How much improvement is there, really, from a $100 putter to a $400 putter? Is it pure marketing, or is there truly a technological improvement that effects your game?

[5hort5tuff]

I would say that as long as the putter fits you well, there will be no significant difference in performance.  You cant ignore technological advancements in MOI and face technology. 

 

There are putters with plenty of tech and various fitting options for under $200. People prefer to use the  new and fancy.  It is a hobby for some (like myself), but I am not a believer in more money = better performance. Same goes for the rest of the bag imo 

[5hort5tuff]

34 minutes ago, Jayjay_theweim_guy said:

The L.A.B. stuff seems qualitatively different, and they ain't cheap.  But yes, I totally agree with you on about 95% or more of these. Spend the money on lessons and fittings, not a Circle T.    Unless you want to flex, and that's fine too.

 

I liked a little Huntington Cleveland putter I saw for about a 100 in a PGASS. Made a lot on their little practice green with it.  Not as many as with the branding iron, but a decent amount.

 

So much of this seems to be fit and getting the alignment/eye parallax stuff right.

 

Not to get into detail, but LAB markets their tech as different, and it may be, but it didnt have a positive impact quantitatively in my experience.  It is a great example how tech and big $$$ doesnt equate to improved putting. 

[Soloman1]

People pay double for a hat with some golf brand logo than one without a logo.

 

Does a YSL handbag work better than one 1/10th the price?

 

Consumers are more brand conscious than utility conscious.

 

The overwhelming majority of luxury goods customers are not wealthy. They can barely afford it, but want to look wealthy to others.

A revolutionary putter that reduces bounce and skid by 50% is no match for what a tour pro won with last week.

[Thayneil]

7 hours ago, Ephemerlol said:

Its all marketing, but the placebo effect produces real results so who can say spending 400 bucks won't improve your putting...

I dont get the fact you should stay away from stiff shafts under say 95mph but you need a $200 x shaft for a 10mph putt?

[TheBrud]

I wonder this every time I pick up a brand new Scotty Cameron.  I look at it so closely trying to figure out why it costs $450.  It is a beautiful putter, but why does it cost so much?  Surely the technology used to roll a ball along a surface can't change that much.  

 

Oh well. I'll continue to stand there confused in the pro shop until I figure it out.  

 

 

[CWT33]

Scotty Scheffler - 

 

https://www.pgatour.com/es/article/news/equipment-report/2023/12/07/inside-the-mind-of-logan-olson-designer-of-scottie-scheffler-s-new-putter

 

If you can tell the differences at first touch, it matters.

[kwcsports]

I've had 1000 dollar putters, a bunch of Scotties, the newest Odyssey's and nothing feels better to me than the Maltby PTM-1 I put together and cost me under 100 bucks. 

The important 2 words in my above statement are TO ME. To each their own, whatever helps to make putts, cost never factors in to my decision. Just my humble opinion. 

Happy Holidays everyone.

[LoopySwing13]

I used to be anti “high end putter (500+)”, but after years of buying and selling I figured, “I probably have spent 2x this flipping putters”. So I bit the bullet and got a T22 albeit at a much more reasonable price than many listings. 
 

There is just something about buying the putter you want. It feels good, looks good, and I immediately sold all my backups and “tinker” putters. Is it any different than a used bin putter? Quality wise - absolutely, performance wise - maybe? 
 

If you find what you like though, over many years your cost to acquire is much smaller. So now I say go for it. 

Edited December 21, 2023 by LoopySwing13

[snowmangolf]

My go-to line working in retail and fitting people to putters is “You could hand Tiger Woods a tree branch and he could putt with it.”

 

My opinion is that people will putt the best with the putter they spend the most time practicing/playing with. Regardless of price or material or anything else. No one NEEDS a $120k watch to tell time or a $500k car to get from point A to point B. 

[BombsIntoTheWoods]

12 hours ago, GGX_Jacob said:

I wonder this every time I pick up a brand new Scotty Cameron.  I look at it so closely trying to figure out why it costs $450.  It is a beautiful putter, but why does it cost so much?  Surely the technology used to roll a ball along a surface can't change that much.  

 

Oh well. I'll continue to stand there confused in the pro shop until I figure it out.  

 

 

The top end line from every manufacturer is more or less at that price point these days, so its not just Scotty. The main thing they have going for them is that they will hold their value better, just due to the demand of popularity.

[vman]

I love a nice upmarket putter, but they can’t read a putt or judge speed. There are so many beautifully made putters, l think the market is swamped and it’s so difficult to choose………..that’s why I’ve had way over 400.😂

[jda]

Once you get a putter that gets the ball rolling well and has a flat face, the rest of it is on you.

 

The old "any old Ping or Wilson from Goodwill" is bunk, IMO.  Many of these older putters scooted the ball too much before it gets rolling and many also of them have wear spots in the center where you can get feeler wire under a straightedged on the face in the sweet spot.

 

For me, any putter made of quality materials since late 1990s that is not worn out should be OK.  Mizuno Cameron and Santa Fe were the first putters that just were "different" in my mind.  Everybody makes them like this now.

[goalie]

After rolling putts and seeing data on how I lined up the putt, how I presented the club to the ball, and how the ball started rolling, I'd agree with the expert that many putters can be set up to fit your putting style.  

 

Sure, a great putter won't suck with a putter not optimized for his putting stroke, but it matters.

 

That said, IMO it also needs to fit your eye.  If you don't like how a putter looks when you're standing over a putt you'll never get that special warm, fuzzy feeling that let's you drop occasional 40 footers.  

[BHI 99]

Principle of substitution. You won’t spend $1 more for what you can get for $1 less. The same thoughts exists with watches, rifles, cars, jewelry, coffee, etc. Is Starbucks really worth $5 a cup when you can make it at home for pennies? Rolex vs Timex? 
 

Cleveland trying to pass off a blade looking POS as “milled” when it’s cast “to save waste” then milled to perfection is a joke. But people buy it. Everyone is trying to say their copy of an Anser is “just as good as SC”. Well, OK. Throw $400 price tag on it and let’s see. Made in USA also matters. Odyssey has a piece made here and a piece made there then someone assembled it here. Maybe. And you ain’t getting “all the tech”. Who wants to bet TriHot AI get melded together next year? People b**** because not much changes with SC, but I think it’s because there ain’t much to change besides what’s superficial.  
 

 

[MattM97]

28 minutes ago, BHI 99 said:

Principle of substitution. You won’t spend $1 more for what you can get for $1 less. The same thoughts exists with watches, rifles, cars, jewelry, coffee, etc. Is Starbucks really worth $5 a cup when you can make it at home for pennies? Rolex vs Timex? 
 

Cleveland trying to pass off a blade looking POS as “milled” when it’s cast “to save waste” then milled to perfection is a joke. But people buy it. Everyone is trying to say their copy of an Anser is “just as good as SC”. Well, OK. Throw $400 price tag on it and let’s see. Made in USA also matters. Odyssey has a piece made here and a piece made there then someone assembled it here. Maybe. And you ain’t getting “all the tech”. Who wants to bet TriHot AI get melded together next year? People b**** because not much changes with SC, but I think it’s because there ain’t much to change besides what’s superficial.  
 

 

 

Don't get the anger behind Cleveland on this post. That's not uncommon to do, many do it except Cleveland is being transparent about it and sharing their process on it too. Plus it's a budget line of putters, you can't fully mill a head and expect to keep the price point under $200. That's the whole reason they're doing what they're doing. 

 

Also it's golf there's a ton of shady branding. Look at all of these "forged" irons today. They're just Forged faces with cast bodies. 

[BHI 99]

Cleveland knows when they say milled and SC says milled, there’s a pile of unsuspecting folk that think it’s the same. Just like forged as you mentioned. 

[Ger21]

I've been using my Newport for 25 years. When I bought it, I went into the store with no preference, and tried everything they had on the floor. I did not plan on buying a $300 putter in 1998, but it was the best one they had.

[BHI 99]

45 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

I've been using my Newport for 25 years. When I bought it, I went into the store with no preference, and tried everything they had on the floor. I did not plan on buying a $300 putter in 1998, but it was the best one they had.

And the “tech” that’s changed over the years? Not much and very little. Removable weights and milling is about it. Which in my opinion is huge, but none the less. 

[becoh]

I use a $60 Ping B60, and can't putt worth s***.

 

I've also used my buddy's $600 Scotty, and can't putt worth s***.

 

Take that for what it's worth.

[LoopySwing13]

2 hours ago, BHI 99 said:

And the “tech” that’s changed over the years? Not much and very little. Removable weights and milling is about it. Which in my opinion is huge, but none the less. 

Interesting point, while I do agree that it’s a great step forward to allow better customization per user, reading some posts here on the forum also can lend itself to “analysis paralysis.” With great power comes great responsibility… 😂 

[5hort5tuff]

3 hours ago, BHI 99 said:

And the “tech” that’s changed over the years? Not much and very little. Removable weights and milling is about it. Which in my opinion is huge, but none the less. 

 

I think you are selling Cleveland short, and have a pretty simplified veiw of putter technology. I also bet you play a Scotty 😅.  Scotty doesnt even bother to sell putters based on tech because he doesn't really put any tech into a putter. 

 

I really believe people buy Scotty's for the name.  A $450 NP2 doesnt bring any technological innovation to a putter. It's well milled, a nice brand, and a popular name that every 50 year old man wants to play.   You can get a cleveland with some face tech and weighting tech in the face for $150, both may help with distance control and MOI. Cleveland was also one of the first to offer the upgraded All-In shaft as an option.   Not as sexy, sure, but could be great for many people though. 

 

Also, I do agree that putter "tech" maybe not be as important as driver/wood tech changes over the last 20 years, but....there have been innovations in shafts, moi, weighting and placement, face inserts, and alignment.

Edited December 22, 2023 by 5hort5tuff

[BHI 99]

SC is well built, Made in USA and if someone put a $150 price tag on it next to a Cleveland they’d break their leg trying to buy it. 

[SoCalTitleist]

On 12/20/2023 at 9:26 AM, hidrives said:

I bought an Odyssey white hot well over a decade ago and was in the golf shop recently when I saw putters pushing past $300 and $400. I didn't try putting with one, but it made me wonder for those that have tried different ones, is there really a difference in hitting one of the high end models vs. a middle of the road one? Putters to me have always been fairly basic pieces of equipment. I don't know if I have an outdated view because the technology does make a difference, or if it's pure marketing and people will shoot just as well with a $400 putter as with a $100 putter, assuming they are buying a quality brand. 

still have to read the green and put a good stroke on it.  putter is useless if you cant see the line and blast it 10 feet by .

[5hort5tuff]

50 minutes ago, BHI 99 said:

SC is well built, Made in USA and if someone put a $150 price tag on it next to a Cleveland they’d break their leg trying to buy it. 

 

Will it perform better though?

[MattM97]

16 hours ago, BHI 99 said:

Cleveland knows when they say milled and SC says milled, there’s a pile of unsuspecting folk that think it’s the same. Just like forged as you mentioned. 

 

That's on the consumer to do their research then. 

 

But really if someone is stoked over a $200 Cleveland because to them it's milled and they like it and the roll it well. Are you going to pop up from behind the ball racks and go "actually they're not milled they're....."? I hope not. But let someone enjoy their equipment. 

 

I'm an equipment snob but to my bag. If someone I know is over the moon or has their eyes set on a Cleveland, Wilson or any other cheap putter I'll just make sure they have the right setup in that and be happy they're enjoying the game more vs shaking my fist at some online description which again Cleveland fully lays out that these are cast then milled vs being angry at them like you are. 

[BHI 99]

Better is better. I’’m the cheapest skate there is, but don’t think you’re going to sell me s*** and pretend it’s Shinola. 
 

Just don’t fool yourself in thinking you bought what you didn’t. 

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, BHI 99 said:

Better is better. I’’m the cheapest skate there is, but don’t think you’re going to sell me s*** and pretend it’s Shinola. 
 

Just don’t fool yourself in thinking you bought what you didn’t. 

 

What are you rambling about? Is it past your bedtime or something? 

 

No one is trying to sell you anything and this is WRX people know what they're buying or they're asking about products. You're fixated on 1 thing and it's clearly irritating you to the point you cannot string a coherent sentence together. 

[BHI 99]

Sorry if facts offend you. 

[MattM97]

11 hours ago, BHI 99 said:

Sorry if facts offend you. 

 

To get out of this hole you dug yourself into dig up stupid.

[nsxguy]

On 12/22/2023 at 9:19 AM, Ger21 said:

I've been using my Newport for 25 years. When I bought it, I went into the store with no preference, and tried everything they had on the floor. I did not plan on buying a $300 putter in 1998, but it was the best one they had.

 

Scotty Newport is about $420 today.

 

Only a 40% increase,,,,,,,, in 20 25 years ?

Edited December 23, 2023 by nsxguy