Face milling - effect on feel and roll?

[NYCGolfNut]

Hi all,

 

Just picked up a used Scotty Newport Studio Select which has some beautiful patina on it from years of use. Love the look, but the milling on the face has (understandably) worn down a little. Face feels smoother and putts feel a little less soft than my usual gamer (Newport 2 recently refinished and restored at the custom shop).

 

Am wondering if that is just in my head or does milling have a real effect on feel and potentially roll. Do the grooves grip the ball and help it roll better? Does a deeper milled face help with distance control and starting the ball on the right line?

 

Will likely go with what looks and feels best, but wanted to raise the milling question as the wisdom on the these board knows no bounds...

 

Cheers!

[PreppySlapCut]

Zero effect on roll. The deeper milling will feel softer for most people because less material is coming in contact with the ball.

[NYCGolfNut]

The feel point makes sense. But if more material is coming in contact then (at least theoretically) the same strike should impart more force to the ball?

[jslane57]

It would be interesting to hear from a club/ball maker on this one. I think the ball makes a big difference here. As in a softer cover, the harder you hit it, the more it goes into the milling, and theoretically you would have more material in contact with a deeper mill and a harder strike. To be honest, I still don't understand why anyone wants extended contact with a putter, seems like it would lead to more options of spin and other things that could upset a simple putt. In reality, the shallower milling may change the sound a little, the feel a little, but not as much as different weighting and loft. If you like the way it is, I'd just use it, and if it is different than your other, that is good as once it goes south, you have something a little different to switch out with...