PUTTER REVIEW! – MAS Putters “Ackie” Prototype

Putter Tested: MAS Putters “Ackie” Prototype

If you spend any amount of time on golf forums, you’ll hear plenty of people bemoaning the lack of creativity among putter makers.  Matt Seiff decided that instead of complaining, he’d do some about it.  An architect by trade, he started MAS Putters due to his love of putter design and a feeling that there was a niche in the market for progressively designed mallets.

MAS Putters first original design is the Ackie (soon to be re-launched as the “Sol”).  With it, Matt said he “wanted to create a twist on the classic flanged mallet.”  MAS currently offers customers the ability to custom the length, weight, lie angle, loft, and toe hang.  With their putters, golfers also receive the grip and headcover of their choice.

The Ackie is currently the only model offered by MAS Putters.  Matt told me there are at least three or four more models on the drawing board, including models with flow necks and plumbers necks.

Putter Features:

• 304 Stainless Steel
• 359 grams
• Face balanced
• Full Shaft Offset
• Satin Finish
• Blue Gripmaster Grip
• Loft 4 Degrees
• Lie Angle 69 Degrees

BALL USED: Titleist Pro V1

FEEL

As compared to the last two putters that I’ve tested (TP Mills Comp One and Bettinardi SS11), the Ackie offers a significantly firmer feel.  I would chalk most of this up to the difference in material: the Ackie tested here is made of stainless steel, where the other putters are carbon steel.

The test panel’s response to the firmer feel of the Ackie was much more positive than I would have expected.  Some of the testers felt that distance control was much easier with the firmer feel than it was with the softer feels of the previous putters.  It was also noted that, since most of the test panel prefers a very soft golf ball, a firmer feel off the putter helps to balance the equation a bit.

For golfers that prefer a softer feel, the Ackie also comes in carbon steel.

LOOKS

With the Ackie, Matt said he was looking to create a hybrid design with both “modern and classical” appeal.  According to our test group, he absolutely knocked it out of the park.

The Ackie really offers something for everyone.  For the traditionalist, it is compact in size (just slightly smaller than the size of the hole), and it’s very clean: no crazy lines, stampings, etc.  For the player with more modern tastes, the high MOI design lends itself to a confident stroke.  Both groups loved the fact that it is 100% milled and that the engravings are simple and tasteful.

The finish on this putter is a simple bead blasted satin stainless finish.  MAS Putters does offer other finishes which can be seen on their website.  For this putter, the blue paintfill was complimented nicely by a blue Gripmaster grip and a white and blue magnetic headcover.

SET-UP & ALIGNMENT

Just as with the looks, the alignment and set up of the Ackie seem to suit all types of golfers.

Regular readers know that I don’t like sight lines.  While the Ackie does technically have two sight lines, when the paintfill is removed (as it is here) they are practically invisible.  This made “my half” of the test group very happy.

Others in the test group swear that they benefit from all the alignment aids that a manufacturer can apply to a flatstick.  This group loved the Ackie as well: they felt that the ball-sized channel acted as an extra wide sight line to the hole.

PERFORMANCE

Performance testing was done by 7 golfers.  The testers were given the putter and asked to hit putts of all lengths (3 to 20 feet).  They were then asked to rate the putter from 1-10 in each of the following categories:

• Distance Control = 9.3
• Accuracy = 9.1
• Sound & Feel = 8
• Appearance = 9.0
• Alignment = 9.7
• OVERALL = 90

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 Ackie is a: STRAIGHT

OVERALL

MAS Putters has definitely come out of the gates strong with the Ackie.  It’s a modern mallet that has aesthetic and performance appeal for golfers of all stripes.  Given the success of this first effort, I, and others on the test panel, are very interested to see what Matt draws up next.

At a price of $350, the Ackie falls in line with the fully milled putters from all the regular names (Cameron, Bettinardi, PING, Odyssey).  The biggest differences from some of those names, however, are the unique head design and the ability to customize the putter to such a high degree.