Smaller Boutique Putters no longer popular?

[CallTaylor]

Good morning all. Long time no type. ?. In case you don’t remember me, I once sold a 3 wood for a little Caesars gift card on here. I also once sold a full Damascus Lajosi putter on here for a portion of bitcoin. ?. (By the way, looking for that putter in case you have it)

Anyway, I had the joy of playing this past weekend with a few WRX buddies. The subject of Putters came up and the guys told me the smaller custom made Putters are not what guys are looking for now. Is this the case? I haven’t played much golf in the last couple of years or been on WRX either. Just curious if this is the case. Does this mean the prices on them have come down? If so I’ll start looking. Thanks guys, GC

[MattM97]

Define the smaller guys? There are a few newer guys who are putting out putters for over $1000 but there are also a few guys around the $300 mark and a few others with putters on tour.

[CallTaylor]

Well the guys that were popular 2 or 3 years ago when I used to buy and sell tons that put out some amazing stuff

were maybe Xenon Lajosi Mann Byron Morgan to name a few. But any newer company in the last 2 or 3 years I may not be familiar with as I’ve not played much nor showed up on here to look around. What are some newer companies? Any companies that will let you do full blown custom that you can create and they will build?

[GolfWithdrawals]

I would say that it's the opposite. I don't think guys are less interested in custom putters. I know I'm just as infatuated with them as I was a few years ago when I got into them. I think there are a lot more boutique putter makers today than there used to be, which is probably taking business away from some of the older guys. People who are in to boutique custom putters are into functional art which is something that never really goes out of style. It probably just comes down to how much expendable income you have to invest in that hobby.

 

[jonradus]

I just got into custom/boutique putters this past year and I’m surprised how affordably priced older used models are...even new ones are sometimes kind of affordable. I’ve always been the type to seek out something different, so I suppose the functional art comment above makes absolute sense. Do you want an Anser style blade that everyone else has, or do you want a ridiculously unique Xenon that literally no one else has? Furthermore, I’m intrigued by the high prices on the Byron Morgan DH89 and 612 models. To me they’re not unique enough to justify the price, but I haven’t rolled one so I may eventually eat my words. For now I want functional art for that kind of money...Xenon, Mills, and Lajosi just call out to me. I’ve also thought about Mannkrafted and Low Tide, but for some reason that art style just doesn’t really personally appeal to me at this time.

[Medson]

I know many Byron sticks. They are hand grounded, which i appreciate.

 

On the other hand, DH89 used to be the only 009 alternative. There were quite a few DH89 vs. 009 comparison threads back in the days. It just seems there are a lot more “dale heads” on the market.

[CallTaylor]

I agree jon. I’ve always had a bag full of clubs most people don’t play. Putters are especially interesting. I’m definitely not an off the rack Scotty guy. Not when you can pick up a really amazing custom putter for nearly the same price.

[CallTaylor]

Is there a way to search classifieds now? The old website you could type in Lajosi or whatever and you could search current and archived putters. But now I just get a blank screen when I try it. Lol

[j.a.]

It’s been some time since an OTR putter caught my attention, so I’ll keep ordering custom putters as in this way I can get what I wish. I’m in Australia and obviously it’s so easy to grab a phone and call Kari Lajosi.

[CallTaylor]

Very lucky. Are the fires under control out there yet? It’s just horrible from what I’ve seen on the news

[oneaugusta]

Most of the smaller boutique company's understand the market and that people are looking for someone who is approachable and interested in what the they want. There are some boutique makers who do not understand this but David Mills, Byron, MannKrafted, Lajosi and Xenon are all great to work with.

[j.a.]

Yes, we got the so much needed rain, perhaps the problem now is flash flooding.

[bryant1321]

Kevin Burns is another one

[CallTaylor]

Thanks. I’ll take a look

[SBH9458]

@CallTaylor I don’t know if this falls into the category you’re looking for, but I still game my custom Edel and love it.

[CallTaylor]

Everything Edel makes is great. Back in the day I remember using one of their E-3 torque balanced putters. I liked it.

[maverick]

Byron Morgan still makes fantastic putters and keeps busy. Tom Slighter was left off the list of great putter makers and he is definitely not going out of business. The price of all putters seems to be going down. Great time for a Cameron since there are thousands FS on eBay.

[Z1ggy16]

All I know is that I had two Xenons made for me and was extremely disappointed. Betti, Byron etc are all crazy expensive and I don't have the patience to play text/emsil/phone tag with the less expensive guys.

[maverick]

Players will spend a fortune on a driver which is not even used on every hole and will drop in price like a rock. But when it come to putters which are used more than any club in the bag, amateurs won't spend much money. Drive for show and putt for dough is an old saying that holds true today. I had a Bettinardi proto I gamed for over 10 years and it looked as good when I finally I sold it as when I bought it since I did use a head cover. I sold it for more than I paid for it.

[cardoustie]

Piretti I like

[jonradus]

I bought a new Xenon (not custom made) that I really like. I could, however, totally see how someone would be disappointed. It kind of feels “dullish” when comparing to Byron and TP Mills. With that being said, it rolls the ball very well and looks really cool. IMO Xenon is not about feel, but about looks and roll. I agree; Byron is crazy expensive new for what you get. I got mine used and really like it. I recommend TP Mills though for feel.

[Z1ggy16]

Yup it looks very unique but feel was weird. He also didn't even make what I wanted really but... That's in the past.

How much are used Byron's... Like a 615 or dh89? I really won't game a blade anymore but I just would love to have a nice one in my office or something.

[CallTaylor]

I’ve been finishing off my basement the last couple of days. It looks like I missed a lot. I am a big fan of Piretti putters. I’ve liked every Piretti I’ve owned. In my mind, I see them as a bigger putter company. But i would definitely like to find a couple of Piretti’s I had in the past when I was switching every club in my bag every month. (No exaggeration.) ?

[Sean2]

For what it is worth, I recently purchased an Evnroll putter and am quite pleased with it.

[luke1333]

I sold off a few Pirettis too I regret ugh

[976-Evil]

I'm looking for someone who has a GOAT piretti and doesn't like it/wants to sell. I can't drop $900 on a putter i haven't rolled anymore lol. I learned my lesson on that.

[CallTaylor]

I don’t think I’ve ever tried an Evnroll ?

[luke1333]

Oh for sure! There was one on ebay right after they came out, had blue paintfill and sold for $600 I think. Still a lot but much better then the $900 original price LOL