The Testing Opportunity: Sub 70 Putters
Sub 70 has a large following on the MyGolfSpy Forum so there was a lot of hype when we released the Forum Member Review opportunity for Sub 70 putters.
Since their last member test, they have released new models, a new multi-material putter shaft and several grip options which have also been reviewed on the Forum. The Sycamore 005 Wide Blade putter with the new graphite/steel shaft finished third in our 2023 Most Wanted blade putter testing.
Here is what Sub 70 says about their putters: “Every Sub 70 putter is milled from a billet of 1045 carbon steel which leaves no welds, castings or inconsistencies in the head. This is the best way to make a putter head and you will not find a more solid, great feeling putter. Aesthetically each of the Sub 70 putters offers a clean, classic black and white color scheme with traditional alignment lines. We have purposefully made the heads slightly heavier than the industry standard as we feel it allows a more natural pendulum like putting stroke.“
For this testing opportunity, our Forum staff selected four testers to review and keep a Sub 70 putter of their choosing with multiple options for shafts, grips and length and loft customization.
About the Testers
Our four testers had handicaps that ranged from 8 to over 30. They had used a variety of other putters but none had ever used a Sub 70. Two of our testers recognized putting as being the weakest part of their game and one felt it was his biggest strength. All were casual or weekend golfers who don’t normally play in competitions.
What Testers Said - Unboxing and First Impressions
Our tester BallsLeon was a little taken aback by the bright green Garsen grip on his 009 Mini putter. However, it quickly won him over.
“Once out of the box, I was impressed by how quickly I was able to adjust to it. The more upright position of the Sub 70 (72° lie angle) compared to that of the Odyssey (70° lie angle) let me get closer to the ball with my hands in slightly higher position that feels more natural.”
Mr Orange was impressed with the packaging and the inclusion of an additional weight kit that arrived with his 004 Model.
“The packaging was very nice and the putter was very well packaged to prevent damage. With the putter they included a nice little ball marker as well as a handwritten thank you note for purchasing (a nice touch I might add) and extra weights for customizing the overall putter weight. The weights on the putter come standard as 15 grams but they included 5/10/20 gram weights as well. The putter comes w/ a nice quality headcover that fits the putter head very nicely.”
He said he would have preferred a magnet headcover versus Velcro which is the standard for their mallet headcovers.
What Testers Said - Performance
First impressions were positive with good marks for aesthetics. However, that is all relatively meaningless if the putter doesn’t not perform well.
Snoopy79 chose the 008 mallet putter and eventually found the perfect blend of feel and roll consistency with some weight tweaking. He praised the putter for accuracy, ease of alignment, stability and forgiveness. The weight difference took him a bit of time to get used to which affected his distance control at first. This was not a lasting issue and, with some time and practice, he became entirely comfortable with the change.
He also noted the playability of the putter. “Quite a few variables are involved in this measurement, but the 008 is VERY playable.”
Tester Dweed also went with a 004 mallet. He dove into the data and provided charts as well as other data points comparing it to his previous gamer. It was clear the Sub 70 putter offered considerable advantage on longer putts with 20-percent fewer misses.
What Testers Said - On Course
Tester BallsLeon’s handicap dropped from 29.2 to 23.4 during the testing period. This came after an initial adjustment period after which his confidence grew and more putts started dropping.
Mr Orange thought the Sub 70 was perfect: “I am giving the 004 another perfect score (20/20) for on-course performance because I was confident with it during my rounds. Missed putts were generally speaking because I picked the wrong line off a bad read.”
Snoopy79 loved his 008 putter “This is an easy score. The 008 is a beast on the greens… I have said it before and I will say it again, the weight of this putter and the feel it provides have just worked wonders for my confidence when at address. You feel like the ball is just in the way!”
The Final Verdict
If you have read this far, you can probably guess the scores of the Sub70 Putter line were high. Our testers rated the putters in various categories to compile an overall score out of 100.
I don’t recall the last time we saw scores this high: the low score was 95 and the three others were 97, 97.5 and 98. Our testers’ only complaints were about the slight adjustment period to the weight and the non-magnetic headcover.
Testers noted the great value and price of the putters and lauded them for feel, forgiveness and consistency. They were also very happy with the hand-written note which, along with extras like the weight kit and ball marker, made them feel Sub 70 went above and beyond to make their experience the best it could be.
Each tester will continue to use the putter as their new gamer and all found good, even great, improvement using their Sub 70 putter. To wrap up their reviews, this is what our testers had to say about the putters and their testing experience.
Tester Dweed: “No doubt, the Sub 70 004 mallet is a quality putter. The CNC workmanship is readily identifiable. It will replace my Odyssey Versa 7. I like the looks and the feel when I’m standing over the ball. The swing feel is noticeable. A heel or toe mishit is noticed but doesn’t result in a disaster. One thing to note it will not break the bank. I bought my OD seven years ago and paid around $250. Ordering the 004 mallet today would cost just a hair over $200 and it is made in the USA.”
Tester BallsLeon: “If this review were a putt, consider it sunk - straight in the heart of the cup. True to their packaging, my expectations were redefined by this putter. I now step up to the green with confidence, and the expectation that I can make this putt… I expect this putter to be a staple in my bag for the foreseeable future.”
Tester Mr Orange: “The short and sweet conclusion of my review is that Sub 70 makes a really good quality putter that performs just as good as the big brand names, looks really really good, and runs at a cost that is less than the main brands that everyone knows.”
Tester Snoopy79: “Weekend golfers who want something at a manageable price point that performs, oozes quality craftsmanship, and looks amazing on the green as well as in the bag…look no further than the line of putters from Sub 70.”
If this Forum member review of Sub 70 putters has intrigued you and you want to learn more, you can read our testers’ full reviews here. Sub 70 Forum Member Reviews
Also a big shout out to @GolfSub70 for providing this opportunity. They have always been great to work with and we continue to look forward to working with them more in the future!
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