Would you game a putter you didn’t like the look of?

[AreJohn]

The Stroke Lab 2-Ball Fang is hands down the easiest putter to aim from all distances for me but I cannot stomach looking at it.

For some reason the Ping Fetch looks beautiful to me and is almost as intuitive so I went with that instead.

[gscott7]

> @MaineMariner said:

> I recently bought the Evnroll Tour Stroke as I had been messing around with it at Golf Galaxy for months. I bought it as a training aid, but I'll be damned if I'm not just absolutely draining putts with this thing. It feels ridiculously stable when used in the "play" mode, as Evnroll calls it.

>

What exactly is different about the "play" mode? I tried this putter in store and liked it as well.

 

 

[MaineMariner]

> @gscott7 said:

> > @MaineMariner said:

> > I recently bought the Evnroll Tour Stroke as I had been messing around with it at Golf Galaxy for months. I bought it as a training aid, but I'll be damned if I'm not just absolutely draining putts with this thing. It feels ridiculously stable when used in the "play" mode, as Evnroll calls it.

> >

> What exactly is different about the "play" mode? I tried this putter in store and liked it as well.

>

>

 

Evnroll recommends that, when you're practicing your stroke, you should place the clubhead about an inch or two behind the ball so that the shaft basically points at the back of the ball. When you're using the putter as an actual putter, what they refer to as "play mode", they recommend putting the putter head right behind your ball (or however you'd usually set up).

 

There's a good video on Be Better Golf's YouTube channel with Guerin Rife that explains the concept.

[DFW Snowman]

Yes, but I'm desperately trying to get better with the putters I do like the look of in the meantime. I game a TM Daddy Long Legs. Absolutely hate how it looks, but my stats show it's on average 4 putts better per round. It's just so consistent in that 4 - 10 foot range compared to my blade putters.

[golfbuddy]

As long as it gets the ball in the hole

[broomsticker]

> @03trdblack said:

> Directed force putter. I won this in a drawing and it looks like a branding iron but man does it just swing itself. You really can't make it twist the face unless you just have some crazy nervous tick or something. I emailed the company to see if they could make a "mini" version of it so that it would be a little more pleasing behind the ball but they said no.

 

They have a blade version out now that you may want to check out.

 

 

[broomsticker]

I have been using a long STX Sync 3 for the better part of 20 years so the answer is definitely yes.

[locode]

> @ChrisT said:

> Let’s assume for the discussion that price is not a factor.

> If you went to a putter fitting and were told the ugliest putter in the lab was best for you. Would you buy it ? Or go with the one you really like the look of and make adjustments/ compensations and learn to putt with it?

 

I would never "game" a putter or any other golf club for that matter. I would play a putter, I would use a putter, but I would never "game" one.

[Ivyguy]

Short answer yes.

 

The Spider X line is the only putter that I would consider playing that isn't a traditional shape. Its performance speaks for itself at this point.

 

I game a Ping Zing and alternate to a 8802.

 

Putters are something that I use then when I perceive (with my weak feeble mind) that something isn't jiving, then I will switch to something in my rotation. It's not a change in overall setup, its just for the eyes.

 

But. Putting (and golf overall) is such a mind game that I want to have my equipment fit my eyes. It eliminates the opportunity for me to blame my tools. Lol

[Egs57]

No

[tleader]

Nope. Confidence is as much visual as it is from results. If I can’t look down at it and love the look, I won’t even try it.

[Dcoop86]

I would’ve said no, but recently got a great putter fitting at TXG and he handed me a Bobby Grace (never in my life would I have picked it up in a store... more likely to make fun of it). I play a Scotty center shafted mid mallet and this is a small slant neck Shiloh with a Stability shaft. The roll was night and day better and even the stroke/impact was better. I was sold. Should get it in hand this coming week.

[artsmart73]

nope

 

[briansagolfer]

I have several really pretty putters that i LOVE the look of....... but i am playing a never compromise VooDoo- can't aim the pretty putters- the Voodoo saves me 4-5 strokes per round..... i would sleep with it if i wasn't afraid of damaging it. it is NOT pretty..... but it is Sexy

[NYCGolfNut]

Not a chance! I play for fun, and while I would very much like to see lower scores, the fun part always comes first.

[Bubb]

I have, but it never lasts.

[mogc60]

Done it my whole life...can honestly say I have never used a putter I love the look of. They have all been off in some way. But I’m a very good putter...the lead edge is my biggest factor...if I can line that up I can roll it. The junk behind it doesn’t really matter except for weight. That being said I’ve used center shaft or bullseye type putters mostly. I won’t even look at a plumbers neck no matter how pretty the head is. Don’t work for me. Heres my two current gamers. The m6 (black) rolls it so good but the shaft seems to lean wrong...the platinum doesn’t really look good to me on the ground but I make a ton of putts with it. It’s always something that I don’t love about a putter.

 

 

[Z1ggy16]

Probably not since looks is the very first discriminator I use when selecting a putter. Otherwise I could spend a life time trying (then ditching) every putter under the sun.

[gripandrip]

For the most part, I would game something that works.... but there is a limit...

 

 

[toddba11]

No, I have to like the look, or at least somewhat. Generally the look, roll and confidence equal a putter I like.....

[GeorgeHWB]

Absolutely not. I don't play golf for a living. I play it for enjoyment. Part of that enjoyment is loving the equipment I play with. Thankfully, though, I putt great with a putter I love.

[tbowles411]

> @EricWGolf said:

> The more putts it makes, the prettier a putter gets.

 

THIS Times a Million

[keoni808]

I once collected putters of all makes and I gamed every one to see how they played. Some looked good and didn't work some not so good looking but stroked beautiful, as they say beauty in in the eye of the beholder. Now I play a Karsten Co and love it.

[braincramp52]

No, I have to like what I'm looking at.

[Bunkerrat]

I won a tru- roll putter a few years ago. Looks like a pipe on a stick but man can I roll it well. It's not in the bag right now but I keep it in a dark closet ready to come off the bench if I need it. So I guess my answer would be a yes.

[ChrisT]

There’s no doubt in my mind that the Odysee white hot 2 ball is one of the most effective putters ever made. Just can’t bring my self to take my SC Mil Spec out of the bag...........and the Miss Lena Las Vegas cover is way better to look at as I’m pushing the bag around...........yeah yeah I know.....please don’t all be Captain Obvious if you comment. ?

[NevinW]

Absolutely. I don't care what it looks like, just whether I can hole putts with it.

[ThinkingPlus]

Last time I checked, photos of your putter and the rest of your clubs were not attached to the scorecard with strokes added for ugly appearance. Results are all that should matter. Your psychologist should be able to help you out with this.

[justasgood]

I won’t play any club I don’t like the look, feel or sound of.......I can figure out how to play well with the equipment that meet those 3 criteria

[MaineMariner]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> Last time I checked, photos of your putter and the rest of your clubs were not attached to the scorecard with strokes added for ugly appearance. Results are all that should matter. Your psychologist should be able to help you out with this.

 

Why are results all that should matter? I'm not on tour. I'm not playing for sponsors. I play golf for a number of reasons, and results aren't even close to being the end all be all. I play because I really enjoy the game. That enjoyment includes the results, but also my love for the equiment, the aesthetics, the nature, the camaraderie... etc.

 

So to answer the question in the OP, it's really on a sliding scale. I could game a putter that isn't my preferred shape if the results were there. I currently am! But I couldn't game a putter that made me wretch, even if the results were superb, because that would negatively impact my enjoyment of the game. In other words, no, I'm not using a Directed Force putter anytime soon.