Bettinardi question - I want one but can't get past this!

[LPSISCO]

So I've been having some recent putter woes; generally when that happens I'll just switch to another of my stable for a different look and feel. My standard is a Piretti Firenze, and the most common alternative is a Scotty Studio Design #5. Though I have several other options (Santa Fe, JAT) just in case.

 

Anyway, my question specifically concerning Bettinardi. I'm interested in trying an Inovai 6.0 or 8.0 because I like the "fang" look. So I went to PGA SS yesterday to check them out, and other fang versions like the Mizuno, Ping and Scotty. I tried the Inovais, and a number of other Bettis that were available, and all of them (to varying degrees) have the same trait - when I set the putter flat on the ground behind the ball and loosen my grip, the toe falls to the left and the face closes so it is aimed left of the target. Under the same circumstances, the Mizuno, the Ping and my own putters don't do that - when they are sitting flat on the ground they don't move in any direction when I loosen my grip. This is how I aim my putter when I play - I put it down behind the ball, then take my stance to the putter knowing it's aimed correctly. 

 

This issue seems to be irrespective of the toe hang of the Bettinardi, though I do think the more toe hang the more it happens. But even the Inovai with the spud neck and the slant necks do it. So I am wondering if there is an adjustment that can be done to the Inovai to allow me to use it without feeling like I will be questioning my aim on every putt. What would need to be done to allow me to aim it behind the ball and the toe not "rock" forward when I release my grip?

[Motoboss]

I only have a couple face balanced putters and they seem to do the same thing, set them down and the toe turns towards the ball. My Seemore S3i I love but it does make me pull left or have to align right, so it stays home 😞 

[LPSISCO]

My Firenze and my Piretti Teramo are essentially face balanced and neither of them do it. I think it's a sole design issue but I just don't know. I love the look and feel of the Inovai but I might end up trying the Mizuno.

[WiscoLefty]

I have the 6.0 and it sits perfectly flat for me. I wonder if a lie adjustment would fix that. Maybe you’re toe up a bit and it drops when you relax? 

[LPSISCO]

It's certainly conceivable it's something I'm doing, but it only happens with Bettis. Not with my Pirettis or Scottys. Hence my dilemma. 

[nosil]

2 minutes ago, LPSISCO said:

It's certainly conceivable it's something I'm doing, but it only happens with Bettis. Not with my Pirettis or Scottys. Hence my dilemma. 

I see it happen across various putters when I don’t have it soled on the ground in the position it was built to sit.  I set up shaft vertical and it seems to happen most often when the putter was setup to have a little bit of forward press.  

[llewol007]

Don’t get it. You have already connected a bad thought with that putter and one miss on the putting green will have you blaming that specific reason as to why and next thing you know we will see that putter up on the BST section. 😂😂😂

[TWick]

So I have noticed that with the Betti's. I think its a design flaw. They don't taper the back up enough, so when you lay it flat on the ground, the back of the putter hits the ground first (since there is some loft). At least that's my theory. I recently got the 8.0 and got it bent a little more upright, which seemed to help. I have been gaming it since I got it though, and really no regrets. If anything I have to really focus to make sure the putter is square which has helped me line it up. As far as I'm concerned, no putter feels better, but this is still a huge miss by Bettinardi

[TWick]

I'll also say forward pressing helps as well

[LPSISCO]

I did notice that if I move the ball up in my stance a bit it appears to stay closer to the target line, and moving it up is probably mimicking a bit of a forward press. Hmmm. 

[LPSISCO]

59 minutes ago, llewol007 said:

Don’t get it. You have already connected a bad thought with that putter and one miss on the putting green will have you blaming that specific reason as to why and next thing you know we will see that putter up on the BST section. 😂😂😂

You are right, of course! It can’t be me missing the putt, I’m infallible!

 

As I go back through my putter history, I do remember trying a couple Bettis and selling them quickly. But I love the feel. 

[Phabs]

Adjusting the lie angle can sometimes help cure that issue.  It has with a few that I’ve owned. 

[PJE]

I had a BB39 with the same issue.  Once I noticed it, it drove me crazy. 

[Jimv]

I bought and Inovai 8.0, really loved the shape, but am selling it for the same reason, it sits closed. I love the putter but have to do to much manipulation at address.

[chadly643]

I had a TM spider ex that did this. Not to an extreme but on really firm fast greens I noticed it more. Hated that putter. Switched to SC PX 5.5 and I’m very happy with it.  

[copegolfer]

i have an Evnroll ER5 that I don't play anymore for the same reason. 

Went back to my newport2. 

 

CP

[62@Oakmont]

I’ve got the 6.0 slant neck, standard lie, and if anything I’d say it falls just slightly open.

[Tar_Heel_93]

Check the lie angle and if that does fix it you can try a piece of lead tape where it rests on the ground. Just a little added friction may fix the problem.

[LPSISCO]

After trying them yet again, it appears to be more of an issue with the 8.0 than the 6.0. I do believe the issue is the sole on the 8.0 - I can feel the back of the sole pushing the tow forward. 
 

I used electrical tape to put a black sight line on the blade of my Firenze to try today. If that aids my alignment (I am in the left eye dominance group) then I may just buy a 6.0 to throw in the rotation. And finally sell some of my old Scottys that I can’t putt with.

[jholz]

I've experienced this phenomenon with a few putters over the years - particularly with an Odyssey #7 that I still game from time to time.

 

I think there's two schools of thought here:

 

1. Endlessly searching for the one magical putter that does everything exactly the way you want it and sinks every putt

 

2. Adapting to the equipment you have at hand

 

As someone with limited resources, I'm always in the camp of #2. Scotty Cameron (or whoever) isn't going to create a putter specifically for me.

 

So, I practice religiously. I get to know the tendencies of the putters I use. I adjust from one to another.

 

This is the bane of the recreational golfer of limited means.

 

 

[nmanoles3]

A lie angle adjustment might help, but my bet is the loft. I’ve had putters sole open and others roll shut, always seems to be that the measured loft is off from the manufactured spec.

 

If they have too much, the face hoods closed (by lowering the back sole/flange).

By decreasing loft, you can raise the back and lower the front edge to keep it square.
Good luck!