Stability putter shafts - hot or not?

[cnosil 24,463]

Hoping to be part of the official MGS testing of this shaft.  I keep picking up these putters and trying them when I am at headquarters and I have to say the more I try the stability shaft the more I like it.  It is really hard to describe the feeling or how the shaft impacts your stroke, but it does seem to provide some benefit. 

[jlukes 16,210]

Hoping to be part of the official MGS testing of this shaft.  I keep picking up these putters and trying them when I am at headquarters and I have to say the more I try the stability shaft the more I like it.  It is really hard to describe the feeling or how the shaft impacts your stroke, but it does seem to provide some benefit. 

I wonder if if the benefits/performance of it is more apparent depending on the head weight of the putter

[cnosil 24,463]

Just now, jlukes said:

5 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Hoping to be part of the official MGS testing of this shaft.  I keep picking up these putters and trying them when I am at headquarters and I have to say the more I try the stability shaft the more I like it.  It is really hard to describe the feeling or how the shaft impacts your stroke, but it does seem to provide some benefit. 

I wonder if if the benefits/performance of it is more apparent depending on the head weight of the putter

One of the things talked about in the description is that it was designed because of the heavier putter head weights.   I think the other aspect that should be considered is the players tempo.  I would think that with a slower tempo there wouldn't be as much benefit.   

[PlaidJacket 7,737]

I played with a guy yesterday that had a Stability Shaft in his SC putter head. (I think a Concept X) This same guy I've played with a few times over the past year. I can't recall or say whether he's a good putter or not. But he is a decent player generally. However, yesterday his putting sucked and I'm sure he'd admit the same. Do I accuse the putter/shaft combo or the player for his poor performance? I'd say the player. IMO it doesn't matter how much tech or fitting, etc is involved. If you can't square up the face of any club your results will be poor. I will also say there is probably something to the Stability Shaft. Barney Adams didn't dream this up as a con. Hardly. But it's not something I believe will noticeably benefit that many golfers. Putting is a strange animal and a very distinct part of the game. Apart from all other aspects of the game - driving, ironing, chipping, etc - putting is an enigma. For instance, how many very good players (0-5 hcp) have you known/played with who are really sharp/solid tee to green but once on the putting surface they struggle day after day year after year?  Or...how many weekend 6-pack players have you played with; always carding high scores but somehow putt good once they find the green? I've played with plenty of both. Putting is strange... you either have it mentally and or mechnicanically or you don't IMO. 

[cksurfdude 10,486]

On 1/6/2019 at 2:03 PM, PlaidJacket said:

I played with a guy yesterday that had a Stability Shaft in his SC putter head. (I think a Concept X) This same guy I've played with a few times over the past year. I can't recall or say whether he's a good putter or not. But he is a decent player generally. However, yesterday his putting sucked and I'm sure he'd admit the same. Do I accuse the putter/shaft combo or the player for his poor performance? I'd say the player. IMO it doesn't matter how much tech or fitting, etc is involved. If you can't square up the face of any club your results will be poor. I will also say there is probably something to the Stability Shaft. Barney Adams didn't dream this up as a con. Hardly. But it's not something I believe will noticeably benefit that many golfers. 

Putting is a strange animal and a very distinct part of the game.

Apart from all other aspects of the game - driving, ironing, chipping, etc - putting is an enigma. For instance, how many very good players (0-5 hcp) have you known/played with who are really sharp/solid tee to green but once on the putting surface they struggle day after day year after year?  Or...how many weekend 6-pack players have you played with; always carding high scores but somehow putt good once they find the green? I've played with plenty of both. Putting is strange... you either have it mentally and or mechnicanically or you don't IMO. 

Oh yeah, it is ... "the game within the game" some old guy once said

Good comments, though - it will be interesting to see if this will garner any traction with the "weekend" crowd?

[GB13 7,782]

12 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Oh yeah, it is ... "the game within the game" some old guy once said

Good comments, though - it will be interesting to see if this will garner any traction with the "weekend" crowd?

I doubt it. I think this is a equipment junkie thing. I just don't see your weekend joe buying a $200 shaft for his putter. He'd buy a new putter over a new shaft. Heck, weekend golfers mostly have stock regular shafts in their drivers, which they care about a lot more than putters. To them, Distance is king!

[cksurfdude 10,486]

56 minutes ago, GB13 said:

I doubt it. I think this is a equipment junkie thing. I just don't see your weekend joe buying a $200 shaft for his putter. He'd buy a new putter over a new shaft. Heck, weekend golfers mostly have stock regular shafts in their drivers, which they care about a lot more than putters. To them, Distance is king!

 

Yeah, that's definitely going to be a big part of it. 

Even though - as we know - you only hit your driver a max of 14 times per round .. vs 36+ times for your putter .. yet many players very eagerly pony up $500+ for a new driver every year.....................................

[juspoole 3,287]

Going back and forth on this.  I'm an average putter and recently had a Club Champion fitting including getting on the SAM lab.  It was determined that my putting stroke was actually fairly good.  On the course, my main issue tends to be a misread or speed.  Most of the time, I'm getting the ball on my line that I've chosen.  

I've read some replies that this can help some with distance control, but what I find happens is that I will just lose my feel for distance after about 7-8 holes and then my confidence sort of goes with it. 

I've read some others are putting stiff iron shafts to help with stability.  Can anyone comment or even compare?  That would be a much cheaper way to go.

[cnosil 24,463]

Going back and forth on this.  I'm an average putter and recently had a Club Champion fitting including getting on the SAM lab.  It was determined that my putting stroke was actually fairly good.  On the course, my main issue tends to be a misread or speed.  Most of the time, I'm getting the ball on my line that I've chosen.  
I've read some replies that this can help some with distance control, but what I find happens is that I will just lose my feel for distance after about 7-8 holes and then my confidence sort of goes with it. 
I've read some others are putting stiff iron shafts to help with stability.  Can anyone comment or even compare?  That would be a much cheaper way to go.

What do you mean you lose your feel for distance? What is your current approach to distance control and how off do you get? The shaft wouldn’t fix being off by feet, the theory would be that the face angle is more consistent so you are making better contact.

[juspoole 3,287]

45 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 

What do you mean you lose your feel for distance? What is your current approach to distance control and how off do you get? The shaft wouldn’t fix being off by feet, the theory would be that the face angle is more consistent so you are making better contact.

 

Hard to explain it - i'll practice all sorts of drills for distance control and feel that I have them down pat, then out on the course I'll just lose it.  

I agree that contact and face angle do help and I had some adjustments done to my putter at club champion that I believe will help get the ball rolling more quickly.  Just psych myself out I guess.

[dbdors 88]

If you haven't noticed the price is already starting to come down.  Several sources selling for $177.  Not that big a prices reduction, but maybe be an indicator of how well initial sales are going.

[GB13 7,782]

8 hours ago, juspoole said:

Going back and forth on this.  I'm an average putter and recently had a Club Champion fitting including getting on the SAM lab.  It was determined that my putting stroke was actually fairly good.  On the course, my main issue tends to be a misread or speed.  Most of the time, I'm getting the ball on my line that I've chosen.  

I've read some replies that this can help some with distance control, but what I find happens is that I will just lose my feel for distance after about 7-8 holes and then my confidence sort of goes with it. 

I've read some others are putting stiff iron shafts to help with stability.  Can anyone comment or even compare?  That would be a much cheaper way to go.

I really don't think this is what your looking for. I think you just need to keep in mind that, everyone goes through hot and cold spells with putting. If this is the route you decide to go, I'd go with a graphite hybrid shaft before an iron shaft though. 

[GolfSpy Dave 1,675]

Just wait until you get a chance to roll the Odyssey Stroke Lab shafted putters.

The Atlanta S is so badass. I have never, ever, had the speed control like I have with this putter.

 

 

[EthanSterlingPrice 1,302]

I just don’t see a lot of promise in this, and believe me I hope I’m wrong like plenty of times before. I can miss as many putts with a hickory shafted putter as I do steel shafted one and it’s entirely the Indian over the arrow but maybe I’m that fella this new tech works for... when the price falls a tad...


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[halliedog 36]

On 1/14/2019 at 12:02 PM, juspoole said:

Going back and forth on this.  I'm an average putter and recently had a Club Champion fitting including getting on the SAM lab.  It was determined that my putting stroke was actually fairly good.  On the course, my main issue tends to be a misread or speed.  Most of the time, I'm getting the ball on my line that I've chosen.  

I've read some replies that this can help some with distance control, but what I find happens is that I will just lose my feel for distance after about 7-8 holes and then my confidence sort of goes with it. 

I've read some others are putting stiff iron shafts to help with stability.  Can anyone comment or even compare?  That would be a much cheaper way to go.

I just bought a new O Works 7S and wanted to lengthen it, but instead of just adding an extension I bought a KBS C-Taper X flex iron shaft.  Figured it could possibly be a similar solution as probably heavier and more "stable" than standard putter shaft.  I put an 8" section of foam backer rod in to help dampen vibration. 

I've never been able to demo one of the Stability shafts yet, so can't compare, but so far I'm liking the feel on my little experiment.  Unfortunately going to be a while before I get a chance to roll it on a real green, but loving it while carpet putting in the basement.

[cksurfdude 10,486]

1 minute ago, halliedog said:

I put an 8" section of foam backer rod in to help dampen vibration.

Great idea! I was trying with the idea of pulling the grip on my putter and trying to get some foam down in there. Hmmmm

[Headhammer 3,157]

I don't know. I saw someone asked ScottGolf, the independent club maker on tour, his thoughts and he said he hasn't seen anyone using them yet, so he couldn't comment. I also saw Club Champion boasting a 54% improvement in putting with the shaft on Twitter. I asked them what metric was used for that claim and they said "owner feedback". Not exactly hard science! 

[chemclub 1,026]

I'm a little late to commenting on this conversation - mostly because I always thought the stability shaft was a marketing ploy, and I thought the way they presented their data was dishonest (Showing data that looks good but actually doesn't speak to performance).

Did anything come form the MGS test that was promoted on twitter?

Now, I will totally buy into the fact that the stability shaft will give a different feel and that can have a huge impact on your feel/confidence with the putter. Dampening of any kind of vibration, even for on-center hits, can communicate stability to your brain and that is a good thing! But I don't see anything compelling about dampening vibrations leading to off-target effects with the ball when the ball is no longer on the face to be affected by those vibrations.

[cnosil 24,463]

31 minutes ago, chemclub said:

Did anything come form the MGS test that was promoted on twitter?

The test was done,  I took part.   It was one of the first times they used the GC Quad to measure putting performance so it may be taking a little while to analyze the results.  I don't when they will publish results. 

[cksurfdude 10,486]

1 minute ago, cnosil said:

The test was done,  I took part.   It was one of the first times they used the GC Quad to measure putting performance so it may be taking a little while to analyze the results.  I don't when they will publish results. 

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see what comes from that test.

I'm thinking it's possible any purported benefit - eg. less vibration - may only be measurable on a workbench...?

Also like chemclub and others have said, putting is such an individual and personal "feel" thing, so I'd have to agree it all comes down to if a player thinks something will help their game.......