GMFlash

I live in Columbus and have gone to The Memorial a number of times. I wasn't planning to this year, but after watching the video, I've changed my mind. It's a treat to see the way Nicklaus thinks and the extent of the changes and work as it happens. Thanks Middler for alerting the forum to the video.

Yeah - and looking close I see the moon design feature which does wear over time and use. I agree now that this putter is likely real. Another authentication point is whether the shaft band is intact which are difficult to replicate. Also, I'm not sure if by these years scotty was engraving a serial number on the shaft as is currently done. So that may be another thing to look for.

Mountain man My apologies - My reaction to your putter was based partly on the color as it comes through in your pics. It looks like the honey finish of the earlier models from 2010 and 2011 and so all the things I mentioned above are off. So correcting myself - Looking at the archive pics of 2012 and 2013, your putter looks like those except I still think the top view is off, and the sole of the putter is missing its Moon-like background circle as part of the design. Maybe someone tried to refinish a sliver putter with the honey finish - which I think would be really hard to do properly.

Mountainman I think it is a fake for sure. Lots of clues here on this one. I used to own one and what alerted me right away was the deep milling on the face and the too boxy look from the top view. BUT If you ever want to see if something is fake, go to the scotty website and look through the archives where all scotty's releases are listed, described, and pictured by year of issue. This will educate you as to what to look for. In the case of your putter the following things stand out - and are easy to see by comparing to the archive pictures. 1. California putters with the honey finish were produced in 2009 and 2010. 2. No cherry bombs on the back of this putter model. Archives not picture it but I think it only says titleist. 3. Face milling is way to deep. 4. The weights are also wrong, scotty did not use cherry bomb style weights with this model and did not until later years. They were flat metal disks. 5. The design on the bottom of the putter is entirely wrong. Again, compare to archive. 6. Finally, looking down from the top, the putter has no elegance, seems too long, the shoulders are poorly squared off etc., looking way too machine like. All scotty products are elegant and pleasing to the eye - the minute I saw this one I could tell something was off. Yeah - so I think its fake - The scotty archives are extremely helpful in this regard. Also, you could indeed send it in to scotty shop, they will also document the authenticity for you. Second finally - MGS once did a test between fake and real scotty's and in their testing the fake was better under the test conditions. If memory serves, they took the putters apart and the fake head was lighter than the original, which of course changes the swing weight. In my work in golf retail passing off a fake scotty for a refund is not common, but does occur from time to time. I've seen 4 come into my shop during the 7 years working. Hope this helps. Mike

Mike D. Columbus Ohio I currently predominantly use Srixon Q-Star, Q-Star Tour, or Soft Feel. When I first started playing golf 20 years ago, I regularly used Top Flite XL of various numbers, 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. They were hard, seemed lighter than other balls at the time, and fit my need for cheap "bullets" to lose as I learned the game. Then, Top Flite came out with Gamer and Gamer Soft (which were NOT). These balls were OK, very firm, seemed to perform off long clubs as well as anything else I used like Bridgestone E6, or Noodle, or Warbird (all of which felt softer), and they again fit my need for a budget ball. Skipping ahead to NOW, the Top Flite Gamer and XL are nothing like the old Rock-Flites. The XL are Much softer feeling with adequate around the green performance, which the ball never had before. The current Gamer is much softer feeling than its predecessor, has a controlled ball flight, and decent green side action. Overall it is as good as my preferred Srixon's, which despite the recent poor review ny MGS of the Q-Star Tour, do seem to stay in front of me so to speak, and do everything well. The Gamer seems the same.

Going back to the original post - it seems that the OP does understand the basics of fitting as he mentions the correct relationship between length and lie. Reading between the lines a bit, it also seems that the fitters at DSG understand that relationship as well. The assumption is that they potentially did a lie board test and at least a static measurement to come to the conclusion that a flatter lie was needed. The OP did not mention what methods were used to conclude 3 degrees flat. Not only do we not have complete info. as to why DSG recommended only 3 degrees flat rather than some combination of length and lie adjustment, but other factors may be involved. DSG may have been thinking about cost to the customer. To shorten ,the grips either need to be saved (5.99$ ea) or new ones bought and installed (about 10$ per club). Bending alone is 4.99$ per or 32$ for eight. Do the math and the combo adjustment gets expensive. Bending alone is the cost effective option and maybe part of the DSG thinking took this into account. So just for discussion, let's assume that the dynamic fitting (and static fitting) revealed 3 degrees flat and standard length. Then the fitter is doing their job. Let's say it showed 1/2 inch short implying that 2 degrees flat would now work. OK - fine. But other factors like age of the clubs, skill of the golfer, frequency of play, etc. may have made the combo adjustment unnecessary / not preferred by the customer (due to cost). If 3 degrees flat alone works, then DSG can certainly be trusted to make such a recommendation and be reluctant to charge the customer for further adjustments. In conclusion, we do not have enough info to make a clear determination as to whether the DSG fitters can be "trusted". The OP asked a loaded question and got the usual loaded answers regarding what is commonly perceived to be a big box experience. It would be fair and instructive to get the fitting sheet (hopefully it exists) and describe in detail the conversation between DSG and your friend. If the fitting sheet exists, take a pic and post it, and then all the experts on this site can make a recommendation as to whether the DSG fitter did their job and knows their stuff (can be trusted). Sometimes customers just want what they want, even when it is not in their best interest. Either way, it would be great to have more info about the entire situation to make a more accurate determination.

Well Its mid-October and it's the first time I looked at responses to my introduction to you all. Never thought 25 people would greet me in and many Ohioans and former Buckeyes. Yes - well now that all the good teams have one loss - we can get on to real business - Go Tribe!!!!!!! Thans for the welcome all - and yes.................... O-H.............I-O

Mike D - Ohio Mizuno JPX-EZ 3, 4 Hybrids with stock Fujikura shafts. Sometimes add the 2 and 5 hybrids depending on course, also with stock Fujikura shafts. These shafts and heads seem to fit me perfectly. Hybrid lofts are 2 = 16, 3 = 19, 4 = 22, 5 = 25. Hybrid shafts were not custom fit. Hybrid game strength is production of pure distance. Hybrid game weakness is aim, especially on sidehill or difficult lies.

Hey Fellow MGS Readers: I enjoy the site, the great info. and especially your comments and reactions. Enjoy and Later!!! GMFlash

Mike D. Columbus, OH 15 Hcap alternate between Ping i15 and Ping Anser Forged 2010

Hey MGS - Name is Mike D. Home State is Ohio HCAP is 18 Current Driver and Shaft is Ping Anser with a Fujikura Blur 005 regular flex Driver Swing Speed is 90 mph