Heavy Putter
We've all heard the saying 'Drive for show, putt for dough'.
And for golfers that suffer from nervous hands or the yips, they know how frustrating it can be to play a decent game only to lose strokes on the green. If putting is not your strong suit, take heart. There is finally new putter technology available that addresses this. If you need to turn a nervous unconfident stroke into a smooth pendulum stroke, you'll definitely want to take a closer look at Heavy Putter, and here's why.
The head of a normal putter generally weighs between 325 to 350 grams. The Heavy Putter head is between 450 and 550 grams. Also, a 250 gram weight has been inserted into the upper shaft. This shifts the balance point higher up the shaft.
In addition, Heavy Putter incorporates extreme heel-toe weighting which creates a much higher moment of inertia. This means the putter will resist twisting on off center hits and produce straighter putts.
Heavy Putter also offers a separate weight kit which permits you to fine tune the heel-toe weighting to customize it to the individual. You can actually alter the swing path by changing the heel and toe weights and correct a slight swing flaw.
Here are the advantages of the design changes we've discussed.
We now have a much heavier mass (around 2 pounds!!) which disengages the small muscles (namely the wrists) and puts into play the larger muscles of the chest and shoulders.
This promotes more of a pendulum stroke which is much more consistent. Also, the higher balance point helps to prevent wrist action in the stroke. The heavier head produces a much softer feel and muted sound at impact. The extreme heel-toe weighting serves to improve distance control and accuracy for off center hits.
Heavy Putter is offered in six models, consisting of 2 head shapes and 3 hosel designs.
All are available in right or left handed models. Cosmetically the putter has very clean lines and has quite a bold look. For this review, I chose model B3 which has a mallet style head and a double bend shaft. I must say the sheer weight took a little getting used to. But after just a few holes, I was very comfortable with this putter. If you like a muted, very soft feel off the face, you'll love this one.
True to the company’s claims, the wrists are taken out of the stroke. After a very few putts, you can actually feel the large muscles doing the work. I found it to be deadly on those short knee knockers. If you get it started on line, the weight of it will keep you on line. The pendulum stroke is very smooth and you can feel it going straight back and straight thru.
The bottom line is line is that I think this is some radical new technology that could make a serious difference in your game if putting has been an issue for you.
What if all of a sudden you had confidence in putting anything under ten feet.
How many of those would you make? Better check this one out!
KZG Gemini Drivers
The Gemini prototype was introduced in 2003 with a relatively small quantity being produced. As a dealer, I purchased one only to find out within a few months that the USGA had ruled it as non-conforming, even though the driver did not exceed the .830 COR (coefficient of restitution). At this point I lost interest as most of my customers prefer a conforming product. At the very least most guys play in a home course (USGA governed) club championship.
I ended up giving this driver to a good friend as payment for a favor he had done for me. This guy is about a 12 handicap with the driver not being his strong suit.
Drives were usually weak fades to slices. To make a long story short, the Gemini changed his game. His drives became much longer and he started hitting a very decent percent of fairways. In turn he started having much easier shots into greens and GIR increased as well. This peaked my interest but still not enough to deal with the non-conforming issue.
Then in 2004 KZG appealed the ruling and won a reversal. At that point I made myself one and it has been in the bag ever since.
The Gemini is named for its twin face technology. The second plate behind the forged titanium outer face adds stability and rigidity, creating a much larger sweet spot.
The bottom line is that on off center hits, you don't lose much distance and in some cases any. Also, the tendancy is to hit the ball straighter.
I can tell you from personal experience that I have hit off center shots and immediately said 'Darn It' (or something like that) only to hear guys in my foursome saying 'nice shot' at the same time. I looked up and was amazed at how well the ball had traveled, both accuracy and distance-wise, even though I could tell from the feel that it was a mishit
(don't ruin a good shot with your mouth!).
Gemini comes in 355cc, 395cc and 460cc and 9, 10.5, 12 and 14 degree lofts. It is available in midnight black or a steel blue. The Gemini looks pleasing at address and has a very satisfying sound when hit properly.
The only draw back is if you are wanting to work the ball. The twin face technology fights you a bit but fades or draws are not impossible.
At any rate, find a qualified clubfitter and try this one out.
It may make a difference in you game as well!
Wishon 321 LI Hybrid Irons
First a word about Wishon. He has authored 5 books and literally hundreds of magazine articles on clubmaking and clubfitting in his twenty plus years in the industry.
Tom has long been recognized as the most knowledgeable source of technical info in the field and has more than 40 golf equipment design "firsts", including the first titanium woods offered in the U.S. Wishon has formed his own company and now offers his designs to professional clubmakers all over the world.
Now a word of caution. All long iron hybrids are not created equal.
Many of these designs end up with more of a wood distance than iron distance.
If you are replacing traditional 3 and 4 irons with hybrids it makes sense that you would want comparable distances to the irons you replaced. You wouldn't want a gap in your yardage of say a 5 iron to a 5 wood.
The 321 is designed to fit in with any set of traditional irons.
The heads weigh the same as traditional irons.
They are designed to be built to the same length as traditional irons,
and the setup at address is much more like a normal iron than most hybrids.
Another design feature is that these were built to accept a 0.335" tip shaft which is the size normally seen in woods.
The smaller diameter tip helps to create a higher launch angle.
The design of this head also pulls the center of gravity further back.
These two features give you the end result of a 3 iron that plays at an average 3 iron distance but provides a much higher shot that lands softly on the green. Cool, huh!
Heads are available in these to replace the 1 thru 6 irons.
They are finished in a dark metallic grey that looks great.
An attractive headcover is available and I warn you this is a must.
These clubs are at a level in your bag close to the irons and even the best
paint job will chip when banged around in a golf bag.
As far as hitting them, I have personally found more success when hitting
with more of a descending blow.
When I have the mindset that I'm hitting a traditional iron,
the shots are high, straight, and of consistent distance shot after shot.
My only misses with these clubs come when I start trying to sweep like
I'm playing a fairway wood.
Of course, this is my personal experience. You should experiment.
Just as 1 and 2 irons are seldom seen these days, the 3 iron is fast becoming obsolete.
The 4 may not be too many years behind it. We're even seeing more hybrids pop up on tour.
If you feel you're a traditionalist and can't imagine not having 3-pw in the bag, I give you this challenge.
Find a qualified Wishon golf dealer (www.wishongolf.com).
Hit a series of shots with your 4 iron and look at the results (ideally on a launch monitor).
Now test the 321 4 iron and compare the results. I can almost guarantee you won't believe the difference.
If you're tired of fighting your long irons and dread the times you have to pull them out of the bag,
you should give these a try.
You are sure to move the fun meter up a notch each round of golf you play!
VooDoo Daddy Putter by Never Compromise
The version I chose is 35" and center shafted with a slight offset. Belly and long versions are also available.
This is another model in the growing list of high moment of inertia putters we are seeing pop up.
This one is very easy to draw back. You have the sensation that if you're on line, this putt has to go in.
If you have a pendulum stroke, you'll love the feel of this one. It is effortless to take it back perfectly square.
Also very good feel for lag putts and deadly on 3 to 5 footers.
Cosmetically it is very clean, black, gray, and a splash of silver.
The long gray bar with a black stripe is a great visual alignment aid. Black and gray Voodoo Winn grip.
And how about Voodoo Daddy for a name!
Marketing genius---just enough mystique to convince yourself you have help with those nasty 4 footers.
On the first round I pulled Daddy out on the first green and proceeded to miss an easy five footer.
My buddies started heehawing about my obvious voodoo curse. During the course of that round I somehow
made 9 putts that ranged from 10 to 20 feet.
By the end of the round with every converted putt they were chanting in unison-----Voooooooodooooooo Daddddddddy!!!!!!!!!
Folks I think we have a winner! Thumbs up and hallelujah! |