Why hasn't anybody done this before?

[BenSeattle]

Mizuno and Bettinardi -- Face-Balanced Blade

I knew Bob Bettinardi was now designing for Mizuno, but today I saw a first.... an "Anser" style blade putter with a subtle "double-bend" shaft that made it face-balanced for us Square to Square strokers.

Oddly, when I try to find this model, the C-06... it's not even on the website! (See below.) Anyone else run into this beauty?

Oh yeah: $200


http://www.mizunousa.com/equipment.nsf/All...amp;cat=putters

Happy golfing

[TM golf guy]

Take a look at some of the Machine putters, some of them have hosels that have double bends. I believe Chris is testing a putter like that now.

[cbae]

It's definitely been done and not only by Bettinardi. :russian_roulette:

[treatdog]

I am pretty sure Ping had a few face-balanced anser shaped putters. I can't remember the model, but I am sure someone else can chime in. They didn't have a double bend shaft, but the hosel was moved closer to the center to give it that balance.

[drpino]

they're new models for '07. sales rep brought in a C-05 one day a couple months ago. Edwin Watts has both the C-05 and C-06 in stock on their web page.

[Albatros]

I have two Ping Ally 3's that are my gamer and backup in case of loss/damage. It has an extra long neck so the face comes out perfectly balanced. They don't make them anymore, but occasionally you see them up on eBay. That's where I got my backup.

 

Its not the greatest feeling putter, but the face-balanced nature fits my stroke and the look suites my eye. It has very little offset, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 shaft.

[metroplanner]

Scotty Cameron Catalina and a collection of Ping models going wayy back have been very, very similar.

 

Here...Catalina, 1997 Scotty Cameron:

 

http://www.scottycameron.com/products/putt...ails.asp?id=109

[drewspin]

Your premise is wrong. It has been done before.

 

Ping Anser X

[BenSeattle]

Your premise is wrong. It has been done before.

 

Ping Anser X

 

 

 

Well, let me correct my "premise" then. The concept was new to ME. There... feel better now?

 

 

Happy golfing.

[Gxgolfer]

The neck is such an under rated part of the putter. Its really not talked about in relation to stroke and feel. Everyone is so caught up in the shape of the head and I think most never give it a thought besides setup to the eye.

[harjef]

I tested the C-06 at Edwin Watts a couple of days ago. What a great putter. I have a bronze Ping Anser 5BZ that is similar, but it doesn't have a great feel (very, very firm). I like blade putters, but also prefer something that is face-balanced. I use the Yes Tracy some, but I'm seriously looking at getting the C-06.

[jkruer47150]

I am currently gaming a C06H and love it. It is wonderful. You can order the heavy with a 34" shaft. I ordered mine from Matt at TWOG.

 

They were just released March 16th.

 

I like it better than the Scotty Cameron Catalina. The C06 has a more compact head and feels softer. The catalina has a longer head and is a little too light for me.

 

it also seems to me that the C06 shaft bends aren't as obvious as the Catalina.

 

John

[drewspin]

Your premise is wrong. It has been done before.

 

Ping Anser X

 

 

 

Well, let me correct my "premise" then. The concept was new to ME. There... feel better now?

 

 

Happy golfing.

 

Chill out, dude. Enjoy your new putter.

 

Peace.

[Konklifer]

Yes Tracy is a face balanced blade.

[christof7]

Any chance of posting pictures of the CO6 other than those of the PGA show? Does the head look more like the CO1 or the CO3?

[stage1350]

Since Ben started this one, I'm honoring him with a Cut 'n Paste of the original: Anser X.

 

 

:russian_roulette:

[sfdoddsy]

As you've been so emphatically informed, there are many face balanced Anser style putters. Some are center shafted, others are not.

 

The usual test for non-center shafted putters is to draw a line straight down the shaft and see where it intersects the head.

[tksputters]

Any chance of posting pictures of the CO6 other than those of the PGA show? Does the head look more like the CO1 or the CO3?

 

The C-05 and C-06 are available, but they are not on the Mizuno site yet. The C-06 is the head of a C-01 and C-02, but has no hozel and has a double bend shaft to make it face balanced. Here is a tour version of the C-06:

 

[tksputters]

I love the brass ring Mr. B installs in some of those models. Any specific purpose for that?

 

It just gives it a nice touch and looks great.

[Dr Rangelove]

Ken Giannini for Rawlings made a soft carbon steel model KG-101 that was a face ballanced swan-neck. That was my first Giannini and one of the putters that initiated the draining of my retirement account. I blame Todd and Bob Bettinardi for the rest, they're evil putter pushers that no one can resist!

[Z-Man]

John Byron made the Dale O-Head in 1993.

[cbae]

The neck is such an under rated part of the putter. Its really not talked about in relation to stroke and feel. Everyone is so caught up in the shape of the head and I think most never give it a thought besides setup to the eye.

 

Typically, the characteristic of the neck (if there is one) that is most discussed is where it orients the straight part of the shaft (i.e. the shaft axis) with respect to the head's center of gravity. That's pretty much what dictates the face balance of the overall putter. However, what isn't typically considered is the amount of mass that goes into the neck. This affects feel because most heads are designed to a target weight. If a neck has more mass because it's either fatter or longer, then that means there is less mass in the main body of the head. This has a tremendous effect on feel and forgiveness because mass positioned in the neck contributes very little to the MOI and head's overall solidness of feel. Therefore, a blade-style head with a 90-degree bore and no neck at 330g will feel more compact and more solid than an equivalently weighted head that has a plumber's neck. A typical plumber's neck made of steel contributes anywhere from 35 to 45 grams of the overall head weight.

[drewspin]

The neck is such an under rated part of the putter. Its really not talked about in relation to stroke and feel. Everyone is so caught up in the shape of the head and I think most never give it a thought besides setup to the eye.

 

Typically, the characteristic of the neck (if there is one) that is most discussed is where it orients the straight part of the shaft (i.e. the shaft axis) with respect to the head's center of gravity. That's pretty much what dictates the face balance of the overall putter. However, what isn't typically considered is the amount of mass that goes into the neck. This affects feel because most heads are designed to a target weight. If a neck has more mass because it's either fatter or longer, then that means there is less mass in the main body of the head. This has a tremendous effect on feel and forgiveness because mass positioned in the neck contributes very little to the MOI and head's overall solidness of feel. Therefore, a blade-style head with a 90-degree bore and no neck at 330g will feel more compact and more solid than an equivalently weighted head that has a plumber's neck. A typical plumber's neck made of steel contributes anywhere from 35 to 45 grams of the overall head weight.

 

Well said.

[RobotDoctor]

Since Ben started this one, I'm honoring him with a Cut 'n Paste of the original: Anser X.

 

 

:russian_roulette:

 

Dalton Daves wrote a book called "Putters of Distinction" over 10 years ago and the Anser X was featured in that book. Karsten Solheim made several Anser X putters from the original Ping Scottsdale Anser for experimentation. That would date this style of putter to 1966 or 1967. Mr. Solheim was truly an innovator and a genius in putter design.

[ajlacombe]

The neck is such an under rated part of the putter. Its really not talked about in relation to stroke and feel. Everyone is so caught up in the shape of the head and I think most never give it a thought besides setup to the eye.

 

Typically, the characteristic of the neck (if there is one) that is most discussed is where it orients the straight part of the shaft (i.e. the shaft axis) with respect to the head's center of gravity. That's pretty much what dictates the face balance of the overall putter. However, what isn't typically considered is the amount of mass that goes into the neck. This affects feel because most heads are designed to a target weight. If a neck has more mass because it's either fatter or longer, then that means there is less mass in the main body of the head. This has a tremendous effect on feel and forgiveness because mass positioned in the neck contributes very little to the MOI and head's overall solidness of feel. Therefore, a blade-style head with a 90-degree bore and no neck at 330g will feel more compact and more solid than an equivalently weighted head that has a plumber's neck. A typical plumber's neck made of steel contributes anywhere from 35 to 45 grams of the overall head weight.

 

Actually the neck may have a lot to do with the putter's "feel". The neck's design will determine the first mode of vibration of the putter head. This natural frequency will help shape the vibration content that is passed into the shaft and ultimately into the golfer's hands. This vibration (along with impact sound) will be interpreted as the putter's feel.

 

I am working on a project to correlate this vibration to putter "feel". I wish I had more time to make more progress. My initial work does point to variances in the first mode of vibration for varying neck design. Does it matter? Time will tell.

 

It is funny how often you can trace some type of design innovation back a man named Karsten.