The Club Report: Bettinardi BB-CB Putters

By Dave Wolfe

Achieving Ideal Balance

Some astute golf writer addressed the growing presence of counterbalanced putters in the current golf market with the following statement:

“2013 may indeed end up being referred to as The Year of the Counterbalanced Putter.”

That smart, insightful, attractive writer was not alone in his view either. As you read through the MyGolfSpy article on counterweighting, you found testimonials from Ping, Odyssey, TaylorMade, Boccieri Golf, Bobby Grace, and Tour Lock, that all spoke to the benefits of putting with a counterweighted putter. Will counterweighting be the anchoring answer/replacement? That’s still to be seen. However, the number of counterweighted putters in the market definitely is growing. Today we add Bettinardi to that list.

Bettinardi Becomes Balanced

About a month ago, a MyGolfSpy Club Report released the first photos of Bettinardi’s 2014 BB putter line, along with the announcement of Bettinardi’s new UK distribution. In that article, you got to take a peek at the five models that comprise the Bettinardi BB line for the now two-year product cycle. Today, we have  the other three models in the new BB line up: The BB1-CB, the BB32-CB, and the BB55-CB. What does the CB stand for? Did you read the previous paragraphs? The CB stands for counterbalanced.

General Specifications: Bettinardi BB-CB

• Models: 3
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel / 6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum (BB55)
• Finish:  Silver Satin / Champagne Bronze Anodized (BB55)
• Head Weight: 395g
• Standard Length: 38”
• Grip: Red 17” Winn (135g)
• Headcover: BB Series Red/White/Blue
• Left Handed Model: BB55
• MSRP: $350.00

Bettinardi 2014 BB-CB Models

As you can see from the specs above, Bettinardi has beefed up the head weights to 395g, from the approximately 350g standard weight. The shafts are longer, and the Winn grip a bit bulkier than the standard/midsized Pure grips found on the non-counterbalanced BB’s. There is even a lefty model in there. FWIW, the $350 price point puts the BB-CB line $50 below the price of the Scotty Cameron Dual Balanced Futura X.

Bettinardi BB1-CB

Toe Hang: 1/2 (5:00)
Stroke Fit: Slight or possible Strong Arc

First up, we have the traditionally styled BB1-CB. Now as I mentioned back in the initial BB Club Report article, the 2014 BB1 has some tweaks. The neck is longer, and positioned a bit more toward the heel. This pushes the toe hang a bit past the usual for a BB1, and well past what I would expect in a longneck blade. The BB1 should be the best candidate for the blade player looking to investigate the land of Bettinardi counterbalance.

Bettinardi BB32-CB

Toe Hang: 1/4 (4:00)
Stroke Fit: Slight Arc

Mallet dude, I give you the BB32-CB. It has a supple, round head, which when coupled to the plumbers neck, gives the BB32-CB just a touch of toe hang. It is going to feel/play a little different than the face-balanced/stub neck traditional BB-32. It definitely swings differently from my BB32-ish pride and joy, RJB1840. Somewhat related, the mallet with toe hang is another putter trend that seems to be emerging.

Bettinardi BB55-CB

Toe Hang: Face Balanced (3:00) Stroke Fit: Straight

You big aluminum beast you. Look upon the 395g majesty that is the BB55-CB! Want a high MOI mallet? Here is your putter. The BB55-CB is significantly larger than the others, but still feels very balanced. To my eye, the BB55 geometry just screams square-to-target. Alignment with the body cutouts and the three painted lines couldn’t be easier, and I think that the 90° corners at the rear add to the aiming as well. As an added bonus, the BB55-CB, and standard BB55, are the only putters in the BB line to feature the patented Bettinardi F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) face. I can gush and gush on this one. The BB55 is definitely my favorite to roll balls with.

Why is Bettinardi Making Counterbalanced Putters?

Let’s face it, that may be the easiest question to answer that I have ever written. Paraphrase that to be “Why Does a Company Make Products?” Obviously, they want to sell them and make money. I’d like to think that there is more to it though for Bettinardi, and the other companies rolling out counterbalanced putter models. I believe golf companies want golfers to play better.

Simply put, golf is a difficult game, and some golfers are lousy putters. Mechanics may be the main culprit, but if one lacks a putter that matches his or her stroke, that’s a problem. A poorly paired putter decreases your likelihood to make a putt before it ever leaves the bag. Anchoring was an answer for many, but that’s going away. That’ll be a lot of golfers looking for something new to putt with. Golf companies want to sell them a putter to fill that void, I get that. But at the core, I also believe that most golf companies are run by golfers, and as such, customers playing better golf has to enter the equation. Maybe I’m clueless, but I’ll live in my place of hope until shown otherwise.  Where did that soapbox come from?

So why did Bettinardi add the counterbalance model to the standards and the Kuchar Arm-lock models? Let’s ask Sam Bettinardi.

Constants and Trends

These three putters have once again affirmed my confidence in products bearing the name Bettinardi. The three models will likely suit the putting styles of different golfers, which is a good thing, but the three putters are identical when it comes to precision milling and quality construction. I don’t know what will come of this counterbalanced trend, but I do know that I can expect nothing but the highest quality from Bettinardi. That is a comforting constant in the fluctuating world of golf equipment.  If you are looking to experiment with a counterbalanced or other new putter, knowing that it came from the Bettinardi shop equates to knowing that you are getting a well made putter.

Golf equipment design can be trendy. Some design trends linger, like titanium drivers. Others show signs of longevity, like the current oversized putter grip trend. Still other golf equipment trends end up buried in the oops pile. You still bagging that square driver? Oops. Time, and data, will show us where the counterbalanced putter belongs. Will counterbalanced putters still be around the scene in 2020? If they work, they will.