Cup Face Putter Insert Project: Opinions please...

youngen · January 26, 2015

So I've seen on here before where people remove the plastic face insert from a putter and replace it with metal, carbon fiber or whatever. I was wondering if anyone has ever created a cup face?

Back Story:

I've had this putter project going for over a year now. I have an old Taylormade tpi-28 mallet putter head. I have a modified graphite hybrid shaft I shortened up for it with a SuperStroke grip. I wanted to get as close to simulating the new Bridgestone putters as I could in weight and SW feel. I already removed the plastic insert as I hated the feel of it. I like most milled face putters and I like old Ping putters that were solid smooth faces as well. I have a CAD program and a laser to cut the metal. I was all ready to cut a solid steel face from 10 guage (0.1345" thick) steel when I had this epiphany...

What if I make a perimeter plate from 12 guage steel (0.1046") and then the actual face from 22 guage steel (0.0299") and weld them into a cup face? Then when I glue it into the face area of the head, I will have essentially made a hollow core behind the face, ie: cup face, for my putter.

Maybe it's a dumb idea, but what are everyone's opinions on having a putter face with a little pop to it? And if it is a bad idea, why do you think so?

Graymulligan · January 26, 2015

My concern would be the consistency of impact speed. That "pop" off the club face is going to crete potential hot/dead spots, and that's one club you really don't want to have that sort of issue popping up.

youngen · January 27, 2015

I think the only way I'll know for sure if that is a factor is to test it. I don't think that it will be a problem as at that slow of swing speed I'm not anticipating the face to flex that much if any. But, I might have to stress test it in CAD to know for sure. I am more wondering how the impact sound will be when I think of the design. That "pop" I referred to might sound really good or be an annoying distraction.

I do agree though, the putter is a bad place to lose consistency, and I wouldn't put this into play without a lot of testing first. I'm not 100% sold this will work, but I'm not dissuaded against it either. Really hoping for more feedback to push me one way or the other.