Putters on Parade

It’s six months since we featured a putter. Time to put that right–here are five of 2020’s top rollers so far.

By Tony Dear

Odyssey Stroke Lab Triple Track

Triple Track debuted on Phil Mickelson’s Callaway Chrome Soft ball early last year, and the alignment tool–two blue stripes on either side of a thicker red line–has now transitioned to Odyssey putters. There are seven models–2-Ball, 2-Ball Blade, Marxman, Double Wide, Double Wide Flow, Ten, Ten S–all of which also feature a Microhinge insert and the Stroke Lab Shaft. The Microhinge face combines metal pieces with a firmer plastic piece to create more of a “click” sound which, says Odyssey, is appropriate for the length of putt. The multi-material shaft, meanwhile, is stiff, light graphite at the top and heavier steel at the tip. The head is heavier and weight is added to the top of the club to help the golfer create a more rhythmic, pendulum-like stroke.

$250-$300
Available: Now
odysseygolf.com

Tour Edge Exotics Wingman

The Wingman’s body is made of steel while the soleplate is carbon fiber. That saves some weight which allows the manufacturer to position more weight around the perimeter. That, of course, means a high Moment of Inertia (MoI) making the Wingman extremely stable at impact. The MoI is increased by two interchangeable 3g weights that are screwed into the winged areas at the back of the sole. Eight and 15g weights are also available for those who wish to experiment.

The grooved, Surlyn face prevents skidding and gives a softer sound at impact, and the black KBS CT Tour Putter Shaft compliments the putterhead’s Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) finish, highlighting the alignment lines.

$200
Models: 01, 02, 03
Available: April 1^st
touredge.com

Scotty Cameron Special Select

All eight models begin as solid blocks of 303 stainless steel and are milled into shape. The blades–Newport, Newport 2 and Newport 2.5–have thin top lines and a soft, tri-sole design in which the toe and heel are raised slightly. To make the retail models more like those the pros play, the face height is reduced and more material removed from the back flange of the putter. The lost weight is replaced by heel and toe tungsten weights.

Material in the sole of the four mallets–Flowback 5, Flowback 5.5, Fastback 1.5, Squareback 2–is removed and replaced by 6061 aluminum, pushing weight to the extremes of the putterhead and thus enhancing the putter’s stability.

The popular, solid-sole Del Mar shape returns and, like its stablemates, has no insert or vibration-dampening material. The Special Select range has a raw, glare-resistant stainless steel finish and a single, black alignment line.

$400
Available: Now
scottycameron.com

TaylorMade Truss

Defined as a “framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure,” a truss makes a structure stable. TaylorMade has incorporated the concept into a line of putters creating more horizontal stiffness and thus, greater stability.

Because the Truss is aligned with the blade, it disappears from view when you address the ball. That means mallet-like MoI in a classically-shaped putter. The Surlyn insert gives a fairly “quiet” sound, and downward-facing grooves help generate a smooth roll.

$300
Available: Now
taylormadegolf.com

Ping Heppler

Named for Rick Heppler, a company employee for nearly 50 years, the Heppler range features nine models–two blades and seven mid-mallets or mallets. The blades are made entirely of steel but feature a copper-colored top line to match the rest of the family and which works as an alignment aid. The mallets are cast from ADC12 Aluminum which, Ping says, is 10% softer than 6061 Aluminum. The rest of the head is made of steel (the aluminum is colored black, the steel copper).

The idea, as we have seen above, is to increase the weight around the perimeter of the putter and thus create a higher MoI.

The Heppler with the highest MoI is the Tomcat 14, whose weight is divided equally–half aluminum, half steel. The toe and heel rails are one ball width apart and have white dots running down their length to simulate the lights of an airport runway, aiding alignment.

Each Heppler putter has a smooth face to promote a form feel, and comes standard with an adjustable black chrome shaft. A tool inserted into the grip can adjust the length of the putter from 32 to 36 inches.

$245-$270
Models: Anser 2, Fetch, Floki, Ketsch, Piper Armlock, Piper C, Tomcat 14, Tyne 3, ZB3
Available: Now
ping.com

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