Aluminium putter shafts - good idea or not?

[pmcuk]

I just got a Tour Edge Pure Feel III putter and it has a nicely tapered anodised aluminium shaft. Pretty looking thing, but I'm wondering whether to replace it with a normal steel shaft. The aluminium shaft is lighter, of course, and for a total weight of 508g and a 66g grip the swing weight is 2.85. A bit low. 

 

So talk to me about aluminium shafts - a good thing or not? I'm wondering whether to keep it in or not. 

[Rosco1216]

Try whatever you’d like. Swingweight of a putter is basically irrelevant to even be concerned with. 

[Phabs]

I'd  be afraid of what it would do the sound and feel.  Might sound like a Futura - like a cheap aluminum baseball bat. 

[MattM97]

Try it, don't like it then pull it. 

[pmcuk]

I did some carpet putting with it. I'm not convinced. It has a rather tinny feel and I could do with more swing weight. I think swing weight matters a lot in putters, to get a predictable and balanced swing every time. Swing weight 2.85 feels light and a bit uncomfortable. I build my putters to a total weight of 510 to 535g and a swing weight of 3 to 4. 

[TwistedSister]

2 hours ago, pmcuk said:

I did some carpet putting with it. I'm not convinced. It has a rather tinny feel and I could do with more swing weight. I think swing weight matters a lot in putters, to get a predictable and balanced swing every time. Swing weight 2.85 feels light and a bit uncomfortable. I build my putters to a total weight of 510 to 535g and a swing weight of 3 to 4. 

So you can feel less than 1 SW point?  You are better than most pros then!

[mat562]

Try it and see how it feels and how many putts it holes.

 

Personal tastes aside, the only downside of aluminium shafts is a tendency to crack in cold temperatures, but unless you're storing your clubs in an unheated shed in Yellowknife, you should be fine.

[jonradus]

I’ve tried out two different putters that had aluminum in the head (Gauge Design with aluminum face insert and a Betti Inovai with the aluminum hanging off the back) and both of those had a distinctly tinny sound and feel because of the aluminum. It didn’t seem to matter where the aluminum was located in the head. I would assume an aluminum shaft would also make the putter sound and feel tinny. I may be wrong…since I stink at golf. 

[MattM97]

49 minutes ago, TwistedSister said:

So you can feel less than 1 SW point?  You are better than most pros then!

 

You should know the hierarchy of skill by now:

 

WRX'ers > Tour Pros > High level Amateurs > Wrx'ers > Weekend golfers.