I recently went putter shopping. I have used my current putter for about 25 years. I purchased it with my Mom in Nova Scotia and as such has great sentimental value. I have putted well with this club, but decided it was time for a change. Basically, I have lost the feel for my old putter and decided to open the purse strings for a new one.
I have always felt that putting is the great equalizer and after 25 years, it was time for a change. Before everyone asks why change if my putter was working, the quick answer was that I notice an increase in my flat stick scores, so it was time to change.
My old putter.
Once deciding it was time to change, I headed off to Golf Town. I chose this store because I could spend time trying all the different putter makes, styles, and weights. And rest assured, I tried them all.
Before I started, I promised myself that I would enter this entire process with an open mind and not prejudge anything. My entire selection process lasted about 1.5 hours and at the end, I was completely confident with my final choice.
My first step was to get a feel for the weight of the club. I am very much a feel player on the greens and the weight of the club is very important to my overall stroke. I have no idea what that exact weight is, but at the end of my first step, I choose 7 possible candidates.
The next was length of the shaft. After a trying 3 different lengths, (34,35, and 36 inches) I decided on 35 inches and sought the proper length in my previous 7 selections. Fortunately, there were 6 candidates left.
My next step was to actually putt with a ball. I adopted my normal putting stance and putted with each club. I mostly was judging how the putter looked during my address and during contact. How the putter looks is also very important to building confidence on the green. As it turned out, after this stage, I was down to 4 candidates. 2 mallet and 2 blade putters.
It was now time to find the putter that creates the perfect roll, I employed a new tool to me called The Roll Board by Guerin Putters.
The Perfect Roll Off the Putter Face.
With four selections left, it was time to use the Roll Board. It was a four-foot length of velvet cloth as seen in the picture on the left. The concept of this tool is very simple, by brushing the velvet towards the hash marks creates a black surface. By putting the ball, I could see how the ball reacts to contact from the face of the club. From the guide above I was looking for a ball that produces The Roller.
Before going any further, I think it is important to say that I was looking for a putter where I did not have to change my stroke. I do not see the point of purchasing a putter, spending hundreds of dollars just to have to change my putting stroke. This would just be counter productive since my putting stroke is still very consistent.
After putting the ball, one club stood out. The others produced a Skipper and Bouncer pattern that was immediately noticeable. The club I selected immediately resulted in a roller pattern. So I was sold and decided to make the purchase.
I picked a blade putter.
I purchased a blade putter from Odyssey. It is a Works Versa 1W 350 gram putter. I like the way it looks, feels and produces the roll of the face I am looking for. I am very comfortable with the price and walked away with club I will use for years.
On a side note, I want to say sorry to Mike from 36aday for choosing a blade instead of a mallet putter. I am sure Josh from Golf is Mental is thrilled with my selection. They have an ongoing blade vs mallet debate. I am not sure who is winning, but it is an entertaining discussion.
Well that is how I purchased my new putter. I am completely happy with my choice and look forward to lowering my putting numbers next year!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Written by Jim Burton from The Grateful Golfer blog.
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Jim,
I am indeed thrilled with your selection…how did you guess 😉 Hahaha….a little behind on my reading after my trip to Cali!
Cheers
Josh
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Josh
All good. Hope you had a great trip!
Cheers
Jim
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Jim, I hope your new putter works out great. I leave today for my three round eastern shore trip. When I return, I’m going shopping for a new putter as well. It’s time to retire my beloved Ping Answer, which I have putted with since the mid 1980s. I just cannot aim it well enough without any markings on top. That being said, I hope I make everything I’m looking at and make the decision to switch a tough one – LOL! It will probably go that way – such is golf.
Thanks,
Brian
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Brian
Have an awesome trip. I look forward to hearing about all the great golf. Also, hearing about your new putter purchase.
Cheers
Jim
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Jim, I’m not making this up 🙂 Took 28 putts today and fired a one-over 73 at Hog Neck. The old Ping Answer was on fire – LOL! Sometimes you just need to threaten the putter with a benching and it works wonders. No change in plans for a new one though. Sometimes everything just goes in. Thanks!
Brian
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Brian
That is an awesome score. Great to hear your putter is waeming up before your trip. 28 putts is fantastic.
Cheers
Jim
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A 50 cent bottle of paint and a left over brush from a kids paint by numbers set I found in a junk drawer was how I solved that issue. It took me three attempts to get it just right but it gave my Rossi blade putter a nice and accurate alignment aid. The simple dot it had just wasn’t good enough.
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Kevin,
That would work. I bet the three attempts was a but challenging but way cheaper than a new club. Thanks.
Cheers
Jim
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Kevin, really? Can you take a pic of it and share? How interesting.
Thanks,
Brian
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Nice choice. I hope it works out well for you. The blade vs mallet debate seems more of a personal thing to me. I too prefer my blade over my mallet. It’s a feel thing more than anything though. I simply feel more in control with the blade especially with speed.
Today wasn’t a great putting day, but it also wasn’t really bad. I think I should have sunk at least 4 more birdie attempts. The ones in the 6-10 foot range just wouldn’t fall today. But that’s golf. It really wasn’t my equipment. It was my reads. But I’m not really upset. I shot an 80 with no warmup and for me, that’s not bad.
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Kevin
You are absolutely right that the blade vs mallet is a personal thing. I actually putt the same way with both, but the blade works best for my putting stroke and my eyes. Sounds like a bit of a tough round, hopefully your putting will be spot on the next time you play.
Cheers
Jim
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I felt like it went up and down all day. My driving and putting were off, my irons though were spot on.
But it was easy to keep my spirits up. I hit my lines while putting. The fact that more didn’t fall was simply that I saw more turn or less turn than was really there yesterday. And if I did start to get upset over any of it, I just remembered that I was on the course and not huddled up around the fireplace. It was 80 degrees with low humidity and a cool breeze. Best weather we’ve had for golf in months. I was enjoying myself too much to care about how well I did.
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Kevin
Sounds lime an awesome day on the links.
Cheers
Jim
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