2008 Putter Buyer's GuideKnown as the most interesting and often the most colorful club in the bag, putters are more unique than ever. Want to try a new shape? A new material? There’s something new for everyone.
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By Staff
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Page 6 of 7
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Ping Karsten Series Key Feature: An elastomer insert in the cavity that helped the PING engineers move weight to the perimeter of the clubhead for a higher moment of inertia.
What We Like: They’ve retained a stainless steel clubface and an insert (located in the club’s cavity).
Who It’s For: Players who like a high MOI putter, but the responsiveness of stainless steel. Fans of classic putter design.
Putterhead: Stainless steel • Putterface: Same Weight: Std. • Designs: Anser, Anser 2, Zing—Blade; C67—Mid-Mallet; B60, Craz-E, Piper—Mallet
pinggolf.com | $120 |
Rife Two-Bar Hybrid Key Feature: Two bars for enhanced aim, adjustable speed weighting for a custom feel and Rife’s RollGroove Technology that’s designed to provide a consistent, no-skid roll.
What We Like:Rife blended their two highly popular putters (Two-Bar and Barbados) into a unique hybrid putter.
Who It’s For: Golfers who like a putter to fit them to a “T.” Not only can you adjust the Two-Bar Hybrid’s weight, you can tweak its lie angle via Rife’s LieAline Fitting System.
Putterhead: 431 Stainless Steel • Putterface: 6061 CNC milled anodized aluminum • Weight: Adj. • Designs: Heel-shafted mallet
rifeputters.com | $199 |
Sizemore XM Key Feature: Interchangeable alignment aids (both parallel and perpendicular optical alignments) so golfers can choose the one that best fits his or her eye.
What We Like: Bruce Sizemore not only blended materials (aluminum and copper) but gave us alignment aids we can tinker with. We’re also suckers for the IND-X cross-milled face finish.
Who It’s For: Golfers who dig adjustability; mallet lovers who want the perfect alignment aid.
Putterhead: 6061 Aluminum • Putterface: Aluminum and copper • Weight: Adj. Designs: XM-1—Heel-shafted mallet; XM-2—Center-shafted mallet.
sizemoregolf.com | $349 |
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Taylormade Rossa Spider Key Feature: Its so-called “wings,” in which weight cartridges can be added and subtracted, giving it a super-high MOI.
What We Like: This might have the best balance of any putter we’ve ever tried. It’s almost impossible to make a bad stroke. It sounds and feels great at impact, too.
Who It’s For: Players searching for a high-MOI putter with fantastic balance and who don’t mind an “out of the box” design. When we tested it, it felt like it was on a track.
Putterhead: Steel wire-frame; aluminum core • Putterface: Polymer • Weight: Adj. Designs: Heel-shafted mallet
taylormadegolf.com | $180 |
Taylormade Rossa Classic Key Feature: Its Anti-skid Groove System Insert (AGSI+). With 14 tightly packed grooves, less backspin is produced at impact.
What We Like: The Rossa’s lineup doesn’t just improve the way you roll the ball, but their classy looks make them a joy to play with.
Who It’s For: Golfers who prefer traditionally shaped putters with modern insert technology; players looking for a smooth roll.
Putterhead: 304 Stainless Steel • Putterface: Titanium (milled) • Weight: Std. • Designs: Daytona 1, Siena 4, Modena 8, Imola 8—Heel-Shafted, heel-toe blade; Monte Carlo 7—Center-shafted, face-balanced mallet
taylormadegolf.com | $119 |
Tour Edge GeoMax Key Feature: The GeoMax putters feature a hollow-head design that moves weight to the outer edges of the club for a high MOI and deep CG.
What We Like: The “T-shaped” crown that makes lining up long and short putts a breeze. We’re also partial to the CNC milled T6 aluminum face; they help the ball roll off the face.
Who It’s For: Those who like the benefits of a high MOI putter and a clean (mostly) non-wacky head shape.
Putterhead: 403 Stainless Steel • Putterface: CNC Milled Aluminum • Weight: Std. Designs: 01, 03—Blade; 02, 04, 05, 06, 07—Mallet
touredge.com | $69 |
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