Clubs that Grab You

[Travtex]

Had an unusual shopping experience today -- At least for my standard.

I've been in the market for a putter, since I hated mine. It was a Slazenger Wrath mallet that came with the starter set. Too long, lousy balance, no feel... just a chore.

Now, I am normally analytical to a fault. I'm that apparently introverted guy who, once you engage on a topic, will talk your ear off with extended contingency rambling and counterpoints and reinterpretations and it seems I could just have the entire debate all by myself with no help whatsoever from the other conversant. (Which is why people tend to not try to engage me after a bit, *laugh*)

Point being, I research and analyze the hell out of everything I do, and shopping is no different.

Walking in, I was in the market for a Cleveland Classic #1 33" blade putter. I have had no luck finding it in lefty, but I was puttering around with the righties just to get an idea of the feel. Felt nice, didn't like the grip...

Anyway, after trying a half dozen or so blades, I came across my New Best Friend.

I wasn't even really considering Taylormade, then I got my hands on a 33" TM Core Classic Rossa Daytona. Compared to every other putter I had tried, it was as if someone had squirted ball-go-in-hole-every-time juice all over the thing. Was quite mesmerized by the look and feel of the putter, and despite it being roughly double my planned budget... I pulled the trigger and just bought it on impulse.

I never do this. My norm would've been to go home and read a dozen reviews on that model, ask questions, etc. Instead, it was just a primal, "Me want!" experience, and I took the thing home.

Ya'll have this experience with certain clubs/balls/etc? Maybe it's normal, but was a new thing for me. *heh*

[Cussin hacker]

Great post TravTex..LOL! I over analize things myself sometimes, but going with your gut feeling seems to be the best way most of the time. Love the look of those Daytonas. One of the nicer looking putters out there. Enjoy!!

[AmenCorner]

Funny post. I can't remember the last time I bought a putter and I'm not sure why. Anyways, I'm a BIG believer in look/feel of a club over anything else, especially other people's reviews. If you stand over it and you're confident that ball is going in the hole, I don't believe there is anything better. As far as technology goes, I'm pretty convinced all the major companies are on the ball there, so you really won't get an advantage there.

Just my opinion. Again, great post.

[microcrayfish]

I can relate a similar experience that went in the other direction - for a while at least. I did a similar thing when I was in the market for a new putter reading reviews, asking about the models on here and deciding that I wanted a mallet. I decided on a Yes! Valerie but when I tried a bunch of putters I really liked the Rife Antigua, the problem was that the Rife was quite a bit more expensive at the time and I couldn't bring myself to splash out. Not surprisingly I ended up not liking the Yes! at all but fortunately I was able to pick up a used Antigua for about a quarter of the cost so it all worked out in the end!

[Dub]

Travtex....I can relate.

The putter you bought looks great to me. I like the classic Anser style. I'm sure it feels great, too. A buddy that I'm playing with on Monday morning has, by his own admission 50 different putters in his garage.

We've played off and on together for 10 years. One thing is certain, he's not scared to pull the trigger on a new putter. He's had them all.

I say all of that to establish this fact....he's been putting lights out for the past six months. He's going nuts ever since he bought his newest putter, a Taylor Made Rossa Lambeau. I've never seen a putter make so much difference.

I tried it on afternoon and was really impressed with the feel of those inserts. The ball clicks off nicely as opposed to the softer inserts (that's what he moved away from).

Good luck with your new putter. I believe that there are 3 clubs in your bag that you must have absolute confidence in...even the way they look should inspire good feelings when you look down:

1. Putter
2. SW or whatever club you do most of your greenside work with
3. Driver

[squaddie]

...Was quite mesmerized by the look and feel of the putter, and despite it being roughly double my planned budget... I pulled the trigger and just bought it on impulse.

Nothing wrong with spending a lot of money on a putter if it feels right. Just take good care of it and keep the headcover on it in the bag and it could last a lifetime.

[retexan599]

Now, I am normally analytical to a fault....

You are not alone in being analytical about such things. When I was choosing a new ball this past June, I made an excel spreadsheet with 78 lines for different balls (local and online stores) so I could get to a price per ball result. And the price per ball ranged from $3.83 for ProV1 down to about

$.30 per ball for recycled balls in a bag. I settled on Nike PD Soft at about $1.33 per ball at a local store. As you might guess, I am an engineer by training...

[BlueHareGolf]

Putters are tricky because you need to have feel and that takes time to develop when you change putters. I have the same putter that I have had for over 20 years.

[uttexas]

Had a similar experience when I tried out a Rife putter at the store. Couldn't justify the $$.

[brgolf]

Now all you need to do is spend 10 hours debating if the break is to the right or left.

Enjoy the new putter!

[DriverTees]

Haha, that comment made my day :D And those Taylormade putters like sexy, don't they? If