2024 Bettinardi BB1W

[Dave2golf2]

So... I had no plans whatsoever to buy a putter this off season after buying a Scotty Super Select Newport 2 last year, but I saw the new line of beautiful looking black and blue 2024 Bettinardi's at the PGA store and just had to give them all a try.

 

I hit a couple balls quickly with each model to get a feel and first impression (kind of hoping I'd not be impressed), but after that first pass I knew there was no way I'd be leaving the store without one of these in hand, but which one?

 

After about 45 minutes hitting putts and trying to convince myself NOT to buy anything, the two I liked most were the BB28SB and the BB1W. I really liked the looks and shape of the unusual looking slot-back, and was thinking maybe having a face balanced putter in my bag might be nice, something completely different for a change. 

 

But in the end, I knew the BB1W was the one that suited my stroke better. I have no feeling like I'm fighting this putter at all, it just sets up perfectly for me,  and is basically effortless to put a perfect stroke on the ball without thinking too hard or manipulating anything, a very natural feeling swing. I really can't comment on distance control until I get a chance to hit it outside next Spring, but alignment felt simple and accurate on the indoor green. What really pushed this putter over the top for me was the sound slot in the flange. I find audible feedback incredibly helpful to dial in the sweet spot and build confidence, and the BB1W sound slot excels at that. Given the effortless swing, crisp feel, sweet sound and beautiful looks I was completely smitten. 

 

We'll see what happens next Spring, but that putter will be under the tree this Christmas and for now the honeymoon has officially begun.

 

*** Added bonus:  magnetic headcover! ***

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by Dave2golf2

[Mobert19]

Congrats! Pre-ordered mine on Nov 23 and it still hasn’t shipped out so pretty disappointed actually. 

[MaineMariner]

1 minute ago, Mobert19 said:

Congrats! Pre-ordered mine on Nov 23 and it still hasn’t shipped out so pretty disappointed actually. 

 

Also waiting on mine to ship, though I only pre-ordered in early December. Did you customize yours at all? I had my lie angle adjusted by one degree, and now I'm thinking I should have just had a golf shop adjust the lie instead (but risk marring the finish?! Gah).

[Mobert19]

20 minutes ago, MaineMariner said:

 

Also waiting on mine to ship, though I only pre-ordered in early December. Did you customize yours at all? I had my lie angle adjusted by one degree, and now I'm thinking I should have just had a golf shop adjust the lie instead (but risk marring the finish?! Gah).

I asked for 34” and 1 degree flat. You’re probably right, should have just done it once I received it but also didn’t want to mess around with finish 

Edited December 17, 2023 by Mobert19

[PJE]

Nice looking putter! 
Congrats!

[Mobert19]

Finally received mine today. It is superb. Feels like I cannot miss a put with it. Been lacking that confidence looking down on a putter. Can’t wait to play tomorrow. 

[snowmangolf]

I picked one up a few days ago and I’m loving it. Unfortunately freezing where I am and not sure the next time I’ll actually be playing 18. 

 

The finish and the sound slot were the two deciding factors for me. 

[Mobert19]

On 12/17/2023 at 5:52 PM, Dave2golf2 said:

I have no feeling like I'm fighting this putter at all, it just sets up perfectly for me,  and is basically effortless to put a perfect stroke on the ball without thinking too hard or manipulating anything, a very natural feeling swing.

Exactly! 
 

this may be the most perfect putter for me I’ve ever seen and now played. Will be on course by noon and will give some feedback 

[Dave2golf2]

7 hours ago, Mobert19 said:

Exactly! 
 

this may be the most perfect putter for me I’ve ever seen and now played. Will be on course by noon and will give some feedback 

Awesome, looking forward to your feedback, it's going to be months before I actually get outside. Hope it goes well! 

[jholz]

That thing is pretty frickin' cool. Nice beaching. Hope it continues to roll the ball well for you!

 

Bettinardi makes a very high quality product. 

[Mobert19]

1 hour ago, Dave2golf2 said:

Awesome, looking forward to your feedback, it's going to be months before I actually get outside. Hope it goes well! 

Really solid first day with it. Didn’t make anything memorable, but short putts 4-5ft all went in. Looking forward to next round

[Dave2golf2]

I was reading this review and I think this explains why this putter aligns so easily and why the stroke feels so natural:

 

Quote

More importantly, material was removed from the heel to align the center of gravity with the geometric center of the face.  Just as with traditional wedges, many traditional putters have a sweet spot that’s on the heel-side of center.  The new BB1 Wide fixes that problem.

The sweet spot is in the center of the face! What a concept! It has always somewhat bothered me that your typical blade has the alignment towards the heel.  This means I'm constantly battling the natural tendency to want to setup the blade with the ball in the center of the face, it's counter intuitive. Sure you get used to it, but it certainly seems better if you don't have to think about that, consciously or unconsciously. 

 

Edited December 24, 2023 by Dave2golf2

[JDTex]

I really want to get my hands on one of these. Wide blade with a sound slot just seems very appealing to me. Curious to see how it sounds and feels in person. 

[Niketw231]

Was actually thinking of testing the BB8 model myself 

[dmeeksDC]

Looking at the same two heads as the OP. The only thing I am waiting on is to see the Inovai line in the next few weeks just to see those updates. But it’s likely I am going with one of the BB heads. 

[MaineMariner]

I’ve had mine for a couple weeks now and am pretty much obsessed with it. Sets up nice and square, is the perfect size (not too bulky, but not too squat), and most of all, sounds/feels exactly how I was hoping. With a medium firmness ball you get a pleasing, meaty “tock”. 10/10, well done Bettinardi.

[seemore88]

23 hours ago, MaineMariner said:

I’ve had mine for a couple weeks now and am pretty much obsessed with it. Sets up nice and square, is the perfect size (not too bulky, but not too squat), and most of all, sounds/feels exactly how I was hoping. With a medium firmness ball you get a pleasing, meaty “tock”. 10/10, well done Bettinardi.

 

Glad you're loving yours and to hear your feedback.  Been eyeing the BB1W since the release but the slot kinda turned me off.  Used to have a SC Newport Beach and the sound slot never tickled my fancy.  Raw Carbon BB1W that dropped today was missing the slot and I love the finish.  Ordered one to try. 

[Dave2golf2]

On 1/23/2024 at 8:49 PM, seemore88 said:

 

Glad you're loving yours and to hear your feedback.  Been eyeing the BB1W since the release but the slot kinda turned me off.  Used to have a SC Newport Beach and the sound slot never tickled my fancy.  Raw Carbon BB1W that dropped today was missing the slot and I love the finish.  Ordered one to try. 

 

I'm just the opposite, The sound slot was the key thing that made this putter stand out different from the rest. I've always preferred the "ping" sound in putters, but it's been hard to find one with that sound that also had the right shape and size that appealed to me, this one has everything I like. To me the sound is a real positive reinforcement and informative feedback. When I stand over a putt, I'm usually dreading that dull, clanky, jarring feel and sound when the strike is something less than perfect. I think that fear gets into my head and creates added tension. I don't think about that with a putter like this because even though I might not hit it perfectly, the sound isn't so jarring, and when you nail it you know it. Love this putter, I'm selling my Scotty with no regrets.

[tjhanch]

Anyone know the hosel diameter of this putter? Looking to replace shaft. 

[MaineMariner]

15 hours ago, tjhanch said:

Anyone know the hosel diameter of this putter? Looking to replace shaft. 

 

I'll measure it later, but I'm pretty sure Bettinardi is still using KBS CT Tour shafts. I'd assume it's .370.

 

One kind of odd thing I noticed is that this putter is 1/4" longer than every other stock 34" putter I've compared it to. I held it up against a Ping, Odyssey, and a Scotty and all have the same result.

[Dave2golf2]

5 minutes ago, MaineMariner said:

 

I'll measure it later, but I'm pretty sure Bettinardi is still using KBS CT Tour shafts. I'd assume it's .370.

 

One kind of odd thing I noticed is that this putter is 1/4" longer than every other stock 34" putter I've compared it to. I held it up against a Ping, Odyssey, and a Scotty and all have the same result.

 

I've noticed that length discrepancy too, not just in this putter but all Bettinardi putters. Bettinardi must be using a different benchmark angle for measuring putters than what is standard.