Went looking for a new putter today (not that there’s anything wrong with the current one), and couldn’t believe the different styles available.. I’m sure there’s a few little green men somewhere plotting the downfall of Ping for stealing their spaceship.

I’m currently using a cheap Anser style blade, and putting pretty good.. but now I’m curious to know if these new style of putters are any better?

Does it depend on your putting stroke, or are they for players who get the yips? And what would people recommend for someone who likes the look of a more traditional putter?

Went looking for a new putter today (not that there’s anything wrong with the current one), and couldn’t believe the different styles available.. I’m sure there’s a few little green men somewhere plotting the downfall of Ping for stealing their spaceship.

I’m currently using a cheap Anser style blade, and putting pretty good.. but now I’m curious to know if these new style of putters are any better?

Does it depend on your putting stroke, or are they for players who get the yips? And what would people recommend for someone who likes the look of a more traditional putter?

The Anser style isn’t a blade, people call it that but the old Wilson 8802 style is a real blade putter

i suggest a mallet from the odyssey range

Thanks Rinaldo,

I knew the Anser wasn’t a true blade, but couldn’t find any other way to describe it. Is there a name for the putters that fit somewhere between the true blades and the mallets (other than Anser-style)?

I’ve had a look at the Odyssey range, but I guess my question is: Is there any inherent advantage in using mallets, 2 ball putters, etc.. or if I’m happy with the style of my current putter is there an advantage to getting a new one of a similar type?

Peter – I’m a regular Anser 4 user and love it. My stand-by is an Odyssey 2-ball.

The Anser is bullet-proof. If you are confident of your putting style/technique, then you can’t go past one for feel, providing it’s in good condition. For this reason I can’t justify paying $200+ for a Scotty, no matter how much someone tries to sell it to me. They are lovely looking putters, but I see any practical difference between the two.

When I lose my mojo I like to go back to the mallet to get my swing back. Typically the worst putts when you’re having an off day is the 3-6 foot range, and that’s where I see the benefit in the mallet – allowing the clubhead to follow a line through the ball.

My recommendation is to sit on eBay and look for a cheap Anser – and in particular an Anser 4. I found this one in a Cash Converters store, so keep your eyes open, you might get lucky.

Thanks Dan,

What makes the Anser so much better than an Anser-style putter made by another company? Is it a heavy putter? (if I had a complaint about my current putter, it would be that it feels a touch light).

I might grab a cheap 2-ball as well from eBay to try as a backup.. When I’m having a bad run my misses are generally left edge from < 6 ft.

Thanks Dan,

What makes the Anser so much better than an Anser-style putter made by another company? Is it a heavy putter? (if I had a complaint about my current putter, it would be that it feels a touch light).

I might grab a cheap 2-ball as well from eBay to try as a backup.. When I’m having a bad run my misses are generally left edge from < 6 ft.

I just converted from an Anser 2x to a Scotty Cameron Newport Tei3.

For putters of the same stule there are many subtle differences, and some not to subtle.

The Scotty is way heavier, and I find that helps my stroke.

My first round with the Scotty on Saturday resulted in me making a 60-footer with my first putt, 26 putts for the round and only 16 putts the final 13 holes.

My first round with the Scotty on Saturday resulted in me making a 60-footer with my first putt, 26 putts for the round and only 16 putts the final 13 holes.

Not to discredit your efforts there Scottt (great putting btw!), but let’s wait until the traditional “Honeymoon period” ends before we take stats into account. I’m a firm believer that it takes 2-3 weeks for a new club to learn your bad habits ;)

Peter – Why the Anser? Can’t honestly say because a) I don’t know what they are made of, and b) I haven’t used a Scotty before. I have felt a Scotty and know that they are considerably heavier than my Anser. I struggle to venture past the Anser however because of the old rule – imitation is form of flattery, and what is the most copied putter design out there?

I have a Teardrop Anser copy, that is meant to be grooved to roll the ball better. The YES putters are Anser style with a C-Groove…. to roll the ball better. Both cost more than an Anser… it’s a lay-down misere really!

Scottys are definately the best putters i reckon behind the Ping redwood i just bought…..if you have a spare $400-500!

I bought mine from the U.S…I couldnt justifying spending $500 on a putter in powergolf that I could buy in the U.S for $300!

cheers

BBG

As long as you had the first $300 to spend!!

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

Peter,

There are three basic styles of putters.

‘Blade’ putters, such as the Wilson 8802 and Titleist Bullseye, have a low MOI and offer little forgiveness to off centre hits.

‘Heel-Toe Weighted’ putters, such as the Ping Anser and Never Compromise range, move some wieght out to the extremeties of the putter head. They also often have a little more offset than traditional blades. This, with the heel-toe weighting, give the putter a higher MOI and more forgiveness to off centre hits.

‘Mallet’ putters, such as the Callaway Two Ball, move the COG more rearwards. This further increases the MOI of the putter head and provides the most forgiveness of the three putter types.

The principle is the same as with the new square driver heads. The more outward and rearward the weight can be placed in the putter head, the less twisting of the face on off centre hits. It is perhaps more important with putters than drivers as most times you are better off missing the middle of the fairway by five metres than you are missing a ten foot putt by 5 inches.

Only players with good, well practiced putting strokes should look at blade putters and, even on tour, they are becoming quite rare.

I have recently reverted to a Ping Answer after the magic wore off the mallet style putter I have had in my bag for four years.

Mick

Thanks Dan,

What makes the Anser so much better than an Anser-style putter made by another company? Is it a heavy putter? (if I had a complaint about my current putter, it would be that it feels a touch light).

I might grab a cheap 2-ball as well from eBay to try as a backup.. When I’m having a bad run my misses are generally left edge from < 6 ft.

In short – price.

I use a Scotty Cameron because I am a Titleist freak, but prior to this I used an Anser 2. Apart from weight and the softness of the metal, I don’t notice a big difference. I don’t putt any better with this one, but I’ve always been a pretty solid putter anyway.

Basically the Anser is the original design, all the other companies have copied this design and made it more expensive, so if you’re not a label whore like me – the Anser is the best ‘value’

just upgraded my 20 year old Copper Beryllium Ping B60 to a Ping G5i B60… jury is still out…. taking the old one out of my bag was like leaving Jennifer Hawkins for Jessica Alba… not sure if it was the right choice!

taking the old one out of my bag was like leaving Jennifer Hawkins for Jessica Alba… not sure if it was the right choice!

Choosing between Jen and Jess? Why not take them both?!?

Seems to work for Phil and his two drivers – although in his case it’s not really a choice between Jen and Jess.. more like a choice between his wife and a black hoo…oh, never mind. I’m sure you get my point. ;)

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

How much did you spend on your last driver ???

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

How much did you spend on your last driver ???

But he hits driver further….

.... I hope.

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

How much did you spend on your last driver ???

Can’t remember the exact amount, but it was under $200. Upgraded from an old Callaway Warbird to a second-hand Titleist 983K (eBay) almost 2 years ago. Was a massive improvement in both distance and forgiveness.

But I get your point – and if I found a putter that was a significant improvement I would pay $300. That’s why I’m asking if there are advantages to using different kinds of putters, and if the expensive putters are substantially better than their cheaper versions.

taking the old one out of my bag was like leaving Jennifer Hawkins for Jessica Alba… not sure if it was the right choice!

Choosing between Jen and Jess? Why not take them both?!?

Seems to work for Phil and his two drivers – although in his case it’s not really a choice between Jen and Jess.. more like a choice between his wife and a black hoo…oh, never mind. I’m sure you get my point. ;)

The old Ping (who is older out of Jen and Jess?) is still in the office… I’ll play a few more rounds with the new one to see how I go but it is growing on me.

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

How much did you spend on your last driver ???

Can’t remember the exact amount, but it was under $200. Upgraded from an old Callaway Warbird to a second-hand Titleist 983K (eBay) almost 2 years ago. Was a massive improvement in both distance and forgiveness.

But I get your point – and if I found a putter that was a significant improvement I would pay $300. That’s why I’m asking if there are advantages to using different kinds of putters, and if the expensive putters are substantially better than their cheaper versions.

Peter,

I think it’s more important to find the style of putter that suits you than going by brand or price. I’ve got three good putters that are rotated in and out of my bag depending on my game:

1. Anser-styled Cleveland. Heavy headed design that works great when my game is on. Cost me $40 from the local tender centre.

2. Odyssey White Hot #5. A mid-mallet with a soft feel and great balance. Good for when I’m not right on top of things. Bought it for $50 from a fellow ISG’er whose name escapes me right now.

3. Macgregor V-Foil MOI 6.4k. A high-MOI putter with a great feel off the copper face. Amazingly easy to line up and judge distance with. When my game completely leaves me, I take this one out and get back some confidence. Traded another ISG’er a computer game for this one, so another cheap option.

I feel with a few options there, I can pick the design I feel most comfortable with and that suits my game best on the day, and I feel it’s really helped lower my scores a little. None of my putters cost a heap, but they’re all good, reasonably pricey putters if bought new. Keep an eye out for bargains and pick up a few different putters and experiment a bit.

Have fun!

Col

EDIT – Having a poke around on Rockbottom Golf, and they’ve got the Macgregor V-foil range for US$34 each. Cheap as chips for an awesome putter.

To use the V-Foil you have to be a) able to putt, and b) withstand sledging from others in your group. They are almost uglier than the Scotty Cameron Futura or the Ping Doc. I don’t think you can go past the origibal 2-ball for a mallet. They are still popular and likely to set you back $120-150 on Ebay locally.

Currently using a Ping Craz-e.

Looks ugly, and I do cop my share of sledging, but works better than any other putter I have ever laid hands on.

I have tried plently of other since, but nothing gives me as much confidence standing over a 3 – 6 foot putt, and playing off 14, I face a lot of putts from that distance.

Whether it cost $5 or $500 would make little difference. I tried it in a store while killing time, and walked out with it 20 minutes later.

i’m about to buy a 2-ball…for years i pretended i was a purist and wouldn’t play with anything larger than an anser.

the 2-ball has a great feel.

Couple of mates had their putting revolutionised by buying a two ball.

Both were moderate to poor with the putter, but the 2-Ball not only helps with alignment, it also helps with your putting stroke. If you take the clubhead away inside or outside with a two ball it is much more obvious that the row of 3 balls goes out of whack.

Both of them putt much better as a result.

Personally I have a Ping G2i Anser and wouldn’t swap it for anything.

Edit

test _test test test test

I would want to sink a lot of putts for $300…

How much did you spend on your last driver ???

ROFL. I was just thinking the same thing. Personally I can’t imagine I’ll ever buy another putter that doesn’t have adjustable head & butt weights like my current WS Kirk Currie. It’s now 32.5” long & still has excellent weight & feel thanks to this feature.

Went looking for a new putter today (not that there’s anything wrong with the current one), and couldn’t believe the different styles available.. I’m sure there’s a few little green men somewhere plotting the downfall of Ping for stealing their spaceship.

I’m currently using a cheap Anser style blade, and putting pretty good.. but now I’m curious to know if these new style of putters are any better?

Does it depend on your putting stroke, or are they for players who get the yips? And what would people recommend for someone who likes the look of a more traditional putter?