Putter Insert To Reduce Distance

I've always preferred to strike putts firmly. I played with a gentleman last week who owned a PING Sigma 2 putter and was kind enough to let me try it out. It seemed to me that the insert on the Sigma allowed me to take a longer stroke and strike putts more confidently whilst reducing overhits from short range. I really enjoyed the ability to strike short putts a bit firmer without feeling as if I was going to run the putt by the hole 4 feet if I missed. Was this all in my head? If not, are there any other putters you would suggest that might offer similar (or better) results?

I'm sure that's it is different for everyone. Often, I have the feeling that when I use an insert putter the face is actually hotter, and putts roll out more

But I'm sure that's just in my head

I think overall you are just looking a little bit too in depth st this. Certain putters feel softer and people have varying degrees of distance control issues with them.

I've heard people say Evnrolls, especially on dead centre contact have a bit of a mushy feel and can leave putts a bit short. I play a Cleveland HB Soft 11 and its soft too.

I guess I'm saying if a putter has pretty deep milling or the insert is pretty soft to feel...it could lead to this feeling of having to put a bit more on the stroke to get it moving.

> @5hort5tuff said:

> I think overall you are just looking a little bit too in depth st this. Certain putters feel softer and people have varying degrees of distance control issues with them.

>

> I've heard people say Evnrolls, especially on dead centre contact have a bit of a mushy feel and can leave putts a bit short. I play a Cleveland HB Soft 11 and its soft too.

>

> I guess I'm saying if a putter has pretty deep milling or the insert is pretty soft to feel...it could lead to this feeling of having to put a bit more on the stroke to get it moving.

>

>

>

>

You're probably right. What came to mind was those old STX putters from the 90's. My Dad had one and I remember it taking a good 1-2 inches of extra backstroke to hit a putt the same distance as a milled putter. But, it also felt absolutely terrible.

Putters with inserts generally plays softer than ones without as most insert are made of material that's softer than metal. Some prefer the crisper feel of no insert while some others, like yourself, prefer to be able to put a firm stroke. There are also the metal no insert ones that are made to provide a softer feel, such as grooves or other milling pattern. A lot of it has to do with personal choice, and that's probably why there are so many different options out there.

Some mentioned Evnrolls where center is softer than the rest of the face, I can say the same about Bobby Grace DCT which used different density insert to make center softer. To counter mishits, the insert gets progressively firmer away from the center. That seem to be the trend these days. Ping has a line where the center milling is more aggressive than gradually become further spaced away from the center, then there's Cleveland's SOFT face pattern, and I am sure there are more.

MasterGrip used to sell a putter in which the sweet spot insert was engineered in such a way that a toe strike, heel strike, or sweet spot strike all reacted basically the same way for distance. I think it was called dead core, dcore, or something like that. Clever idea. Might be a few floating around on the Bay, and some research.

Agreed with 5hort above. I play a Huntington Beach. The milling is so deep it's incredibly soft. Sometimes it feels like the ball isn't launching but being absorbed like hitting it with a pillow. Currently switching to a harder insert putter.

> @"Ping's Duck" said:

> MasterGrip used to sell a putter in which the sweet spot insert was engineered in such a way that a toe strike, heel strike, or sweet spot strike all reacted basically the same way for distance. I think it was called dead core, dcore, or something like that. Clever idea. Might be a few floating around on the Bay, and some research.

The McGregor dct series of putters did pretty much the same thing. Im not sure if the ball comes off softer, but i do believe the dct insert works well. Distances are pretty consistent no matter where on the face the ball is stuck. I still have the sunset with the semi flow neck. I put it in the rotation occasionally. It's a good putter for cheap.