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MGS Tested: “Golf’s Most Wanted!” – Mallet Awards (Contestants)

BY Dave Wolfe
Apr 2nd 2013
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:: No More Gold’s & Silvers. Just The Stuff That Counts

(written by: Golfspy Dave) Golfers have lots of questions and all they want is some definitive answers about golf equipment. And when it comes to golf equipment we want to be the only place you need to go to find those answers. This year you might have noticed that we are starting to make some changes to help get you those definitive answers. We are ramping up our review system…you can expect less one-off reviews and a lot more head-to-head ultimate reviews. Think Hot List but with actual data. No Gold’s and Silver’s, just the stuff that counts; performance. We like to call ourselves DataCratic.

We recently completed our Ultimate Fairway Wood Test and in the next couple weeks we will be launching our 2013 “Golf’s Most Wanted!” Driver Test. And today we begin our quest to find the 2013 “Golf’s Most Wanted!” Mallet Putter.

:: The Head-to-Head Test

You’ve looked at, and likely rolled most, if not all of the putters in your local shop. But do you really know why (or actually if) one putter is better than another?

There are lots of reviews of putters out there, but the one thing they all fail to tell you is whether or not one putter actually can give you a competitive advantage over another. These other lists take worthless data points like innovation and demand into consideration, when all you really want to know is which putter actually gets the ball in the hole faster. We’ve found a way to do give you just that. We will tell you flat out which mallet putter out there rises above the competition, regardless of the golfer who swings it.

That putter is “Golf’s Most Wanted” Mallet Putter!

:: How We Tested

What do we really need a putter to do for us? Since the beginning of the game, golfers, fitters, experts etc. have equated an affinity for the looks of a putter with better putting. But is this really true? Is it actually supported by any data? Well, after years of testing putters we poured through the actual numbers and discovered a out a shocking piece of information. Not to give anything away, but some of you out there who “know” that looks influence performance will be very surprised by our findings.

:: Accuracy Scoring

For the sake of consistency, all of our testers used the same ball, the Wilson Staff FG Tour. Mallet accuracy was measured by having the testers roll five putts from three distances; five, ten, and twenty feet. The distance from the closest edge of the cup was then recorded for each miss. Because we know that missing a five-footer by two feet is not the same as missing a twenty-footer by two feet, the values were adjusted for distance as follows:

:: 5-Foot Score = Miss Distance (inches) x 2.0

:: 10-Foot Score = Miss Distance (inches) x 1.5

:: 20-Foot Score = No Adjustment

Once the values were adjusted for distance, the numbers were added together to generate a mallet’s Total Accuracy Score.

:: Example: Accuracy Scoring Protocol

PUTTER X Accuracy Scoring, Tester #1

:: 5-foot putts: (11″ miss distance x adjustment of 2.0) = 22″ total miss distance
:: 10-foot putts: (16″ miss distance x adjustment of 1.5) = 24″ total miss distance
:: 20-foot putts: (120″ miss distance with no adjustment) = 120″ total miss distance

Total Accuracy Score for Tester #1 with PUTTER X would be = 166″ inches (total miss distance)

:: The Contestants

We sent emails to putter companies inviting them to submit a mallet for our testing. From those inquiries, I bring you the following sixteen competitors. Before you ask Where is ___________? or What about _________? we will tell you that not every company we contacted chose to participate. Also, some of the 2013 models were not available for testing due to release date prohibitions. Regardless, we ended up with a great selection of mallets. Without further ado, here are our contestants in alphabetical order by company.

BarberPole Waterville

Bettinardi BB-54

Bettinardi Signature 6

Bettinardi Studio Stock 15

Nike Method 005

Nike Method Core 5i

Nike Core Weighted MC11w

Odyssey 2-Ball Black

Odyssey Metal X #7

Ping Nome

Ping Scottsdale Wolverine

SeeMore SB2c

STX Xform 3

TaylorMade Ghost Spider S

Whitlam Golf Little Dog P

Wilson Staff Vizor

Ready, Set, Roll!

The test parameters are set; the contestants are locked in. Does the Ultimate Mallet exist? Is there a mallet that has the ability to make putts for a wide range of golfers? Is it possible that such a mallet does not exist? Could it be that our testers will score the same with all sixteen of the putters? You will just have to tune back in tomorrow to find out.

While you are waiting for Part 2, why don’t you leave your guess about the winner in the comments section below? Remember, we are scoring accuracy and aesthetics. I can’t wait to read your guesses and comments.

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Dave Wolfe

Driver TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus	Fairways TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus
Hybrid TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue	Irons Srixon ZX5
Wedges PING Glide Forged Pro	Putter Titleist Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2
Ball Titleist -Pro V1x

Dave Wolfe

comments

Join The Discussion

md2916

11 years ago

I have had the privilege of testing out most of these putters. I am confident that Bettinardi will be a top competitor. I must say, I am very curious to find out how the Bettinardi SS15 rolls vs the studio 6 model.

Mitch Roberts

11 years ago

Love the Bettinardi Studio Stock 15. Absolutely beautiful, and feels incredible!

Joel Serra

11 years ago

Great review; thanks for the valuable information. With due respect to those asserting that a mechanical putting device should have been used, I believe that would have yielded less valid results, not more. A mechanical device, holding the putter rigidly and precisely repeating a stroke would:
1. Remove aim from the equation. The ability to stand over a putt and aim the putter along a line to the hole is a major factor in the utility of the instrument.
2. Remove balance from the equation. A mechanical device would bring the putter through the ball on the same line every time, without regard to whether it is well balanced. We humans need a well balanced putter to achieve consistency.
3. Remove feel from the equation – an important consideration in distance control.
4. Remove forgiveness from the equation. A mechanical device that hits exactly on-center every time tells us little about how the putter would perform in imprecise human hands.
Thanks for your well considered comparison of these putters. And I am definitely going to get one of those Bettinardi Signature 6’s… right after I refinance my home.

Gary Kaplan

11 years ago

Lots of great putters, but for Customer Service Seemore can’t be beat. I recently decided to cut down my year-old Seemore SB2c from a belly putter to a traditional length. Seemore responded immediately to my email asking how best to proceed, and suggested just cutting it down first to see how the weight would feel before sending it back for reshafting (at a modest fee) if necessary to remove additional weight in the head of the belly version. To help with the process, Seemore suggested I choose a new grip from their website, which they would send to me free of charge! I did not take them up on the free grip, as I already had a nice grip to try, but I was astonished by their thoughtful offer.

BTW–the putter (either as belly or standard) is excellent. It has 3 removable weights in the head that allow for adjustment even without reshafting, and I’ve been quite pleased with its feel and performance after cutting it to my usual 33″.

In short, great putter and great service! I will always be happy to encourage folks to give Seemore a try.

–Gary K.

Tom M

11 years ago

Looks: The Barberpole
Performance: Metal X #7

Don c

11 years ago

I’ve always loved Scotty C and without it included its like the masters without tiger or Phil. However, having said all that I’ve recently come across the new Barber Pole and managed to get 20 mins on the putting green and maybe this is the new Rory because it really looks like something special and although it is at the higher end price wise it really could be a great buy.

RP Jacobs II

11 years ago

Hey Don, first, thanx for postin and second, I too am a fan of certain Scotty putters though I am by no means “in love” with them. I currently have 21 retail Scottys and 4 Circle Ts and before I came to my senses, you could double that retail number & triple the Circle T number. My favorites are the Studio Select Newport(Custom shop), Napa ’06 LE(Custom shop) and the Circle T Black Oxide Newport Sound/Sound slot along with the new Select Newport Nothcback(Custom shop, 42″ Belly), which is currently in my bag and the SS Fastback 1.5(Custom Shop).

However, I had both a retail & Circle T GoLo, and they were nothing special, to the point that I unloaded both. Now, this is just one man’s opinion, however, for the money($350), there are much better values out there and I have and have bagged two of the putters tested & would take both over the GoLo, hands down, not even close. However, this is just my opinion.

I find it a disgrace, and I have voiced this to a Sr. designer there, that you have to go to the Circle T level, price wise, to get a putter of the quality that there are 3-4 companies out there that give you for the price of, or not much more than a Scotty retail goes for. That sux big time!

Scotty has a following, and much of it is marketing driven, and I find the zelots, and I’m not calling you a zealot by any stretch, however all these guys that buy a Scotty retail, and they act as though the putter’s the be all, end all in putters. And it/they isn’t, Not even close.

So, Scotty not being in the testing in no way diminishes the results, cuz while it might be one of the top 3-4 putters tested, in my opinion, it would be no better than third in the final standings.

Just my opinion

Have a great season :-)

My Best,
Richard

Fairways & Greens 4ever

steve p

11 years ago

Wouldn’t it be easier to just test them with an Iron Byron type of machine. My guess is that they would all perform well.
Putting, more than any other aspect of the game, seems to have more to do with our heads than the instrument. I guess the manufacurers would defer, but that is no surprise. .

Don't just do it, do it better!

11 years ago

Aesthetically – Barberpole!

Edwin

11 years ago

The STX will win. Most underestimated brand, building the best putters ever. Too bad they are so hard to get over here in Europe…. :(

Mike B

11 years ago

I believe the Metal-X will be the best followed by the Whitlam. All are pretty, but the ones with the most perpendicular lines will fare best. Circles, radii, and curves do not help with alignment.

Chris

11 years ago

I’m going to guess that the winner will be:
Seemore with the Whitlam a close second.
Either way, I can’t wait to see the outcome.

Tim

11 years ago

1. The Nome
2. Wolverine
I would also like to box this exacta

andy

11 years ago

How could you take Distance out of the equation? I am always trying to hit my golf ball from one end of the green to the other. :-)

Matt

11 years ago

Aesthetics – bettinardi ss15, but I own an ss9 so I may be biased.

Performance – odyssey #7 because it seems to be a good fit for a wide range of golfers.

And of course there are no Cameron putters. Tests like these would show it’s a great putter, but no better than any of these other great putters. They are smart trying to keep it seem like a magical flat stick.

Aotearoabrad

11 years ago

Hmmm, good selection. Here’s my votes:
– Barberpole takes the looks category for me
– Nike Core Weighted MC11w takes the performance category

Golf geek

11 years ago

…. Can’t tell how the test will run but, aesthetically speaking; the barberpole is the best looking putter.

Willie

11 years ago

ProType 2-Ball Black for all categories.

Sean

11 years ago

I love the head to head comparison and the logical point scoring system.

My guess for top three
1) Odyssey 2 Ball
2) Wolverine
3) Bettinardi Studio

Nice work guys

Matt

11 years ago

Have you had the specs measured on these yet? My prediction is whichever putter has the least loft (presumably the spider S if it’s to spec) will come out on top.

Viper

11 years ago

Odyssey #7 #FTW. You see more of those in the hands of top tier tour pros than any other mallet.

Oscar

11 years ago

Ping Nome is the underdog that will win :-)

Kyle

11 years ago

Bettinardi 15? I hope you’ll pick some of us to send these putters to!

Will Par

11 years ago

I’m voting for the Barber Pole mostly because I like it best.

Damon

11 years ago

I’m guessing the STX Xform

Drew

11 years ago

Will have popcorn in hand tomorrow!!!

Robbie

11 years ago

I know it has already been mentioned, but this review/test is invalid with no Scotty Cameron Go-Lo. How it is not on this list is beyond me.

Super Tuna

11 years ago

Probably because Titleist had no interest in doing so. They sell the putter off the name and branding, not pure performance.

What do you think their reaction would be if the Golo got taken out back of the shed and beat like an old fashion carpet by half the list (theoretical obviously)?

If I was representing their testing interests, I wouldn’t have participated either.

Robbie

11 years ago

“If I was representing their testing interests, I wouldn’t have participated either.”

Titleist has ZERO problem allowing Balls, Drivers, Wedges, Irons etc to be tested…why not their putter?

Are you saying that Scotty Cameron is a inferior product?

Super Tuna

11 years ago

Because they need the performance numbers to sell those items, though admittedly not for the balls. Those they just blast everyone with ads and Tour wins.

However yes, from a club buying perspective, they do need to participate with irons, drivers, fairways and hybrids. While the offerings are always seen as solid, they’re often skipped over for being too players’esque while not giving the same performance level. Look at the beating the 910 driver series took against the R11. With the same player, same shaft, swing weight, etc players were coming back with a signifigant dip in ball speed performance against Taylormade, Callaway, Ping, etc. With the 913 line, Titleist has been far more upfront about having everyone test it and really show the performance gains.

The Cameron putters, they don’t need to sell performance numbers. It’s the same as the ball. Tour players win it, the Cameron name is important, ergo putting up the best performance numbers isn’t a requirement.

An inferior product? That depends on how you define inferior I guess. Is it a great product? Absolutely. No one makes awful putters these days (or any other club for that matter). Would it blow all the rest of these out of the water? I seriously doubt it. If it doesn’t it’s going to be seen as a hit against the brand and perhaps some would then jump on the bandwagon and call it an inferior product. That doesn’t help Titleist sell more putters, so why bother to participate if they don’t know if they’ll win ahead of time?

GolfSpy T

11 years ago

“Titleist has ZERO problem allowing Balls, Drivers, Wedges, Irons etc to be tested…why not their putter?”

That’s actually not 100% the reality of the situation. While it has gotten better of late, in in the past, Titleist has shown that it prefers to be featured alone – as in one-off reviews, not necessarily as part of a larger conglomerate where the spotlight hast to be shared.

And with that said…even though the Cameron brand falls under the Titleist umbrella, functionally it’s almost a brand unto itself. This is the 3rd time in my recent memory where we’ve approached Titleist with an idea to include a Cameron putter or putters either in a review or some other promotional opportunity. In all cases they have declined.

RP Jacobs II

11 years ago

I wouldn’t say that the Go Lo is an inferior product, though having had and bagged a Go Lo Circle T belly & a Go Lo 35″ retail model, while they where nice putters, they were by no means the best high MOI putters that I’ve used.

Obviously, this is just my opinion, however I would bag my Rife Deep Blue, Spider CS & the S-bend, Yes Victoria II(my fave mallet) & the Nike 005 & as far as Scotty, I really like my Kombi Belly(42″). Seriously, I liked all better than the Go Lo, as witnessed by the fact that I unloaded both Go Los.

For $350, there’s a lot better value to be had, IMHO.

Fairways & Greens 4ever

John Barry

11 years ago

The Wilson, most under rated golf company on the market!

blstrong (SeeRed)

11 years ago

I love my Xform3, but man that Barberpole is a beauty! Waterville FTW.

Brian

11 years ago

The study isn’t complete without measuring against the MxV1.

Cory C

11 years ago

Too bad you couldn’t have gotten an Odyssey Versa #7 instead of the older metal x as the versa line seems to be catching fire with tour pros. Would have like to see some data to back up the hype.

TwoSolitudes

11 years ago

Wolverrrriiiinne!!!!!!

Ryan K

11 years ago

For accuracy, Seemore – if used the Seemore way….
For looks, Bettinardi Signature 6.
Overall, I will take performance over looks, so Seemore.

Kris

11 years ago

Were all testers normally mallet putter users? I don’t think that would bias the results (maybe overall accuracy if compared blade v mallet users), just curious.

My predictions: #1 Odyssey 7, #2-Seemore, #3-Nike core MC11W

P.S. rolled all of them but the Whitlam/STX/Barber Pole and one of the Bettinardi, none came close to my Vicino :)

Golfer Burnz

11 years ago

Nike Method 005, due to its simple aesthetics.

princeton_tn

11 years ago

Really no Cameron GoLo? The most used mallet on the Tours. Is this for 2nd Place?

Golfspy Dave

11 years ago

Thanks for your concern. This was addressed in the article:

“Before you ask Where is ___________? or What about _________? we will tell you that not every company we contacted chose to participate. Also, some of the 2013 models were not available for testing due to release date prohibitions.”

That aside, I believe that Odyssey actually has more mallets on tour, and more wins. I don’t have the data in hand though, so I can’t 100% make that claim.

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