Putter Battle: Better Roll vs Better Aim

jrdubbb · April 30

I am having a putter battle this year between my two favorite putters. I have a Meridian Charleston Mid-Slant and a Scotty Cameron Phanton X 5.5.

The Meridian is a custom putter with no sight lines, 34.5", and is heavier (370g). This putter has a deep etched cord grip, smooth face with a copper insert, and just looks great. I have an easier time aiming with this putter and subjectively feels better. This is the gamer.

The Scotty 5.5 is dead stock at 35" with the stock grip. This was the gamer until I got the Meridian (because I thought it looked cool😂). The 5.5 feels more difficult for me to aim, probably because it has a sight line, but it puts a much better roll on the ball.

What putter would you put more practice time in with? Which is easier to practice for, aim or roll? Am I overthinking something or just jealous that Cameron Young has a 5.5 with no sightline?

BigBlue7 · April 30

How do you define 'It puts a better roll on the ball' ?

Does the other make the ball skid or bounce? Could be as simple as a loft adjustment

jrdubbb · April 30

24 minutes ago, BigBlue7 said:

How do you define 'It puts a better roll on the ball' ?

Does the other make the ball skid or bounce? Could be as simple as a loft adjustment

The Scotty has a nice perpendicular roll with the line on the ball or the tour response stripe balls I use for practice. The meridian has a roll that looks like " / ". I do notice having to add some shaft lean with both putters, but especially the Meridian.

5hort5tuff · May 1

I would go with the putter you aim better. The roll can sometimes be deceiving. I like the roll of mallet putters too, but I miss left and right with them.

ChaosTheory · May 1

Once the ball starts rolling, there is no side spin. Forget about the line on the ball.

pak · May 1

I would practice more with the lighter Scotty mallet. It can easily become your gamer with all speeds of greens.

Sean289 · May 1

I’m not necessarily advocating that you should go out and spend hundreds of more dollars but could you kill 2 birds with the 1 stone by getting a Futura X5 and covering up the sight line like in the photo that I have attached?
That way, you’d have a very similar putter to the Phantom X 5.5 and you’d solve your sight line/aim conundrum.

Edited May 1 by Sean289

jls667 · May 1

If this is a true one or the other scenario, I'd think it'd be silly to not go with aim over roll. Who cares if the ball is rolling better if it rolls by the hole.

Is there such a stark difference that you feel compelled to change? And is the difference hurting your scores?

Or are you just looking for a reason to put a Scotty in the bag over the Meridian? No judgement here from me. I've done it several years in a row with my Cleveland. I've tried to find reasons to have something nicer and sexier in the bag but it has yet to happen. I've tried many times to justify why the sexier putter is better (this year it was a Betti) but the old gamer just continues to perform better.

I'm also going to assume you weren't fit for the Meridian since their not usually found in stores. Maybe just have the specs looked at and tweaked. That may improve the roll while keeping the alignment that's working.

Edited May 1 by jls667

MattM97 · May 1

Aim for sure, you can roll the ball great but if it's 2ft wide and 6ft long doesn't matter vs the guy with an ugly roll and a 1ft knock in.

jda · May 1

If the Meridian is never going to roll the ball well, then learn how to aim the 5.5. If you think that you aim the Charleston better because it is a blade, then get rid of both and get a different blade that rolls the ball well.

The unfortunate answer is that you need both and cannot choose between them.

nosil · May 1

I vote aim. Establish you ability to aim well and roll the ball where you aim. Not sure what “roll better” means but all putts skid/bounce initially, then friction takes over and starts forward roll. If you aren’t launching the ball correctly you should be able to fix it will a loft adjustment.

jrdubbb · May 1

The differences between the putters is tight. The "worse roll" is a matter of the line wobbling, nothing like weird skipping or skidding. The difference is the Scotty has a tight roll that holds the ground. I might need to get the lie or loft adjusted to bring more peace of mind, but this thread affirms my decision so far to use the Meridian. Whatever reason, I am better at aiming without a line and using the shape of the putter and not getting lost in looking at the line.