Blade(ish) putters - something more face balanced/high MOI?

[paul.r]

I've been using a TM Spider EX for a few years in hopes of finding better success with a more face balanced and forgiving head but I really don't get along with it largely due to the head shape.

 

I'm looking at getting back into something with a smaller head and have been looking at the Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k (double and triple wide) as well as maybe a Bettinardi BB28 online.  Any comments on these.

 

I've rolled a Bettinardi Studio Stock 28 before and like the soft feel off the face.

 

Any input on these or others I should check out in store?

Edited July 10, 2023 by paul.r

[delfam]

I love my double wide. Look of a blade but high MOI and minimal toe hang. I'd also look into the Bettinardi Queen Bee 6.

[KhiloD]

37 minutes ago, paul.r said:

I've been using a TM Spider EX for a few years in hopes of finding better success with a more face balanced and forgiving head but I really don't get along with it largely due to the head shape.

 

I'm looking at getting back into something with a smaller head and have been looking at the Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k (double and triple wide) as well as maybe a Bettinardi BB28 online.  Any comments on these.

 

I've rolled a Bettinardi Studio Stock 28 before and like the soft feel off the face.

 

Any input on these or others I should check out in store?

Sub 70 005. Double Wide, made to order and has 5/10/15/20g weights included to dial in your preferred weight/feel. Also a lot cheaper. Feels like any other standard milled putter.

[Elkhair]

The tri hot double wide and the bettinardi 28 are basically the same, sans the insert. I have both, and they are both really great putters. The Tri hot is obviously softer with the insert. Maybe the bettinardi is a slightly smaller head, but not by much. 

 

I would say the Tri Hot has more forgiveness and will help you if your not the best putter, more so than the Bettinardi.

 

If you are a good putter, pick whatever one you like the look of. Price is basically the same. 

[delfam]

2 hours ago, Elkhair said:

The tri hot double wide and the bettinardi 28 are basically the same, sans the insert. I have both, and they are both really great putters. The Tri hot is obviously softer with the insert. Maybe the bettinardi is a slightly smaller head, but not by much. 

 

I would say the Tri Hot has more forgiveness and will help you if your not the best putter, more so than the Bettinardi.

 

If you are a good putter, pick whatever one you like the look of. Price is basically the same. 

Yeah betti head was too small for me. Tri Hit us definitely bigger 

[Broke100]

Many Cameron Squarebacks are nearly face-balanced. The Betti QB6 and Betti Kuchar KM1 are also excellent choices. Scotty pic & Squareback/QB6 comparison pic attached. 
 

 

[TheBiles]

I love my Cobra Widesport. Face balanced wide blade with the SIK technology. The blade is a little longer than the Double Wide, and it’s slightly heavier. 

[paul.r]

Thanks everyone.  I went to a local golf shop yesterday and looked at the Odyssey Double Wide and Triple Wide as well as the Bettinardi BB28.  I really wanted to like the BB28 (it looked the best to me) but I just didn't get along with it.  Between the two Odyssey models, I got the best results from the Triple Wide...even though I found it the least attractive to me due to the larger head.  I'm going to go back and spend more time with this model in both the Double Bend as well as the Center Shaft (I've never rolled a center shafted putter).

 

I'll give the Cobra a look as well.   I've owned Scotties and don't really have a strong desire to go back to them given other options available.

[bobfoster]

Just went to a Special Select Squareback 2 (just weeks ago). Have long played Newports. Putting stroke is (slightly) in to straight, not a lot of arc. Supposedly a mallet should work better for me, and I've tried a few but just never felt in sync with any them. Always seemed so, well, like the mullet of clubs - "business in front, party in the rear". Don't want a party in the rear when I'm putting. 

 

Am totally loving the Squareback. Perfect compromise. Wider than the Newport blades, plays like it has all the (positive) characteristics of a mallet, without all that busyness going on (e.g., that Jailbird looks like a distracting nightmare to me). 

 

I'm generally in the "Indian not the arrow" camp. I'm a club ho, but rarely believe a club alone will make anything other than a minor difference. In this instance, I noticed an almost immediate improvement in mid range putts - like, the 8' - 12' range. Not at all sure why. Maybe the longer sight line lets me see the line better, maybe the slightly higher MOI.

 

Just know a slightly higher percentage are going in from that range. And the misses are closer. Find it easier to get the speed right. Quite happy with this purchase.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2023 by bobfoster

[13ITZ]

Second vote for the Sub700 005 wide blade. Great feeling putter, similar to other milled faces. Quality exceeds the price, which makes an upgraded shaft more bearable if deciding to go that route. Also, has a face balanced bend which I got and enjoy when I use it.

[paul.r]

So I ordered a Triple Wide as well as a 7 DB, both in 34" as I couldn't find any locally.  As much as I'm trying to get into something with a smaller head, I think the 7 DB is going to stick.  I'm not sure if it is the head shape/weight distribution, but the feel of the 7 was better.  It swung better and put a more consistent roll on the ball when I was using both on my Perfect Practice putting mat.  The Triple Wide was about as good as I've seen out of a more traditional head.  I'd say it was about 95% as good as the 7, but I tended to pull and hook more putts than with the 7.  I really wanted to like it better, but just keep coming back to the 7.  The 7 also seems to sole better for me.  Same lie angle, but I think I had the toe up more with the Triple wide which led to more of a hooking putt or a pull.

 

I'm not in love with the stock grip that come with the Tri-Hot so that will likely get swapped out to a Lamkin Sinkfit Straight...likely a Polyurethane to try to get a little heavier swingweight.

 

Thanks all.