Hogan Bettinardi vs Rife

[qtong]

Hi, I am in the market for a new putter and am between the Bettinardi BHB3-c and the Rife putters (not sure which one I want, blade not the mallets.) Can anyone tell me which would be the better one to go with? I have only held them but never used them, I like the balance on both but how do they perform? What the sound like?

Thanks in advanced.

[golfro]

Hi, I am in the market for a new putter and am between the Bettinardi BHB3-c and the Rife putters (not sure which one I want, blade not the mallets.) Can anyone tell me which would be the better one to go with? I have only held them but never used them, I like the balance on both but how do they perform? What the sound like?

shouldn't it be obvious to any golfer at a 10 handicap that putters are literally 100% purely personal?

they're both great putters, no ones going to argue that... you're just going to get a slough of answers from each person prefering one putter over another. with that said, bettinardi putters and rife putters are VERY different as far as feel goes. Bettinardi's tend to be softer off the face while the Rife is more or less on the opposite end of that. All personal preference and what feels comfortable to you. I'd say if you've been using your Zing Karsten, the Rife might feel closer to that than the Bettinardi.

[sean_miller]

Hi, I am in the market for a new putter and am between the Bettinardi BHB3-c and the Rife putters (not sure which one I want, blade not the mallets.) Can anyone tell me which would be the better one to go with? I have only held them but never used them, I like the balance on both but how do they perform? What the sound like?

Clearly the Rife - higher resale value.

[qtong]

Yea, the reason is because I love every piece of equipment in my bag except my putter. I don't like how light it is, how it makes a thud sound (I prefer a 'tink sound') and how it doesn't roll right after I putt but bounces all over the place. The face balance of the Bettinardi is nice but from what I remember with face balanced putter is that they are tough on slow greens or long distance putts. So the rife would make the more crisp sound? I know both of them are gonna be slightly heavier but I don't want to buy either one if it's just gonna bounce all over the place and sound like a corpse like with my Zing.

[golfro]

Yea, the reason is because I love every piece of equipment in my bag except my putter. I don't like how light it is, how it makes a thud sound (I prefer a 'tink sound') and how it doesn't roll right after I putt but bounces all over the place. The face balance of the Bettinardi is nice but from what I remember with face balanced putter is that they are tough on slow greens or long distance putts. So the rife would make the more crisp sound? I know both of them are gonna be slightly heavier but I don't want to buy either one if it's just gonna bounce all over the place and sound like a corpse like with my Zing.

i don tknow about the sound but it bouncing all over the place is your putting stroke...not the putter..

but yes, the rife has more of a 'tick' sound an rolls off the face a bit faster than the Bettinardi.

[sean_miller]

Yea, the reason is because I love every piece of equipment in my bag except my putter. I don't like how light it is, how it makes a thud sound (I prefer a 'tink sound') and how it doesn't roll right after I putt but bounces all over the place. The face balance of the Bettinardi is nice but from what I remember with face balanced putter is that they are tough on slow greens or long distance putts. So the rife would make the more crisp sound? I know both of them are gonna be slightly heavier but I don't want to buy either one if it's just gonna bounce all over the place and sound like a corpse like with my Zing.

How do you feel about a mid mallet (like the Rife 400

"see link" or Cleveland Classic 2)? Or you could find a vintage Wilson Staff 8802 or George Lowe - google them - clicky, roll the ball nice and good for long lag putts.

[qtong]

How do you feel about a mid mallet (like the Rife 400

I like the sound of the mid-mallet Rife but wouldn't it be just like the bettinardi and other face balanced putters (terrible on slow greens and long distances)?

[sean_miller]

I like the sound of the mid-mallet Rife but wouldn't it be just like the bettinardi and other face balanced putters (terrible on slow greens and long distances)?

If you want a good lag putter than is also good on slow greens, get the Cleveland Classic 2 - heck, get a bullseye, it's more to do with practice anyway.

[qtong]

How is the mid mallet compared to the mid blade? They are bothe face balanced but how would the mallet differ from the blade other than the look?

[Paradox]

I use the mid blade from rife and I can tell you that it has NO problems with long putts or power or slow greens. Has a solid feel off the face, the ball rolls true, and it feels great in my hands. I can only give my personal opinion but rife putters are top notch and you can't go wrong with one.

[qtong]

I use the mid blade from rife and I can tell you that it has NO problems with long putts or power or slow greens. Has a solid feel off the face, the ball rolls true, and it feels great in my hands. I can only give my personal opinion but rife putters are top notch and you can't go wrong with one.

Have you tried the mid mallet? At this point I have narrowed it down to the mid blade and mid mallet and I am wondering what the differences are.

[qtong]

I am also thinking antigua? Any thoughts on that one?

[soloredd]

I use a Bettinardi (Mizuno) and, obviously with my HC being high, I can't speak to the little intricacies of a putter, but I love it. Not sure if the Hogan version has the FIT face or not, but I love not having an insert in the face and I have not had any issues with slower greens or long putts. At least not because of the putter - I can safely say it has more to do with my technique when a putt doesn't result how I want it.

I agree with others that said it's all about personal feel when it comes to a putter. I guess that is what makes a Scotty Cameron so popular, they have just found the feel for most players (although I suspect a lot of folks buy a SC just because they don't know any better). Of course, I'm probably wrong about it all!

[Wet Doggg]

qtong...I grew up in West Lafayette. I was between the Rife Trinidad and Scotty Cameron Newport 2.6. Went with the Rife. They both looked almost identical and I thought the Rife put a better roll on the ball.

[shades9323]

I like the sound of the mid-mallet Rife but wouldn't it be just like the bettinardi and other face balanced putters (terrible on slow greens and long distances)?

Face balance has nothing to do with being terrible on slow greens and long distances. It is a just a style that fits a certain stroke(straight back, straight thru).

[Paradox]

Have you tried the mid mallet? At this point I have narrowed it down to the mid blade and mid mallet and I am wondering what the differences are.

Have not used the mid mallet. I'm not a mallet guy by any means. The weight of the two putters is the same so I would IMAGINE that the feel is pretty identical.

[jlh1508]

I have the Rife Antigua and I absolutely love it. But I tried probably 20 putters before settling on one. Head to a golf store and hit them and find the one you like, putters are a very personal thing

[qtong]

Pulled the trigger, I have a 33" Antigua coming in tomorrow. Awesome in the store, can't wait to see how it works out on the battlefield...