Most overrated and underrated putter brands

[TiScape]

Okay, first time I’m seeing this thread and haven’t read even a single post. To anyone that has gone through all 5 pages tell me if I’m right plz.

Scotty Cameron has the most ‘overrated’ posts/votes. 

 

Realize I’m going out on a pretty sturdy branch here! 😂 

[J13]

1 hour ago, iteachgolf said:

Generally it’s the opposite. Guys go lighter at Augusta and heavier at The Open for a reason

Yep

[TiScape]

1 hour ago, TiScape said:

Okay, first time I’m seeing this thread and haven’t read even a single post. *To anyone that has gone through all 5 pages tell me if I’m right plz.

Scotty Cameron has the most ‘overrated’ posts/votes. 

 

Realize I’m going out on a pretty sturdy branch here! 😂 

Never mind. Got through page 2 and was even “righter” than I expected! 🤣

Edited December 29, 2024 by TiScape

[CPT_LHR_ATL]

26 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Never mind. Got through page 2 and was even “righter” than I expected! 🤣

Did you guess LAB as the most underrated, too?

 

You're a genius.

[TiScape]

Just now, CPT_LHR_ATL said:

Did you guess LAB as the most underrated, too?

 

You're a genius.

If LAB are underrated it’s not from anyone on WRX!  😆 Member in one thread said they turn water into wine! 🍷 

 

cheers 🍻 

[TiScape]

17 minutes ago, CPT_LHR_ATL said:

Did you guess LAB as the most underrated, too?

 

You're a genius.

Now that we have discussed the obvious.

To seriously answer most underrated.

Id feel good saying Mizzy. Super solid fit/finish and essentially nobody mentions em. 

[bcjim]

Just reading this too.  Scotty for sure, I don't get it. No doubt they are fine putters but.. I'm a decent putter and I have putted well with an incredible variety of inexpensive junk and premium gear.

[J13]

1 hour ago, bcjim said:

Just reading this too.  Scotty for sure, I don't get it. No doubt they are fine putters but.. I'm a decent putter and I have putted well with an incredible variety of inexpensive junk and premium gear.

People like products that have a proven track record of success.   I agree though.

[ScooterMcTavish]

20 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

Generally it’s the opposite. Guys go lighter at Augusta and heavier at The Open for a reason

Remember reading in an old Golf magazine article in the 1980s how the pros would get ready for Augusta by hitting putts off the heel of the putter versus the centre to get less "oomph" on them.

 

I have tried this various times on faster greens, and it works pretty darn well, at least with a heel shafted putter.

[Shilgy]

On 12/29/2024 at 2:04 PM, iteachgolf said:

Generally it’s the opposite. Guys go lighter at Augusta and heavier at The Open for a reason

I’ve always read the opposite.  Which would explain why as greens in general get faster the putter head weight has gotten heavier over the years.

 

That said what players switch ?  Seems most players play the same putter at all venues.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Shilgy

[iteachgolf]

52 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

I’ve always read the opposite.  Which would explain why as greens in general get faster the putter head weight has gotten heavier over the years.

 

That said what players switch ?  Seems most players play the same putter at all venues.

Then you’ve read wrong.  Heavier putters increase ball speed and would be opposite of what you want and is done.  Lots of guys switch. Others swap weight or add lead tape for The Open. Tiger is a good example. Bubba Watson another. All the tour players playing my putters have heavier and lighter versions of the same putters. Identical in every way except weight.  

[dmecca2]

10 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

Then you’ve read wrong.  Heavier putters increase ball speed and would be opposite of what you want and is done.  Lots of guys switch. Others swap weight or add lead tape for The Open. Tiger is a good example. Bubba Watson another. All the tour players playing my putters have heavier and lighter versions of the same putters. Identical in every way except weight.  

He's actually correct. Generally players go heavier for faster greens and lighter for slower greens. The players you listed, Tiger included, are opposite of the norm. That's why head weight has generally increased over the last 15 years.

 

The idea is that a heavier putter you don't have to take it as far back to achieve consistent distance control, which is paramount on faster greens. The shorter the stroke, the more consistency.

 

"Edel Golf fitters like me believe golfers should use a heavier putter on fast greens than they do on slow greens. Now, I am sure you’re thinking that it should be the complete opposite, but here is why we believe what we do. The equation for kinetic energy is expressed by “one half the mass multiplied by the square of the velocity,” E=.5MV^2, which shows that the velocity of the stroke has a greater impact on energy than the mass of a putter. This being said, golfers will swing a heavy putter slower than a light putter, thus being advantageous on fast greens. A light putter will serve golfers well on days when the green speeds are slower."

-quick search found an article on this site. Scouring the internet though, opinions are mixed and there are differing thoughts, but the general consensus seems to be heavier for fast greens, lighter for slow.

Edited December 31, 2024 by dmecca2

[iteachgolf]

24 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

He's actually correct. Generally players go heavier for faster greens and lighter for slower greens. The players you listed, Tiger included, are opposite of the norm. That's why head weight has generally increased over the last 15 years.

 

The idea is that a heavier putter you don't have to take it as far back to achieve consistent distance control, which is paramount on faster greens. The shorter the stroke, the more consistency.

 

"Edel Golf fitters like me believe golfers should use a heavier putter on fast greens than they do on slow greens. Now, I am sure you’re thinking that it should be the complete opposite, but here is why we believe what we do. The equation for kinetic energy is expressed by “one half the mass multiplied by the square of the velocity,” E=.5MV^2, which shows that the velocity of the stroke has a greater impact on energy than the mass of a putter. This being said, golfers will swing a heavy putter slower than a light putter, thus being advantageous on fast greens. A light putter will serve golfers well on days when the green speeds are slower."

-quick search found an article on this site. Scouring the internet though, opinions are mixed and there are differing thoughts, but the general consensus seems to be heavier for fast greens, lighter for slow.

Simply not true.  Feel free to ask the Scientist at ping. Or you can ask David Orr or Phil Kenyon.  With players at the highest levels there isn’t a debate.  As you increase weight you see an improvement in start line and a decrease in speed control.  Heavier putters increase ball are sacrificing speed control to improve start line, they’ve gotten heavier because of how putters are sold (short putts hit indoors). On tour putters trend significantly lighter than at retail. It’s why you see inserts and deep milling, to offset the increase in putter weight in an attempt to get speed control back.  

[dmecca2]

4 minutes ago, iteachgolf said:

Simply not true.  Feel free to ask the Scientist at ping. Or you can ask David Orr or Phil Kenyon.  With players at the highest levels there isn’t a debate.  As you increase weight you see an improvement in start line and a decrease in speed control.  Heavier putters increase ball are sacrificing speed control to improve start line, they’ve gotten heavier because of how putters are sold (short putts hit indoors). On tour putters trend significantly lighter than at retail. It’s why you see inserts and deep milling, to offset the increase in putter weight in an attempt to get speed control back.  

I know you know your stuff and I love what you do, and I know there are differing opinions on the subject so I'm not going to dispute what you say, but I'm just echoing what I read in articles and what I've typically heard. But like most things with putting, its all a personal feel thing. And my experience with tour and better players I've talked to is that they will believe almost anything you tell them if it gives them hope that they will putt better.

[mshills]

12 hours ago, Shilgy said:

I’ve always read the opposite.  Which would explain why as greens in general get faster the putter head weight has gotten heavier over the years.

 

This sounds like correlation <> causation.

 

Yes, putter heads have gotten heavier over the last 60 years.

 

Yes, greens have gotten much faster over the last 60 years.

 

But the latter did not necessarily cause the former.

 

I think I initiated this debate…my preference is a lighter putter during the off season when our greens are slow.  I hate heavy sledgehammer putters any time of year because my ballstriking sucks and I have lots of long lag putts.  I don’t like the deep milling feel or most inserts because softer is not necessarily better.

 

Take my preferences with a big spoon of salt, as I’m no Tour pro. 😉 

[PEI_Golfer]

As with the vast majority, retail scotty's being embarrassingly over rated.  Toulon is ho hum.

 

Underrated, Cleveland forged putters for the price point, and I'm partial to Yes forged putters and the older Betti Black Carbons.

[is1ander]

2024 Toulons are nice. Diamana shaft puts them into top tier IMO.

[stevegp]

Underrated: definitely Cleveland. I also played a Yes Callie for years, which was underrated and performed well for me.

[J_Tizzle]

Most overrated I have to say Scotty Cameron, just form personal experience (and honestly Odyssey seems kinda meh too).

 

Underrated, and I'm biased, but I think its Bobby Grace.  Not necessarily his putters being anything revolutionary (except the F22) but the insert he has is without a doubt the best insert ever made in my opinion.  The speed the ball rolls off the face and consistency is so incredible.  

[AverageGopher]

Personally, I could probably use an off the rack putter that's 30 years old and shoot the same score.  If you have arc, use an arc putter, if not, a mallet, and you'll shoot the same whether it's $20 or $1000 (if you're an average golfer like me).

[me05501]

Not sure if LAB putters are overrated but they definitely seem to be overhyped (starting with the claims from the manufacturer on down to end users).

 

I think the hype makes many buyers start expecting miracles which is kind of the definition of overrated gear. 

 

The first page of the Classifieds always includes a half-dozen of them yet the used prices don't seem to be coming down much if at all. Eventually the newness and hype will wear off and they can go back to being "fairly rated." 

Edited January 2 by me05501

[j.a.]

On 1/1/2025 at 12:08 AM, dmecca2 said:

I know you know your stuff and I love what you do, and I know there are differing opinions on the subject so I'm not going to dispute what you say, but I'm just echoing what I read in articles and what I've typically heard. But like most things with putting, its all a personal feel thing. And my experience with tour and better players I've talked to is that they will believe almost anything you tell them if it gives them hope that they will putt better.

I use a fairly heavy putter, however in my club, the greens were prepared like glass before Xmas, I switched to a lighter putter and it was a disaster. Due to holidays, greens got slow and my heavy putter didn’t feel right. When physics come to play and you use same velocity for all strokes, mass is a difference but sometimes feel of some players doesn’t agree with physics.

 

Anyway, back to the thread subject:

 

Overrated: 

Scotty, especially the GSS which is an Acushnet’s trademark with successful marketing. I have to admit that the old ones are good, like the California series. 

 

Underrated: 

Any artisan custom putters that cost less than any big brands OTR

[Riczilla]

On 12/12/2024 at 7:00 PM, MCCA said:

Yes Golf Dawn Model period end of story.

 

[J13]

I'd say Edel ARRAY putters.  More versatile than anything else out there and 1025 Carbon Steel

[golfheaven69]

On 1/2/2025 at 12:34 PM, me05501 said:

Not sure if LAB putters are overrated but they definitely seem to be overhyped (starting with the claims from the manufacturer on down to end users).

 

I think the hype makes many buyers start expecting miracles which is kind of the definition of overrated gear. 

 

The first page of the Classifieds always includes a half-dozen of them yet the used prices don't seem to be coming down much if at all. Eventually the newness and hype will wear off and they can go back to being "fairly rated." 

At the sale price they must have hype and good marketing. 

[jamiesd]

overrated.  Scotty's off the shelve

underrated  Cleveland and Yes and Never Compromise