SeeMore Releases Si4 Putter

The SeeMore Putter Company announced today the release of its SeeMore Si4 putter, the latest addition to the Si Series that was launched earlier this year.

True to its name, the SeeMore Si4 putter is the fourth entry into the series. The "i" stands for the thermoplastic insert found in the face of each Si putter.

The Si4 is clearly inspired by SeeMore's DB4 CS milled putter, which was the first putter to unite SeeMore's RifleScope Technology (RST) with the classic Anser-style offset blade design.

This new "RST2" system was achieved by placing the signature red alignment marker and white lines on the top joint of the hosel. At setup, the blackened lower shaft visually hides the red marker and is framed by the white lines, communicating proper alignment and fostering a consistent setup.

Like the DB4, the Si4 is a black Anser-style blade with the RST2 alignment system. At $180, however, it is more affordable compared to the 100-percent milled DB4 at $295.

According to SeeMore, the thermoplastic face insert on the Si Series putters is designed to offer " a softer feel and a slightly lower rebound characteristic preferred by some players."

There was a time when we would have never expected an Anser-style putter from SeeMore, let alone an insert putter. But sometimes pigs do fly, and we see nothing wrong with SeeMore finding a way to meet the demands of the market while staying true to its signature RifleScope alignment system.

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The Best Putter of 2011?

Every year about this time, as the PGA Merchandise Show draws near, we get the question: What is the best new putter?

Of course, it’s a trick question, because there is no such thing as a “best putter.” Putting is personal and individual, so the best putter is simply the one that works best for you and your game (and budget).

On that note, let’s look around the new putter landscape. Heading into 2011, the TaylorMade Daytona Ghost putter ($129) and the Cleveland Classic Black Platinum putter ($79) are both in the running for “best buy” honors.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the 2011 BB Series putters ($275) by Robert Bettinardi, as well as his new 2011 Bettinardi Studio Stock Series putters ($375; pictured above). The new Cottonwood II ($250) by Piretti Fine Putters is another sweet option in the ultra-premium category. The latest from Scotty Cameron is the California Series ($299).

Meanwhile, PING recently released its Scottsdale line of putters ($129 to $159), and Odyssey is charging forward with its Backstryke, White Ice and Black Series lines. The SeeMore Putter Company recently launched a snazzy new web site, where you get custom options galore on their latest mSeries ($325) and iSeries ($165) putters.

Nike Golf, Yes! Golf, Heavy Putter and Rife Putters have been pretty quiet lately, but we wouldn’t be shocked if they have something up their sleeve. We’ll know more over the next few months, in the run up to the PGA Merchandise Show in January.

All in all, things seem a bit more tentative this year. Slotline Golf has gone quiet, and Nickent is out of business. Scratch Golf seems to have suspended its putter aspirations. Mizuno has released some new putters in Europe, but remains one the sidelines of the U.S. putter market.

There also seems to be a bit of a big brand retreat from the ultra-premium milled putter category. Not long ago, PING, TaylorMade and Mizuno were all rolling out new lines of high-end milled putters. Today, Mizuno’s Bettinardi line is no more, and the PING Redwood putters and TaylorMade Kia Ma putters, while still available, don’t seem terribly active on the production front.

That said, there are no shortage of options out there, and they are only going to increase over the next several months. And somewhere out there is the best putter for you. Stay tuned at PutterZone.com for in-depth reports on all of the new putters for 2011.

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TaylorMade Daytona Ghost Putter Review

In the famous words of the movie Poltergeist:“They’re baaa-aack!”

Indeed, the all-white Ghost putters by TaylorMade have returned for an encore with the release of the Rossa Daytona Ghost blade ($129), which is the successor to the original Rossa Corza Ghost mallet released earlier this year.

As you may recall, the original Ghost racked up millions of dollars on the PGA Tour in the hands of Justin Rose and others while helping TaylorMade make significant strides in retail putter market share. Can this new Ghost scare up as much buzz as its trailblazing predecessor? Following is PutterZone.com’s TaylorMade Rossa Daytona Ghost putter review.

The Storyline
The Rossa Corza Ghost mallet was released earlier this year to much fanfare, followed by the aforementioned success on the professional circuits and in the retail market. In fact, according to TaylorMade, the Corza Ghost fueled “record-breaking growth” for the company in the putter category, giving the brand a 13.1 percent dollar market share in July—the highest total in company history.

From the start, it was fairly obvious that the mallet wasn’t just a one-off product, but rather the beginning of a new line of all-white putters that would fall under the Ghost banner.

And it’s no surprise that the second release in the Ghost series is the Daytona model, which is TaylorMade’s longtime riff on the popular Anser-style blade design. In fact, TaylorMade Daytona Ghost sightings have been reported for several months on the professional circuits, and Paula Creamer even won the U.S. Women’s Open with a custom Daytona Ghost. It was just a matter of time before the rest of us mortals got a chance to give it a whirl.

According to TaylorMade, the Rossa Daytona Ghost is “a tour-proven blade that offers the familiar calming white color and high-contrast alignment cues of the now-famous Corza Ghost mallet.”

(Unlike the mallet however, the Daytona Ghost has less girth, fewer alignment lines and no ball-shaped cutout in the flange—it’s a straight-up, Anser-style blade with a single black sightline.)

So why the white finish in the first place? In analyzing more than 25,000 putts of some of the top players, TaylorMade found that 65 percent of them were plagued with alignment issues, confirming the worst-kept secret in putting: alignment is a scourge that can bedevil even the best of golfers.

So, with help from the school of optometry at the University of Indiana, TaylorMade conceived the white Ghost finish for enhanced visual contrast and, thus, improved alignment reference. In order to find the “right white”—a shade that would be more calming than glaring—they endeavored to match the white of TaylorMade’s Penta TP ball.

The Rossa Daytona Ghost also features TaylorMade’s signature AGSI+ insert. According to TaylorMade, the insert’s 14 polymer-filled grooves “hold the ball briefly at impact to negate backspin and promote forwardspin for a smoother roll and more accurate results.”

The head of the Daytona Ghost is made from cast aluminum. The head weight is 345 grams, the lie angle is 70 degrees and the loft is four degrees.

The View from PutterZone.com
There’s a fair question that hangs over the head of the Daytona Ghost: If your alignment needs help to the point that a white finish is in order, maybe you shouldn’t be putting with an Anser-style blade in the first place?

But I think there’s another way to look at it…The fact is that, for better or for worse (depending on the golfer), the Anser-style blade is the most beloved shape in the putter world. Simply put, tons of golfers are essentially married to the Anser shape. So comparing the Daytona to the Ghost mallet (or any other alignment-rich putter) is, for many, a moot point.

The question then becomes: Does the Daytona Ghost bring an alignment advantage to the traditional Anser-style putter?

And I believe the answer (pardon the pun) for many will be yes. Compared to the more familiar finishes of silver and black, the white finish provides a more vivid framing of the face angle in relation to the target line, which will no doubt help some golfers establish a more consistent setup for more consistent results. The black sightline really stands out against the white finish as well, adding to the enhanced sense of alignment reference.

As someone who grew up playing one of the original PING Ansers, my aesthetic DNA doesn't necessarily agree with a white finish on an Anser-style putter. But that's an admittedly shallow way to look at it, and I do feel that the white finish provides some extra visual assurance at setup. Also, TaylorMade did, indeed, find the right shade of white for the Ghost putters. It's neither glaring nor blaring, yet it really jumps off the green.

While the Corza Ghost mallet still beats the Daytona Ghost in terms of total alignment features, the Daytona Ghost gets the edge in feel. Compared to the mallet, the Daytona offers more substance and softness, and while I'm not blown away by the feel, it’s certainly an improvement.

In terms of overall performance, there are no surprises with the Daytona Ghost. I can't really speak to the efficacy of the AGSI+ grooves, other than to say that they don't hurt and could help. The ball comes off the face at a nice pace, neither too hot nor too cold.

TaylorMade earns points for offering a nice head cover with a magnetic closure (please let that be a lesson to other putter makers still using Velcro closures on putters costing twice the price of the Daytona Ghost). Oddly, while the head cover features the term “Ghost Series,” the word Ghost doesn’t appear anywhere on the head of the putter itself.

One nitpick is the fact that the grip features a bright red Rossa icon near the bottom, right beneath where the lower thumb rests. And just below that is a shaft band featuring the same bright red icon. Both logos are quite visible as you look down the putter at address. For a putter that is ostensibly so concerned with its optical environment, such visual interruptions are incongruous and puzzling.

Among the Daytona Ghost’s best features is its price of $129, which is $30 less than the mallet. There’s no pretense here of the Daytona Ghost being something it’s not. Compared to the earlier TaylorMade Daytona Core Classic putter with the same AGSI+ insert that sold for $119, you’re paying a fair $10 premium for the advantage white finish. Kudos to TaylorMade for pricing this putter to move.

The Bottom Line

If you are intrigued by TaylorMade's all-white Ghost motif but married to the look of the traditional Anser-style blade, the Rossa Daytona Ghost putter has your name all over it. While the Daytona Ghost blade offers fewer alignment features than the original Ghost mallet, it still delivers a striking visual contrast against the green of the grass for enhanced alignment reference. And at $129, the TaylorMade Rossa Daytona Ghost ultimately gives you the opportunity to try something different without breaking the bank.

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The Greenside: Ghosts, Rushmore and More!

We are excited to announce that the latest episode of The Greenside radio show is now airing at The Hacker's Paradise, and is also available for podcast download on iTunes (just search "Greenside").

The Greenside is a collaboration between Josh of The Hacker's Paradise and Sean of PutterZone.com. This month's episode delves into T.P. Mills putters, the TaylorMade Rossa Daytona Ghost putter, the state of the high-end milled putter market and trends in alignment features.

The show also dives into the hornet's nest by asking: Who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of putter designers? Give us your thoughts, as we will be discussing them on the next episode!

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Tiger Woods Returns to Nike Method Putter

The Tiger Woods putter saga was rekindled over the weekend when Woods benched his Scotty Cameron in favor of the Nike Method for the final round of the Australian Masters.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Woods has made the switch, and it’s unlikely that it will be his last.

You’ll recall that Woods famously put the Method putter into play at the 2010 British Open, citing the slow greens at St. Andrews as the reason for the switch—and breaking a streak of more than 10 consecutive years of tournament play with his trusty Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter.

Earlier this fall, ScoreGolf quoted Cameron as saying, “Tiger is a loyal guy. I don't have the facts but Nike probably pays him a lot of money so he was probably showing some of that loyalty by supporting them and he should. The switch got some attention, sure, but when it comes right down to it he just has confidence in something he’s had and won with the past 12-13 years.”

So what’s to explain Woods’ most recent flirtation with the Method putter? Did he simply want to give Nike a marketing boost Down Under, as he did in the United Kingdom earlier this year?

That would be hard to believe. A more likely explanation is that Woods is simply looking for a competitive edge. His game still isn’t right. He recently switched swing coaches. He’s changing things up. And no club is sacred anymore.

The last time Woods switched to the Nike Method putter, it was to the Method 001 model, which is a doppelganger of the Cameron Newport 2. This time, however, he switched to the Method 003 mid mallet (pictured above), which he was seen practicing with at the Ryder Cup.

Tiger Woods putting with a mallet? Hell just froze over. It’s one thing for him to switch to a virtual replica of his old putter. It’s quite another to switch to a different shape altogether.

Here's how Woods' web site sums up his final round in Australia, "After struggling on the greens all week, the defending champion played the last six holes 6-under par--recording two eagles--and closed with a 6-under 65, equaling the best round of the day and his best round of 2010. He finished at 7-under 277 and fourth place, three strokes behind winner Stuart Appleby."

The story also makes a point to mention the Method: "Once again, Woods made a nice rebound, just missing the par-5 ninth green in two. Using a new Nike Method putter, he two-putted for a birdie from the right fringe and made the turn in even-par 35."

That said, Woods' putting on Sunday was far from stellar, and he said that he struggled with the speed of the greens. In fact, as at St. Andrews, he cited slower greens as the reason for the switch to the Method putter.

It will be very interesting to see what’s in Woods' bag in 2011. Right now, we’d say that all bets are off.

P.S. Interestingly, Woods’ web site still lists his putter as the “Scotty Cameron by Titleist Studio Stainless Newport 2 putter (standard loft and lie, 35 inches long),” but with an accompanying photo of the Nike Method 001 putter. Stay tuned.

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It's Back: Odyssey Phil Mickelson PT 82 Putter

Earlier this year, Odyssey unveiled its limited-edition Phil Mickelson ProType PT 82 putter to commemorate Lefty's third Masters victory.

Only 164 of the putters were made, so if you wanted one, you either acted really fast and ponied up $500, or you were, as the saying goes, SOL. The putters sold out in one day.

Well, fear not, Mickelson junkies, because Odyssey has gone back to the well with a new ProType 82 putter. Less than 3,000 of the new PT 82 putters were made, and the cost is $350.

As with the limited-edition ProType 82 putters, these "limited release" putters are "inspired by the putter Phil Mickelson used to win the 2010 Masters. The ProType82 features a sleek, blade-like design with a single sight-line running from the face to the back of the flange."

There are, however, a few key differences. The earlier models were machined from carbon steel and featured Odyssey's White Hot XG insert. The new models are cast from stainless steel and feature the White Ice insert. It also features a milled tungsten insert behind the face "to ensure precise weight and feel." Also, the paintfill on the sole is red instead of green.

As just another gamer for your weekend golf, it's hard to say that this putter is worth the investment. But for Mickelson fans who want a commemorative keepsake, or who simply want to mimic his putting style right down to the stick itself, it's an intriguing item.

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Miura Series 1957 Putter Review

From a Japanese city historically renowned for its samurai swords comes another instrument of precision-forged metal—the Series 1957 putter by Miura Golf.

Indeed, in Himeji, Japan, club designer Katsuhiro Miura has built a multigenerational family business around “the pursuit of the perfect set of irons,” a quest that now extends to the putter category as well.

According to Mr. Miura, the limited-edition Series 1957 putters ($399) are “designed for players seeking the very best from a classic design.”

Do the Miura putters live up to their heritage as well as their price tag? Following is PutterZone.com’s Miura Series 1957 KM-005 putter review.

The Storyline

The Miura Series 1957 consists of two models—the KM-350 classic heel-shafted blade, and the KM-005 heel-toe weighted blade with a crank-neck hosel. The KM-005 model features a head weight of 350 grams, and is also available in an alternate configuration of 370 grams called the KM-006.

Katsuhiro Miura has been making forged clubs for more than 50 years, and the name Series 1957 honors the year in which he began his career in the golf business. In his own words, “Japanese philosophical tradition provides that ‘perfection’ is not a goal that can be attained, rather it is a never-ending journey toward a goal. For all my years as a club maker, I have been on this journey and have pursued with a passion the making of the ‘perfect’ forged golf club.”

Miura’s two sons are today actively involved in the Miura Golf operation, with one overseeing the forging division, and the other leading the finishing unit.

The forging process enjoys a long and rich history in Himeji, Japan, where master metal workers have resided for centuries. Today, the fundamental forging process remains the same, even if it is assisted by modern technology. Mild steel is heated, and then struck with a

forging hammer to create the rough shape of the club head. The head is trimmed of excess metal, then struck again for further refinement, and then again a third time. The club is finished by grinding, milling (in the case of the putters) and polishing.

According to the company, “Miura's forging techniques rearrange the molecular structure of the mild steel in a pattern that is uniform throughout the club head. This eliminates void spots in the club face…This tightness in the grain structure of the metal is what gives Miura-made clubs the controlled, soft feel that other manufacturers cannot achieve.”

Speaking specifically to the Series 1957 putters, the company states: “The Miura forging process creates an ultra smooth surface with very tight dimensional tolerances. The result is a putter with unmatched feel and precision…Each model's milled face is extremely forgiving resulting in unequaled feel and distance control. The forgiveness at impact also reduces skid, resulting in a truer roll of the ball.”

The stock loft on the Miura Series 1957 KM-005 putter is three degrees and the lie angle is 70 degrees (however, both can be modified at the point of purchase by select dealers). The toe hangs at approximately 4:30. The head material is forged and milled mild steel with a satin “oil chromed” finish.

The View from PutterZone.com

I’ll be honest—I was already in love with this putter before I ever held it in my hands. Why? Because it’s a perfect example of why I started PutterZone.com in the first place: the opportunity to experience and share stories like the one of Katsuhiro Miura.

Even in this modern age, the golf industry manages to produce such stories—stories in which history, heritage, family and craftsmanship flourish amid a hyperactive big-box consumer culture. Such stories are living proof that quality can still trump immediacy.

Personally, I find these stories inspiring, and they are the chief reason why I love putters so much. More than any other club in the bag, putters are the province of the craftsman.

When the Miura Series 1957 KM-005 putter arrived, it met my considerable expectations. This putter is a work of precision and elegance, reflecting the skill and dedication of a master designer.

Visually speaking, the Miura Series 1957 KM-005 putter is a refreshing antidote to the NASCAR-ization of the American putter market, in which no surface seems safe from logos, wordmarks and paintfills. In contrast, Mr. Miura doesn’t see the putter as real estate in need of development, but rather as a natural landscape to be preserved.

Smooth, uninterrupted metal is the dominant visual force on the Miura putter. The shallow sightline along the flange is unpainted, making it more of a suggestion than an actual sightline. The face, topline and bumpers have no markings. The milled pattern on the face is subtle and subdued. Brand ornamentation is limited to an elegant gold “M” in the cavity, a small black Miura logo stamped into the toe end of the sole (and even part of that logo remains artfully unpainted), and the model name “KM-005 Forged” stamped in a small black font on the heel end of the toe. That’s it. The minimalism is verging on cocky, in the best possible sense of the word.

Not surprisingly, the Miura KM-005 putter is a joy to play as well as behold. It sets up beautifully, a picture of quiet symmetry and poise. Some golfers, in fact, might be unnerved by the absence of any visual noise or painted alignment cues. Personally, I appreciate the peacefulness. It clears the mind and enables me to focus solely on squaring the face to the target line, which is the ultimate goal (of course, if your line is wrong, then all bets are off, but that's not a putter problem). The topline of the putter is fairly thick, which is worth noting because some golfers prefer the look of a thinner topline.

As promised, the feel is phenomenal. It's plump and juicy, with a nice clicky quality in the back end. The feel is far from hard, but I wouldn't call it soft, either. The click is also clearly transmitted to the ears for vivid audio feedback. I found the roll off the face to be tight when struck well, and the high-quality feel and feedback contribute to a heightened sense of control.

For maximum putting pleasure with the Miura KM-005, you need to strike the sweet spot just right, as is often the case with high-end milled putters. There are no inserts, grooves or add-ons that might enlarge the sweetness or otherwise mask the inherent properties of the metal. And the inherent properties of the metal dictate that there is a naturally slim sweet spot, and it's your job to find it. You always know where you stand with a putter like this, and that alone can help you raise your game.

The head weight of 350 grams feels fairly hefty at 35 inches, and I’m sure that the alternate model at 370 grams would be just way too heavy for my tastes. I would actually like to try a lighter option, not a heavier one.

The accompanying Miura head cover is a real beauty, with gold embroidery on black. My only quibble is that the closure is Velcro, which I consider a no-no once you get past the $200 price point. The sound of Velcro from this elegant-looking head cover is like hearing a bad note during a Rachmaninov piano concerto.

I didn't grasp the "oil chrome" finish until I viewed the putter under a bright sun, which revealed a very subtle rainbow quality at certain angles, which I found to be very cool. The cleanness of the Miura putter is enhanced by the sticker-free stepless Nippon putter shaft and black Lamkin paddle grip, which shows no color markings once your hands are on the club (in contrast to grips that have logos that show beneath the thumbs). This grip is a standard retail version and bears no Miura brand identity, which seems a little odd for a putter of this price. That said, most Miura dealers offer different options for grip and shaft, and so if branding must take a back seat to customization, that's fine with me.

On that note, let’s talk about the admittedly hefty price of this putter. While the Miura putter excels in matters of feel and performance, I can’t tell you that the Miura putter, at $399, is going to give you 25 percent better performance than a $299 putter like the Cameron California, or 75 percent better performance than a $89 putter like the PING Karsten. If you’re looking at it from that perspective, then this isn’t the putter for you.

But if you view a putter as something more than a blunt instrument, if you can appreciate a putter as a work of art and an heirloom, and if you are willing to pay more for class and craftsmanship as well as quality, then you may want to start saving up for the Miura Series 1957 KM-005.

The Bottom Line

The Miura Series 1957 KM-005 putter ranks among the finest handful of putters to ever pass through PutterZone.com headquarters. It is a work of immense beauty and precision, with performance to match.

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