How Much?!?!?!

[Soup Fan]

Played a couple games at Top Golf today to try out my new sand wedge ($30 Dunlop gun metal on amazon.com). Afterwards, I went into the pro shop to browse and found myself looking at putters. I hated the feel off the White Hot and the Cleveland I tried. Then I picked up an ugly Ping (Redwood, IIRC) that looked all off center and akimbo. It just did not look right to me for some reason, but I gave it a whirl and...sweet mother of Christ it felt like heaven. I didn't even feel like I had a club in my hand at all. It was as though I was just willing the ball to the cup with my mind. After putting and drooling for a few minutes I got ready to put it back and took a look at the price.

$250!!!!!

Now, I completely understand how technology has driven the price of drivers and iron sets and even balls through the roof...but I had never seen or heard of a putter so expensive in my life and I am still completely shocked and deflated about the whole experience. I mean, I know I answered this question already with my description of how much I liked this putter and how perfect it felt...but what is so drastically different about these extremely expensive putters? It can't be simply price gouging, can it?

As much as I loved it...I don't think I could bring myself to pay that much for a putter unless it had Al Czervik's laser scope on it!

[joseywales]

Albert Einstein gave me one of those Ping Redwood putters. Nice man, nice man.....Made a fortune in physics.....Boom!

For 250 bones, I guess it's true. You really can buy a game!

[davechen]

It's pretty ridiculous how much equipment can cost these days. Especially putters. Does a 300 dollar putter really make you putt better?

Doesn't make much sense to me, but then I've never spent more than 80 or 90 bucks on a golf club.

[FlopShotArtist]

It's pretty ridiculous how much equipment can cost these days. Especially putters. Does a 300 dollar putter really make you putt better?

Putter is all about confidence. If you are more confident in a $300 putter, then yes, you will putt better.

[MunkeyGolfer]

I used to think the same way about clubs in general. I told myself I would never spend more than $300 on an entire new set of clubs. Well this year, I spent $1000 on a new set of callaway irons and a new nike driver. I also have an appointment at Yes! in Denver to get fitted for a new putter with $200 to spend there. Moral of the story, if it feels right to me, I would probably spend the money on it.

[teal]

There are a bajillion sports out there where a guy can spend money. I don't begrudge a guy dropping 3 bones on a putter. Look at the guys spening 30k on a bass boat they use 5x a year and then they drop 200 in fuel just to run the danged thing.

$250 for a putter? If I had the $$ and it felt right I'd be on it like white on rice.

[CG031]

Yeah, I'd like to get a Scottie Cameron but it's ludicris IMO to spend that...I have a Ping Anser and I'm very satisfied with it, got it for 100 bucks.

[T.J.K.]

We all hear this a lot. Just remember.....$250 you may not be the same as $250 to the next person.

To me, putters are works of art. Especially the classic styled milled putters. Well worth the price.

You start talking about Cameron 009's and then you are way outta my league :)

[ganjagolfer]

the government wants us to spend money to boost the economy so just buy the putter for patriotic sentiments

[Soup Fan]

Oh trust me. If I had the disposable income and played more I would probably be more inclined for such an expenditure...I just had no idea that was the going rate for a high end putter.

[Laxplayer201092]

we cant post ebay links, but i can tell you they can be had for well under 200 bones.

[xamilo]

I guess it does depend on how much you can afford and how good are you and how much you really play.

For example, I love the Opera, and I don't mind spending $100-4200 for a ticket when a good piece comes to the Sydney Opera, others would think is stupid to spend that ammount of money in a show.

If you're not a scratch golfer, I can assure you good equipment won't make a huge difference. I'm sure changing your TM R7 driver for a new Tour Burner TP and spend an aditional $500 won't change or improve your game much. I myself use a PING G2 and I get about 250yds straight most of the time. Would that change if I buy a new G10? Porbably not much. Most of us can perfectly use 5-10 years old equipment without much difference. Yes, indeed, its nice to have new equipment, psichologicaly helps a lot, and I love the look of shiny new clubs, which might be MY #1 reason to cahnge clubs, because I want something new, that's all.

Golf equipment can cost A LOT. You can spend $3000 in new clubs and still be as bad as you were before. I guess its a matter of finding a balance. In your putter example, I feel the Redwood is a realy nice utter, but I can find a PING Anser or a KArsten which work just as good for me for 1/3 of the price. Again if you have the money and wan to impress your fellow golfers, go and spend the $300. You might not regret at all

Cheers