Personal Opinions / Top 5 Rankings for Small Match Makers

[ericscotty123]

Hey friends.  I am hoping to pick a putter builder (small batch) for my first custom.  Reading reviews online is helpful but hard to make decisions from.  I was wondering if I could leverage the expert opinions here from golfers who have gone small batch custom.  Who are your top 5 (or less), timing and money aside.  I've talked to a few shops and have a coupe of guys in mind but I am a bit green to this sector.  Thanks for any help!

 

Eric

[MattM97]

Oh man there are endless options out there and asking a vague question is probably not going to get you an answer you want. I have some questions for you:

 

* Are you left or right handed? 

* What head shape are you interested in? Blade, Mallet, Fang, something unique? 

* Is weight a concern to you? Some guys can't make heavy heads due to milling being outsourced. 

* Detail on the putter do you want basic, stamps or custom milled logos? 

* Are you looking for a specific metal or is Stainless or Carbon fine? 

 

I think answering a few of these can definitely get some better answers. 

[ericscotty123]

Great questions!  I am sorry I left so much out.  I play w/ a Scotty Studio 1.0 right now and LOVE it.  My second is a 1.5 I've had since college graduation.  So I definitely want to go with a blade, but would consider a mid mallet.  Weight is not a concern.  I would love to personalize it with some cool stamping and colors (custom milled logos). Carbon would be fine but not really needed.  TBH, I've never used carbon, or even rolled one.  Tx for the advice on better clarity.

[Maroon_19]

I just had a putter fitting with John Hatfield at Artisan Golf in Fort Worth.  If you don't know who these guys are just do a little research.  My custom blade completely fit to me will be ready in about 5 weeks.

Edited January 26, 2021 by mycale

[DannyNoonin]

Check out Mack Made @josey. Tp Mills, Byron Morgan, Mann, Lejosi should be others to check out as well. 

[Phabs]

My top three are Byron Morgan,  Lajosi and Compass. Low tides are growing on me as well. I’ve been really pleased with my compass I just received enough so I just ordered a second one.   

Edited January 26, 2021 by Phabs

[fharbist]

They are mostly all very good choices if you know what you want (get fitted), communicate clearly (these custom builders are all busy), and are patient (they're craftsmen, not business people).  I've owned all of them, from the "big guys" Cameron and Bettinardi, to the one-man-in-a-garage builders like Lamont (Mann), Lumpy (Xenon), Mills, Byron (Morgan), Lajosi, Piretti, Gauge, Ingles, Machine, Tad Moore, Kingston, etc., etc., to the new breed coming along now (Artisan, Toulon, SWAG, etc.). 

 

My personal favorite is BYRON MORGAN.  Work directly with Byron, that's the best way to get exactly what you want.  But it will test your patience for sure.... 

 

Good luck!!

[luke1333]

1 hour ago, fharbist said:

They are mostly all very good choices if you know what you want (get fitted), communicate clearly (these custom builders are all busy), and are patient (they're craftsmen, not business people).  I've owned all of them, from the "big guys" Cameron and Bettinardi, to the one-man-in-a-garage builders like Lamont (Mann), Lumpy (Xenon), Mills, Byron (Morgan), Lajosi, Piretti, Gauge, Ingles, Machine, Tad Moore, Kingston, etc., etc., to the new breed coming along now (Artisan, Toulon, SWAG, etc.). 

 

My personal favorite is BYRON MORGAN.  Work directly with Byron, that's the best way to get exactly what you want.  But it will test your patience for sure.... 

 

Good luck!!

 

These are all good guys! If I had to rate I them in a top 5, in no order it would be Piretti, Byron Morgan, Lajosi, Goodwood, Olson but I don't think you can go wrong with any listed in this thread so far though. My 5 are who I have dealt with and had great luck with! I would have no problem buying from any of them today and probably will buy more from them this year. Good luck on search of your builder!

[eddiebigeddie]

Lamont is great to work with.  He's my #1 choice.  I've heard great things about Byron & Lajosi too.  The others I'm sure are good as well, but alot pricier and more time to get it in your hands.

[reperna]

I personally would go MANN. He can literally make you anything you want. A lot of the newer guys just stick to a couple shapes. His prices are very reasonable as well.

[cardoza]

Chip at Black Lab Golf does some excellent work at very reasonable prices.

 

[Laznasty]

Byron Morgan should be near the top of your list.

[RichieHunt]

In no particular order:

 

Goodwood Golf - Just got a putter from David and it's masterful craftsmanship.  I've had many people tell me it's the best looking putter they've ever seen and for me, it's the best feeling putter I've ever had. If you want a Anser or Dalehead style putter with a thinner top line, this is the one.  I got mine in 7 weeks and it would have been sooner if it weren't for the holidays.  Great communicator which is important.

 

Byron Morgan - I liked it when he had more head designs to choose from, but he can make just about anything you want.  I think his craftsmanship is usually top notch.  Not sure about his communication because he's so busy which I understand.

 

TP Mills - Master builder of putters with fine, fine work.  Another one that is really busy and may have some communication lapses.  But his work is always top notch.

 

MannKrafted - Great communicator and great builder.  I think he may make the best looking Dalehead (MA66) and the MA55 model is beautiful.  Very big into face milling which isn't my thing.  But if it's yours...great guy to go to.  Excellent communicator.

 

Bastain Milled - I know he makes putters, not sure if he does custom builds.  Excellent craftsman though.  

 

Olson  Mfg - I've only seen his work and don't know anybody personally that has purchased a putter, but the work is superb.

 

Black Lab Golf - friend of mine has a mallet of theirs, really great work they do there and the communication is excellent.

 

My advice to you is to figure out some more of the specifications that you like.  These putters are not cheap and you don't want to get something that doesn't work for you.  Particularly the weight of the head because those Scotty Studio's you love probably only weight 325-330 grams.  Typical putters these days weigh about 350+ grams.  Piretti for example almost all of their putters are at least 365 grams.  

 

Carbon Steel feels a little differently than Stainless to me, but personally I prefer carbon with a smooth face or stainless steel with a very light milling.  Then there's the neck and whether your want a plumber's neck, flow neck, long neck, etc.  I would stick with the same type of neck you have on the Scotty Studio's since you like them so much.

 

Personally, I went to a Goodwood putter as I was looking for a custom putter because I believe that putters are too heavy and too soft these days.  And trying to find a 330 gram head with no grooves or milling at the PGA Tour SS isn't going happen.  Particularly since I wanted one with a 1/2 shaft offset flow neck.

 

And I didn't want to buy an old, used putter on eBay and pay hundreds of dollars.  

 

So for me, price was important, turnaround time was important and the communication and craftsmanship was important.  There's a lot of excellent craftsman out there, but the customer care, ease of use and follow thru is what should separate the putter maker you end up going to.

 

 

 

 

RH

 

 

 

 

[bigkidneys]

Just received my Nordberg flatstick and can't say enough great things about Christian's work. So impressed I ordered a Halvdan CU next.  He's very active on IG (Nordberg Putters) and responds quickly even though they are 7 hours ahead of us. 

[ericscotty123]

Thanks all for the great info.  It's set me on the right path.  Will post when I pick.  Appreciate the expert opinions.

 

Eric

[NDSwim]

Went this route six years ago.  Get fitted, then talk to each guy. 

 

At the time I went with Mannkrafted.  Great work and communication.  Just saw him a few months ago to make sure everything still looked good with the putter.

[ericscotty123]

Does anyone have thoughts / views / experiences with Strokes Gained or Coogin?  Thx All.  Eric

[FlashinLeather]

1. National Custom Works 

2. Logan Olsen

3. Tyson Lamb

4. Cody James

5. Kevin Burns