TaylorMade TRIPLES its long putter production

[Steve Hennessey]

to meet increasing demands in the fourth quarter

The long putter's boom in popularity on the PGA Tour has had an effect on what you want to use, too.

TaylorMade announced last week that it will triple the production of its long putters to keep up with the high demand in the long sticks.

As our equipment guru E. Michael Johnson put it in Golf World Monday: "reached levels usually reserved for hybrid cars during an energy crisis." (Read more here: Golf World Monday: Long putter demand is soaring)

Have you been testing out the long putter, too? Do you refuse to convert? What's your stance on the long putter?





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[Skaffa77]

I think there was a thread on this. I predict quite a few sales of belly and long putters followed by a ton of belly and long putters on used putter racks.

[tembolo1284]

gross. It's all I have to say.

[Night train]

Based on my putting of late I need one......but it just doesn't seem like it meets the spirit of the game to me. My opinion only....

So I'll just keep doing what I do now......seldom three putt, but seldom make much!

[Doc Mcstuffins]

Bought one off the used rack myself weeks before the belly putter craze hit. I have gone back and forth between this and a standard length, and have ultimately determined that it is much easier for me to sink putts with the belly than the standard putter. I personally think you have to practice frequently to keep sharp with a standard length putter. The belly on the other hand takes out a lot of the intangibles that you have to work so hard to maintain with a standard putter. I think I am a convert from here going forward.

[Sakman]

I recall hearing somewhere that Winn has had more orders for Belly/Split Putter Grips in the last few months than the last 7 YEARS!

Apparently they're back ordered ~ 14,000 pieces to boot.

[sandwedge59]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1318870840' post='3683479']
gross. It's all I have to say.
[/quote]

Sorry to go off topic but:


Seriously !! your'e trying to say that a long or belly putter is ruining the game more than a golf ball that the pro's can hit 250 yards plus with a regular iron , not a hybrid or fairway wood , it surely seems there is more advantage to that than a belly putter , and i am not against either , just play the game and best score wins , it's the same for everyone

[cardoustie]

After my tazer like strokes this past weekend .... I am practicing with the long Yes putter I picked up last Spring.

Out of pure frustration I tried it again last nite in the basement and I love the way I can lock it into my sternum. Plus it is easier on the back.

I figure I should have it grooved after the Winter and will just learn lag putting when the season opens

The two guys on my scramble team this weekend have convinced me. Both plus 3's and get it on line almost every time. It was impressive to watch

[zed]

I am a self diagnosed poor and inconsistent putter with a short putter. Converted to a belly probably 9 months ago, haven't looked back.

[zed]

I am a self diagnosed poor and inconsistent putter with a short putter. Converted to a belly probably 9 months ago, haven't looked back.

[Breaker999]

My 2ball was sitting in the closet and I converted it to a belly using a wedge shaft. My opinion is they ought to be banned from the pro tours. Weekend warriors and folks playing for enjoyment should be allowed to use it. We'll see what happens. BTW the Winn grip is fantastic.

[rafal]

Sad.

[jjl]

I had a Spider Ghost belly but returned it before putting it in the bag, just couldn't get comfortable with the thought of having it in the bag, making a scene every time i take out the putter, and wasn't convinced i'd putt better with it. Not to say that i may not check one out again in the future but at 42, i'm resisting the belly putter.

[Vinny Nguyen]

Tried both briefly at local shops. Long putters are hard for me to judge distance with. Belly putter felt pretty decent and I'm sure I could learn to like it if I got one. But for me it doesn't beat the feel of a traditional putter.

[smackygolf]

The 43" TM putter has been on a 6 week backorder for over a month. They are so far behind it's not funny.

[FriedEgg]

Odyssey/Callaway is missing lots of sales opportunities here, especially with the Sabertooth model used by Bradley and lately Mickelson.

[Gutz_it]

[quote name='Minty7890' timestamp='1318892838' post='3685169']
My 2ball was sitting in the closet and I converted it to a belly using a wedge shaft. My opinion is they ought to be banned from the pro tours. Weekend warriors and folks playing for enjoyment should be allowed to use it. We'll see what happens. BTW the Winn grip is fantastic.
[/quote]


Ummm are you a midget??

[jwfgolfpro]

[quote name='mthibo' timestamp='1318934008' post='3687233']
Odyssey/Callaway is missing lots of sales opportunities here, especially with the Sabertooth model used by Bradley and lately Mickelson.
[/quote]

They are already shipping

JWF

[smackygolf]

[quote name='jwfgolfpro' timestamp='1318941582' post='3687477']
[quote name='mthibo' timestamp='1318934008' post='3687233']
Odyssey/Callaway is missing lots of sales opportunities here, especially with the Sabertooth model used by Bradley and lately Mickelson.
[/quote]

They are already shipping

JWF
[/quote]
The belly Dart is on horrendous backorder as well right now. Are you saying the Sabretooth is shipping? There is no belly Sabretooth. I've been screaming about this to Callaway for months.

[ksavy17]

the long putter has made putting fun for me, I enjoy putting and feel like i can make everything I look at now, could care less what anybody has to say about it

[ice8888]

[quote name='Gutz_it' timestamp='1318941413' post='3687447']
[quote name='Minty7890' timestamp='1318892838' post='3685169']
My 2ball was sitting in the closet and I converted it to a belly using a wedge shaft. My opinion is they ought to be banned from the pro tours. Weekend warriors and folks playing for enjoyment should be allowed to use it. We'll see what happens. BTW the Winn grip is fantastic.
[/quote]


Ummm are you a midget??
[/quote]


i'm assuming he means he extended the original shaft by using an old wedge shaft as the extension. i did this to a backstryke for a while this summer and liked it. i have since removed the extension though since our greens are getting their fall/winter growth and i don't feel like i can hit the belly hard enough.

[Scott@84]

[quote name='smackygolf' timestamp='1318950634' post='3688113']
[quote name='jwfgolfpro' timestamp='1318941582' post='3687477']
[quote name='mthibo' timestamp='1318934008' post='3687233']
Odyssey/Callaway is missing lots of sales opportunities here, especially with the Sabertooth model used by Bradley and lately Mickelson.
[/quote]

They are already shipping

JWF
[/quote]
The belly Dart is on horrendous backorder as well right now. Are you saying the Sabretooth is shipping? There is no belly Sabretooth. I've been screaming about this to Callaway for months.
[/quote]

They are making the Sabretooth mid it's launching 11/18.

[MadGolfer76]

Oh, TM. The putter was the only club they hadn't lengthened, so I guess it was inevitable. lol

[ram01002]

[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1318958759' post='3688713']
Oh, TM. The putter was the only club they hadn't lengthened, so I guess it was inevitable. lol
[/quote]

[trapsmv15]

[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1318870620' post='3683461']
I think there was a thread on this. I predict quite a few sales of belly and long putters followed by a ton of belly and long putters on used putter racks.
[/quote]
Good! I hope I see some 46" long putters I can snatch up...

[minhjn]

ping also needs to do this. you can't order a ping belly putter for a month or two

[stopdog]

I wish they would come out with new models for the belly and broom style. And with heavier headweights, or at least a way to change them easily. I like the ghost broom but it's too light for me.

[stage1350]

[quote name='sandwedge59' timestamp='1318879108' post='3684109']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1318870840' post='3683479']
gross. It's all I have to say.
[/quote]

Sorry to go off topic but:


Seriously !! your'e trying to say that a long or belly putter is ruining the game more than a golf ball that the pro's can hit 250 yards plus with a regular iron , not a hybrid or fairway wood , it surely seems there is more advantage to that than a belly putter , and i am not against either , just play the game and best score wins , it's the same for everyone
[/quote]

That's because there is little profit in long putters or grooves. But OEMs will spend every cent they have to protect ball patents.

Until the USGA has "the balls" to regulate the ball, you will never get your wish. And we will have these insignificant changes that will not do a thing. Even changing the ball will not make a difference except to make the customer spend money on new balls. Average scores are not dropping and average handicaps have barely moved in the amateur ranks over the last 30 years.

[moonshine]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1318870840' post='3683479']
gross. It's all I have to say.
[/quote]
Uh huh....gag me with a spoon.

[smackygolf]

[quote name='Scott@84' timestamp='1318958348' post='3688683']
[quote name='smackygolf' timestamp='1318950634' post='3688113']
[quote name='jwfgolfpro' timestamp='1318941582' post='3687477']
[quote name='mthibo' timestamp='1318934008' post='3687233']
Odyssey/Callaway is missing lots of sales opportunities here, especially with the Sabertooth model used by Bradley and lately Mickelson.
[/quote]

They are already shipping

JWF
[/quote]
The belly Dart is on horrendous backorder as well right now. Are you saying the Sabretooth is shipping? There is no belly Sabretooth. I've been screaming about this to Callaway for months.
[/quote]

They are making the Sabretooth mid it's launching 11/18.
[/quote]
So, it's not already shipping? Seems like I already said that.