Putter Bending * PING Redwood - marring or blemish Black Satin finish?

[bennyblanco]

Trying to bend a black dot PING Redwood d66 two degrees flat. It has the Black Satin finish which people say is very prone to marking and wear. It's also brand new and I'm very caring and overprotective towards putters. Plus it's brand new.

 

I really don't want to pay for shipping and go without my new putter while PING bends it. It's not in the budget right now.

 

I took it to the local mart and the repair guy says that bending it would leave some distinct marring / marks on the plumbers neck. He showed me his bending bar--- the notch looked like a Great Dane had chewed on it for a week-- very gnarly.

 

He also made it sound like he had no intention to use masking tape or any type of "safer golf" barrier-protection during such a high-risk golf act. He also said that NO OEMs make a left-handed four wood-- and that's not true.

 

Something didn't add up about this encounter... but I was very hungry and confused thanks to San Francisco Golfsmith experience...

 

(I had to park my Prius in the heart of the Tenderloin's open-air drug market with my set of clubs in the backseat. Luckily a friendly drug dealer was leaning on my parking meter. He offered me morphine and I said no, but thanked him wholeheartedly. He very reluctantly broke my dollar into four quarters, giving me just 29 minutes to get to Golfsmith, pay, and get back. This Golfsmith sits on the busiest street in all of SF. I ran one mile to the Golfsmith and one mile to my car armed with a putter).

 

Anyway, he told me to find someone with a Scotty Cameron lie-loft and have them do it, saying that machine "has the right notch," and wouldn't mark it. He was using a Mitchell.

 

Anyone know a guy or have some ideas? Thanks for any help you can give... This thing's brand new!

[jdhallissey]

Run it over to Harding park and there pro(s) could bend it. I am sure they will make sure to protect the neck as much as they can.

[golfluvzme]

It only takes a small amount of care to protect that hosel during any adjustment. One way is to simply take a business card and fold it to put two layers between the putter's surface and the bending bar. If he cares about what he is doing, there is always a way to do it right.
If it were me, I'd identify the shop that employs the guy who would not take the time to do it right and hopefully the owners will see what they have in their employ.
I use two different Mitchell machines and they are some of the best in the market and if used properly, are more than capable of adjusting your putter without leaving a mark,
THAT BEING SAID, there is ALWAYS a small amount of risk when using one metal object to bend another. You will be able to see the process, hopefully and that will allow you to see the care that is taken in your putter's adjustment.
Best of luck and let us know where you wind up going. There are more members in your area who will appreciate knowing where to go when they need work done, as well as what shops to steer clear of.
LaMont in AZ

[bennyblanco]

Thanks LaMont-- appreciate your reply and am a big fan of your work. Have you ever refinished or mod'ed? one of these? Planning on doing something once the finish does start to wear (sight line on top line for one thing)....

I found a guy who operates out of his house who said he'd have no issue bending one of these. I knew that guy was being lazy and/or unskilled.