Counterbalancing We promised to take a look this month at the counter-balanced putters. When golf’s ruling bodies outlawed putters that come in contact with the body – the belly and the broomhandle models – it created an instant demand for an alternative. When challenged by such a need, original equipment manufacturers are keen for new concepts. In the case of putters, that has led to counterbalancing. Bubba Watson’s victory at the Masters with a new, slightly longer Ping putter that creates something of a counterbalanced feel to it certainly has helped to elevate the idea in the mind of golfers. What is counterbalancing? It is the use of extra weight, or mass, in the grip end to counter a heavier head. The combination means a greater moment of inertia and, in turn, that means a more stable feel throughout the stroke, or a feel more similar to that imparted by a belly putter. But instead of the stability coming from contact with the body, it comes from additional weight in both the grip end and the head. Many of these models will get the additional weight with longer grips that run farther down the shaft than a conventional putter. Here are a few worth looking into if you’re eyeing a counterbalanced putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser – The second generation Tank offers less head weight and counterbalance weight than the original Tank introduced in 2013. The Cruiser features adjustable weights for the head and grip for greater personalization. The original Tank has a fang-like head and it is available in lofts from 34 inches to 40 inches, increasing in two-inch increments. The 36-inch model has a 400-gram head, a 137-gram shaft and a 63-gram grip, and a 40-gram counterbalance weight. The company says it is 34 percent more stable than conventional putters of the same length. The White Hot Pro insert has a feel similar to the original White Hot. Tighter tolerances result from a new laser milling process. TaylorMade Spider – There are two models, the Blade and the Mallet. The company calls the Spider Blade the most stable blade-style putter it has ever created. It is constructed from eight materials and in 11 parts. The head is counterbalanced with a 130-gram grip that’s twice as heavy as a typical putter grip. Counterbalancing increases the MOI of the entire club, making it 50 percent more stable than a traditional putter. The Blade is available in lengths of 35- and 38-inches. The idea is to grip the club as you would a normal-length putter, with two or three inches of the butt-end of the grip extended above your hands, which gives you the maximum benefit of counterbalancing. If you normally play a 35-inch putter you should opt for the 38-inch model. If you play a 33-inch putter, try the 35-inch. And remember that experimentation at your local Golf Headquarters location is an ideal way to decide what is best for you. Ping Ketsch (CB) – The Ketsch is available in conventional and counterbalance models. The standard length of the CB is 38 inches. But the adjustable shaft provides a 7-inch range from 34 to 41 inches. The lie angle range is plus/minus 2 degrees. The head weight is 400 grams. The Ketsch is compatible for the three swing types identified by Ping – Straight, Slight Arc and Strong Arc. Ping also has a new Senita B model with a 38-inch length, 17-inch grip and 50-gram counterbalancing weight at the top of the shaft. It has a dark finish and a grooved face insert. The grooves are designed to be deeper in the center of the insert and shallower near the edges. Titleist Scotty Cameron – The Futura X Dual Balance is a counter-balanced version of the putter Adam Scott used to win the Masters in 2013. The high MOI mallet design is milled from high-grade 6061 aluminum and features a rear balance bar with two 20-gram weights. To maximize stability, the putter also has two 10-gram sole weights in the front corners of the putter. The proper length of a Dual Balance putter is three inches longer than a golfer’s conventional putter length. The 15-inch grip length also allows for multiple hand placement options and the ability to grip up or down, depending on the player’s preference. “With Futura X Dual Balance, the goal was to slow down the butt end of the putter and keep it stable,” Cameron said. “The higher we can get the butt weight, the more counterbalance effect there is. The additional three inches provides stability but keeps the putter unanchored.”
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 16:19:49 +0000
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