
A Better Putter

What makes a DROP Putter better
than the almost infinite variety of other putters available
today?
Peter O'Leary explains why
the DROP Putter overcomes the design shortcomings of currently
popular putter styles.
The DROP Putter has specialist
features that have been explained in the technical specifications
outlined elsewhere. It is worth also considering the following
points regarding modern putter design.
'Investment' casting has been
very popular with manufacturers for the last 20 years or so,
mainly to meet the demands of mass production and to decrease
costs to ensure healthy profits. The down side for the golfer
has been a substantial loss of 'softness' in the feel of the
putter because of the hard alloys that have to be used in this
type of production. Manufacturers have tried to overcome this
loss of "feel" with heel - toe weighting because off-centre
hits really 'clunked'. Now manufacturers are turning to inlays
of nylon or balata in an effort to rediscover the 'soft feel'.
Forged blade putters are much
better in this area because of the softer metals used.
DROP Putters are better again
because the more traditional metal such as brass is used. Being
face weighted the soft feel extends across 50% of the face so
off centre hits do not go astray.
The round face models of the
DROP range have exceptional feel and they also have certain
advantages over the more traditional flat face.
We are not all fortunate enough
to play often, (or are allowed to!) so when we go out on the
course there are only a fortunate few who are able to rediscover
that exact position addressing the ball which had the putts
rolling in a few weeks ago. Was the ball in the middle or near
my left foot? Were my hands forward or back? There is so much
to remember. The round face putter removes these variable elements
because, whether the ball is forward or back or your grip changes,
you will not change the loft of the face, a major cause of putting
inconsistencies.
Finally, let us look at 'face
balancing'.
This has been around since the early 50's but it was actually
better then than since it was re-discovered some 30 years later.
Ninety-nine percent of putters that are claimed to be face balanced
are not. They are back balanced! The test is to balance a club
on your finger at the pivotal point of the shaft. Does the face
of the putter lie horizontally, pointing upward? This is achieved
by the angle that the shaft enters the head of the putter and
by weighting the back of the head. Thus, these clubs are back
weighted and back balanced. This might be OK…if you hit the
ball with the back of the putter!

The DROPutter Story |
A Better Putter |
Sunday Herald-Sun Report:Tee For Two |
Special Features
|