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The top ten most ‘unusual’ golf putters

The top ten most ‘unusual’ golf putters:

One of the most remarkable things about the modern touring golfer is the sheer number of hideous golf putters there are in play each week.

Take a trip to any tournament and you’ll be dazzled by golfers taking to the greens with what look like props from an episode of Star Trek tucked under their arm.

It’s not just the modern golfer that is afflicted either, throughout history, golfers have wielded some strange looking putting beasts on the greens.

Here’s our top ten of putters that we’d like to forget

1. Sandy Lyle’s “Black Swan” Putter  (above)

Around Augusta last weekend, former Masters Champ Sandy Lyle was attempting to win his second Masters title using what looked like a branding iron on the greens. Lyle admitted that his Black Swan putter “is strange” and “certainly wouldn’t win a beauty contest” but the Scot tried it in a practice round at Augusta and took just 26 putts, hitting six birdies.

“As long as I keep holing putts, I’ll be keeping it in the bag” stated Lyle.

2. The Scotty Cameron Future Phantom

Scotty Cameron may be a name synonymous with some of the world’s best putter, bus the Future Phantom has been given the nickname “the Retarded Spaceship” for a good reason. Viewed face on, the putter looks like it is being held backwards, viewed from the back it looks like the putter’s laughing at you for trying to use it.

3. The “Crazy Golf” or “Mini Golf” Rented Putter

This will bring back a few memories for anyone who has played Crazy Golf or Mini Golf at some point in their lives with a rented putter. Not only is your golf ball seemingly made from vulcanised rubber, your putter is arguably the most basic invention in history. A lump of brass which can be reversed so lefty’s can play too. It plays all the better too when chipped and scratched which is another bonus!

4. Nike Method Core Drone

Ever had such a bad day on the greens that you felt like sticking two-fingers up to the golfing gods? Well if you purchase the new Nike Method Core Drone, the putter does it for you, with its unusual V shape design the perfect accompaniment on the green for the angry, frustrated golfer.

5.  Tour Edge T Balance 01

With it’s distinctive curved shaft affixing to the back of the putter and it’s Terminator 2 type looks, the Tour Edge T Balance 01 went for a futuristic feel, but instead ended up looking very much like something had just fallen out of the back of your desktop PC.

6. Scott Cameron Futura X (Prototype)

Adam Scott may have wielded this putter to his Masters success in Augusta in 2013, but there is no doubting that for all its effectiveness on the green, the Aussie is certainly going to be building his physique carrying that amount of metal in his bag every round.

7. Odyssey Versa #7

If you are a fan of the Star Wars movies then you’ll no doubt recognise that the new Odyssey Versa 7 putter has been designed by the same team who produced the Millennium Falcon. The shape of the club we can live with, but what is with the dreadful black and white colour scheme?

8. Taylor Made Ghost Spider S

Similar to the Odyssey Versa shown above, this black and white putter should be one of the best new putters on the market today, but the black and white combination, especially in the Spider versions of the club, just don’t look aesthetically pleasing and the design of the club is a bit of a mangle of metal too.

9.  Chase Glen Putter

Only a madman would putt not using a flat putting face, right? Well, if you have the new Chase Glen putter then maybe not. This solid block of aluminium has a curved face and a counterweight at the back, which not only gives it a distinctive look but means that when it is in the bag, you have somewhere to hang your jacket.

10. Ping Karsten Craz-E

This is another putter, like the number 5 Tour Edge T Balance 01, which looks like it belongs inside your computer rather than out on a golf course. The unusual positioning of the shaft and the grandiose back of the putter made it good for picking balls up off the green, but not necessarily getting your ball in the hole.

Images Courtesy of Odyssey, Chase Glen, Tour Edge, Scotty Cameron, Black Swan

(Via Gorilla Golf Blog)

PUTTER REVIEW – The Mantis

PUTTER REVIEW – The Mantis:

Win A Mantis

Would you like to win a Mantis putter?  Just leave a comment below and you will be entered into the random drawing.  US residents only on this one.

(Written by Golfspy Dave) Who in their right mind would start a putter company these days?  Seriously, have you seen the multitudes of putters in your local shop lately?  If you haven’t, I’ll let you in on a little secret.  There are a lot of them.  Enlightening, huh?  I’ll let you in on another little nugget of putter knowledge; the vast majority of putters in your local shop are excellent.  I don’t know if I can go so far as to say we are in the Golden Age of Putters, but if there comes a more gilded putter era, it will truly be something special.  The golf consumer has so many great putters to choose from that he or she could almost just grab and go, ala Jim Furyk, and have a great round on the course.

Keeping this competitive marketplace in mind, again I ask why anyone would try to break into the putter business.  Why fight the expensive, uphill battle for exposure and a cut of the putter dollars?  The answer could be very simple.  The fledgling putter company may feel that their putter is simply better than any other putter out there.  They see an open niche in the market, and we all know from our biology classes that utilizing an open niche creates a competitive edge, usually enabling survival.

Mantis Golf is ready to take their shot at the putter market with their new putter.  One look at the putter and you can see that the Mantis putter is unlike any of the others in the market.  Mantis Golf believes that the matte-green finish and minimal alignment markings cause your eye to stay on the ball and not the putter during the stroke. Many of us learned the importance of “keeping your eye on the ball” during our first T-Ball practice.  How else are you going to catch or hit that moving ball? 

But can keeping our eye on the stationary golf ball really help a golfer make more putts?

Mantis Putter Features:

:: Material: 431 Stainless Steel
:: Weight: 350g
:: Toe Hang: Face Balanced
:: Length Tested: 34″
:: Finish: Matte Green
:: Insert: Polyurethane
:: Grip: Custom Winn

BALL USED: Wilson FG Tour

FEEL

2013 may go down as the year that Golfspy Dave gets over his issues with insert putters.  The Odyssey White Hot Pro insert feels great.  Ping has truly nailed it with the Scottsdale TR insert as well.  Add Mantis’ polyurethane insert to that list.  That’s right, drop the Mantis in the same pool as Odyssey and Ping for insert feel.

It’s a soft, yet responsive insert that somehow also delivers a bit of a metallic ring when the ball is struck.  When I visited Odyssey in Carlsbad last winter, I learned just how much chemistry and machinery goes into making their insert, and I came to terms with not truly understanding all of it (any of it?).  How Mantis can make polyurethane ring with a zen-like tone is truly mystifying.  The nice thing for you and me is that we don’t need to understand it to enjoy it.

LOOKS

Well here we go.  Welcome to the most polarizing part of the review. Some of you will like it, some of you will warm to it, and some of you can’t be convinced to roll one ball with that big green thing.  I was a warm to it guy.  When I first saw it, I thought that’s a pretty crazy looking putter.  The Mantis looks like a cross between a turtle shell and the alien ships from Independence Day.

An Anser it is not.  However, the Mantis was not crafted for display; it was made to putt. Once I had it on the green, I started to see what they are talking about with the color scheme.  The matte-green finish takes your eyes away from the camouflaged putter head and instead places them on the ball.  The green and the turtle shape became less and less pronounced the more I used the Mantis.

SET-UP & ALIGNMENT

Many of us remember when Nike tried a green color scheme with their IC putter line.  Nike claimed that the green color of the IC reduced the overall visual footprint of the putter and allowed the golfer to really focus on the alignment lines.  The Mantis takes this concept into similar territory.  However, Mantis is helping you to switch your focus from the putter to the ball.

Having played both the Nike IC 20-20 and the Mantis, I will tell you that there are some serious differences between the two.  The green color is very different.  The Mantis putter’s green is far brighter than the deep olive of the IC.  The Mantis‘ green definitely blends into the turf better than the IC’s did.  Part of that may also be the alignment differences.  Where the Nike IC line had bold white alignment lines, the Mantis has a thin white T-shaped alignment tool.    When addressing the ball, you see the alignment T and the ball far more than the rest of the putter head, which I believe is Mantis’ intention.

FIT FOR STROKE™

Don’t change your stroke. Change your putter.

The (FIT FOR STROKE™) concept was developed by PING, yet another genius fitting system they have developed for golfers. It works hand-in-hand with the iPING Putter App which is highly suggest everyone getting (IT’S FREE!). You might be surprised to find out that the stroke you think you have isn’t the stroke you actually have.

This addition to the MGS reviews will allow you to become a more consistent putter by matching you with models that better fit your stroke type. They will be broken down into three categories: (1) Straight – for face balance putters (2) Slight Arc – for mid toe hang putters (3) Strong Arc – for toe down putters

“Results from hundreds of player and robot tests at PING offer overwhelming scientific support for the effectiveness of fitting for stroke. In recent years more diagnostic tools and testing equipment have become available, and the results prove that a golfer’s consistency improves when their putter balance matches their stroke type. It was interesting to observe that golfers putt more consistently with stroke-appropriate models, but they also show a personal preference for these models, too. Prior to putting with them, golfers are drawn to models that fit their eye, even before they fit their stroke.” says PING.

The Mantis Putter: Straight

PERFORMANCE

As we all learned from the Most Wanted Mallet test, a golfer’s reaction to a putter’s aesthetics does not influence performance.  Remember how the STX xForm3 was the second most accurate putter while simultaneously scoring dead last in aesthetics?  The looks and alignment features definitely do influence accuracy, and that’s why they are there.  However, what doesn’t influence accuracy is your feelings about the aesthetics.  Believe what you want about liking the looks of a putter generating confidence, and that confidence translating to more made putts.  I used to believe that too.  Our data just says otherwise.

Accuracy was measured using the same guidelines as the previous mallet test.  Testers rolled five putts from distances of five, ten, and twenty feet.  The five and ten foot putts scores were adjusted for distance, and then all of the scores from the testers were averaged.  The average score was then scored against the ideal accuracy distance score of 127.5 inches, this ideal accuracy number was determined using all the putters we have reviewed.

Accuracy Score Calculation

:: Total Miss Distance (all testers, adjusted for distance)= 922 inches
:: Average Miss Distance Per Tester (Total/6)= 153.6 inches
:: Percentage of Accuracy Ideal Value (127.5/Average Miss Per Tester x 100)= 83%

An accuracy score of 83 is a solid score for any putter, especially for a company’s first putter.  This score puts the Mantis in the same scoring range as the putters from Bettinardi, Ping, and Odyssey.  That’s pretty solid putter-company company.

Total Accuracy Score = 83%

Summary

Mantis Golf has jumped into the putter arena with a uniquely shaped mallet whose coloration and minimal alignment markings are designed to help you watch the ball, and not the putter.  While I can’t document what the eyes of the testers were focused on during putting, the data supports the idea that Mantis’ design holds performance merit.  If you are interested in purchasing a Mantis, the price is also quite reasonable at $159.99.  I think that many mallet players will love swinging this big green putting machine.

Win A Mantis

Would you like to win a Mantis putter?  Just leave a comment below and you will be entered into the random drawing.  US residents only on this one.

(Via Golf Forum - Golf Blog (MyGolfSpy.com))

Adam Scott’s Nostradamus Prediction

Adam Scott’s Nostradamus Prediction:

Just after sinking the putt to win the Masters, this picture of Adam Scott’s old school yearbook was posted online. In it it says “If all else fails, birdie the last”.  Prophetic!

Technorati Tags: Adam Scott High School Yearbook,prediction

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

Doc’s Pro Lesson: Low Punch And Stop with Gareth McCausland

Doc’s Pro Lesson: Low Punch And Stop with Gareth McCausland:

This week’s lesson comes from PGA Professional Gareth McCausland of Ballyliffin Golf Club in Donegal. www.ballyliffingolfclub.com

Did you enjoy the Masters? One of the key shots used by many of the players who laid up on the par 5 13^th and 15^th holes was the low pitch that is thrown all the way to the pin, then zips to a stop. Every player in the field had it.

It’s a really fun shot to play from 40 to 80 yards and a great one to have in your arsenal.

To play the shot use a 52 degree lob wedge or a pitching wedge. Grip down the shaft and place the ball back in the stance. Push the hands forward. Now really commit to the shot, you’re aim should be to land the ball at the pin. Correctly executed, the trajectory is no more than 10-15 feet off the ground.

The set up will deloft the club and get you striking down on the ball, imparting the most spin possible. It’s a shot that’s easy to practice at the range or with a bucket of balls on the lawn.

Having a go-to pitch like this to fall back on gets some of the world’s best players out of some sticky situations and capitalize on par 5’s. It certainly did for Adam Scott!

(Via GolfCentral Daily)

In the Bag 2013 with Adam Scott

In the Bag 2013 with Adam Scott:

Arguably he’s the most naturally gifted Australian golfer of his generation, he’s won 19 times as a professional but despite several strong showings at Major championships over the years, that elusive first Major title still eludes him, what does 2013 and beyond hold for the mercurial talents of Australian golfer Adam Scott?

 

FACTFILE:

Player Name: Adam Derek Scott

Place of Birth: Adelaide, Australia

Age: 32

Club Sponsor: Titleist

Major Wins (0) :  US Masters (0), US Open (0), Open Championship (0), USPGA Championship (0)

Other Tournament Wins : 19

Current World Ranking: 7th

In The Bag with Adam Scott 2013

Driver: Titleist 910 D3 Driver

Fairway Woods: Titleist 910 Fd Fairway Wood

Hybrids: Titleist 910 H Hybrid

Irons: Titleist MB Forged Irons

Wedges: Titleist Spin Milled Vokey Wedge

Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura X Prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Career Highlights: 2011 World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational Victory

Adam’s career highlight, aside from strong showings at Majors is arguably his 2011 Bridgestone Invitational World Golf Championship victory. It wasn’t just Scott’s performance in a high quality field that stood out, but his final round 65 included a variety of superb shots, chip ins from off the green and sensational putts.

His victory in the event showed clearly that he has the game to handle top quality fields and the pressure associated with winning the top golf events in the world, now he just has to turn that into a Major win to fully define his talent.

Career Lowpoints:  The 2012 British Open Bogey Blitz

Without a shadow of a doubt, Scott’s low point in his career came last year at the 2012 British Open, when teeing off on the 18th tee, he was tied with Ernie Els for the lead, after once holding a four-shot lead over the field.

Requiring a par to force a play off, Scott surprised many commentators by taking a driver from the tee and hit his ball into a fairway bunker and was forced to chip out. He hit a good third shot but his par putt dribbled wide of the hole handing Els an unexpected win.

What does the future hold for Adam Scott?

The future for Adam Scott is relatively clear. This is a golfer with immense talent and one who has, as yet, not quite delivered on the biggest stage of all. Scott will always be remembered as one of golf’s ‘nearly men’ until he can turn solid Major performances into that elusive Major win.

With Augusta on the horizon and the US Open closely following behind, Scott has two chances to end his hoodoo there but with Tiger Woods back at World Number One and Rory McIlroy looking to time his return to form to perfection, it could be a tough ask for the likeable Aussie.

One final issue Scott will have to deal with is the Belly Putter he uses. A fierce advocate of the right to use the belly putter, will Scott have to make fundamental changes to his putting stroke in the next few years if a worldwide ban comes into force?

It will be interesting to see how Scott decides to approach the potential ban on belly putters and whether that influences how he approaches taking on the Majors other top golf tournaments over the next few years.

The good news for Adam is at age 32, he still has plenty of time on his side to more than achieve all of his goals.

(Pictures courtesy of Adam Scott Wikipedia page)

(Via Gorilla Golf Blog)

TRAINING AID REVIEW – PROVOTO ADVANTAGE PUTTING STUDIO

TRAINING AID REVIEW – PROVOTO ADVANTAGE PUTTING STUDIO:

Introduction

Exclusive Offer! – MyGolfSpy readers get 30% OFF Provoto Putting Greens.
Just use COUPON CODE: PGAPRO

A few months ago, I published a review of the Champion Putting Green by Provoto.  While impressive in just about every way imaginable (it scored a 93.5), the price and size were sticking points for many readers.
Recently, I got a visit from a Provoto representative to introduce me to some new accessories that they’re adding to their lineup.  The rep walked in with a large, flat duffle bag from which he produced an 8’ putting green.  I was intrigued.  “What does that cost?” I asked.  “For MyGolfSpy readers, the green is under $300,” he answered.  “And we’re talking about accessories!?!?  You’re burying the lead!” I said.  And thus, this review was born.
Note: I started by trying to write a standard review of the Advantage Putting Studio, but it turned out to be a retread of my Champion Putting Green review.  If you haven’t read that review, check it out HERE.  In this piece, I decided to focus on the differences between the Champion and Advantage Greens and the new accessories that Provoto is offering.

Champion vs. Advantage

The most obvious difference between the Champion and the Advantage is the size.  The Champion is 10’ long, the Advantage is 8’.  Both are roughly a foot wide.  The Champion weighs in at a robust 50 pounds which can be difficult to move for some.  The Advantage is a svelte 21 pounds, light enough for almost anyone to fold up and carry.  As mentioned above, the Advantage can be packed into a carrying case that’s roughly 48” X 18” X 7”.
Both greens feature a stand that brings the user up to the level of the green, though the Champion is much “taller” than the Advantage.  Both greens feature adjustable break and slope.
The last big difference is the ball return mechanism.  The Champion funnels the ball back to the “foot” of the green through a channel underneath the putting surface.  The Advantage uses a RoboCup.  Both methods are good, but both have quirks.  With the Champion, putts of less than 10’ can be annoying because the ball only returns to the end of the green.  With the Advantage, it is possible to make a putt without activating the RoboCup.  Neither one has a strong negative impact on the overall experience, but they’re worth mentioning.

“Turf” Options

With both the Champion and Advantage Putting Greens, you have the choice of billiard cloth or “fanfare” turf.  The billiard cloth gives the smoothest roll possible, just like putting on fast, top quality greens.  The fanfare cloth has a little bit more grit and bump to it.  It’s not that it isn’t a true surface; you just need to give the ball a little more of a rap to get it going on line whereas on the billiard cloth the ball needs only a gentle suggestion to move towards the hole.
There isn’t a bad choice, but it is an important one.  I would suggest matching your choice to either the types of greens you tend to play on or your tendencies as a putter.

New Accessories

Since the review of the Champion Putting Green, Provoto has introduced two important accessories: the Laser Kit and the Putting Channel.
The Laser Kit is, quite simply, a must have for the Provoto owner.  It includes a laser level and a pedestal that allows the laser to project to the end of the green.  Not only does the laser provide an excellent reference for alignment and visualization, it tells you where to put the ball.  This may sound silly, but it was actually enough of a concern for me that prior to getting the Laser Kit, I used a Sharpie to mark the center of my personal green.  Now there’s no need to mar your green with markers.
Additionally, the laser line ups the ante on how precise you will want to be.  It won’t be enough to make the putt; you’ll want the ball to roll straight down the red line.  And, finally, it makes practicing in the dark look super cool.
The Putting Channel is the result of a partnership between Provoto and PGA Professional Stephen Aumock, and it is the only training aid that will look at home on a Provoto Putting Green.  The Putting Channel does two things: it gives you some guidelines for the shape of your stroke and some much-tighter guidelines for where your ball needs to go.
As I’ve stated in the past, I’m part of the group that does not like training aids that force the putter on a particular path.  That said, the Putting Channel does not dictate a specific path, but it does give you boundaries to work within.   The ball gate, though perhaps a bit redundant on a perfectly flat and smooth Provoto green, does add a level of difficulty and a bit of jarring feedback should you miss.

Pricing

* Prices discussed below are standard retail prices.  MyGolfSpy readers can use promo code “PGAPRO” to get 30% off
The Advantage Putting Green is regularly priced at $385.  It can be bundled with the Laser Kit (again, a must have, in my opinion) for $430.  The complete Advantage Putting Studio with the green, Laser Kit, and Putting Channel costs $515.
The Laser Kit and Putting Channel can be purchased separately for $50 and $95, respectively.

The Takeaway

Whether you choose the Champion or the Advantage, the full Putting Studio or just a putting green, you will be making a good investment in your game when you add a Provoto green to your putting practice.

Exclusive Offer! – MyGolfSpy readers get 30% OFF Provoto Putting Greens.
Just use COUPON CODE: PGAPRO

(Via Golf Forum - Golf Blog (MyGolfSpy.com))

Tiger Woods has his old bite back

Tiger Woods has his old bite back:

Baring his teeth ... Tiger Woods comes into the Masters in good form after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament. Photograph: John Raoux/AP

We all reserve the right to change our lives. That's the underpinning of everything from self-help hustling to religious conversion to psychoanalysis to many of the greatest novels. The New Me may be the biggest schlock business in the world or the deepest philosophy. Some of it's bogus, some of it's gold, who knows which is which, and to each his own. But nobody denies our right to a new leaf, a radical reinvention of ourselves or the correction of deep personal problems.

You take it where you find it. Tiger Woods seems to have found it, for the time being at least, and longer we can hope, in Buddhism, sex-addiction therapy, a putting tip from Steve Stricker and a romance with legendary skier Lindsay Vonn. "It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack."

If some people don't identify with what Woods has been through for the last 40 months, then perhaps they're lucky. But they're also not like a lot of us. It's hard to find a life that never blew up. If that weren't true, all the helping professions would be out of work.

With his back-to-back, always-in-command two-stroke wins at Doral and last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods has now won six times in his last 20 PGA Tour events over a 53‑week span and is, indeed, No 1 on earth again.

Some of his post-victory quotes to the press almost sounded like they were meant to have double meanings. "It feels good right now. I'm getting there," he said. "I've turned some of the weaknesses I had into strengths."

When was the last time he was this happy with his golf game? "It's been a few years," he said.

It's hard not to wonder, or perhaps just hope, if he's ever been this happy being himself. When you're a golf prodigy at the age of two, have a pair of dominant stage parents and never rebel against authority at any of the conventional ages that every parent recognises, something's going to give eventually – with plenty of damage all around.

Now we're seeing the effects of healing, which needed a tonne of time, on and off the course. "If I got healthy, I know I can play this game at a high level," said Woods, now a 17-year vet at 37, after his latest win. "That was the first step in the process. Once I got there, then my game turned."

Part of his recent success is insanely good putting, like his final lag putt from 22 metres at the Arnold Palmer that stopped just before the cup, almost more of an exclamation point than if it had plunged into the hole. Great putting may last for weeks or months, but it never stays indefinitely.

Though various parts of Woods's game will disappear at times and need a search party to reclaim, Tiger is now back. As Vonn tweeted: "Number 1" with 14 exclamation points. That's about right.

Many will say Woods has to win another major championship to finish this whole cycle of crash, burn and recover since winning the 2008 US Open. That's true. However, it's hard to imagine that Woods won't win more majors, even if he fails to capture his sixth Masters at Augusta next week.

What we have all regained is a resumption of the greatest career-long saga in contemporary sports: Wood's pursuit of Jack Nicklaus's 18 major titles. That record went from unassailable to almost-sure-to-broken after Tiger got his 14th major at just 32. Now the probability of a 19th major may be teetering perfectly balanced on many knife points.

How many years will Woods's injuries, and surgeries on top of old surgeries, especially to his left knee, allow him to play at his current level? Will the new Woods, who has replaced everyone from his inner circle, who choked up while apologising for his infidelities, who fell to 52nd in the world and who has collapsed when in contention in recent majors, have to go through the same wall as a far younger player trying for major No 1?

Is the doubt-free Old Tiger still available in moments of crisis to New Tiger? We all know the answer to that. He's not. No Sunday at a major will ever look easy again for him. That just ups the drama.

Finally, does Woods believe, deep down, that he deserves golf's greatest distinction? Guilt could trip him, even guilt toward the game he damaged more than that fire hydrant outside his home in 2009. But it's just as likely that he feels pride in facing so many crises and emerging as his own reformed man.

Many champions have said that a prerequisite to winning majors is the state of your golf, but the rest of the battle is the state of your psyche. Where is Tiger's? A relationship with someone as accomplished and respected as Vonn may hint that Woods is not sabotaging himself.

If Woods had never regained his golf gifts, it would have been a pitiable example of a fate so harsh it exceeded any of his misbehaviour. Now, after more than four years of waiting, that has changed.

"I'm really excited about the rest of this year," Woods said last week. He means far more than that. His 40 months in a self-inflicted, mid-life re-examination have left Woods a more complex, flawed and vulnerable man, but a no less fascinating protagonist. Now, the golf world can't wait for the rest of his year – no, his whole career – to resume.

• This article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from the Washington Post

(Via Sport: Tiger Woods | guardian.co.uk)