit the stores on April Fool’s Day. This putter carries two brand names, comes with three lie angle options, has a silver dollar-sized ball marker incorporated into the head cover, and costs just $119.

No joke.

The new stick is the Cleveland T-Frame Mallet putter engineered by Never Compromise, which comes in both right handed and left handed models.

The word from Cleveland Golf is that this putter will be in play at Bay Hill this week.

The putter's two main attributes are a T-shaped alignment feature and ultra-high MOI achieved by the redistribution of 70 grams of head weight to the rear. The head is cast from 17-4 stainless steel and the face is milled for added precision.

The three lie angle options are 68, 70 and 72 degrees. Personal fitting options on a $119 putter? Once again, Cleveland Golf appears to be on the vanguard of value.

As for the "engineered by Never Compromise" moniker, well, it's an open secret that Cleveland Golf and Never Compromise not only share the same roof, but the same putter design talent as well. This new T-Frame putter is sort of a "chocolate in my peanut butter" moment for both brands.

PutterZone.com thinks that there's a bit of a branding overload in the putter industry right now (Heavy Putter by Boccieri Golf, TaylorMade Rossa putters by Kia Ma, Exotics putters by Tour Edge, etc.), but that's probably just the reality of line extensions and retail survival in an increasingly volatile equipment market.

To Cleveland's credit, however, the T-Frame putter avoids Nascar-like brand ornamentation, and boasts a wicked-clean profile at address. Looks like Cleveland has another winner on its hands.

P.S. Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's Cleveland T-Frame putter review.

read more...

Insider Interview: Piretti Putters

Starting a new putter company from scratch is an uphill battle, but Mike Johnson was up for the challenge. After all, here was a guy who was an avid rock climber long before his brother introduced him to golf at the age of 22. Within a few years, golf replaced rock climbing as Mike's primary passion. Along the way, he became enamored with the equipment of golf, particularly the putter. He had once worked for a company that produced hand holds for rock climbing gyms, giving him a head start in working with metal. In time, he combined his new passion with his old experience to create Piretti Fine Putters, which is set to release a new model this spring. Following is our exclusive interview:

Please tell us about the origins of Piretti Fine Putters…

About four years ago I decided I'd like to make putters, so I started doing my research. When I had the information and knowhow, I went for it, and we released our first two models in April of 2008. We now offer six other models and have also done numerous handmade heads and prototype heads. The name of the company is just a name that our marketing person came up with. I would have liked to call the company Mike Johnson putters, but it just didn't have the same ring to it. I feel we've built a pretty classy and stylish brand with the Piretti name and logos.

What are your company’s guiding principles?

Our guiding principles are to make the best putters possible out of the best materials possible, and to make them appealing enough that people are proud to putt with a Piretti putter and show it off to their friends. We stand by our designs and the performance of each model. We refuse to cut any corners during the manufacturing process, which is why we choose to mill all of our putters out of solid billets of material. Piretti will never offer a cast putter because we feel we get much tighter tolerances by milling them in a CNC machine.

What sets Piretti putters apart in terms of features and benefits?

Piretti putters are made a little heavier, and the balance points are all spot on. We've also found that most golfers are playing with too much loft on their putters, which causes the ball to skip at impact. Too much loft means a golfer will have distance control issues and will have a more difficult time getting their ball rolling toward the hole. We will also build our putters around the specifications our customers give us. We can customize the putter's loft, lie, length and swingweight, and we can even hand stamp a player's initials, name, or even a company logo.

What will we see next from Piretti?

I am working on a new design right now that will be available to the public in April or May. The putter will be called the Cottonwood 2, and we anticipate this being our most successful and best selling model. It will have an Anser 2 look to it, but will have a little wider profile that will make it easier for amateurs to line up and putt. It will also have a little heavier head than our other models to help smooth out the putting stroke. We will be making them in both carbon and stainless steel. The carbon steel putters will be available with an oil can, black oxide, or a Midnight Black finish. The stainless putters will be available with a torched, satin, or our Midnight black finish. Look to see this model played on tour in 2010.

Thanks, Mike! Stay tuned to PutterZone.com's Piretti Cottonwood 2 putter review.

read more...

Yes! Golf Offers Free Putting DVD

Yes! Golf just announced that it is offering a free putting instruction DVD while supplies last.

What's the catch? Apparently there isn't one, as long as you act quickly by going to the company's home page and clicking on the "Free DVD" link.

In Putting: The Complete Guide DVD features putting instructor Harold Swash, and it touches on everything from putting techniques to reading greens to putting practice drills.

According to Yes! Golf, the DVD's retail value is $29.95, so it sounds like a steal.

P.S. Stay tuned to PutterZone.com for reviews on the new Yes! putters for 2010. Click here for earlier stories and reviews of Yes! Golf's C-Groove putters.

read more...

The Fringe: Sumi-G Dormy Belt Review

So your approach shot bites the green and spins back toward the hole, setting you up for birdie if you can sink the ensuing five-foot putt.

Your buddies aren't so lucky, so it's time to mark your ball. You reach into your pocket and...nothing. You try the other pocket. Nope. Did you lose your marker? Did you inadvertently put it back in your bag? Does anyone around here have a penny or a dime? Hello!?

Suddenly, you go from champ to chump. Too bad you aren't wearing the Dormy belt by Sumi-G, which stealthily and stylishly incorporates a ball marker right into the buckle.

Under The Hood

The black and white Dormy belts have red suede liners and silver buckles. The brown belt has a brown suede liner and black chrome buckle.

-Double pronged buckle

-Magentic ball marker in buckle

-Three interchangeable Sumi-G ball markers

-Italian leather

-Colorfast suede liner

-1 5/8" wide

-$85 retail price

Why It Rocks

The Dormy belt solves two common problems on the golf course: ugly belts and missing ball markers.

The Dormy’s ball marker is a red-dotted steel wafer that easily detaches from the magnetized center of the buckle. With a quick swipe of your thumb, you're ready to mark your ball. When you're ready to putt, it reattaches just as easily. After using it for a few holes, it becomes second nature, a part of your unconscious routine.

The tolerances and crafstmanship of the Sumi-G Dormy belt are superior—looking at the buckle, you would never suspect that the centerpiece is detachable. The belt comes with two replacement wafers sewn into the underside.

Best of all, the Dormy looks mighty sharp. Yeah, it’ll set you back $85, but it's worth the splurge.

The Final Word

With the Dormy belt, Sumi-G offers yet another brilliant golf accessory that excels in matters of both form and function.

About The Fringe

The Fringe is where PutterZone.com roams "beyond the green" in search of golf's hottest new gear. This bi-weekly series is reserved for products that truly earn the spotlight by demonstrating superior quality and ingenuity.

read more...

A New Way to Measure Putting Prowess

Putting average on the PGA Tour is much like a pitcher's won-loss record in Major League Baseball, in that it doesn't tell the whole story. You get a plot, but no subplots.

As reported the other day in the Wall Street Journal, however, a better way of measuring putting prowess is on the way, under the moniker "putts gained per round."

The problem with putting average is that it's not really a true average, as it excludes a significant portion of actual putts while also failing to account for the accuracy of approach shots, which naturally alters the "makeability" of the ensuing putts.

Putting average only measures the number of putts executed after a player hits the green "in regulation," which nullifies approximately 30 percent of putts. And even when the green is hit in regulation, putting average makes no distinction between the length of the ensuing putts. The statistic of "putts per round" suffers from similar weaknesses.

According to the article, the new metric "evaluates each putt a pro makes based on distance and compares the result to the expected average of pros hitting putts of the same length, eliminates biases that distort other statistical putting measures and better identifies pure putting skill."

Needless to say, it's a rather complicated but apparently effective formula.

The metric of putts gained per round was developed by researchers at MIT, and the PGA Tour is embracing it. The metric is being incorporated into the tour's ShotLink system, and should appear as an official statistic by the end of the year.

Under the new metric, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods are ranked first and second for 2009 (the first complete year analyzed for putts gained per round), with Ben Curtis occupying the third slot. Curtis is perhaps the most startling example among the leaders, as he ranked 122nd in putting average and 104th in putts per round. Brad Faxon, who's known for his sweet putting stroke, is in the fifth slot. He ranked just 56th in putting average.

Meanwhile, Steve Stricker, who was first in putting average in 2009, ranks 15th in putts gained per round. Anthony Kim ranked 2nd in putting average, but just 63rd in putts gained per round. Oops!

While the PGA Tour seems giddy about this new putting statistic, you wonder if it also might feel a bit sheepish about promoting flawed stats for so long?

read more...

Quick Hit: Tall Face Putter

The Tall Face putter with TFT technology isn't the first flatstick to have a tall profile or a slightly convex striking surface, but as far as we know, it's the first one to combine both into a single putter. The TFT technology aims to compensate for inconsistent ball striking by fostering consistent contact with the equator of the ball. According to the company, "TFT creates a precise impact despite imperfections in an individual’s putting stroke, resulting in more consistent distance control than a recreational golfer could ever achieve using a conventional flat face putter."

Sweet

The TMS 002 model is a mid-sized mallet with a plumber's neck. It has a smooth, soft feel and puts a clean roll on the ball. The thick red alignment line along the flange is echoed on the topline, creating visual cues for a consistent setup. The club is nicely balanced and swings on fine natural arc.

Bittersweet

The ultra-thin topline and taller face will likely give the average traditionalist the heebie jeebies. The liberal use of paint on the head is questionable, and the overall presentation could use some refinement.

Who's It For?

Golfers who are seeking solutions for inconsistent ball striking, particularly in vertical relation to the ball.

Final Word

The Tall Face putter is an interesting alternative for those who are frustrated by traditional putters.

Lowdown

Street Price: $128

Head Weight: 340 grams

Lie Angle: 72 degrees

Length: Optional

Toe Hang: 4 o'clock

Material: Stainless Steel

Included Accessories: Velcro head cover

read more...

Announcing "The Greenside" Radio Show

We are excited to announce that PutterZone.com is partnering with The Hacker’s Paradise (THP) to broadcast a monthly radio show called “The Greenside,” which focuses on the short game with an emphasis on putters and putting.

PutterZone.com editor Sean Weir co-hosts The Greenside with THP founder Josh Babbitt. Click here to listen to the inaugural episode of The Greenside on TheHackersParadise.com.

You can also find it on iTunes in podcast format (search podcasts for "THP Radio").

The Greenside radio show is produced by THP Radio, which also produces the new shows “Tour Talk” and “In The Rough.” The Greenside is a 30-minute show that spans several segments, including Hot New Gear, Tech Talk and News & Buzz. Another segment called Jargon Buster aims to demystify the terminology of putter fitting.

“I’ve always viewed THP as a class act, so I was thrilled when Josh asked me to join him on a new show,” Sean says. “We are both passionate about giving recreational golfers useful and practical information that they can use to lower their scores. This show enables us to take that mutual passion to the next level.”

Check it out and let us know what you think, and don't hesitate to send suggestions for upcoming shows.

read more...

Swing into Spring

We are excited to announce a special “Swing into Spring” promotion at the PutterZone.com Pro Shop, whereby you can save 15 percent off the purchase of a Cleveland Niblick utility club.

This special limited-time discount (which amounts to a savings of more than $15) is available to PutterZone.com readers who go to the shop, add the Niblick to their basket and enter the code NIBLICK15 at checkout between now through March 11.

Why did we choose the Niblick for our spring promotion?

Because as the cold winter yields to a spring thaw, you may find that your game has grown a bit rusty. But have no fear, because the multifunctional Cleveland Niblick will help you recover from your errant shots and get you safely on the green. From gentle greenside chips to agile escape shots, the Niblick is truly the Swiss Army Knife of golf.

For more information on this ultra-cool club, check out our Cleveland Niblick review.

P.S. Also, while you’re at it, you can check out the OpenSky Spring Is Coming promotion page and see other products offered by OpenSky shopkeepers at a 10 percent savings. The featured items include a fishing reel, golf club head covers, garden supplies and other cool stuff for spring.

read more...

Quick Hit: SeeMore DB4 Putter

With its new DB4 putter, the SeeMore Putter Company reconfigures its RifleScope Technology (RST) alignment system to accommodate the most popular shape in putters: the Anser-style putter.

On the original RST system, the shaft visually hides a red dot on the rear of the putter crown while two parallel white lines frame the shaft, indicating that the golfer is in the correct position to make a consistent and reliable stroke.

The new RST2 system on the SeeMore DB4 putter moves the red dot from the head to the hosel, allowing for the same visual effect to be incorporated into the offset plumber's neck of an Anser-style putter.

Sweet

The inaugural SeeeMore DB4 putters come in a sleek black satin "gunmetal" finish. The new RST2 alignment system is both ingenious and unobtrusive, enabling the "hide the red dot" mantra to make a seamless transition to the Anser style. As with other SeeMore putters, the DB4 just oozes quality and attention to detail, and the lighter 335-gram head presents a welcome alternative to the trend toward heavier putters. SeeMore offers custom length, lie angle, grip and head cover options at the point of purchase. The SeeMore DB4 gunmetal putter is currently on back order until March 22, but many will find it worth the wait.

Bittersweet

At $295, the SeeMore DB4 CS gunmetal black putter isn't cheap, but such is the cost of superior quality.

Who’s It For?

Golfers who want to invest in excellent craftsmanship and a new way to ensure consistent alignment in a classic Anser-style putter.

Final Word

SeeMore hits a home run by seamlessly adapting its proven alignment system to a proven putter style.

Lowdown

Street Price: $295

Head Weight: 335 grams

Lie Angle: 66 to 74 degrees

Length: 31 to 37 inches

Toe Hang: 4 o'clock

Material: Milled carbon steel

Included Accessories: Head Cover

P.S. Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's full SeeMore DB4 putter review.

read more...