Ok gang, help me out...need a face balanced putter!

You will find that most center shafted putters (especially mallets) are face balanced. For me, I am not sure I find much value in them, but one of the better ones I actually used for a while was the TaylorMade Lambeau 7 center shaft model. These had the AGSI insert though.

i have never been a mallet guy either, in the past i have had extensive collections of blade putters, Cameron 009's, Gold's Factory #2's, TP Mills Traditions and soft tails, Gauge Design putters, Byron Morgan DH89, 350 Milled etc etc

I am currently gaming my first mallet, its a Cleveland T-Frame. Not being a mallet guy I never really planned of having this putter end up in my bag, but I had a really good player convice me to give it a try...and I LOVE it. WHat I really like about is the added confidence i have on the shoter stuff, inside 10 feet I am soo much better. I used to practice putting all the time, 1-2hrs 2-3 times a week after work. Being that I am married now, I no longer have time to spend practicing, and yet my putting is better now then it ever was, and it has everything to do with the confidence I have with this putter.

TM Fontana, TM Spider, or Itsy Bitsy....all have the agsi insert, though I think it feels firm enough to not be insert-ish

Any of the Ping Pipers as long as they are not heel shafted, but rather have a double bend shaft. These have different feels depending on the model, so you can get the one that fits your tastes best. I liked the Redwood best, since it was solid 303 SS.

Odyssey has a few, the Rossie, the Sabertooth, and a few others. Their inserts are way too soft for me though.

Bettinardi makes a few too...the BB-32 is my favorite. Every now and then you can find a double bend blade, but these are not common.

Pretty much any club that has a double bend shaft will be face balanced. That's your first clue. If it has a plumbers neck, chances are its not face balanced (unless its a long neck).

Scotty Cameron Squareback

Rossa Corza Ghost. absolutely great.

I bought a fastback, and am liking it so far, but not loving it. Hard to get used to. I do like that corza Ghost though...not big on the white. I don't think I am cool enough to pull it off! lol

[quote name='Gawfman123' date='19 July 2010 - 08:32 PM' timestamp='1279585941' post='2586872']
Besides the Scotty Cameron Fastbacks, name some other putters that I should be looking at? And what you like about them? I like the softer feels, but am not too sure about an insert. At this point however, I am willing to give anything a try!
[/quote]

You have lots of options from lots of manufacturers. You can get either a center shafted or heel shafted. Heel shafted will usually have either a double bend shaft or a long neck to get the balance point right. Next you need to select blade, mid-mallet, or full-mallet. Not sure what price range you are looking in either. Just about every manufacturer has putters for you.

I have been using a Sizemore SB-2 center shafted blade. Great feel and keeps getting put back in my bag.

Give the Rife Deep Blue a shot, my current love affair is pretty long lasting for a putter

YES! Victoria II.
YES is a totally under rated company IMHO.

Rife Antiqua Island Series is an anser style that is face balanced. Just sold one in the BST.

I have five Machine M2A Converters that are face balanced. One mallet with a hand bent hosel, three Anser style with modular center shafts, and one welded center shaft on order. I love them all, but the one I am putting with now is one of the modular center shaft Anser models.

I have never felt so comfortable with a putter as I do with these face balanced putters. The mallet is great when I want to get the stroke under control and the blue anser style in the pic is my baby! The aluminum bronze is very hot and is nice on slower stuff if I don't feel in a mallet state of mind. The stainless mallet is almost as soft as the carbon (blue one), the VMG milling makes them feel close so you have carbon like feel, but a little less maintenance.

The nice thing about the Machine setups is the ability to change weights, flanges, and hosels.

You might want to give Dave or Chris a shout out and see what they can do for you. There are many flange and hosel combinations that they have for face balanced putters.

If you are more interested in an insert putter, the Grace putters I have tried with the HSM insert are some of the best feeling inserts I have putted with.

Here are three of the Machines, the blue one in the center is in the bag now.


[attachment=629204:DSC_4908_edited-2.jpg]

I just recently went back to face balanced from an Anser, and haven't putted better in a loooong time. I picked up a Cleveland Classic bronze #5. It just looks perfect to me, but I did have to adjust to the very soft insert (have to hit it a little harder). This is the heaviest putter I've ever gamed at 350...I may be sold on the idea now though.

Mizuno Bettinardi C-05. Originally retailed at $299, but since they no long are working together, you can find them for new on the bay for $100 or less. Great feel and milled in the USA.

I'd try a long neck Anser style. Byron could make you virtually anything you wanted like that.

+1 for the BB32

Great flatstick that sets up so nice

Coutour Mallet, you'll never look back

[quote name='Gawfman123' date='19 July 2010 - 07:32 PM' timestamp='1279585941' post='2586872']

Besides the Scotty Cameron Fastbacks, name some other putters that I should be looking at?

[/quote]

I don't believe that Scotty Cameron makes a face-balanced putter. He believes in toe hang and doesn't subscribe to the SBST stroke. The Squarebacks are his closest current model to being face-balanced. I think the Fastback is a toe hang putter. Some of his older models that were nearly face-balanced include the Red X and the Newport Longnecks.

[quote name='Gawfman123' date='19 July 2010 - 07:32 PM' timestamp='1279585941' post='2586872']
:drinks:Howdy!

Ok, so for most of my life, I have used answer style putters. Byron Morgans, Newport 2's, Answer 2's etc. I try to be a SBST style putter, and control everything with the rocking of my shoulders. So I get my stuff stolen. I go into the golf shop last week and get fitted for a putter on their trackman type contraption.

So, long story longer, I try a face balanced putter and it was like a light went off. I am no longer feeling like I am fighting the putter to keep it online.

Besides the Scotty Cameron Fastbacks, name some other putters that I should be looking at? And what you like about them? I like the softer feels, but am not too sure about an insert. At this point however, I am willing to give anything a try!

Thanks, I know it is kinda vauge, but you guys seem to be pretty smart.
[/quote]


You need to determine if the face balanced putter can be rounded at the back, triangular, or somewhat square--purpose is to determine which design allows you to set the head square to line at address

[quote name='weaver93' date='19 July 2010 - 10:47 PM' timestamp='1279594059' post='2587186']
I have five Machine M2A Converters that are face balanced. One mallet with a hand bent hosel, three Anser style with modular center shafts, and one welded center shaft on order. I love them all, but the one I am putting with now is one of the modular center shaft Anser models.

I have never felt so comfortable with a putter as I do with these face balanced putters. The mallet is great when I want to get the stroke under control and the blue anser style in the pic is my baby! The aluminum bronze is very hot and is nice on slower stuff if I don't feel in a mallet state of mind. The stainless mallet is almost as soft as the carbon (blue one), the VMG milling makes them feel close so you have carbon like feel, but a little less maintenance.

The nice thing about the Machine setups is the ability to change weights, flanges, and hosels.

You might want to give Dave or Chris a shout out and see what they can do for you. There are many flange and hosel combinations that they have for face balanced putters.

If you are more interested in an insert putter, the Grace putters I have tried with the HSM insert are some of the best feeling inserts I have putted with.

Here are three of the Machines, the blue one in the center is in the bag now.


[attachment=629204:DSC_4908_edited-2.jpg]
[/quote]

+1 on the Machine. And if you ever decide to go back the other direction all you need to do is order a new hosel set up.

Hello,

Thanks for the referrals guys :)

As the members have said..If you are looking at Face Balanced you are looking at normally 3 Setups:

1) Center Shaft Hosel

2) Double Bend Shaft Over Stub Hosel

3) Long Neck Plumber Neck

Here are Some Examples we have made that are face balanced for our customers:

Long Neck:

Double Bend Shaft Over Stub Hosel:

Weld Neck Center Shaft ( same as Ryan Moore is using )

I just got a great deal on a Bettinardi BB32 from allgolfandtennis.com. I love this face balanced mallet

Also my old school BB43 keeps getting back in the bag

If you've always been an Anser guy, find a used Anser 5 on the 'bay. $27 shipped and it put my attempts at using a mallet (Red X, Bettizuno A01) to rest. I just cannot get along w/the current trend towards heavier putters.

 

Long Neck:

 

 

 

How much would this puttter cost, exactly like this in 34 in, i love the finish and i need a faced balanced putter. Oh and how much does this model weigh?

Hello,

That MACHINE came in at 345 Grams.

I'll pm you the Pricing Details.

Thanks

-Chris

[quote name='Gawfman123' date='19 July 2010 - 08:32 PM' timestamp='1279585941' post='2586872']
:drinks:Howdy!

Ok, so for most of my life, I have used answer style putters. Byron Morgans, Newport 2's, Answer 2's etc. I try to be a SBST style putter, and control everything with the rocking of my shoulders. So I get my stuff stolen. I go into the golf shop last week and get fitted for a putter on their trackman type contraption.

So, long story longer, I try a face balanced putter and it was like a light went off. I am no longer feeling like I am fighting the putter to keep it online.

Besides the Scotty Cameron Fastbacks, name some other putters that I should be looking at? And what you like about them? I like the softer feels, but am not too sure about an insert. At this point however, I am willing to give anything a try!

Thanks, I know it is kinda vauge, but you guys seem to be pretty smart.
[/quote]



Rife 2Bar Blade center shafted

SC Futura

SC Combi and Combi S

Never Compromise A/1 Alpha

Many different versions of the 2Ball

All available used from ebay sellers.

[quote name='dansrixon' date='19 July 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1279586773' post='2586897']
i have never been a mallet guy either, in the past i have had extensive collections of blade putters, Cameron 009's, Gold's Factory #2's, TP Mills Traditions and soft tails, Gauge Design putters, Byron Morgan DH89, 350 Milled etc etc

I am currently gaming my first mallet, its a Cleveland T-Frame. Not being a mallet guy I never really planned of having this putter end up in my bag, but I had a really good player convice me to give it a try...and I LOVE it. WHat I really like about is the added confidence i have on the shoter stuff, inside 10 feet I am soo much better. I used to practice putting all the time, 1-2hrs 2-3 times a week after work. Being that I am married now, I no longer have time to spend practicing, and yet my putting is better now then it ever was, and it has everything to do with the confidence I have with this putter.
[/quote]

Dan, Dan, Dan. I was a little shocked and appalled when I saw the T-Frame in your WITB thread, given your history of awesome putter ownership. You accepted advice from a really good player, now try some from a fairly mediocre one: it's time to scuttle the marriage a little. My putting was never better as when my marriage was on the rocks.

As for the OP, if I were to go the face-balanced route, I've no doubt whatsoever that I'd wind up with a MACHINE, given all the options. I'd like to think that I'd wind up with a Weaver's share of them, but as that would probably involve some criminal activity...maybe not. For a MUCH cheaper and somewhat awesome alternative, give a couple glances at some Bobby Grace putters. Despite it being wildly different than almost anything else I've got, and from my preferred setup, my go-to backup is a GT-Mini. When things go to pot, that baby is money in the bank.

Good luck to ya!

For op, I prefer a double bend shaft for my sbst stroke. Just as in the Machine putter shown...just awesome, sexy work. I have a double bend copper headed anser blade from Byron Morgan, a 008x as my gamer. Check him out too.

So SBST, should always have face balanced? Hmm , i doubt my current cleveland classic is. A scotty squareback isn't either is it? That's probably my next putter.