La Costa Golfer

I have not used an insert since the XG Hot several years ago. Then I pulled out my old XG Hot and found it to be an interesting experience. >>Can insert fans please compare the various Odyssey inserts? How about the black-i series versus the white ice versus XG ?

I bought my first vintage finished wedge and I am rather impressed. Feels softer than those with a chrome finish. Looks great with how it has character and unique. What is everyone's impressions on vintage finished wedges? Hate or love 'em?

My recommendation is to try a different brand. If you are hard-headed and only will buy a particular brand, I will suggest go with the sung fit as the shoes will stretch out. All golf shoes do...even those that intially were a good fit as there is a lot of torque happening in a swing. And when they do get loose, that is time to retire the shoes. For me...it is about the time the 2nd set of replacement spikes are needed.

That is a good quote from Titleist.... As stated, it is 'similar' to forged...but isn't forged. A question....in the production models, how often are custom grinds and tweaks really made that require a cast product to be made? Maybe I am just a forged club and milled putter purist.

Just because you are 'short' doesn't mean that you will need to flatten out the the lie by 2* or 3*. Many times putter lies remain the same no matter what shaft length is selected unless an unconventional putting stance is used. Go to a reputable club maker and they should be able to figure out what needs to be done.

Congrats....you will very much enjoy the Bettinardi. Let us know what your thoughts are after a few weeks with the putter. You are probably better off not purchasing the Heavy Putter. If you are starting to develop your putting stroke, you want to be able to develop your distance control most importantly. With such a heavy putter...it is a tad more difficult to develop that skill. A skill that is most important to mitigate the dreaded three-putt. (a lot of people think the key to improving putting is to putt well within 5'....so why not improve your odds by getting those 5' closer. Also....it is easier to reduce the number of three putts than it is to increase the number of one-putts).

Selecting putters is an individual preference...and not predicated by your height and build. However....as a wild guess without any knowledge....give the C-05 Bettinardi model a shot. It is a mallet putter and if you are starting off...the thicker top line might be helpful for alignment and to gain confidence of stroking a larger mass. Also because it is 'face balanced' where it doesn't have 'toe hang.' [I'll explain that if you would like...just shoot another note here]. If you want a Tiger Woods type putter...try the C-02 blade putter. I myself use a C-06 face balanced 'S-Shaft' putter now. I have an arch and not a 'straight back-straight through' stroke. Normally arch pendulum putters want toe hang.....but I can putt with either. So that is an example that it is an individual thing in selecting a putter. [fyi...I am a decent putter in that I average 27 putts with a 7 index handicap]. [btw...thinking of your question whether the Mizuno Bettinardi's are made in the USA.... They are as I indicated. But I wonder how many cheap putters are actually made in the USA]

The Mizuno Bettinardi's are manufactured in Tinley Park, IL....just south of Chicago. They are created in the Bettinardi facility that not only create the ultra premium specialty putters ($500+) ...but also defense/aerospace products. (A little known fact....Scotty 'off the rack' putters are NOT manufactured within Cameron's putter studio. Rather Scotty uses a third party contractor). I personally contacted Bettinardi customer service and they assure me that the Mizuno Bettinardi's are indeed crafted in their own facilities in the USA.

My recommendation is to buy only after putting on "REAL" greens. Don't just putt on astroturf and carpets! Find an on-course pro shop and test them out on the greens.... You won't get a sense of what it can or can't do without game conditions. That is where you might be able to better sense what a premium putter can do.

....it will improve your putting if you spend more time practicing with the premium putter. There is the discussion that a cheap putter being the same as a premium. Whatever works....if you can hole it...why not. At the same time, a premium putter does have some qualities which you will not find in others. For instance, there is a different 'feel' of having a 'milled' (it is a solid block of metal that is 'carved' or 'milled' out) versus a 'cast' (melted metal poured into a mold which can create harsh spots) putters. Also the quality assurances and tolerances are tighter. Another big thing is that a lot of people spend all their money on drivers when they should be investing their money in scoring clubs (putters and wedges). Think of how many times you putt in a round. Also how many opportunities to lower your score by making putts. If you are looking for a premium milled putter, you can purchase a Bettinardi at budgetgolf.com for $80 (normally sells for $300...but it is a closeout) after using the '1overpar' coupon code and receiving a gift certificate. In case you aren't familar...Bettinardi putters are extreme premium putters that are considered by many to be superior to Cameron's. I own both Scotty's and Bettinardi's....and currently I game my Bettinardi.

I would suggest the Hogan Edge Plus ('06) model that are game improvement perimeter weighted irons as you are seeking. The design is a 'pocket cavity' which not only provides ample perimeter weighting, but also magnifies feedback. Others that use pocket cavities are Mizuno MP52, Titleist AP2, Bridgestone J32.

The difference is the year they were made. Current model is the Studio Select. Others have been 'retired' and no longer manufacturered.

I previously asked the customer service rep from Bettinardi the same question and received a response. They indicated that both the Mizuno and Bettinardi putters are indeed "Bettinardi" putters. Both are manufactured from the same facilities owned and overseen by Bob. The 'difference' is that the putters solely under the "Bettinardi" name are more exotic, customized, and unique putters. The analogy would be the "Mizuno Bettinardi" is exactly like the what Titleist is doing with the "Scotty Cameron Studio Select' line. The "Bettinardi" putter would be the "Cameron Limited Release" lines. A "Mizuno Bettinardi" is a "Bettinardi" as much as a "Studio Select" is a "Cameron". [However the difference is that the Mizuno Bettinardi's are manufactured in the facilities....when Cameron outsources the manufacturing to a 3rd party and not in his putter studio]

I think you interpreted my question incorrectly. I was wondering when you walked into GolfSmith....what got you even try the spaceship shaped putter. For instance, I happen to game both the SC and Bettinardi. I happen to select both because they are 'milled' putters...which is consistent with my preference for 'forged' irons and wedges. The material has a distinct feeling that is different from casted products. I also selected the two because they had the putter style I wanted that others didn't offer (S shafted face balance blade putters...look at my signature line) I do agree some buy only by name. I didn't as I learned the distinctness of Bettinardi. For instance, SC Studio Selects are not built in his Putter Studio but rather outsourced while all Bettinardi's are built in house. Each uses a different base material. Etc.

That is true. I contacted Bettinardi's customer service department and asked....and they confirmed that the Mizuno Bettinardi are indeed Bettinardi putters made in their factory.