Rife Two Bar Hybrid Putter Review

Hybrid cars are all the rage, so why not hybrid putters? Rife Putters presumes to have the answer.

Indeed, with its new Two Bar Hybrid putter, Rife aims to unite the best qualities of two existing models into a single stick. Is this marriage built to last?

Following is PutterZone.com’s Rife Two Bar Hybrid ($199) putter review.

The Storyline
Rife Putters hit the ground running when they released their first putters in 2005. The original Two Bar mallets and blades—so named for the distinctive weight bars protruding from the back of the face—were met with widespread acclaim.

In 2007, Rife launched its Island Series putters, skipping the Two Bar technology for more traditional designs, which included the successful Barbados mallet.

Now, with the Two Bar Hybrid, Rife has merged the Barbados design with its Two Bar technology. According to the company, “The most distinct features and performance benefits from both models have been blended into one new spectacular design that is a game improving ‘hybrid’ product in every sense of the word.”

The Hybrid is the first Rife putter to feature a face insert. Under the banner of “Dual Response technology,” this insert fuses anodized aluminum with high durometer polymer for enhanced feel.

The two "adjustable speed weighting" bars can be loaded with one of two pairs of included weights for a total head weight range of 345 grams to 360 grams.

As with all Rife putters, the Two Bar Hybrid also features the company’s patented RollGroove face groves, which are designed to impart truer roll; and the LieAline fitting system, whereby you can easily ascertain your correct lie angle and personally adjust the lie to fit your setup.

The Two Bar Hybrid comes with a LieAline bending tool, an instructional DVD and a head cover with a magnetic closure and a zippered pocket for storing the extra pair of weights.

The View from PutterZone.com
I’ve always found Rife putters to have an intangible coolness about them. Rife can take a traditional blade putter and somehow make it look fresh and hip. Rife can air infomercials without veering into “as seen on TV” territory. Rife can pack its putters with tons of features and freebies yet not seem gimmicky. Even the company’s putter model names, such as Aussie and Antigua, pass the cool test.

Now, Rife has taken the unusual step of merging its two most popular putters into one putter—and, not surprisingly, the results are pretty cool.

The Two Bar Hybrid effortlessly incorporates the Two Bar technology without disturbing the fundamental beauty of the Barbados, resulting in a putter that is truly the best of both worlds. In fact, the Hybrid incorporates the Two Bar design so well that you might wonder if it was all part of some master plan, and if the original Two Bar mallet and Barbados were individually engineered with this subsequent union in mind.

The blue Dual Response insert has a firm, crisp feel with perhaps a bit more suppleness than the original non-insert Two Bar mallet. I like the fact that Rife, while incorporating an insert for the first time, hasn’t gone the squishy route. The roll remains very solid off the face of the Hybrid.

I sank a 15 footer with my very first practice putt with the Hybrid, which made for a particularly pleasant first impression—one that endured over several sessions. I found the Hybrid to be very stable and excellent in matters of distance control. The Hybrid’s high MOI also helped keep my putts on the straight and narrow.

Rife’s self-serve lie adjustment technology is a brilliant piece of added value. With a few quick, gentle tugs, I was able to adjust the Two Bar Hybrid by a few degrees to fit my setup. The Two Bar adjustable weighting system is another nice feature. I like a heavier putter at 34 inches, so I happily loaded the Hybrid up to 360 grams. The bars themselves act as nice a three-dimensional alignment aid.

My only quibble is cosmetic in nature. On the bottom of the putter, the word “Hybrid” is stamped in a blocky font that resembles the Hummer logo (rather ironic for a putter named Hybrid), accompanied by airbrush-style blue striping. It all looks a bit awkward and out of place.

But what really counts is the top view, and from this vantage the Two Bar Hybrid is clean, quiet, confident and, of course, cool. While far from small, this putter manages to look sleek and shapely, making it one of the most visually appealing mallets on the market today.

The Bottom Line
The Rife Two Bar Hybrid is a high-performance putter that combines a distinctively sleek design with innovative customization. The Two Bar technology achieves its finest expression to date in the Hybrid, and the new face insert adds a fresh twist to the Rife experience. By maintaining its cool with the Two Bar Hybrid, Rife scores again.

In Review: Rife Two Bar Mallet Putter

For some reason, I was never drawn to Rife's Two Bar putters, despite their uniquely appealing look. But after getting cozy with Rife’s Two Bar mallet putter ($179), I have made a quick transition from disengaged to smitten. This is the story of our first date. Is it too early to shop for a ring? I think I’m in love.

The Storyline
Rife’s Two Bar putters feature multiple technologies, including Adustable Speed Weighting, RollGroove faces and LieAline fitting. My personal take on these technologies is detailed below. As for the science behind these technologies, and in the interest of keeping this review from turning into War and Peace, I encourage you to visit www.RifePutters.com for the company’s own comprehensive explanations. Rife’s site sets the standard in terms of explaining the features and benefits of their signature technologies.

In fact, Rife’s problem may be that the company is simply too good at selling its products. They don’t just throw out some buzzwords and ask you to fork over $179. They work it. They pack their putters with special features. They explain everything in great detail on their web site. They air infomercials. They include an instructional DVD with your putter. They might even wash your car.

So is that really a problem? In retrospect, and upon further review, it’s not. After all, I’m often griping about putter companies that don’t offer enough for my dollar, that don’t adequately explain the features and benefits of their products, or that generally treat me like a cheap date.

If you’re wondering why innovative upstarts like Heavy Putter and Rife can quickly gobble up market share from some of the bigger boys, here’s your answer: They are producing Tour-quality putters while taking great care to honor the hard-earned dollar of the average golfer.

The View from PutterZone.com
For starters, I must rave about this putter’s magnificent feedback properties. Connecting with the sweet spot on the Rife Two Bar mallet is like biting into a perfectly ripe Georgia peach. The sound is crisp, almost a click. The feel is firm yet juicy, which is the best of both worlds. This isn’t a putter for those who prefer the quieter, squishier feedback associated with soft inserts. But for those who like a little sweet music with some good vibrations, this putter has to be near the top of the list.

The color of the putter head is a soothing ice blue-gray. You can choose between a straight or double bend shaft (I sampled the double bend version). The two signature silver bars protrude from the back of the face above the shallow sole, terminating at the back edge of the sole. Three pairs of included weights comprise the Adjustable Speed Weighting system. The weights easily screw into the otherwise hollow bars. I prefer the medium weights. In my hands, the putter just feels more balanced with the medium weights. The idea behind the adjustable weighting is that you can change the weights, from light to medium to heavy, to fit your playing conditions on any given day or course. But I’d rather stick with what feels most balanced to me and make simple stroke adjustments to accommodate the conditions.

At address, the respective centers of the two bars visually hug the golf ball. A white sightline splits the two bars along the length of the sole. The visual impression is striking, because these aiming cues are three-dimensional, which to my eyes makes them more assertive and ultimately more effective. In my limited exposure to the Two Bar blade model, I found the bars to be a bit distracting as they jutted well beyond the back edge of the sole. But on the mallet, the opposite is true: the sightline impression is utterly seamless and complete.

As for the RollGroove technology, which consists of extruded horizontal grooves on the putter face that are supposed to grip and lift the ball for a truer roll, it’s hard for me to say it truly works without conducting scientific tests (as if I could). I will say that it seems to work, that my ball does seem to roll more smoothly, but that may simply be the power of suggestion. I can say that it certainly doesn’t hurt.

The LieAline system is sound as well. The white sightline between the two bars lines up with notch on the back of the face. At setup, you check to see if the sightline “docks” into the notch. If the sightline visually clips either edge of the notch, then you can use the included plastic LieAline tool to gently bend the shaft in the appropriate direction to achieve the ideal lie for your setup. Once you’ve set your ideal lie, you can use the notch as a constant feedback device to ensure a consistent setup.

The Rife Two Bar mallet also comes with an instructional DVD and a nice pleather putter cover with velcro closures. The 13-minute DVD, which is hosted by Ian Baker-Finch and Jim McLean, is beautifully produced and features some nice putting tips and drills. The DVD also briefly demonstrates how to adjust the putter’s lie and weighting, but quickly, and smartly, focuses on ways to improve your putting game instead of trying to further sell you something you’ve already purchased.

The Bottom Line
To sum it up in one word: Wow. The Rife Two Bar mallet is packed with special features that can make a difference in your game, yet all of these features merge gracefully into a unified design. Best of all, this putter offers excellent touch and feel for optimal confidence on the green.