Ram Zebra, how would it compare?

[white03]

So I was meandering around the local golf shop and there is the used putter section was an old Ram Zebra putter. Well I got nostalgic and had to buy it. :drinks: First face balanced putter that I recall!!

 

So now I'm sitting at home on a cold cold winter day and wondering how it'll compare to a gee whiz, high tech, machined, face balanced putter of today. What do you think?

 

Had to edit: forgot to say that it has the original shaft, grip and headcover!!

[birly-shirly]

I'm pretty sceptical of any claims for technological performance gains in putting. I worry about length, lie and weight, and I have preferences as to the look of the head and the shape of the grip, but I'm not sure what else is likely to have an impact on actual performance.

[jmck]

If it suits your eye and your putting stroke, there is zero--and I mean [i]absolutely zero[/i]--performance gain to be had by spending several hundred extra dollars on the face-milled-Scotty-Cameron-rip-off version of the very same club. What introduces more irregularities to the roll of any given putt? A putter face surface that isn't milled precisely flat to the nearest thousandth of an inch, or the irregular surface of every blade of grass between the ball and the hole. ...Or, in other words....marketing, marketing, marketing.

Anyhow, those old Zebras are great putters. Revolutionary in their day. You can adjust the weight with a screwdriver and some dirt (or powdered lead if you'd prefer), rather than lead tape or $50 Cameron Circle-T weights.

If it rolls the ball good for you, game it!

[jaworski]

I extended and counterbalanced the one I got at a thrift shop for $1. I just put a new grip on it that I like . It performs great and is a nice blast from the past to game. It kills the younger crowd when you are canning putts with it.

[farmer]

If you remove the sole plate, you can adjust the weight with washers. I bought one new when they came out and got a little kit with extra weights/washers. Loaned mine to a friend who got drunk at a tournament, he then loaned it to a complete stranger who wasn't even in the tournament, who took it to Mars and it was gone forever. Probably my putter the OP bought.

[white03]

so here's another question: would you game it as is? Thinking of getting it refinished, new shaft, grip etc..

[SteveNZ]

Assume you guys have seen this?

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/350491-tasty-ram-80s-set-up/page__st__30#entry10941611"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/350491-tasty-ram-80s-set-up/page__st__30#entry10941611[/url]

[super20dan]

the zebra was so far ahead of its time it even came in white!

[scruffynick]

Used a zebra for years, saw tom watson using one in 91 so my dad got me one. But as above has already said, putting is about feel and if it works and gets the puts in who cares what you use? The best 2 putters I know and play with (one is my dad off 8 the other is off 3 and in their early 70s) use titleist bullseye from the 70s. And the ram zebra is a brilliant putter and will hold up to anything today.

[scomac2002]

[quote name='scruffynick' timestamp='1424358014' post='10984513']
The best 2 putters I know and play with (one is my dad off 8 the other is off 3 and in their early 70s) use titleist bullseye from the 70s.
[/quote]

Funny how that works isn't it? Probably the two best guys I've ever played with when it came to rolling the rock used Bullseye putters and as you say both were 70 years young plus or minus.

[white03]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1424354506' post='10984195']
the zebra was so far ahead of its time it even came in white!
[/quote]

They had a white one that was also in good shape...but it was left handed...otherwise I would have gotten it!

[white03]

[quote name='SteveNZ' timestamp='1424315636' post='10982577']
Assume you guys have seen this?

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/350491-tasty-ram-80s-set-up/page__st__30#entry10941611"]http://www.golfwrx.c...0#entry10941611[/url]
[/quote]

Yes I saw that. Presume you mean about filling it with epoxy.

[scruffynick]

[quote name='scomac2002' timestamp='1424361153' post='10984871']
[quote name='scruffynick' timestamp='1424358014' post='10984513']
The best 2 putters I know and play with (one is my dad off 8 the other is off 3 and in their early 70s) use titleist bullseye from the 70s.
[/quote]

Funny how that works isn't it? Probably the two best guys I've ever played with when it came to rolling the rock used Bullseye putters and as you say both were 70 years young plus or minus.
[/quote]
I know, if I could put like my dad I would have been scratch! My dad can put across roof tiles and has always used this bullseye as long as I can remember

[SteveNZ]

[quote name='white03' timestamp='1424361834' post='10984985'][quote name='SteveNZ' timestamp='1424315636' post='10982577']
Assume you guys have seen this?

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/350491-tasty-ram-80s-set-up/page__st__30#entry10941611"]http://www.golfwrx.c...0#entry10941611[/url]
[/quote]

Yes I saw that. Presume you mean about filling it with epoxy.[/quote]

Yeah.

[Soloman1]

Some guys with a death wish in the old days used to put magnets under the bottom plate, then try to smoothly move their ball mark when they thought no one was looking.

[majic]

Great putter the Zebra. Gene Littler was the first to roll his ball with one on Tour. Try my tip. Makes it better. Guarantee

[KevCarter]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1424467566' post='10993855']
Great putter the Zebra. Gene Littler was the first to roll his ball with one on Tour. Try my tip. Makes it better. Guarantee
[/quote]

Did you hang out on tour with Joel Goldstrand? He taught me that trick in the mid-70's when he came off tour and went to work at Minneapolis GC, He also had the only sets of Ping forged irons I've ever seen in person...

[super20dan]

watson turned to the zebra when he was in the heart of his slump or dry spell. when he finally one after 9 years it was with a odessy

[scruffynick]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1424568878' post='11000985']
watson turned to the zebra when he was in the heart of his slump or dry spell. when he finally one after 9 years it was with a odessy
[/quote]
I just remember Watson using the z

[scruffynick]

[quote name='scruffynick' timestamp='1424602067' post='11002607']
[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1424568878' post='11000985']
watson turned to the zebra when he was in the heart of his slump or dry spell. when he finally one after 9 years it was with a odessy
[/quote]
I just remember Watson using the z
[/quote]
Oops carry on, remember Watson using the zebra in 91 at Augusta when Woosie won it. Taped that final round and watched it endlessly as it was fantastic til the end, but I really wanted a zebra and it was my birthday a few days later and my dad got me one....was still using it past 2002

[white03]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1424467566' post='10993855']
Great putter the Zebra. Gene Littler was the first to roll his ball with one on Tour. Try my tip. Makes it better. Guarantee
[/quote]

Hi Bro

I want to get the head weight right and it's not so adjustable once filled with epoxy. Do you know how many grams filling with epoxy will add? Thank you! Bill

[jmck]

Use lead tape to mock up the weight you want to add, then weigh yourself out an equal amount of epoxy.

[XYB34A]

a nickel is 5 grams use those to get the weight right

[TMBob]

One of my favs!

Gauze Tex, Crosshand and the mighty Zeb was feared greatly. Anyone using the weights, never feared.

OP.....what grip?

[majic]

It is not about weight. Debra's are cheap. Try it. Don't get all tied up in weight and other " marketing hype" when it comes to putting. Putting is looks, shaft, feel and grip

[weihiluo]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1424467566' post='10993855']
Great putter the Zebra. Gene Littler was the first to roll his ball with one on Tour. Try my tip. Makes it better. Guarantee
[/quote]

I read the post about filling with epoxy.
I was uncertain about one thing .... do you put the soleplate back on after filling?
Or, does the shaped mass of epoxy become the new sole of the club?

[majic]

You put the putter sole up in vise and using a level get it parallel to floor
I usually put masking tape around the sole or use plumbers putty to keep epoxy from running out of cavity.
Fill with epoxy after plugging the shaft hole. I used to glue a coin over shaft hole. You do not use sole plate. You can file or sand the epoxy smooth

[golfluvzme]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1425002479' post='11036703']
You put the putter sole up in vise and using a level get it parallel to floor
I usually put masking tape around the sole or use plumbers putty to keep epoxy from running out of cavity.
Fill with epoxy after plugging the shaft hole. I used to glue a coin over shaft hole. You do not use sole plate. You can file or sand the epoxy smooth
[/quote]
Straight from one of the guys who made the milled putter a piece of "normal" golf equipment and has worked with more tour players than we can shake a stick at. I hope that all who read this realize that nobody in the game, today, is going to have the tips and tricks to help dial in your equipment like Tad. I was reading this and it took me back to my youth and all of the tinkering I did on clubs with my older brother. THIS is what makes the game fun.
I have a good supply of Zebras in the garage and I see me in the shop, this weekend with some epoxy, a coin and maybe some plumbers putty to build that epoxy dam. I am thinking that maybe adding some cool things to float in that epoxy might be sort of cool...........the tinkering never stops!
Thanks for that tip and for sharing your stories. They never get old. Proud to call you a friend.
LaMont in AZ

[TMBob]

Was the shaft profile (double bend) not the first of it's kind and now a fixture in the industry?

[BIG STU]

[quote name='white03' timestamp='1424821086' post='11021527']
[quote name='majic' timestamp='1424467566' post='10993855']
Great putter the Zebra. Gene Littler was the first to roll his ball with one on Tour. Try my tip. Makes it better. Guarantee
[/quote]

Hi Bro

I want to get the head weight right and it's not so adjustable once filled with epoxy. Do you know how many grams filling with epoxy will add? Thank you! Bill
[/quote]Actually Mr Moore gave you the best advice but if you are worried about too much weight you can always drill some of the epoxy out to get it to your feel