Odyssey ProtoType 82 Phil Mickelson Putter

Odyssey Golf just announced the upcoming release of 164 individually numbered putters inspired by the custom flatstick that Phil Mickelson used to win the 2010 Masters.

(UPDATE November 8, 2010--The original 164 putters are sold out, but Odyssey has released an updated "limited release version." Click here for the story.)

The lot of 164 Odyssey ProtoType 82 putters will be divided between 82 left-handed models and 82 right-handed models. The cost of the ProtoType 82 limited-edition putter is $500. Availability begins at 8 a.m. Pacific time on May 10.

According to Odyssey, "The ProType 82 PT putter features Odyssey’s new White Ice insert, with a Tungsten weight behind it, along with a single white sightline that stretches from the face of the putter down the back flange—a look requested by Mickelson himself. These limited edition PT 82 putters will also come with a Phil Mickelson Limited Edition headcover and a Black Series grip, identical to what the four-time major champion used to win at Augusta."

The green paintfill on the sole is a nod, of course, to Mickelson's third fitting of the Green Jacket. The price may be steep, but if you've ever wanted to emulate Lefty's unique puttng mechanics—the shoulder tilt and the forward press—this stick might prove to be tempting.

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Win A RuleGolf Towel and Tool Combo

Now is your chance to win one of golf's hottest new inventions as PutterZone.com and OpenSky team up to offer one lucky winner a combo pack of the Rule 21 pocket towel and Rule 16 divot tool by RuleGolf.

To enter, just click here and submit your email address. All entrants will receive a 10% off coupon toward the purchase of any item in the PutterZone.com Pro Shop, and one entrant will be randomly selected to win the RuleGolf combo pack (a $22 value). The contest is open from now through Friday, April 30, 2010.

In our earlier review of the Rule 21 towel, we wrote, "Whatever you’ve done until now to clean your ball on the green pales in comparison to the convenience and effectiveness of this innovative little towel."

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TaylorMade Ghost Putter Set to Spook Tour

Not long ago, Nike Golf made waves with its all-green IC putters. Now TaylorMade is playing the alternative color game with its new white TaylorMade Rossa Corza Ghost putter.

(Hmm, TaylorMade now has a Ghost to go with its Spiders. Spooky...)

Whereas the intent of the Nike IC putter was to blend into the putting green, the Ghost is just the opposite. This is a putter that is going to visually jump off the green. 

Our first impression from the photos is that the Ghost looks pretty cool and collected. The alignment markings evoke a sort of neo-Zebra look, and the circular cutout in the flange seems sharp. In terms of visual calmness, it's sort of an anti-Spider. 

You can expect to see Ghost sightings on the PGA Tour starting next week. The TaylorMade Ghost putter should begin haunting your local golf shop in June for a street price of $160. 

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Bravo to "The Year of The Wedge"

While we focus on putters here at PutterZone.com, we sometimes roam around the fringe to talk about wedges and other facets of the golf experience.

Last year, Nick Taylor of Golfland Warehouse wrote on PutterZone.com about the impending USGA groove ruling on wedges, which has since come to pass—as evidenced by Tiger Woods’ pitch shots flying past the green at Augusta.

Yet despite an avalanche of media coverage on the subject, many recreational golfers remain confused about the new rules for grooves and what these rules mean to their game.

Basically, it comes down to this: As of January 1, 2010, the top professionals are no longer allowed to play with sharp “U” grooves on their wedges. Meanwhile, the top amateur circuits have until 2014 before they need abandon the sharp grooves, and the rest of us have until 2024, even though manufacturers must stop producing clubs with the sharp grooves by the advent of 2011.

Got that? Jeez, no wonder people are confused.

Well, thanks to a new Cleveland Golf marketing campaign—the Year of The Wedge—we have a cool tool for making better sense of it all.

Sure, it’s essentially an advertising effort to sell you more Cleveland wedges before the end of the year, but it’s also the best consolidated explanation we’ve seen of what wedge grooves—and the new groove rules—mean to you and your game. The campaign’s site at YearOfTheWedge.com offers crystal-clear visuals, timelines and wedge fitting insights.

This is nothing new for Cleveland Golf and its sister brand, Never Compromise. For example, the Never Compromise web site features a section called “Fundamentals,” which gives you the lowdown on a variety of putter fitting factors.

So bravo to Cleveland Golf for, once again, combining smart marketing with meaningful education for the average recreational golfer.

P.S. To stock up on Cleveland wedges before it's too late, visit our friends at Golfland Warehouse, who have them on sale for $99.

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Bettinardi BB Putter Review

For the past several years, Robert Bettinardi designed and crafted an impressive line of putters in partnership with Mizuno Golf, culminating in the Black Carbon series putters, which ranked among the finest flatsticks in the broad retail market.

Then, in a shocking development last summer, Mizuno and Bettinardi announced a decision to part ways. According to both parties, the decision was mutual and amicable.

By the time the split was announced, Bettinardi had already teed up his first post-Mizuno line of retail putters—the BB Series, which is really an expansion and reinvention of an earlier Bettinardi line.

Does the BB Series live up to Bettinardi’s lofty reputation as one of the world's elite putter designers? Following is PutterZone.com’s Bettinardi BB putter review, specifically the BB26 model ($265).

The Storyline
In an exclusive interview with PutterZone.com the day after the split was announced, Bettinardi said, “I have nothing but respect and admiration for the people at Mizuno. For me, it was a matter of wanting to take my company to the next level, to have more independence in terms of design as well as sales and marketing.”

Bettinardi summed it up as “a total restart.” Yet in some ways, he was just going back to his roots. Indeed, throughout his relationship with Mizuno, Bettinardi had never left his putter manufacturing facility near Chicago, and he had never stopped making his own limited-edition putters.

The new Bettinardi BB Series features five classically styled putter models milled from carbon steel and plated with a durable black nickel finish. The BB putters come in variable head weights of 332 grams and 348 grams for lengths of 35 and 34 inches, respectively. Each features Bettinardi’s signature milled honeycomb pattern across the face.

The BB26 is a center-shafted, heel-toe weighted design with zero offset. A spud-style neck provides a smooth transition from the shaft to the head. The loft is three degrees, and the lie angle is 71 degrees. The toe hangs at approximately 4 o’clock.

The View from PutterZone.com
The first thing that struck me out of the box with the BB26 was the utterly impeccable quality of the head, from the luxurious finish to the masterful cornering to the tiniest nooks of the paintfill. The result is a visually delicious putter that just oozes attention to detail.

On the business end of the head, the BB26 smartly keeps the markings to a minimum, with a single white sightline along the upper sole. The topline is the same width as the shaft, further enhancing the putter’s confident symmetry. If you are so inclined, you can visually align the shaft with the rear topline at address to foster a consistent setup (a sort of blue-collar riff on the SeeMore RifleScope alignment system).

The feel of the BB26 is plump and gracious with an underlying firmness and crisp audio feedback. This is definitely not the Black Carbon Series 2.0—whereas the intricate “F.I.T.” face on the Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putters promoted a lusciously soft feel, the BB26 is more true to the native purity of the metal itself.

On that note, the BB26 isn’t going to coddle you. If you miss the sweet spot, it will tell you. It’s forgiving enough in terms of where it sends the ball, but the nuanced feel will keep you honest.

I love the zero-offset design of the BB26. I lead a bit of a schizophrenic life when it comes to putters, as I am always testing a wide variety of shapes and styles. I’m naturally drawn to the classic offset plumber’s neck, as I was raised on an old PING Anser. But I’m coming to accept the fact that my alignment tends to be better without offset. The BB26 is therefore the best of both worlds for me—a zero-offset putter that still echoes the heel-toe weighted look and balance of the classic Anser-style head.

At 332 grams (on the 35-inch model), the head of the BB26 is relatively light by today’s increasingly heavy standards, but the putter nevertheless feels sufficiently substantial in the hands. With putter weights trending upwards, it’s nice to have more traditional options. Not everyone wants—or needs—a heavy stick.

Bettinardi is, in fact, one of the few putter producers who account for the phenomenon of swingweight, offering variable head weights to match different shaft lengths—a commendable example of going the extra mile.

The included slip-on head cover is actually a patented Bettinardi design that aims to eliminate the frustrations associated with velcro. On that front, it does the trick. It hugs the head and is never in danger of slipping off as your clubs jangle around in the back of the cart. The look of the head cover is sharp, too, although I would have preferred a more substantial outer material to match the quality of the putter itself.

To my eye, the BB Series ultimately exudes total self assuredness. After the split with Mizuno, Bettinardi could have tried to make a splash with edgy designs, brash ornamentation or fancy technological features. Instead, he delivered straight-up milled masterworks with class and classicism. Well played, Mr. Bettinardi.

The Final Word
The Bettinardi BB26 is the picture of visual perfection, revealing an exquisite attention to detail that is evident in the performance as well. This putter is a true gamer, the kind of stick that makes you look forward to putting, and that is likely to stay in the bag for years to come. With the BB Series, Robert Bettinardi advances his reputation for striking designs and meticulous quality.

P.S. See more photos of the BB26 on PutterZone.com's Facebook page. Also, tune into the latest Greenside radio show for additional thoughts on Bettinardi flying solo in 2010.

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The Cost of Putters: Pricey or Priceless?

At PutterZone.com, we are often asked: How much should I pay for a putter?

Similarly, when we recommend a putter that costs more than $250, we sometimes get the following comment: No putter is worth that much!

Well, there is no right or wrong answer to the question of worth or value in a putter. The Cleveland Classic putter ($69 retail) has won on the PGA Tour, proving that you can get rock-solid performance for less than $100.

So why pay more?

Here’s our take, as excerpted from our Putter Buyer’s Guide: “It may be worth paying extra for a putter that just feels great and looks beautiful, a putter that will make you look forward to putting. When you have a putter that inspires you, you will be more inspired to practice your putting—which will ultimately help you sink more putts when it counts.”

Also: “Some people contend that $200 or $300 is a ridiculous price to pay for a putter. Yet no one seems offended by golfers paying $400 for the latest mass-produced driver, even though the putter is used nearly three times as often as the driver in an average round of golf. In that context, it is quite reasonable to invest in a high-quality putter that may cost $200 or more.”

We were reminded of this debate when reading a recent article in Time Magazine about Apple’s iPad.

Here is the relevant quote from the article: “We are human beings; our first responses to anything are dominated not by calculations but by feelings. What Apple understands is that if you have an object in your pocket or hand for hours every day, then your relationship with it is profound, human and emotional.

And: “Apple's success has been founded on consumer products that address this side of us: their products make users smile...If you are immune to that kind of thing, or you think it somehow weak, pretentious, artsy-fartsy or unbusinesslike, then there are enough functional objects in the market for you. But you might consider this: from the starting point of delight, detail, finish, polish and design come not, it seems, shallow high-end toys for the affluent but increasingly products that are, well, awesomely functional.”

In the putter world, you could substitute “SeeMore” or “Bettinardi” for Apple, to name a few. Their putters are not only beautifully made, but also “awesomely functional.” The craftsmanship and materials are superior, and no detail is overlooked. Performance is never in question.

As such, these putters can create an emotional resonance, a deep affection that makes you look forward to putting, and to practicing your putting.

They can also cost you northward of $250. Yes, they might be pricey, but they also exhibit priceless qualities that, for many, are well worth the added investment.

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The Greenside: New Episode

The second episode of The Greenside, co-hosted by Sean of PutterZone.com and Josh of The Hacker's Paradise, is now available in podcast format on iTunes (search "Greenside"), and can also be streamed or downloaded from The Hacker's Paradise.

The monthly show focuses on the shortgame with an emphasis on putters. Regular segments include Hot New Gear, Tech Talk, The Buzz and Jargon Buster.

The second episode showcases the Cleveland T-Frame mallet putter, the Slotline 600 Series putters and the SeeMore m7 putter. Josh and Sean also talk about the trend toward heavier putters, and they also delve into putter swingweight and what it means to your game.

The Buzz segment explores the recent "splits" of Bobby Grace from MacGregor Golf and Robert Bettinardi from Mizuno Golf, and how these two designers are now flying solo.

Lastly, the show announces the winner of the "craziest putter" contest from the previous episode. Check it out and let us know what you think!

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Quick Hit: Bettinardi BB26 Putter

After parting ways with Mizuno Golf late last year, Robert Bettinardi hit the ground running with his new Bettinardi BB Series putters. Bettinardi made some righteous putters for Mizuno, and the BB putters reveal that he's still at the top of his game. Classic in spirit and design, the Bettinardi BB putters are milled in the U.S.A. and feature Bettinardi's signature honeycomb face pattern. The BB26 model is a center-shafted, heel-toe weighted design with zero offset.

Sweet

At address, the BB26 putter is utterly elegant, with a clean symmetry that exudes a strong sense of purpose. Curvy bevels and rounded bumpers bring a pleasant softness the presentation. The detail work is impeccable, from the sleek black nickel finish to the crisp paintfill to the fine honeycomb pattern milled into the face. And yes, the BB26 performs like it looks, which is to say: exquisitely. The feel is pure, and the balanced design promotes a smooth natural arc for a consistent stroke.

Bittersweet

The $265 price tag will be too much for some to swallow, and those who equate carbon steel with a super-soft feel may be surprised by the relative firmness of the feedback.

Who's It For?

Golfers who don't mind paying a little extra to possess an American-made putter of superior quality and artistry.

Final Word

The BB putters deliver the classy design and high performance that have become synonymous with the Bettinardi name.

Lowdown

Street Price: $265

Head Weight: 332 and 348 grams (for 35 and 34 inch lengths)

Lie Angle: 71 degrees

Loft: 3 degrees

Length: 34 and 35 inches

Toe Hang: 4 o'clock

Material: Milled carbon steel

Included Accessories: Patented slip-on head cover

P.S. Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's full Bettinardi BB putter review.

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Drill Bits: Take Control

Distance control just isn't sexy. When practicing your putting, you simply want to sink putts, right? You want to hear the sweet sound of the little white rock rattling around in the cup. So you focus solely on your line and you aim for the hole, and any miss is just another miss.

But then you get out on the course, and suddenly all misses are not created equal. Not only did you miss the hole, you just blew past it by six feet. Now you're staring down the barrel of a three-putt. Suddenly, distance control sounds kind of sexy, eh?

To the rescue comes the following simple distance control drill kindly shared by Doug Dahle of the Old Pro Blog. Doug is an instructor and clubmaker, and he hung out with Dick DeLaCruz and other pioneers of the modern equipment industry back in the day. In 1999, Doug overcame a spinal tumor that nevertheless limited his mobility and thus his instructional career. Through his blog, however, Doug is once again able to pursue his passion for golf instruction.

Here is his drill:

“I have found that your average golfer tends to be obsessed with the line of the putt, much more than with distance. Quite a bit of this comes from watching golf on television and seeng the pros trying to line their putts up.

I use a simple drill for average golfers to get the feel for how hard to strike the putt. This can work from varying distances. Set up to strike the putt as you normally would. Look at the hole. Without looking back at the ball and concentrating on the hole, make your putting stroke. Try to "feel" the ball going to the hole. After a while, using this drill, you will start to create a circle around the hole that is much tighter than you have in the past.

Anyone can reasonably line up a putt to get it somewhat on line, but if it is 6 to 10 feet long or short, many shots are wasted. Use the drill until you can consistently roll putts into a three-foot circle around the hole and watch your score go down."

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First Photos: Cleveland T-Frame Putter

PutterZone.com has the new Cleveland T-Frame mallet putter in hand, and here are our first photos.

The Cleveland T-Frame putter "engineered by Never Compromise" boasts clean alignment aesthetics, making it very easy to square the face with the target line. The head is large, but not oversized. The open frame design, along with three ports in the spine, allows Cleveland to redistribute weight to the perimeters for high MOI.

The putter comes with a silver dollar-style Never Compromise ball marker tucked into the head cover, which is a nice little treat. The putter retails for $119. Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's full Cleveland T-Frame putter review.

P.S. See more photos of the T-Frame mallet on PutterZone.com's Facebook page (and become a Facebook "fan" of PutterZone.com while you're at it!).

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Exclusive: Zero Technology Putter

The Zero Technology Putter was introduced to great fanfare today, and it is seemingly poised to take the PGA Tour by storm.

"It's really just a piece of metal on a stick," said Zero Technology CEO John Porter. "But it's a damned fine piece of metal, let me tell you that."

The Zero Technology putter is crafted from 303 stainless steel in the classic Anser-style, despite the backlash against Anser-style putters in online golf forums.

"It's like pizza," Porter says. "Everyone says they want veggie pizza, but as soon as the pepperoni pizza shows up, suddenly nobody wants veggie. The Anser is your pepperoni pizza, and I've got to keep the lights on around here. You can connect the dots."

According to Porter, the putter lives up to its name. "There is no technology in this putter. No moving parts, no add-ons, no screws or ports, nothing. This is the new cutting edge."

In another shocking move, the Zero Technology web site features all of the specifications of the putter: weight, loft, lie angle, grip size, material composition and available lengths. "Why wouldn't we make this information easy to find on our web site?" Porter says. "We're in the business of selling putters, aren't we?"

As of April 1, 2010, the Zero Technology Putter is available at all major golf retail outlets for a street price of $225.

Asked about the high price, Porter responded with his own rhetorical question: "Let me get this straight, you buy a new driver every year for $300 that you use maybe 10 times per round to slice the ball into the woods, yet you're giving me a hard time about charging over $200 for a club you'll use three times as much, and for many more years?"

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