Cleveland HB soft premier putter line- anyone roll them yet?

[9ironiscash]

Hi Guys,

Looking at the new Cleveland HB soft premier putter line that just hit retail this past weekend.  Cant find any reviews on the line yet.  Anyone try them out yet?  I would be purchasing blind (coming from a Spider x mallet and looking to go back to a blade- prior used a Redwood ZB), and am a lefty so would be looking specifically at the #4 blade model.   From what i gather, outside of the finish and other cosmetics, its basically the regular HB putter, so any comments from that line would be very helpful. Thanks!

[Twism86]

Just saw this post after making one about the Mizuno. Im looking for a all metal milled face putter for a better price than a Scotty and the like, this putter seems to fit what im looking for! 

[MaineMariner]

The Premier line is $30 more than the regular HB Soft. It looks like the putters are exactly the same as the regular satin HB Soft, but black. The additional head designs in the "Premier" line (#3, #4) were also just released in satin recently. So basically, I'm unsure what the extra $30 is for.

[storm3]

The satin HB Soft line is essentially a relaunch of the HB Soft line from a few years ago with a few new shapes. The Premier line are the same with a different finish, stock grip, and black shaft. 

[tomuch23]

They also use lamkin sink fit grips for the premier line. A very nice upgrade from the regular hb line. 

[enfuego]

What are the thoughts on the s.o.f.t. milling tech? Feel, speed control? 

 

I didn't like the original super deep milling on the regular HB series. It felt very soft compared to the 2012 select I game which I think is a firm putter. 

[SCOTT4099]

Just picked up the 4 model as I like the more square anser 2 shape. Only rolled it in the shop, distance control was consistent and predictable. I will report back when I can get to the real practice green later this week....it also feels solid as well...

Edited August 26, 2020 by SCOTT4099

[coops]

They look and feel like a bargain... got a friend to buy the #8, and since I also like shat squareback shape (and NOT a plumber's neck hosel), I hope to give it a try on a course soon...

 

The variable face milling looks cool and should be as sueful as the Evnroll variable grooves, which is nice... very good looking dark matte grey head, black shaft and a good oversize Lamkin grip - really good value it seems to me at around equivalent of $125 here in Thailand.

 

I'm waiting for a wristlock superstroke grip... so we'll see - for those in the US you can customize that Cleveland putter for a pittance, and so get the extar 2" or whateve rin length for the wristlock grip and even adjust the loft aswell as cosmetic options...

[achappy]

Any idea if the Lamkin Sink grips are the rubber or the polyurethane?  Makes a big difference in the overall balance since the mallet heads are heavy.

[tomuch23]

Rubber 

[9ironiscash]

Just took the plunge and ordered a #4 blind; for the price it was worth the gamble. Hoping it works out! 

[Bubb]

I’m seriously considering the 10.5 center shaft. I really like the new PVD finish and I’m a fan of the Lamkin Sinkfit grip.

Edited September 5, 2020 by Bubb

[deadon500]

Not the premier ---  but  just got a #11  2 weeks ago and love  it   ...........

[NativeTxn]

I've seen a couple of short for me 33" ones in my local PGA store. Feel and roll the same as the regular Soft chrome finishes, but I do prefer the looks of the Premier.

 

I just ordered one direct from Cleveland as I need a 36" with 2* flat, so I'm looking forward to hopefully having it sometime the week of the 14th (fingers crossed) and will report back.

[9ironiscash]

Just got my #4 in today and took it to the practice green for an hour. Love the finish on this putter.  Very anti-glare. Putter sets up very square and I love the stock skinny grip. A very minor gripe is where the alignment line is, you can see a VERY SMALL discontinuation of the line where the step in the back of the putter is. Not that it isn’t one solid line, but if u look closely there’s almost an appearance that the paint is a bit blobby there if that makes sense. Not a big deal at all but hard to unsee once you notice it haha. 
 

LOVE the feel off the face. Soft but not mushy to point of having to kill the ball to get it to the hole. That was an issue I felt with the sigma 2, and this is much better in that department. Had excellent distance control, and while I did leave some short, the vast majority got to the hole and slightly past. 

 

Lots of feedback with this putter. Mishits lost little if any distance but you definitely could hear the miss.  Very impressed with the consistent distances and their tech appears to work. 
 

Classy headcover as well. Velcro is very tight to the point of feeling like it’s brushing excessively against the putter when u put it on and off, but that could just be due to newness and may loosen up a bit.  
 

Very impressed with this putter.  Feels just as good as much more expensive models, and (at least on the practice green) didn’t notice any lack of performance. Very excited to game it and glad I took the risk of buying before trying. Well done Cleveland! 

[coops]

I'd persuaded a friend to buy the #8... and we played today - he putted well with it, and I gave it a try - love the headshape and matte colour, the face feels is very good - not mushy yet quite soft, nice. The oversize Lamkin grip feels good too.... 

 

and if you're thinking about a Superstroke Wristlock grip (I tried mine today first time, 'tis marvellous) - then the good value Cleveland custom options for you in the USA means you could order the extra 3 inches or so in length I reckon you need for the wrist lock grip, and even alter the loft to suit.

Edited September 8, 2020 by coops

[jafstar]

Bought the #8 it's a step above the Wilson Infinite line in terms of feel, grip is better also. 

Overall it has the chance to replace my Odyssey 2w if on course results are as good as the practice greens. Might change the grip or add 10 grams either by tape or heavier shaft.

 

[9ironiscash]

Anyone know the best way to clean the finish on the soft premier line? I used the putter a few times, last time in wet conditions, and it’s streaked up pretty good. Don’t want to wear the finish when I clean it either, as it feels somewhat delicate as though it will wear quickly. Loving the performance. 

[MaineMariner]

I messed around with these at Golf Galaxy today. The only models without plastic on the face were the #3 and the #11s, so those were the ones I tried. A few thoughts:

 

- The face is definitely former that I expected, especially the #3. I had one of the original HB putters a few years ago and hated the mushiness. This one is obviously firmer, in a good way. I wasn't hugely impressed but I also didn't have a problem with the feel and sound. I hit a couple off the toe just to see if I could get a feel for the face tech, and those felt pretty harsh. I guess they should, though.

 

- I'm pretty meh on the looks. The sole plate thing looks really cheap. The one on the #11s was kind of bubbling in a way that made me think there was plastic covering it, but that's just the way it looks. Everything else looks good, and I guess you don't look at the sole of the putter, but still... ehhh.

 

- Overall impression is... they're fine. I think the HB line was way more interesting at the $100 price point that they used to be offered at. Now that you're in for $165-170 or something after tax, I don't know. There's a lot more competition at that price. I don't really get the extra $30 for the blacked out putters over the regular HB Soft putters. I guess the Lamkin grip would be like $20 on its own, and I do really like the grip. 

 

Edited October 4, 2020 by MaineMariner

[ShakeyT]

GolfWRX sponsored reviews right here:

 

 

[NativeTxn]

3 hours ago, MaineMariner said:

I messed around with these at Golf Galaxy today. The only models without plastic on the face were the #3 and the #11s, so those were the ones I tried. A few thoughts:

 

- The face is definitely former that I expected, especially the #3. I had one of the original HB putters a few years ago and hated the mushiness. This one is obviously firmer, in a good way. I wasn't hugely impressed but I also didn't have a problem with the feel and sound. I hit a couple off the toe just to see if I could get a feel for the face tech, and those felt pretty harsh. I guess they should, though.

 

- I'm pretty meh on the looks. The sole plate thing looks really cheap. The one on the #11s was kind of bubbling in a way that made me think there was plastic covering it, but that's just the way it looks. Everything else looks good, and I guess you don't look at the sole of the putter, but still... ehhh.

 

- Overall impression is... they're fine. I think the HB line was way more interesting at the $100 price point that they used to be offered at. Now that you're in for $165-170 or something after tax, I don't know. There's a lot more competition at that price. I don't really get the extra $30 for the blacked out putters over the regular HB Soft putters. I guess the Lamkin grip would be like $20 on its own, and I do really like the grip. 

 

There is a plastic piece that comes on the sole plate. It's hard to notice, but if it hadn't been removed already, that is likely what was causing the bubbling.

[MaineMariner]

Maybe it was plastic! I didn't really try to pick at it as it wasn't my putter. I'd love to be wrong on that, because it looked pretty bad.

[NativeTxn]

2 hours ago, MaineMariner said:

Maybe it was plastic! I didn't really try to pick at it as it wasn't my putter. I'd love to be wrong on that, because it looked pretty bad.

 

That makes sense - I'd bet that it was the piece of plastic that came on it from the factory.

[ttm27]

Bought the center shaft model and gamed it for two rounds so far .  Very solid.  Made a good amount of mid range putts and even a 20 footer for eagle.  I like the grip too.  So far so good but putters usually don’t last long in my house 😀