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Putting: do you prefer a soft or firm feel?


ateupwithgolf

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What are the pros/cons?
I have always purchased a putter based on setup and looks, but don't typically pay attention to feel of the metal or insert. Recently, I purchased a Seemore mFGP and at the same time my first dozen Srixon Zstars. It is without a doubt the best feeling combination that I have personally tried. My previous gamer putters have been a 2ball blade white steel, and a Yes Tiffany. I can say for sure that I like a soft feel now. My comparison ball was a B330 which felt very harsh by comparison.

I would like to know if there is some typical characteristics of preferring a soft ball/putter insert? Does this necessarily mean you have to hit the ball harder to get your putts to the hole? Does the contact time on the face increase with a softer ball, or is this purely a tactile thing in your hands? What are your ideas? Thanks.
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[quote name='Seufari' date='23 April 2010 - 09:30 PM' timestamp='1272076218' post='2397406']
I prefer a soft feel. I grew up playing a balata with a carbon steel putter. Everything made today feels like rock-flights...
[/quote]

+1, I don't like insert putters though. Go figure.

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TI P770 2 | P770 3, P7MC 4-5, P7MB 6-9 / Miura 1957 4-9, $-Taper 125
TI MG3 46, 50, 54, $-Taper 125 | TI MG3 58 / HT 58, KBS Tour 120 SS
Mann Mini / Cameron CT, MC Smooth | TP5x | My WITB Thread

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I've been playing various insert putters up until recently. I switched to a Machine Copper M2A with VMax grooves that felt very similar. Then, on a whim, I picked up a Bettinardi BB32, and am just rolling it so pure! It's still soft but has a crisper feel which really helps me dial in my distance.

Member of TMAG #TeamJetspeed 2013
 

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It really is personal preference on soft or firm feel. I am using the
Odyssey tour black # 4, and the Taylormade TP black ball. With this
combination, It gives me great feedback and a semi soft feel. I have
been rolling it pure, with this set up. I seem to warm up to various
green speeds quicker with this set up. If you are going to purchase
a new putter, make sure you take your game ball with you, This will
aid in your search. Good Luck!



Play Golf.....Play Blades......Play Something Else.....Just Go Play.....

4 HC
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Feel is such a personal preference. It seems like a softer feel is preferred by many, but I wonder if it provides the most feedback.

Consider a supercar like a Lambo, or any car geared toward ultimate performance. Hard as a freaking rock. You can feel every pebble in the road. Difficult as a daily driver because they are so dang stiff. But the hard feel is what feedback is all about.

It seems to be the opposite with golf feel. When I putt a Top Flite vs. a Titleist ProV vs. a Srixon Lady Soft Feel, there is a clear difference in feedback. IMHO, the hardes ball actually tells me the most, but lacks other characteristics that are favorable.

I think the key is to find a setup that gives you the amount of feedback you need while maintaining a feel that actually feels good.

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I prefer a putter/ball combination that feels firm. Having said that, I have never gotten the concept of feel as it relates to control. Once you "feel" the putter strike the ball, it is already on its way to the hole, and you no longer have control.

Cobra Fly-Z driver
Cobra Speed LD 3 wood
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TM Rocketbladez 4 - AW
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I find it interesrting reading through this post how people would say "I prefer soft"...what does that mean exactly? What is soft to you may feel hard to me...or am I crazy? I have tested it with friends at my local EW...using the same putter we cannot always agree on which ball feels softer...to me that means that soft/hard is a person to person thing based on the feeling sensations you have in your body.

But now back "On Topic" I prefer a certain feel...not sure if it is soft or hard as I described above but I know what I am looking for and I would call it "soft" to me. When I am deciding on a putter or a ball I keep one or the other constant...meaning if I am testing balls then I use my putter...if I am testing putters then I use my current ball...that is how I arrived at where I am today in using the Srixon Z Star amd PING Redwood putters (own an Anser and Piper S)...this combination is the best feel I have found and the ball works in other aspects of my game...
:smilie_ping:

[size=3][b]PING[/b] - Rapture V2, 17*, TFC 939 H, x-stiff
[b]PING [/b]- [color=#FF0000]i[/color]20 irons, 3 - PW, +3/4 Black dot, CFS stiff
[b]PING [/b]- Glide 50ss / 54ss, +1/2 Black dot, CFS wedge
[b]PING[/b] - Cadence TR B65, 35in
[b]W/S[/b] - Duo Spin[/size]

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I like a firmer feel with a nice click at impact. I think its better for distance control. With a too soft putter I get no feedback I guess.

Taylormade M6, 9.0* head set -1.5*, Nippon Regio B+ shaft, 65 stiff at 45.5"
Cobra FLY Z+ 3 wood, orange, aldila tour blue stiff, 14.5*
Sub 70 939x, 3H(18*), Proforce V2 85 stiff
Sub 70 939x, 4H(21*), Proforce V2 85 stiff
Sub 70 699 Pros, 5-AW, Modus 120 stiff
PING glide 2.0, 54*

Taylormade MG3, 58* HB 
Scotty Select Newport, 73* lie, 1* loft, 34" (Testing Taylormade Bandon 1)
Bridgestone Tour BX (Alternate ball VICE PRO)

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Soft feel from a non-insert putter is a myth. It's all about the ball, not the putter.

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  PXG 0211 hybrids, 25*, 28*, 31*….+2”

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"If you are going to purchase a new putter, make sure you take your game ball with you."

+1. Good advice. Couldn't agree more.

"Soft feel from a non-insert putter is a myth. It's all about the ball, not the putter."

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I think it's a combination of the ball and the putter and any carbon steel putter will have a softer feel to me over a stainless steel. I don't care for insert putters.

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