I have been looking for a new putter for the last 2 months, visiting heaps of golf shops and trying most brands and types. One thing that has stood out more than everything else is the price. Being an engineer in my early life, I can see the value in irons and most drivers for the price, technology, research etc, etc. But putters are a different story its like just because it the most used club in your bag they charge ridiculous prices.

I see other companies have cottoned onto this as well, there is a lot of companies that only sell putters. So watch out all, I am going to get out my CAD program and design my own. Keep an eye open for “Doc Golf” Putters coming to a store near you in early 2050.

Yes 2050, it is going to the list of my other things to do.

May your putts drop like Paul Briggs

Doc Golf

I paid $120 for a Odyssey Marxman blade putter, and am REALLY happy with the purchase. It’s miles ahead of the cheaper putter I used to have, and even just looking at it you can see the quality of the club.

Hey Doc – I think you can find a good putter for a reasonable price. I picked up a Wilson staff blade putter about 2 years ago for $70 and it has been a great investment, tried out all the others but the blade worked the best for me.

I agree some putters are overpriced but then again SOME do go through the same forging processes as irons, which can add to the cost not to mention that most of these putter companies still have to pay the pros huge amount to use their putters.

I do want to try the Odyssey WHT #9 :) have you tried it?

You use your driver maybe 12-13 times a round and people are happy to pay $600 for it, however they object to paying maybe half the price for a club you’ll use more than twice as often on the course.

Makes perfect sense!

That’s because long drive = long schlong. Long putt = lucky.

hmmm see guys that spend $500 on a driver and spray it in the bush all day…never seen anyone spray putts with scotty cameron in the bush!!

I believe in spending decent cash on a putter and wedges as club golf is all about he short game

My scotty cameron california del mar cost me $350..since buying it have won the gross 3 times and won 2 netts in 1 year..cap from 9.4 to 6.9

this putter gives me confidence and it doesnt have dead spots either…I look forward to getting t the green so the “scotty gets to play”

my whole attiitude to golf has changed in 1 year after reading bob Rotella and buting the scotty C

have had many guys in our club pick it up on the pratcice greens and like it straight away

that said odyssey, ping and yes make great putters also….rife also make decent putters too and they are a good price

and please dont give me that crap about 20 paso’s K mart putters

I dont think you need to spend $300 but really cheap n nasty putetrs can be ok untill you use a decent putter than you’ll never go back

driver you hit what 10 times a round?...a putter 30-35…no brainer to me to invest and try to find a really good one…...

That’s because long drive = long schlong. Long putt = lucky.

Classic…

And true…

and please dont give me that crap about 20 paso’s K mart putters

I dont think you need to spend $300 but really cheap n nasty putetrs can be ok untill you use a decent putter than you’ll never go back

driver you hit what 10 times a round?...a putter 30-35…no brainer to me to invest and try to find a really good one……

Mine was $29, I think. A bit hard to remember the actual cost when it’s so insignificant.
I use my driver 14 times each round (at home course) and my putter around 30, but I’m not expecting the putter to send the ball hundreds of metres.

That’s because long drive = long schlong. Long putt = lucky.

I’m sure my putter is called a “Long John”, is that the same?

Here we go again….the old saying (coulda been the Hakowies)....”you use your driver 10-14 times and your putter 30+ times in a round so you should spend more on your putter”. I’m willing to bet me right testicle (lost the lefty in a bet) that phrase was coined by a bloke in a golf shop paid to sell golf clubs. And how many suckers have bought it…..god only knows. At a pinch I can putt with my driver, but I doubt I could smack my putter 200 metres down the middle. Here’s another one for ya…...”a cheap putter will still knock the ball in the hole but a cheap driver will probably only go about 75% as far as a Ping/Callaway/Taylormade”. I won’t go on about…..so…..end of rant.

True but it’s all about using what you feel confident with, whether talking putters, Driver, wedges etc. If you feel confident (and get good results) with a cheaper product, well – good luck to you.

I use my driver 14 times each round (at home course) and my putter around 30, but I’m not expecting the putter to send the ball hundreds of metres.

So by that theory…you’ll spend $500 on a driver because of distance, but object to spending the same cash on a putter because you don’t mind missing putts.

Correct?

My driver was expensive – around $200. Missing putts has little to do with the putter (club) and heaps to do with the putter (person).

One can be just as confident with a cheap flatstick as he can with a beautiful, shiny, expensive one. It’s all in the mind, or haven’t you heard that before?

So by your theory you can be a great driver of the ball with a rubbish golf swing?

Also, you can be a good putter with a club that might not be square to where you are trying to hit the ball?

I love that people are worried about the set up of the rest of their clubs, but not their putter because it is all about the person.

What crap. Agreed you can be a crap putter due to technique, however you can be a crap putter as well because your equipment is rubbish too.

I think the putter is the most important club in the bag. I have a ping redwood zing which cost a bit under $400.00. It was worth every penny. I have recently just given it a rest as my putting stroke is breaking a big and I had to go back to my old putter that helps with stability, it’s a Odyssey Marxman Blade.

Had a bash with a mates Yamada www.yamadamilled.com, man those things are nice.I believe they tip the scales at about $500.00

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

http://www.exoticsgolf.com
http://www.theprofessorofpu...

A bad tradesman blames his tools. Of course, if the tool is faulty, get a new one. But it doesn’t have to be the most expensive on the market if a cheaper one does the job just as well.

If you’re rolling in cash, by all means spend up big and spread the wealth.

So why the expensive driver then? By your theory it doesn’t matter what you drive the ball with, you should be able to hit it great. Anything otherwise is being “a bad tradesman”.

Seriously…a shot is a shot is a shot. A bad drive can cost you an extra shot, but a 3 putt is just as bad (maybe even worse). The drive can be put down to the driver but the 3 putt can’t be put down to the putter?

I love my Odyssey White Ice 9, half the price of the equivalent SC and I feel just as good with it.

The Scotty I really wanted to love and I really wanted to have an SC but I couldnt justify the expense after trialling both. Mind you the subconscious almost guilted me into buying an SC.

I love the #9 so much I am thinking about getting it customised by that fella in Melbourne…

Echo that dave1….quality putter with Dr Bob in your head…..I now enjoy putting more than any other part of my game…...except maybe an 80m wedge that hops and stops for a tap in.

Buy this putter, they are relatively cheap and frankly are the best putter ever made…accept no substitutes, these putters blow SC. Odyssey, Ping…everything out of the water and are only $1000000.

End of discussion, thanks for coming seeya later, bye bye…try the veal.

If everyone were to read the original post Doc was referring to the price of a putter relative to the R&D, technology, material it’s made from etc , not it’s value as a tool of the trade.

Drivers have come a long way from persimmon, irons from butter knife blades etc whereas putters are mostly variations on quite old themes which (correct me if I’m wrong) are pretty easy to manufacture.

DocGolf, good luck with your putter designing and building operation – I’d love to try one of your first creations.

I’m no expert, but I don’t think there is much profit in custom putters when you consider the time, materials and overheads that go into each putter. These figures are a rough estimate and there may be many other processes I am unaware of.

SS or carbon billet – $30-60 (dependent upon size of head and neck type)
cnc milling – 1 hour, plus wear on tools, power.
decent shaft $10-15
decent grip $10-15
altering lie/loft angles – up to 1 hour
sightline engraving and stamping – up to 1 hour
paintfill – 30 mins
cutting to size, shafting and gripping – 30 mins plus tape, epoxy, and solvent
packing, driving to post office – 1 hour plus box, bubble-wrap, tape, petrol
applying finish – $20

Costing labour at $40 per hour, basic costs for a regulation milled custom putter are around the $250-$300 mark. If you want a unique or altered design then throw in another couple of hours coming up with a CAD design and programming the new cnc pattern.

These costs are obviously vastly reduced when you are talking about a mass-production run (e.g. all of the ‘big name’ brands – Ping, Odyssey, Nike, Rife, Bettinardi, any Cameron under $1000).

In my opinion, these mass-produced, off-the-rack putters are well overpriced at anything above $250. However, individual custom-made putters from Byron, Nead, TP Mills, Slighter, C&L, Machine, SSB, or Australia’s Kari Lajosi have every right to be priced around the $350-400 mark.

The attention to detail and personalized specs and finish of a custom putter ensure a putter that is not only better built but also better suited to your stroke than any similar mass-produced model.

Suggesting that putters haven’t advanced any technology-wise is pretty ignorant. Putting today has never been easier due to advances on the face (plastic inserts, cushioning behind the face and milling to reduce spin), alignment (the 2-ball wasn’t revolutionary at all?), weight and balance…

But you are right – I’m sure getting those things right prior to going to market costs bugger all…

My $40 Carbite mallet putts much better than my mates $300 Scotty….IMHO, Scottys are purely for the bling factor!!!

My $40 Carbite mallet puts much better than my mates $300 Scotty….IMHO, Scottys are purely for the bling factor!!!

HUUUGGE Ben Hogan Fan!!!

Absolutely spot on Wodda

Too all the naysayers….......bet you all don’t drive Kia …...........your just tightarses trying to justify your lack of investment in a quality product…...but you probably do buy bags and balls at Kmart….....so go figure…........your all just a bunch of mixed up enigma’s