Rife putters. Anyone using them?

[Danattherock]

Yeah, I heard where many on the Champions Tour use the putter. But I have not seen one in person or heard from anyone that had used it. A tough way to purchase something and against my norm. But situation is unique with me working on an island off Cape Cod. No golf shops here to browse:(

[Ryno]

Just switched to the Bimini. I had been using a Ping Anser or Ping Anser 4 depending upon my mood.

[Guest]

I've been using the Rife Cayman for a month and love it. The ball doesn't seem to hop as much when struck, and the feel of the ball-strike is very soft compared to my SC Newport 2 Mid-slant. Also own a Rife Aussie IBF Tour, but I prefer the feel of the Cayman. I think the Rife putters are under-rated and a great value.

[Danattherock]

Got my Rife Antigua in today. Just an amazing putter from what I can tell so far. First off, the fit and finish was perfect. The balance and feel far surpasses previous putters I have used (SC, 2 ball, Ping Anser). The grooves on the face were very interesting of course. Rolled a few on the carpet. Loved it. Going to the practice green tomorrow. Expecting great things. Initial impression, nicest putter I have ever put in my hands.

[JDSooner]

I put a Rife IBF Tour Aussie Black in play last season after using a Cameron Studio Stainless for several years. The Cameron is sitting in the corner of my office as we speak. It won't be finding it's way back to the bag...

The Rife is that good...puts one of the best rolls on the ball I've ever seen...35"/345 g...love it.

[Danattherock]

Update on the new Rife Antigua...

Spent 10 minutes on the practice green yesterday then played a round. I don't keep stats on the putts per round, but I must have dropped 5-6 putts off my average yesterday. Can't speak highly enough about this Rife Anitgua putter. I am not a fad guy. Used 4 putters in the last 18 years of playing and two of them were freebies from my dad. Had two sets of irons in that time frame. You get the picture. Anyone looking for a new putter, check out the Rife putters before purchasing something else. It is the best feeling putter I have ever held in my hands. Soft yet solid off the face, ball rolls smoother than usual, and the balance was the most impressive thing. Going back and forth, for the first time, I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. My normal 2.5 to 3.5 foot lag putts from 18-20 feet were under 18" with this putter. And it was the first time I had ever used it. Day one. I drained several putts at 5-10 feet that I usually miss. Made one at about 15 feet. Something I very rarely do. This is the real deal fellas.

[Danattherock]

Pictures of the Rife Antigua. Best putter ever. ha ha.. Seriously guys, you have got to try out one of these Rife putters. They are something special.

[Crey23]

I have a quick question....have any one currently using a Rife ever tried the TM Itsy Bitsy Spider?

I am interested on both. I too, have seen the commercial on GC, and I do believe that Rife's are that good, but I also like the TM alot, that particular mallet style helps me reduce my miss-hits..

But I guess my question is more regarding the face....Insert Vs. Milled...which is best? What kind of "feel" have you experienced between the two.

I have the Daytona CBG 1, and I like it alot, but I can't seem to get my alignment just right...it's good, but not Great!!!! I had my mind set on the Odessey putters, when i purchased my Daytona by mistake...best mistake I've made in golf thus far.... After using my putter, I could not get the Odessey to roll without having to put more "umpfff" into my swing. I guess what I am trying to say is that I like the TM insert, then again my putter is about 2 or 3 yrs old.

As for the milled faces, well I think there is something to them....a reason why Rife, SC, and other high end manufacturers are using them.

[microcrayfish]

  Crey23 said:

I have a quick question....have any one currently using a Rife ever tried the TM Itsy Bitsy Spider?

I've only ever tried out the Itsy Bitsy Spider on the putting mat in store. I actually quite liked it, it's easy to keep a square face for sure but it doesn't have as nice a feel as the Rife Antigua I've got, plus I don't like how it looks. Apart from the Barbados (which has good feel) I've never really putted much with the other Rife mallets so I can't vouch for how the feel compares with those, which I'm guessing you'd be more interested in considering you like the spider style.

[Danattherock]

  Crey23 said:

But I guess my question is more regarding the face....Insert Vs. Milled...which is best? What kind of "feel" have you experienced between the two.

I have a Scotty Cameron with teryllium insert. Have the Odyssey 2 Ball with insert. Just did not like them. Felt too soft.

The "roll groove" on the Rife is amazing. My Antigua is a 100% milled putter head. Top shelf all the way. I would suggest you try one out before purchasing a new putter. They have several mallet styles. I choose the Anser style as that is what I prefer, but they make many models. All of course have the "roll groove".

[tricky]

I just purchased a Rife Antigua over the last week. It's a quality piece of merchandise. I took it at 35" and soft clamped it and gently bent it a few degrees upright to suit my putting stance. It now feels totally natural lying in my hands and I love the alignment aide to check that I'm standing and holding it correctly. Only used it in anger once, so too early to report. I do like the putter though (I'm actually a poor putter, and this purchase is part of a strategy to improve).

[Crey23]

  tricky said:

(I'm actually a poor putter, and this purchase is part of a strategy to improve).

And what might that be....

either improve or go broke trying...

[tricky]

  Crey23 said:

And what might that be....

I'm already broke.

I've been playing with standard clubs, for average people, and I'm not. I'm tall, and I like to stand up to the ball. I'm trying to get together good equipment suited to me, and practice with that rather than practice coping strategies. Thanks for asking, though....

[Kcas77]

  right handed phil mickelson said:

hmm I see most of these people that have the rife putters are a 15+ handicap. I have the odyssey marxman mallet putter. it has a bigger mallet form than you would be used to with other putters, but has a nice big line running from the face to the back that helps tremendously with aiming. I think you should try some more putters before looking at one. I have heard good things about the rife putter but I don't believe that it is for everybody. Odyssey is the #1 putter on tour, and I think you should give it a shot before buying the rife.

This is because every one has a contract on tour. Rife doesnt pay anyone to play their putters and its the #1 putter on the champions tour where they choose to play Rife because its simply the best.

[Danattherock]

  tricky said:

(I'm actually a poor putter, and this purchase is part of a strategy to improve).

Smart man. Spend your money (and time) on the area that will improve your score the most. Putting. Very wise indeed.

[Jcp907]

I have a Rife 2 Bar and Love it! Try a few out, because I didn't care for the feel of the other Rifes Models.

[Danattherock]

  Kcas77 said:

This is because every one has a contract on tour. Rife doesnt pay anyone to play their putters and its the #1 putter on the champions tour where they choose to play Rife because its simply the best.

Yep. 40% of Champions Tour players use a Rife and they are not paid to use the putter. What else could one want for a recommendation if not that? To be honest, I don't care if you putt well or not. But every once in a while I run across a really good piece of equipment in golf. The Rife putter is a shining example. Seems only fair to share with others. Especially when so much new crap, fads, hype items only, come out in our sport. Watch and see how popular Rife putters get in the next few years, then go buy one if you want. But you could shave some strokes today if you were so inclined.

[Doctorfro]

I have never been a fan of a putter that looks like it has a bunch of stuff on the end of the shaft but, I cannot argue with the results I've had since switching to the Rife 2-bar Hybrid. I've only had it about ten days but every day I've been out (several nine-hole rounds) I am making more putts, rolling the ball extremely well and just feel like I've got a chance every time I'm over the ball. The biggest thing I was looking for was alignment aid. With this putter I got that plus the technology of roll groove with the self-adjustability of the lie angle. I bought this on Rife's "90 day trial" and at this point I can't see sending it back.