Putter Tested: Kari Lajosi Bayzie
Lajosi: “Australian for cool putters”
(Written By: GolfSpy Matt) Today we take our search for cool putters intercontinental, all the way to the land down under, to find Kari Lajosi. Like many other putter makers, Kari started out in metal working as a tool and die maker and has slowly shifted his attention to producing high quality flatsticks.
Any of you who have seen Kari’s work on the MyGolfSpy forum know that his skills are as boundless as his creativity: from wild, intricate face milling to old school handmades to an I’ve-never-ever-seen-that-before face insert. Kari offers a wide variety of head shapes and neck styles, not to mention the endless combinations of finishes, engraving, and face milling.
Putter Features:
- Stainless Steel
- 350 grams
- 4:00 toe hang
- Half Shaft Offset
- Satin Finish
- Leather Gripmaster Grip
BALL USED: TaylorMade Penta TP5
FEEL
Stainless steel putters are generally known for a firmer, crisper feel. What Kari has done brilliantly with this Bayzie is to balance the firmness of the stainless steel with a feel-softening deep milling pattern. This combination yields a feel that isn’t soft and mushy like an insert, but also avoids the harsh feel of some stainless putters.
The best thing about the feel of the Bayzie is the ability to know, by sound, exactly where on the face you hit the ball. This is probably the best putter I’ve ever used in terms of clear auditory feedback. Dead center strikes are a dull, satisfying “thock.” Hitting the ball way on the toe or heel has a very dead feel and sound. Those slight mishits, which many putters cover up, are called out with a slightly louder “tock” that reminds me of a hollow wooden block.
Overall, the Bayzie expertly walks the line between soft and firm while also delivering ample feedback about the quality of the strike.
LOOKS
How about this for an endorsement: the very first day that I brought the Bayzie to the shop, two different people made cash offers for it. It’s that good looking.
The Bayzie fills what I believe to be the biggest void in putter designs today: the traditional mallet. Sure, you’ve got a handful out there: the Odyssey #9 and Rossie, but there’s not a lot else on the shop floor that fills the gap between Anser knock-offs and the spaceship-styled potato mashers. The Bayzie offers golfers a style that is still very traditional in size and appearance, but has a little added bulk for those who prefer that.
This Bayzie is pure class with minimal engraving and lots of smooth flowing lines. The satin finish is glare-free, and the hand-welded neck speaks to the one-off nature of the putter. Add to that fantastic looking face milling and a color-coordinated grip and headcover set and you have a putter that’s got it all in the looks department.
SET-UP & ALIGNMENT
Generally speaking, putters without sight line (my preference) end up getting low “Alignment” scores from half our test panel because they want a sight line…period. The Bayzie was able to avoid that fate because of two beautifully executed design elements.
First, the putter features a “high-toe” design. As the name implies, the toe of the putter is raised slightly. While this is barely perceptible at address, it does help many golfers to aim the putter more square to their target. Second, the cavity of the putter and the shaping of the flange, frame the golf ball perfectly. To some in our group, the cavity lined up so well it was almost as if the putter had twin sight lines.
Even though our sight line loyalists admitted that the Bayzie set up very well without any alignment aids, you may still be thinking that you’d prefer a putter with a line or a dot. Lucky for you, both options are readily available through Kari’s custom ordering process.
PERFORMANCE
The thing that stood out most as our testers rolled the Bayzie was the frequency with which short putts found the bottom of the hole. Whether it was the ease of alignment, the confidence-inspiring shape, or the weight and balance of the putter, all of our testers commented on how easy it was to make five footers.
Performance testing was done by 7 golfers. The testers were given the putter and asked to hit putts of varying lengths (3 to 20 feet). They were then asked to rate the putter from 1-10 in each of the following categories:
- Distance Control = 9.2
- Accuracy = 9.0
- Sound & Feel = 9.0
- Appearance = 9.5
- Alignment = 8.5
- OVERALL = 90.4
FIT FOR STROKE™
Don’t change your stroke. Change your putter.
The (FIT FOR STROKE™) concept was developed by PING, yet another genius fitting system they have developed for golfers. It works hand-in-hand with the iPING Putter App which is highly suggest everyone getting (IT’S FREE!). You might be surprised to find out that the stroke you think you have isn’t the stroke you actually have.
This addition to the MGS reviews will allow you to become a more consistent putter by matching you with models that better fit your stroke type. They will be broken down into three categories: (1) Straight – for face balance putters (2) Slight Arc – for mid toe hang putters (3) Strong Arc – for toe down putters
“Results from hundreds of player and robot tests at PING offer overwhelming scientific support for the effectiveness of fitting for stroke. In recent years more diagnostic tools and testing equipment have become available, and the results prove that a golfer’s consistency improves when their putter balance matches their stroke type. It was interesting to observe that golfers putt more consistently with stroke-appropriate models, but they also show a personal preference for these models, too. Prior to putting with them, golfers are drawn to models that fit their eye, even before they fit their stroke.” says PING.
The Bayzie is a: SLIGHT ARC
OVERALL
There are lots and lots of boutique putter makers out there who produce beautiful flat sticks, but what sets Kari apart, in my opinion, is his creativity and willingness to try new things. I’ve seen him create an entirely new head shape based on a customers drawing, and, as I mentioned earlier, his inserts and milling patterns are on the cutting edge of putter design. If you’re in the market for a new putter and you want something that stands out from the pack, Kari Lajosi just might be the guy you want to talk to.
Clay
12 years ago
I was lucky enough to pick up a proto mallet from Kari this past year. I own a few Scottys (which I still love), but the Lajosi is always in the bag when my confidence is shaken. My mallet was actually hand feed through the machine mill (if that’s how you say it) and the ball control is incredible. His prices are very reasonable for a handmade putter. Thanks for the review, that Bayzie is beautiful!