Putters. Insert or no insert?

**slinkee** · August 20, 2008

I golfed with a guy today that preached about the beauty that lies within putters that are just steel, and no inserts unlike say, a prospective purchase of mine, the Odyssey White Hot series.

Being some what new to the sport, I've never heard this argument before and the extent of my knowledge of the subject lead me to believe inserts on the flat stick were better then those without because the "grip from the insert makes the ball roll more true" or something to that effect.

Is there really a yes/no black and white answer to this or, again, like all putters, will this boil down to touch and feel and how well YOU as an individual use the club and are comfortable with it?

**tonyy** · August 20, 2008

I think it all comes down to personal preference. I used to have an Odyssey putter with the insert and the ball felt very nice coming off the face. I now use a Scotty Pro Platinum which has no insert and I seem to get more feel.

**FlopShotArtist** · August 20, 2008

I've always used a putter with an insert. First an DFX 3300, didn't really like the insert. Zero feel at all. Next the White Steel #1, loved it...and now the Newport Studio Style. Don't have it in my hands yet, but tried it in the store and loved it.

It's all about personal preference.

**joshtpa** · August 20, 2008

I simply like the feel and the roll of the ball more with an insert.

**Cody** · August 20, 2008

Personal thing. I LOVE the feel with an insert i can tell where the balls going to go as soon as i hit it.

**JessN16** · August 20, 2008

There was a small company in or around Birmingham, Ala., that made handmade putters a few years ago and I was lucky enough to get one.

The head was a modified blade style, made of brass. But the entire face -- no insert, the entire face -- was matte-finish carbon fiber. The putter had no visual alignment cues and it had a graphite shaft. The whole thing was black. Even the brass part had been painted.

I don't know what this description is conjuring up in your minds, but I can tell you I've never had better feel from a putter in my life. I've tried just about everything. My current Golfsmith Tg System putter is a decent piece, but not as good as that old black brass and carbon fiber blade.

I'm ordering some new putters from Golfsmith and if none of them work, I'm going back to my old handmade putter.

No, I don't know the name of the company that made it, unfortunately.

Jess

**firstcut** · August 20, 2008

I've been playing a white Hot XG Rossie for over a year now. I love the feel of the ball striking it. You can really strike the ball easy and let the insert do the work for you. That said, I never felt comfy lining the Rossie up and bought a Tiffany last week.

It's taking some getting used to and I'm having trouble getting the speed right with it since I'm used ot the insert. So, I guess we'll see how it works out.

One of the guys in the marketplace is selling a sabertooth for a reasonable price. If you are intersested in a "next gen" Odyssey with an insert you should drop him a PM.

**Dub** · August 20, 2008

It is all about getting the ball in the hole.

Whatever works the best for you.

I'm leaning away from inserted putters at the moment.....considering the following putters: Craz-E , :yes: Tiffany or a Scotty Red X 3.

I haven't consiously thought: "get away from inserts"....it's just these three really appeal to me and I roll the ball well with them.

As far as Odyssey putters are concerned....I've found the black face and the "steel" inserted face to be better for me than the white face.

Go with what gives you confidence and will make putts for you.

**joshtpa** · August 20, 2008

There was a small company in or around Birmingham, Ala., that made handmade putters a few years ago and I was lucky enough to get one.

Why bother getting new putters if it worked so well. Just use that one.

**bobsuruncle** · August 20, 2008

I have an old all brass Ping Anser. Then I switched to a Callaway mallet with an insert and now a Carbite semi-mallet, also with insert. Personally, they all had good feel and this is a "whatever works" is best call. Having said that, inserts that promote a truer roll at the start eg Yes! putters, etc also make a lot of sense. I've yet to convert but my cousin has gone to a Yes!

Elevation · August 20, 2008

My favorite putter ever was an old Ping w/ no insert but lost it about 5 years ago. Replaced it with an Odyssey that had an insert which quite honestly took a while to get used to. I'm getting close to liking it just as much as the old Ping however although it took a while....
All personal preference

**titaniummd** · August 20, 2008

I golfed with a guy today that preached about the beauty that lies within putters that are just steel, and no inserts unlike say, a prospective purchase of mine, the Odyssey White Hot series.

From Geoff Mangum's Putting Zone:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/52812...lf+Instruction !

...face material subtly affects the timing, as does the shaft flex properties, and the length of the putter in the golfer's setup and stroke pattern... the face material matters to the extent that it requires the golfer to "get used to" his tool, but thereafter the differences in actual performance effects are miniscule to a good putter but slightly more important to the average hack golfer not especially aware of skills or putter effects.

Once you have adjusted your timing to whatever material you choose, it does not matter.

**JessN16** · August 20, 2008

Why bother getting new putters if it worked so well. Just use that one.

Two reasons, really:

1) Lack of alignment devices on the putter. I roll the ball really well with that putter but sometimes off-line. I've considered getting a grinder and some paint and putting a notch in the top of it, and I might just do that at some point. 2) Damage. There is some scarring and cracking around the toe thanks to an inattentive bag boy who dropped it while unloading it from a cart, and then I did the same thing (actually took off in a cart without the bag being firmly roped into the bag stand -- WHOOPS). So the face is a little marred on the toe end. Since I can't replace this putter, I'm trying to prolong its life. Jess

**mochila** · August 21, 2008

I use an old used odyessy putter with an insert that I love. Non metal putters just seem to have a harder feel that I dont like as much. I dont think performance matters either way even though pelz did say something about insert putters might work better. I think its just a preference thing, and those greens at the dicks/golfsmith/whatever store are the best ways of choosing a putter.

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Putters. Insert or no insert?

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