Putter Works of Art |
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By: Dr. Barry Lotz
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With the advent of space age materials, computer aided design programs, large engineering departments (themselves being avid golfers) and entrepreneurs entering the putter business, the past few years have produced innovative and decidedly avante – garde putter designs. The following putters are those that definitely have an artistic flair and design and perform magnificently. Do not for one instant assume that these putters are totally useless or lack functionality. Many, while appearing to have no lineage whatsoever as far as putters are concerned, do in actual fact work extremely well and have even won tournaments since their initial introduction. The main theme or buzz for putters today is the MOI (Moment of Inertia), the higher the better, and the movable weighting systems. Sufficed to say, instruction manuals and DVDs abound to ensure you understand all the benefits and procedures to achieve maximum performance with that particular putter. The best part of all of this is that if you purchase a putter with a movable weighting system, you can experiment with a single putter rather than buying additional ones.
Aside from the futuristic design, this well-balanced mallet putter features TaylorMade’s new Anti-skid Groove System Insert (AGSI). The feel and sound when using this putter is remarkable just like the sound and feel of a perfectly hit iron shot. The Corza features a large putter face insert made of Titallium, an extremely durable seven-metal alloy that is 65% less dense than steel. The face of the insert is scored with 12 CNC-milled grooves filled with a soft polymer to dampen unwanted vibration at impact, contributing to better feel. Our group of testers loved the feel and hearing the click of the ball while putting. They all concurred that the ball rolled much more smoothly than their existing putters. Compared to the standard iron or wedge grooves, AGSI grooves are 66% narrower and 50% closer together. The result is a truer roll, sooner off the face. What is really cool about the Corza is the ability to change the weight and feel of the putter to your personal taste. Want a heavier putter? Just add up to 28 grams of cartridges into the putter’s two TLC ports to adjust the weight of the putter head. Three Corza models are available: the Corza, which is heel-shafted and features a double-bend shaft; the Corza 1, which is heel-shafted with an L-neck to create a toe-down option, and the Corza Center, which is center-shafted. The Corza models have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $208. Additional models featuring the AGSI system, such as the Sebring are also available.
By increasing the putter’s (MOI) moment of inertia to reduce backspin, done by back-end weighting, the resistance to torque or twisting on impact, especially on off-center hits, the putter obtains the desired result – straighter putts. The 350 gram putter has a precision insert made of both copper and nickel that provide the silky-smooth feel and great response. Granted, however, is the fact that its unusual looks will take some getting used to. The putter has 3 degrees of loft, is available in left-handed and right-handed models with an offset or straight shaft and standard putter lengths. A black matte or natural matte finish is available. MSRP: $199.00
The Guerin Rife (it is the name of the inventor) has already had a win on Tour (Jim Thorpe) and is fast becoming a favorite on the Champions and Nation wide Tours. Though it was introduced earlier than the TaylorMade Corza, its concept of movable weights and grooved milled face is excellent but does lack TaylorMade’s Anti-skid Groove System Insert (AGSI) technology – to produce the truest no skid roll of the golf ball. Therein lies the distinction between the putters and therefore it comes down to personal taste, feel and design style. Our group of testers found that the Corza’s roll and feel to be better than the Guerin Rife’s but not by that much. The Guerin does, however, allow the golfer to adjust the lie angle and also change the weighting with nine different configurations. You can change either the overall weight or the heel toe weighting. So if you tend to miss putts to the right of the hole, try a lighter weight in the toe/outside bar and vice versa if you are missing putts left of the hole. Its alignment system works extremely well. The two bar mallet putter includes the speed weight kit, 2 DVD’s and head cover. MSRP: $199.75
As with many of the new putters coming out today, it’s all about high MOIs and movable weighting systems. The putter features an extremely responsive soft forged beryllium-copper face insert that has been reverse annealed. Its 100% milled body is surrounded by strategically placed holes in its frame to further enhance the MOI. Three GT models (5K, 6.4K and 7.5K Belly putter) are available with different MOIs and head weights. The standard screw weights are copper. A weight customization kit with aluminum (4.8 grams), copper tungsten (26 grams), and tungsten (30.4 grams) screw weights, plus a weight removal tool is available for an additional $49.99. For the GT putters the K-Series weight kit is required. MSRP: 5K and 6.4 K models: $289.99 7.5K model: $329.99
The I-Trax putter is an inertial mallet putter whose main criteria focus on outstanding balance and an interchangeable alignment options. The I-Trax has a precision machined aluminum head that combines with triangulated plated brass weight screws to provide a balanced feel and a smooth, skid-free roll. The putter is extremely stable and has a high resistance to twisting. The I-Trax also features two interchangeable vision strips (chevrons or 3 parallel lines) which allow you to choose the alignment configuration that best suits your eyes, helping you easily square your putter to the target time and again. It has a milled steel face and is precision weighted. MSRP: $290.00
Cameron also introduced both the Futura Phantom Mallet (single bend) and Mallet 2 (center-shafted) putters, also with black anodized finishes, that are more conventional both in profile and size and have excellent graphics. Both are force balanced with the heavy back weight closer to the face and both feature a five-sightline configuration making setup and alignment simple. MSRP: $299.00. MSRP: $299.00
A heavy tungsten plug in the rear of the pipe section accounts for 15% of the weight of the putter. The superb feel is provided by a lightweight face insert. The putter sets up well and aligning the ball is extremely easy. Testing putters is perhaps the easiest to accomplish, as most retailers have in-store greens or putting greens at their facility. Spend an hour or two testing these putters to see what works best for you on the playing surfaces that you use the most frequently. MSRP: $199.00 |
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Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association, and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers” and his current book, “How to Build Business Relationships Through Golf” is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s best seller list. He can be reached at www.pgtaa.com or drlotz@cbsgolf.net |
TaylorMade’s Corza Putter
TaylorMade has once again introduced a revolutionary putter that gained immediate acceptance on the PGA Tour, plus recording a win during its first outing (Tim Petrovic). This is a marvelous putter that makes putting fun on every hole.
Futuristic in every aspect, almost Darth Vaderish in looks, yet silky-smooth on putts, the Stealth performs admirably.
Definitely the oddest sounding names for a putter, but if it works&.
Designed by Bobby Grace, now part of MacGregor Golf, this stylish putter is in the bags of numerous Tour players such as Fred Funk, who just won the 2005 Players Championship.
One of Callaway’s many new introductions this year is the new I-Trax putter. Following their enormous success with their 2-Ball putters, introducing a new model is normally a hard act to follow. However, Callaway, with the design genius of Bobby Bettinardi, has succeeded in producing a putter that performs exceptionally well.
The new beautifully balanced, minimalist styled Futura Phantom, is a significantly improved putter over the original high-tech Futura introduced by Titleist in 2003. The Phantom, with its black anodized finish, has an aluminum face and T-shaped frame with a deep, semi-circular steel back weight. The shaft insertion point is behind the face and the bottom sole rudders have been extended for better stability. Stability, excellent set up at address; together with the single sightline are the hallmarks of this putter.
I recently was examining swing sequences of some of the greatest players in history. Knowing that some of these players favored a draw as their standard shot while others preferred a fade, I sought to identify swing features within each group that would explain their respective ball-flight tendencies. Something profound emerged that I think will benefit all golfers, especially those cursed with a wicked slice.