2-ball putters

[307golf]

performance vs. style

Anybody around here play the 2 ball putters? It may be sacreligious to suggest any putter besides a milled SC/TP/etc. type around here but I'd like some feedback if you have it. I have a bit of a hard time getting over the aesthetic of the 2-ball but the performance is quite unreal. I'm hoping that the looks will become more tolerable if the putting stats improve. I seem to be able to mentally commit to putts much easier when the alignment is spelled out so vividly as with the 2 ball.

I have read that distance control can be a bit more difficult, but with the alignment system being so good I am thinking that I'll still come out ahead... Anybody that can share experience with these putters would be helpful.

Thanks

307golf

P.S. Currently I have a Yes Callie and am looking at the White Steel 2-ball.

[mcbush25]

I previously owned a 2-Ball putter and loved it. The only reason I went away from it was I felt that my putting had gotten better and I fell off on the Cameron band wagon.

 

Hands down the 2-ball putter is one of the best alignment aid putters that is available. I had a hard time adjusting a first, but I got used to the looks rather quickly.

 

Distance control is iffy at times, but once you have putted around with it you get used to how to control your stroke.

 

I think it would be a good investment if you are loking at one. Go for it.

 

C.J.

[Steve_FLA]

I was thinking of buying a 2-Ball for over a year. I demoed one on two occasions. What I did not like is what you have already mentioned. I never felt comfortable with distance control. As an alignment aid there is none better. But for my game distance is a more of a concern than alignment. Also, I am more of a feel putter (I hope Dave Pelz does not read this) and the 2-Ball is definately for a technical putter.

 

I got a Scotty and really like the feel of it. Which is the whole reason to buy a Scotty in the first place.

 

-Steve

[spk74]

I used an Anser 2 for the first ~15 years I played golf. Then, two springs ago, I played with two strangers who were absolutely horrible golfers, but they kept sinking (what seemed like) every putt within 15 feet, and their longer putts would snake right at the hole. Both of them used the 2-ball.

 

I bought a 2-ball within a week and my putting immediately improved. Since then, I've gotten a DFX 2-ball for slower greens and still use my original White-Hot 2-ball for normal-to-fast greens.

 

While my greatest improvement has been in the 3-15 foot range...contrary to what people have posted above, my distance control on longer putts has also improved slightly. Standing over a putt, I tend to imagine the desktop steel ball thingy**...the two balls go back and then swing through and the real ball goes skooting off.

 

**

http://lpc1.clpccd.cc.ca.us/lpc/harpell/lp...ec3b/ball3.jpeg

 

Ultimately, I think that when I read Dave Pelz's putting bible and changed my stance so my eyes were directly over the ball, the straight-back and straight-through putting stroke felt more natural. For that, I need a face-balanced putter, and I think the 2-ball is one of the best. Most Cameron's and my old Anser 2 are no good (toe-weighted is better for an open-to-closed putting stroke).

[TracyS]

I had a white hot two-ball for a while. I didn't have any problem with the distance control. It felt mushy but I actually putted great with it. Short putts in particular were money, even short breaking putts were automatic. I'm a bit of a design snob which is why I ended up parting ways with it. Performance-wise, it's top-notch.

[Evil R1]

I had the opposite reaction. I had a two ball white steel last year, It was my first putter and I used it for a year. I had ton's of alignment problems, I think I'm the only human that could not align with the two balls vs a straight line on the top of a putter. My distance control only suffered when I didn't hit it dead center of the milled steel face, but if you consistently hit the center then distance is just fine. I sold mine to my brother in law and picked up a White Hot #1 and have putted well with it.

 

I did just recieve a 2 Ball SRT for Xmas, so I am going to give it a try again. Maybe after a few months away from the 2 Ball, it might work better for me but I'm not holding my breath and the White Hot isn't going anywhere.

[DaveyH]

i had the 2ball blade although it performed well just didnt like the feel!

[Golfcat]

If you watched the last Womens tourney, about 18 of the 20 had a White Hot 2 Ball (some blade some s neck). Not the Steel, but the older white one...

 

I had a terrible bout of putting earlier in the year and bought a 2 ball (white steel). Putting immediately improved...made my share but wished I was making a few more (greed). I put the Newport 350g back in the bag and the putting slowly detoriated and then bought a 350g Futura Phantom Mallet (the closest thing at the time of a Cameron 2 ball...Had given the white steel to a friend) and just could not find the touch. Struggled again for a couple of months before I bought a White Hot 2 Ball blade. I will not ever get rid of this. Even when it is not in the bag, it is a great training aid.

[307golf]

I have noticed that a lot of people who must make putts in order to cash checks tend to favor the 2-ball. Very popular putter considering nobody grew up getting used to the shape (like the million anser-like clones).

 

I'm finally getting over the weird look. I've been borrowing a buddy's 2 ball white hot and I definitely go through hot streaks and then cold streaks like any putter... But as another poster mentioned, even if it's not in the bag all the time, it's a good training tool. I've already learned to align my eyes to the target line (instead of tipping my head to the right). I never noticed that until the 2-ball system looked so different because of the head tilt.

 

I'll probably have a rotation of 3 putters; the Yes Callie, Anser 5, and the 2-ball white steel.

 

Thanks for all the responses

[titaniummd]

The Yes! putters are great in styling. I didn't find any local shops with them.

 

I opted for Guerin Rife 2 bar which I feel I can align better than 2 or 3 Ball Putters.

 

I have both the Blade and Mallet and love the feel and weight (which is changeable, as is the lie angle) in my hands.

[jmc]

I went through a ton of putters this year. I had picked up a 2 ball center shaft and had good luck with it. But I never got the speed control right, especially on short putts. The long putts were great. That being said, maybe the new models with the XG insert will be a little better on the short ones. With the XG #9 I have right now, the insert feels great.

[puckster]

I have quite a few putters sitting in my office. Been giving all of them equal time I think, but I still keep going back to the 2-Ball White Steel. Speed control is a cinch, and alignment is even better. Am currently thinking of getting one more exactly the same in case they get phased out.

[mcbush25]

I can't see Odyssey getting rid of the 2-ball desgin anytime soon. I am actually thinking about switching back to one. I am not a big fan of the White Steel, but I do like the XG insert.

 

C.J.

[richf]

Still play 2 Ball Mallet after quite a few years - head size looks pretty conservative these days compared with some.

 

Prefer DFX feel over mushy White Hot and overly clicky White Steel.

 

I have mine weighted and lined and hope tp be playing it for a few years to come.

[pro11ace]

i play the 2-ball putter now and have been for about a 6 or 7 months. Allignment is perfect, although speed control or distance control is iffy. I need to try the xg insert, maybe that'll work!

[sync71]

I think 2 ball putters are great. I had a clone for a season and it improved my putting. I have also tried quite a few 2 ball models on the course and in my course pro shop (white hot, dfx, white steel, in the blade 2-ball and the regular). And I think they are all great putters. I like the alignment. Like others have said speed control is iffy at times but other then that they seem to work good.

[iamit]

I have tryed the two ball and really like the SRT for feel and alignment however I find that I am pushing putts slightly right.

 

Should I be looking at a toe weighted Anser style putter that I had grew up with? Is this a symptom of a open to closed putting style with a two ball?

[golf-ccc]

I carry the classic 2ball for the last 2.5 years and dont plan to change it any time soon. Played many many blades, with average results, distance control is very good, and aligning those 6 footers is very easy, it lets me concentrate more on the line rather than on the stroke & alignment.

 

I ordered a variation of it, the White steel 2 ball center shaft. I'll try it for a couple of months. I'd like to try a more "steel" sound, combined with a center shaft that will be good for my pendulum type of swing.

 

As for aestethics, I got used to it after 1 month of playing it....after a while, you'll get very used to it.

 

As for game, any put of 10ft or more will be hard to sink with a blade or a 2 ball. But 6ft in, the chances of missing a putt are smaller with a 2 baller.