It turns out (shocker!) that I make more putts with a flatstick that is more forgiving and easier to install. Specifically, my putter of choice, the Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset – the standard length version of the Wyndham Clark model – helped me combat my dreaded misses and use top spin to keep my putts straight.
But what I want to highlight in this piece is another part of the putter that has become a major technical talking point throughout the putter industry: its center of gravity.
My old putter had a forward CG, and I sometimes struggled with both my initial line and roll. My Ally Blue, with its shaft behind the face, has a deep CG, which has helped me improve both of these deficiencies.
The position of the CG relative to the front or back of the head not only helps determine the MOI and therefore the putter’s forgiveness but also how you react to it. For most golfers, the deeper the CG, the lower your swing will start, encouraging you to hit the putt and create topspin..
Scotty Cameron recently added a deep CG option, the Phantom 12, to its lineup, and the existing Phantom 9 is already fitting into many pockets.
But there are still players who consistently hit it with the CG mallet going forward, like Brooks Koepka, who is now in Cameron Fastback mode.
We’ve seen this same concept with TaylorMade’s new Spider release as well as the new Tour V and Tour F shapes, which cater to players who need a slightly more forward CG for face recognition.
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On Tour, Odyssey recently introduced the TRTL prototype mallet, which has four weights in one. It makes more sense to think that those weights can be used to move the CG forward and backward.
Also on Tour, Scotty Cameron has started using more aluminum inserts in putters. The lighter weight material allows more weight to be transferred back to the head. Is this something we see going on sale soon?
It’s no secret that this drive toward deeper CG putters is driven by the success of the TaylorMade Spider Tour X on Tour. But history shows us that new ideas in golf equipment don’t stay novel for long, and each OEM will eventually put their own spin on their design.
Call it the next frontier of putter design: deeper CGs, lighter faces and more options.
3 things I think
1. Season of the Stinger: As the PGA Tour crosses the pond for links golf at the Scottish Open and Open Championship, expect to see a few taller woods and more irons. Tommy Fleetwood has been testing a long iron this week, while Justin Thomas has also been testing a 2 iron with a Fujikura Ventus Red HB shaft.
2. Titan Power: Titan’s new Project X line added a new profile to the Tour last week, Titan Green, and the line has gained momentum quickly this season, especially since Wyndham Clark won twice with Titan Yellow.
3. Paralysis by analysis: I have had a back and forth love hate relationship with my driver. I’ve made several changes to it over the past month, but I think I’m learning, not a tool, but a carpenter. Better to set it and forget it!
