Perfect Balance? Is this still important?

[LionGolfer]

Is getting a putter perfectly centered and balanced still important?

 

I wonder how many of the newer guys do this or know how to do this.  Im quite sure the OTR putters won;t make this test.

 

This is an old pic of one of Gene Nead's putters.

 

So still important for what is considered a good performing putter (assuming the operator has a sound stroke)? 

[jonradus]

Looks are probably more important than balance now. The amount of boutique putters being bought without being demoed, then immediately sold, probably precludes the need for balance. If a putter isn’t “balanced” and the buyer feels that something is “off” without knowing why (which is probably most amateurs; i.e., people like me), they’ll just sell it and write it off as “not working” for them.

[MattM97]

I think it probably helps more on lighter putters since most putters today are heavier they will twist a bit less due to MOI. 

[MPix53]

I'm not sure how much the perfect balance is needed heel to toe, but any alignment mark should line up with the CoG wherever it is I guess.

[LionGolfer]

That sounds logical.  Again, I'm not sure if this is done for alignment marks.

 

For 2 alignment marks like a site dot and flange sight line, I think maybe length and lie would also affect if both line up correctly?  Question and not a statement of fact.

[MPix53]

I 'think' length would have no impact, but changing the lie angle from the designed specification would certainly affect the balance point away from any alignment mark - but I'm sure there would be ways of bending to maintain it if you thought about it. Would it perhaps affect toe hang more than anything depending on how much the lie angle changed? CoG movement could be minimal for us mere mortals to notice.

[5hort5tuff]

I know for sure only 2 of my customs were balanced. My TP mills and Kevin Burns. I'll admit, the Mills feels 100% perfect to me. The KB doesn't for some reason.  I. Not sure it really matters much at all to be honest. 

[jonradus]

I don’t pull heads from putters to check balance, but I did check the TI-12 TP Mills mass-produced putter head I bought before I shafted it and that thing was nuts on. So even David’s mass-produced Korean heads are good to go. 

[LionGolfer]

Good to see one of the newer guys, Josey of Mack Made, placing an emphasis on balance as well. 

[JungleJimbo]

On 7/4/2022 at 10:24 PM, LionGolfer said:

Is getting a putter perfectly centered and balanced still important?

 

I wonder how many of the newer guys do this or know how to do this.  Im quite sure the OTR putters won;t make this test.

 

This is an old pic of one of Gene Nead's putters.

 

So still important for what is considered a good performing putter (assuming the operator has a sound stroke)? 

@LionGolfer Have you had any experience with Kronos putters?  https://kronosgolf.com/pure-balance 
 

 

 
 

[LionGolfer]

Hi Jim, 

 

I did try this at the shop a few years back.  It's not bad but just not my fancy.  To each his own of course. 

 

How's your machine? 

[JungleJimbo]

1 minute ago, LionGolfer said:

Hi Jim, 

 

I did try this at the shop a few years back.  It's not bad but just not my fancy.  To each his own of course. 

 

How's your machine? 

Thanks @LionGolfer ... you remembered!
The Machine 'Casanova' is great albeit it's mainly doing carpet duties ... i still have a preference for Odyssey #7 fang- style putters (but the Machine is on standby for when the #7 style putters need a time out in the 'naughty corner').

[LionGolfer]

Just now, JungleJimbo said:

Thanks @LionGolfer ... you remembered!
The Machine 'Casanova' is great albeit it's mainly doing carpet duties ... i still have a preference for Odyssey #7 fang- style putters (but the Machine is on standby for when the #7 style putters need a time out in the 'naughty corner').

 Of course i remembered. 

[MachineHack]

Remembered this post finally, sitting here in a meeting bored….decided to see if the anser 4 was balanced, might turn up a point on the lathe and see what the faces are like out of interest lol

 

it is indeed and so is the a3 

 

I won’t claim I’ve done this, but good to see I didn’t f it up when I installed the tungsten weights hahaha