Scotty California Del Mar vs. Nike Method 003 vs. Rife Abaco

[sasquatcho69]

I'm looking for a new putter and i like the heel shafted putters. So my question is, what will be the main difference between these three putters (Scotty Del Mar, Method 003, Rife Abaco) feel-wise. I haven't had a chance to put with these and i was wondering if anybody has had any experience with them
thanks
SP

[tristanhilton85]

All three are excellent putters and what it comes down to is personal preference. There are gonna be many that will tell you the Scotty is by far the best... others with say the same thing about the Nike or Rife...

I know that you are looking for opinions and mine would be the Scotty... I love mine (although it's not the specific model you listed). However, I have played around with all three putters (on the in-store green at Golfsmith) and feel that they are all solid.

Just remember to take these opinons for what they are... guys with a Scotty will lean in that direction just as Nike guys will go for the Method and the Rife guys the Abaco... Your best bet is to test all three and go with the one that feels/looks best to you. A putter is a very personal choice and no matter how much I like the Del Mar, if you don't like the way it looks or feels, it won't work for you.

[wrx_junki]

Never tried the Rife but tried the Nike 003 and Del Mar, both in 33" with no adjustments. The Del Mar feels slightly heavier from what I can recall. The ball comes off rolling faster on the 003 due to the 2° of loft compared to the 4° of loft on the Del Mar. Not sure if you forward press a lot with the heel-shafted putter but if you do the 003 will essentially be 0° of loft. Nike will not adjust loft angle from the factory since it takes away from their roll "technology". I prefer the Nike over the Del Mar but couple of the juniors I know play the Del Mar and really like them so it basically comes down to preference. Good luck.

[Hokie2k5]

I've got a Del Mar and think it's a great putter. I actually think the ball feels better coming off the face with that putter than almost everything I've ever putted with. I've never tried that particular Rife model before I like the roll grooves in their other putters I've tried. As for the Method, it just wasn't for me, the "insert" thingy on the face felt rubbery and I didn't like it. But then again to each his own, I'm sure there's tons of people out there that love it.

My only knock on the California Scottys is that the honeydipped finish wears off quickly. I used my Del Mar for about 3 or 4 months this past year and almost all the honey dipped finish has worn off the bottom of the club. Other than that it's been an excellent putter.

I mix and match putters a lot so I swap putters in and out of the bag and the Del Mar is one of my favorites.

[lumpuckeroo]

I too have a Del Mar and love it, but picking a putter is really a personal matter. I'm not a fan of face inserts, so will I tried the Nike I also quickly ruled it out. I really liked the Rife and the Odyssey Black #9, what it came down to was I'm a putter snob and went with the SC!

[Arsenal8807]

All good choices!

I would also look into the Odyssey #9 style, whether its an insert or a black series that has a milled face and it feels great, I have really found a liking towards it.

I hit the Method 003 and it felt pretty good, but compared to my current putter, mine won...

Just try all those and get fit if possible with the lie, loft, length and weight if possible!

[dbuck]

All are quality clubs with good reputations.

I have no experience with either, but I urge you to go to a shop that has all three if possible and do a side by side putt-off. Only you can know what feels best for you, and like Harry Potter, the wand will choose you!

[CassinoNorth]

Don't discount the $80 option in the Cleveland Classic #9. It's got superb feel and feels like a high end putter.

But of all the #9's I've tried (and I've hit every one I could get my hands on), my favorite by far was the Odyssey Black Series #9. The feel is absolutely incredible.

[Deryck Griffith]

Personally, I like the Rife Barbados face balanced putter.  I don't have one but have putted with it several times and absolutely love the feel.  It'll more than likely be the putter I put in play in 2011.