Golfspy_CG2 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 With so many players having recent success with the ArmLock putters on the PGA Tour, we thought we'd see how it works for the average golfer. So follow four of our forum members as the put the Bettinardi Studio Armlock in play over the next four to six weeks to see how they perform with it. Feel free to join the conversation and ask any questions you might have in regards to the putter or method of using it. @KCLeo12 Stage 1 Stage 2 @CarlH Stage 1 Stage 2 @GB13 Stage 1 Stage 2 @downlowkey Stage 1 Stage 2 yungkory 1 Quote G430 Max 10K TSiR1 15.0 Aldlia Ascent 60g TSR2 18.0 PX Aldila Ascent 6og TSi1 20 Aldila Ascent Shafts R T350 5-GW SteelFiber I80 SM10 48F/54M and58K S159 48S/52S/56W/60B Select 5.5 Flowback 35" ProV1 Play number 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KCLeo12 Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) I want to first start off by thanking Bettinardi and MyGolfSpy for this opportunity to test this beautiful putter and this style that is rapidly gaining traction on tour. Now let me tell you a little bit about me and my game. I am a scratch golfer and I play 6-8 times per month and also practice 2-3 days per week. I play all types of courses in the San Diego area. I played one year of Division 2 college golf before deciding that college just wasn't for me. Something about not having to go to class just sounded so good. I was young and dumb back then but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I tried some small mini tours and did well until I injured my back which it was only recently that I found out was caused by a birth defect in my spine the lead to scoliosis. Now I play competitive golf on the Veterans Golf Association Tour as well as USGA and SCGA events. I am currently prepping to try out for the All Navy Golf Team Tryouts in mid-May. In southern California we have a vast array of types of course I play. I have a few that are by the ocean and typically softer and shorter. Then I have a few desert style firm and fast courses that I can play also. The one thing nearly all of them have in common is Poa greens. A few have bent greens but most are that scary Poa Annua they talk about on Tour. The green speed can vary greatly also from 9-13. I tend to play the Military course as they save me a good amount of money on greens fees. They are all good course nothing to challenging but they have all drastically improved their greens over the last year. A little about my game and how I attack the course. I have been a bomb and gouge guy most of my life. I competed in long drive 9-10 years ago and I was pretty long for a guy who could reasonably control the direction with the driver. After several injuries to my back and a ruptured Achilles that I never fully recovered from I focus on iron and wedge play. I still have a club head speed between 115-122 depending on how hard I want to go at it. I have always felt like I have been a pretty good putter but like most golfers I am always searching for that lightening in a bottle. I have been extremely happy with my current putter after I did a putter fitting but this arm-lock style makes so much sense to me that I have been itching to try it. It’s that constant pursuit of perfection or uncontrollable urge to get better that makes me love the game. I love that I can control how good I can be by putting more time and effort into my game. The other part is that as a golfer you have an automatic connection with any golfer regardless of their skill level. All golfers understand each other. You step on the first tee with 3 complete strangers and by the end of the round you have a very good understanding of each person and who they are. The thing all Spies want to know the most is the WITB. Most of us are gear heads and that’s likely why we are here. Driver: Cobra F9 Yellow 9* 2G forward 18G back Accra TZ5 65 M5 tipped 3/4” plays 44.75 3 Wood: PXG 0341 15* set 1.5* lower HZRDUS Yellow 76 6.5 tipped 1.5” plays 42.75 Irons: Ben Hogan FT Worth Black or new PTx Pro both have KBS Tour V 120X shafts standard length 2* flat Wedges: Ben Hogan Equalizer 50, 55, 60 KBS Tour V shafts Putter: PXG Mini Gunboat H/Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Buttonback both have the P2 Aware Tour grip at 34.5 http:// This is a putter review so let’s talk about my putting. I have a medium arc stroke but that is largely influenced by the type of putter I use. I have a slower more controlled putting stoke also. The studies with blast Motion and other types of measuring devices show a 2 to 1 stroke pace is best specifically 0.6 seconds on the back stroke and 0.3 seconds to impact. I have tried to replicate this in practice but it just doesn’t work for me, I struggle with distance control. My slower tempo is also why I prefer to die the ball in the hole. I am looking for 8-14” past the hole as my target pace. My typical miss is low side on longer putts and a push on shorter putts as I sometimes steer the ball and not release the putter face. I am extremely confident inside 10ft I feel like I am going to make every putt. I am also a very good lag putter, I rarely 3-putt due to a bad first putt. First Impressions Enough about me let’s talk about the reason you are all here the Bettinardi BB38 Arm-Lock putter I chose to go with 40.5” 5 degrees of loft and 2* flat lie angle. The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was the beautiful finish and blue paint fill. The headcover is fantastic looking and fits perfectly, the quality of the cover is probably the best of any OEM in a stock offering. The grip is a really nice corded grip that is the perfect size in the hands in my opinion but it’s not perfect. The head shape is very clean and the lines are beautiful, aesthetically its very pleasing. The 400-gram head weight and 40.5” length create a really balanced feel. Everything about this putter screams high quality. They claim that the arm-lock style helps create a more pendulum motion and eliminates the hands in the stroke. To me this style is for people that are not the best putters and becomes more of a band aid. After some quick testing the putter feels great but this style is very uncomfortable at first. I was able to get used to the feeling and roll in a few putts. But this putter will have to show a noticeable improvement in my putting for me to make the permanent switch. Will the improvements out-weigh the uncomfortable feeling over the ball? Will I make enough putts to get over the embarrassment of using an arm-lock style putter? These are some big questions I will answer in my stage 2. Edited April 16, 2019 by KCLeo12 artful_golfer, romeopapazulu, PING Apologist #9 and 20 others 23 Quote Ping G410 LST 10.5 set -1* Flat Accra TZ5 65 M5 Callaway Epic Flash 15* set -1 Aldila ATX Blue 75TX Ben Hogan FT Worth Hi 19* KBS Tour V X Ben Hogan PTX Pro 4-P KBS Tour V X 2* Flat 4* loft increments Hogan Equalizer 50* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 X 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 56* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 62* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat EVNROLL ER7 P2 Aware Tour Scotty Cameron Newport2 Buttonback P2 Aware Tour Grip Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCLeo12 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) First, some apologies that my testing and review has taken longer than I have ever intended. This also has been the most difficult review that I have ever done. I had my biggest tournament of the year which was 9 rounds in 10 days. I would rather take an extra couple days and get you guys the honest and best review I can do. However, I have put this putter through its paces and given it the full treatment. I have been struggling with separating my feelings about the style of the putter and the actual putter. LOOKS: 10 out of 10 – This is a great looking putter as most Bettinardi putters are. The compact round head that frames the ball fantastic. The matte or brushed finish provides great contest to the green and the shiny ball. It reduces glare and really allows you to focus on the ball. I found that the alignment and the framing of the face allowed me to easily align the ball in the center of the face and I have a tendency to get the ball more towards the toe. SOUND AND FEEL: 10 out of 10 – The sound and feel are perfect in my opinion. It is soft but of firm feel the shorter putts feel a little softer and the long putts feel firmer. For me this was something I really like because on longer putts with a softer feel and sound I feel like I have to hit them harder. It has a great sound also the has a firm click to it on longer putts and just a nice smooth sound on the shorter putts BASIC CHARACTERISTICS: 18 out of 20. There isn’t anything as far as the putter it self goes that isn’t great about this putter. The only thing I found was that the putter didn’t easily sit flat on the ground when you set it down to align it. I had to develop a different pre-shot routine to get this putter to aim consistently. I will go more into detail about that later. The grip is the only reason this putter itself doesn’t get a score of 20 for this category. I felt the grip was too short, when I gripped the putter in a comfortable position on my right thumb was at the very end of the grip. More about this later also. ON COURSE PERFORMANCE: 23 out of 30 – So this is the part of the review that I struggle with because half of the review is the putter and the other half is the Arm-Lock style of putting. I loved the putter itself and the style I just couldn’t get along with. I wanted to love it and had a very hard time letting go. My first round was phenomenal I shot a 68 and made everything. Unfortunately that was the last of the success I had with this putter on the course. I played 8 rounds total with this putter. And what I did was track those 8 rounds vs the previous 8 rounds that I played before the review. In the 8 previous rounds I averaged 30.2 putts per round which is about average for me. The 8 rounds I played with the SS38 Arm-Lock was 36.3 putts per round. My scoring average was 3.4 strokes higher also. But part of the increase in putts is because I started hitting the ball better and averaging 2 GIR more per round during the 8 rounds. That is why the 6 stokes difference in putts per round only equated to 3.4 in scoring average. http:// Most of my struggle came from distance control on long putts of more than 30 ft. I had a tough time getting the speed right. I was consistently long and really struggled on faster greens or downhill putts because I felt like I had no feel. I felt just mechanical not smooth. http:// MISCELLANEOUS: 9 out of 10 – The details in the putter are fantastic from the beautiful blue paint to the extremely high quality headcover. I loved the headcover design and feel although I really prefer a magnetized headcover vs the Velcro. The putter was built and shipped quickly in a great high-class looking black box. The grip was actually my least favorite part of the putter and I plan on replacing it and seeing if this makes any difference for me. http:// PLAY IT OR TRADE IT: 12 out of 20 – This score is 100% based off the arm-lock style of putting and has zero to do with the putter or the quality of the putter. There is absolutely no chance this putter in its current set up makes it in the bag. I have ordered a JumboMax putter grip with a flat side that I think will really make a difference. I think the flat side against the arm with make it more consistent against my arm. CONCLUSION: The armlock putter style is not something you can just tinker with and have success. I think you have to be professionally fit for this putter style in order to get the specs right so that you are comfortable and able to get in the same position every time. For me after the first day it was never able to get completely comfortable over the ball again. I have bought a different grip and plan to get fit properly for this putter because I do see some benefits in the style of putting if you commit to it and get fit properly. FINAL SCORE: 82 out of 100 Edited June 11, 2019 by KCLeo12 Post Review M. Parsons, JNauss, Golfspy_CG2 and 4 others 7 Quote Ping G410 LST 10.5 set -1* Flat Accra TZ5 65 M5 Callaway Epic Flash 15* set -1 Aldila ATX Blue 75TX Ben Hogan FT Worth Hi 19* KBS Tour V X Ben Hogan PTX Pro 4-P KBS Tour V X 2* Flat 4* loft increments Hogan Equalizer 50* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 X 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 56* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 62* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat EVNROLL ER7 P2 Aware Tour Scotty Cameron Newport2 Buttonback P2 Aware Tour Grip Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CarlH Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 First and foremost, a huge thank you to both MGS and Bettinardi Golf for providing the opportunity to test and provide feedback for this product. I’m honored to be a part of this test and will strive to provide an honest review that will give the readers more insight to this putter. A bit about me before we delve into the nitty gritty of the putter. I took up golf later in life around the age of 38 after retiring from the US Submarine Service. For some reason, brass frowned on driving a golf ball down the narrow passageways of the sub. I’ve been playing golf for around 30 years now and thoroughly enjoy the game. Until recently, I carried an 8 handicap. Following neck and knee surgeries, my game has slipped quite a bit, as has my handicap, moving up to between 10 and 12. I carry a driver and 3 fairway metals, all TaylorMade M4. My irons consist of custom fit Callaway Apex CF19 6-AW and a 54 and 60 degree Callaway Mack Daddy 4. Since the review is on a putter, I’ll only discuss my putting. I’m currently putting with an Odyssey Stroke Labs 7S putter. Prior to this putter, I was gaming a Taylor Made Tour Spider, both being toe balanced mallet putters and both being found by Club Champion as suitable to my putting stroke. Until going with these putters, I used toe balanced blade putters exclusively. My putting grip is conventional. Over the years, I’ve attempted to adopt other putting styles, including left hand low and various claw grips. None of them felt comfortable and I always returned to a conventional grip. I’ve never been a lights out great putter, but I’ve always felt as if I were a decent putter. My biggest fault putting is not aggressively stroking the putter to get the ball past the hole, preferring to die it in the hole. This method has often left me short or getting more break than I had planned for. I’ve tried to be more aggressive, but have never achieved comfort putting that way. Another fault is that occasionally my left hand will twist counter clockwise, closing the face at impact. Having said all of my, I stand over putts fairly confident on short putts from tap in to 6 feet out. On putts 6-15 feet, I feel confident that my line and distance control will leave me a tap in. As I get further out than 25 feet, I’m far less confident in my distance control and have a tendency to get further off line when taking longer strokes. Perhaps this armlock putter will be the answer these issues. Now on to the more important matters – the gear I and others will be testing and reviewing -- the Bettinardi Studio Stock 38 Armlock putter. The specs from the website list it at weighing 400 grams made of 303 stainless steel. It is face milled and comes with a custom 15 inch Lamkin grip. They further describe it as a compact mallet with maximum forgiveness and easy alignment with 20% deeper groves for a softer feel at impact. It comes in a hand polished platinum finish with a sharp sapphire blue paint scheme. They offer a number of fit options regarding length, lie, and loft. I opted to go with standard length of 40 inches, standard lie of 71 degrees, but I wanted a more lofted face and chose to go with 7 degrees of loft. It was suggested that length should hit your forearm 2 inches below your elbow. My reasoning to go with more loft was to overcome any forward shaft lean at impact while still providing 3-4 degrees of loft. From reading, the amount of forward lean is significantly affected by ball position. MSRP is a hefty $450. First Impressions! From the custom Lamkin blue grip with white lettering to the polished head, it is a good looking putter. It is a face balanced putter and it feels well balanced in the hand. The grip has a very nice texture to it, but isn’t too rough on the hand. At address, as you look down on the putter head, you see a duller matte finish to minimize glare. The compact mallet head has a single alignment line on the body of the mallet, leaving the top line of the putter void of markings. The design of the head also has a stepped build that also acts as a ball centering aid. The face has a blue logo on the heel of the putter and the center is adorned with grooves. As you look down at the putter, you notice the added loft but once you press the grip against your lead arm, the effective loft is offset by the forward shaft lean. While the head cover is attractive, it is a very tight fit on the putter and uses a Velcro closure at the heel. Personally, I would have preferred to see a mallet style cover with magnetic closure. I’ve been out on the putting green with it a few times and I have to say that it’s an awkward feeling to get used to putting with this style putter. After adjusting ball position and how far down the shaft to grip, I believe I’ve found the most comfortable position that is delivering somewhat consistent results. While it’s rolling the ball nicely and I’m controlling distance fairly well, I’m finding it difficult to align, mainly because of the forward shaft lean and the way my eyes want to set over it. Thank you for the opportunity to review this putter. Feel free to ask any questions and I’ll do my best to give you my thoughts on that. Below are a couple of links to videos (no Oscars for them) 20190412_123900 by Carl Harsch, on Flickr 20190412_124913 by Carl Harsch, on Flickr ole gray, Nunfa0, JohnSmalls and 18 others 21 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CarlH Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 Stage 2 – Bettinardi Armlock Putter – Official MGS Forum Review by Carl Harsch First, some apologies that I had to truncate my testing because a nagging total knee replacement occurred before I could test further. However, I still feel as if I had sufficient time both on the practice green, my home putting practice station, and on course play to give an honest review of the putter. Prior to my surgery, I spent numerous hours on the practice putting green testing the putter, working on controlling distance, off center hits, breaking putts, and straight putts, as well as ball position and various setup positions. Additionally, I worked on my home putting practice station honing on my comfort with short, straight putts at decent pace to hole the putts. Beyond mere practice, I was able to get out to play on the course on 4 occasions with the putter to test it in a real game environment with my normal group for competitive pressure with the putter. I’m not going to provide a bunch of stats about how many putts I had each round as I don’t feel this number is a standard bearer of the putter, but more a feature of my putting abilities (not to mention distances needed for each putt). I will instead focus on the aspects of the putter itself. LOOKS: 10 out of 10 – This is a very good looking putter and several people commented on how good it looked. The compact head is pleasing to the eye and sets up nicely. The matte steel finish eliminates glare and distractions. The alignment line and design of the head provide a clear positioning of the ball to the putter face. The compact mallet is free from design doodads that might distract from a clean head at address. SOUND AND FEEL: 10 out of 10 – The soft, milled face delivers a solid, yet soft feel at impact, very similar to my Cameron Pro Platinum. The feel is consistent across the grooved, milled face, with obvious sound and feel difference on extreme toe or heel hits where the face is not grooved. The sound is a soft rap, neither loud nor metallic sounding. I find it to be a very pleasing sound and feel and definitely among one of the best that I’ve experienced. The consistent feel and sound leads to a more confident stroke at impact. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS: 16 out of 20 – I had aiming issues with the putter, making it difficult for me to have a confident stroke. I found myself with a tendency to pull the putter across my chest rather than rocking my shoulders down the proper path. This did improve as I worked with it and found the ball position and eyeline placement that worked best for me. On the other hand, the grip of the putter that I found most comfortable and most repetitive for me is a standard hand placement as a normal conventional grip one would take with a standard length putter, with the exception that the putter grip rested against my leading arm and there was significant and noticeable shaft lean. I opted to have 7 degrees of loft on the putter to overcome the forward shaft lean. One definite advantage of this putter over my regular putters is that with the shaft resting firmly against my lead arm, it virtually eliminated my tendency to close the face through the stroke, thus delivering a more consistent square face at impact. With the more consistent square face at impact, the ball ran true to the path stroked. I found it easy to get comfortable with distance control on short, medium, and longer length putts. Even when the putt didn’t fall, I was leaving myself tap in second putts. On course play, I found it fairly easy to repeat good ball striking on the center of the putter face. When I intentionally hit it off center on the practice greens, I found that it maintained a decent distance control, as well as line, more so than my current gaming putter. I found no significant advantages or disadvantages putting from off the green that I have with other putters. The ball rolls smoothly off the face and there’s not a lot of skid before the roll. ON COURSE PERFORMANCE: 25 out of 30 – After the initial discomfort of a different posture, stance, and feel of a different style putter, I was able to feel more comfortable with the putter. The first round, there was a lot of uncertainty on distance control on longer putts. I also suffered from not keeping a solid rocking of the shoulders to deliver the putter head square to the ball and the intended path on longer putts. My tendency was to question my lineup and end up pulling the putter across my intended line and hence miss to the left. This was more prominent on longer putts of greater than 40 feet. It’s not all that different from similar issues that I have with a standard putter. A flaw of me rather than the putter. With the subsequent rounds I got a better feel for the putter and my confidence rose as I used it more. By the last round I played, I was putting as well as I normally putted. I can’t honestly say that my putting was any better or worse than a typical round. On shorter putts, I can actually state that I see improvement because the putter setup helps eliminate my tendency to roll my hands and close the face. As long as my read was good and my alignment true, it was almost like cheating from 4 foot in. This is my first experience with Bettinardi and I am impressed with the putters performance, feel, and looks. I would have liked to have had my putter about an inch longer than I ordered and perhaps had a bit longer grip. I found myself often placing my hands at the end of the grip. Another inch or two might have provided a bit more play in hand placement. MISCELLANEOUS: 9 out of 10 – The putter was shipped to me directly from Bettinardi, well protected in the box. It appeared to arrive in a timely shipping period, but I don’t know the exact amount of time it took from shipment to my doorstep. My only complaint is the head cover. The head cover is one that one would find on blade putters fitting snugly on the clubhead and closed with Velcro. My personal preference would have been to have a mallet style headcover that closes firmly with a magnetic clasp. I’ve just had too many headcovers with Velcro closures that wear out quickly and then won’t close properly and become loose fitting. PLAY IT OR TRADE IT: 15 out of 20 – On this factor, I’m going to need more playing time with it to make this call – one detriment to having to shorten my testing due to the surgery. When I start playing again in a few weeks, I am definitely going to have it in my bag. I would say that I’m leaning toward “play it” than “trade it”. At this point, I don’t know if I’m seeing any significant improvement in my putting, but I really like how easy it is to get the ball rolling on the intended line. As mentioned before, I’ve virtually eliminated my wristiness through impact with this putter and if I can get more comfortable with my stroke path, I can see this putter as being a winner. For others that have a difficult time keeping the putter face square, this style putter could be a worthwhile consideration. CONCLUSION: The armlock putter style, and particularly this Bettinardi putter, is certainly a worthwhile consideration to anyone seeking something different in their putting. Much like chest anchored and belly putters, this putter offers a way to have a more consistent stroke within the rules of golf. Provided the end of the putter does not extend beyond the elbow, the armlock putter falls within the rules of golf. The Bettinardi Armlock is an extremely well made putter, with striking good looks, and a solid feel at impact. Armlock style aside, the putter is one of the better designed and made putters. The milled steel with grooved facing provides a solid, yet soft, impact that produces immediate roll of the ball off the face and will roll true to the path. While I didn’t have the opportunity to get as much play with it as others did, it’s definitely a contender to become my putter in my bag. As soon as I am cleared to go back out to play, I will continue to experiment with this putter on the course and on the practice range. In short, I like the putter and the only thing that might keep it from being my go-to putter is how well I adapt to the different style of putting from what I’ve been doing the last 30 plus years. FINAL SCORE: 85 out of 100 downlowkey, goaliewales14, M. Parsons and 7 others 10 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GB13 Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) OFFICIAL MGS FORUM REVIEW -BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK #38 ARMLOCK PUTTER Stage 1 - Tester Introduction 4-15-2019 by GB13 I'd like to start off by thanking MGS and Bettinardi for the wonderful opportunity! I've was super excited to be selected for this test, and want to do my best to give y'all a killer review! INTRO I was lucky enough to do a review on True Golf Fit and Global Golf's U-Try program last year, so if you want to learn a little bit more about me personally, you can check it out here. (These reviews are a great read too, if you haven't checked them out already.) My bag hasn't changed too much since my TGF review. Obviously the Wilson C300 was added, and I also added a Callaway Rogue 3W and removed the Aeroburner 3W. I'm still a 4 handicap who is terribly inconsistent, (although I am improving with some swing changes). If I can get my putter to cooperate, I should be really close to scratch. Anyway, the club we need to focus on is the putter. I currently putt with a PING Sigma G B60 putter. It was 34" and standard lie. It's been in my bag for almost 2 years, and if I hadn't been selected for this test, it could have easily stayed for another 2 years. (Maybe, I'm kind of a club ho...) My putting is really streaky, (read: inconsistent). I usually hit a high number of greens per round (11-13), and end up leaving myself a lot of tough two putts. This puts my average putts around 32-34. In rounds where I miss more greens, my putting average is around 26-28. As you can see my putting stats can be very deceiving, so I wouldn't put too much stock into my putts per round. I'd focus more on whether or not my speed and line improve. While using the B60, I putted left hand low, with a quick tempo, and waaaaay too much wrist hinge. I chose the B60 because it fit my quick tempo and had 40°ish toe hang. I'm hoping to slow down my tempo and remove the wrist hinge with the armlock technique. My putting strategy is pretty aggressive. My goal is normally 2 feet past the hole. However, unfortunately, my goal and my reality is not the same. My speed is inconsistent at best and usually I end up leaving too many putts short. This is usually caused by an off-center hit. Then, later in the round, I overcompensate, hit one out of the center, and hit the putt 10 feet past the hole. To summarize this paragraph, my speed is extremely inconsistent. I usually start the ball on the line I want to. I putt with a line on my golf ball and just align the putter to the line. For me, it really allows me to focus on speed, and treat it like a straight putt. All I have to do is put a good stroke on it. I don't intend to change this with the armlock. What I do hope to change, is that pesky making a good stroke part... I make a lot of putts at 8-10 feet and am extremely confident from the 8-10 foot range. I really struggle with 3-5 footers. I know I should make most of them, but I just don't have the confidence standing over the ball that I'm going to make it. I'd rather have a 10 footer than a 4 footer, that is how bad I am putting from close range. Otherwise, I'd say I'm a pretty average putter from outside 15 all the way out to lags. One of my goals with the armlock is to get some sort of consistency from 3-5 feet, while not compromising the rest of my putting. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS First off, this putter is BEAUTIFUL! Bettinardi did a great job making a visually appealing mid mallet. Mid-Mallets (to me) are usually chunky and just ugly. Bettinardi shortened the heel-toe length and the SS#38 has a surprisingly small footprint. Bettinardi always nails the small details that set their putters above and beyond the competition, and the SS#38 is no exception. From the deep etch grip, to the premium milled face, to the classic graphics on the sole, every part of this putter has a premium feel and look. Now, you'll probably think I'm crazy for adding an entire paragraph for a headcover, but I just need to mention how nice and classy the graphics are. Bettinardi does have a reputation for their limited edition headcovers. I've almost always found their limited run headcovers, obnoxious. Bettinardi has definitely not made an obnoxious headcover here. It is actually quite simple blue with white accents, and an American flag. Super classy. Bettinardi is billing the SS#38 Armlock as "compact mallet with maximum forgiveness and easy alignment..." and having "20% deeper grooves for an even softer feel at impact." Does the SS#38 live up to what Bettinardi says? I'm not convinced yet, but I've only begun to get know my new Betti. I ordered my Betti at 41", 6° of loft, and with a 72° lie angle. The stock model is 40", 5° of loft, and 71° lie angle. I went longer because I'm 6'2". I went with the higher loft because of the armlock technique, which requires a lot of forward press. And, I went with the more upright lie angle, well, because I putt with the shaft more upright. I'm super intrigued by the armlock putting style. It has been gaining a lot of traction on tour, and as we know, our games perfectly mirror tour pros. Kidding aside, I'm really hoping to end up with a more repeatable putting stroke, that can start the ball online with decent speed. I'm trying to grip the putter fairly "conventionally" just with the putter grip/shaft running up my left forearm. After I grip the putter, my goal is to just rock my shoulders. I'm trying to keep it simple, and not over complicate things. So far, my results have been mixed. I've been able to get a great end over end roll, with decent speed, however I'm struggling to get the proper alignment. Not only has the armlock technique opened my shoulders at set up, this putter has a full shaft of offset, and sets up open to my eye. When I first tried the armlock, it was really uncomfortable. This is not a technique that you will have a quick adjustment period to. I've been hitting around 500 putts on my putting green everyday, and about 2 weeks after first receiving my Betti, I'm just starting to get comfortable with my set up. CONCLUSION If you got bored halfway through reading that (heck, I probably would have too), here is the summary: I previously putted left hand low with a PING Sigma G B60. I have a quick tempo and lots of wrist hinge. My speed is inconsistent, but I'm pretty good on hitting my line. I'm looking to improve on my short putts while retaining my performance long putts. Bettinardi created a beautiful premium putter. I'm struggling to adjust to the armlock, but am improving every day. My goals, and what ultimately drove me to switch to armlock are; -Better speed control -Eliminate wrist hinge -Slow down my tempo -Help on short putts -And to MAKE MORE PUTTS If any of the above goals aren't met, it will be tough for me to keep the SS#38 in the bag. As of right now, I'd say the odds are 50/50 that it gets a "permanent" spot in my bag. My testing has come to a screeching halt with this lovely mid-April snowstorm, however, you can expect plenty of updates from me until the stage 2s drop. Again, I'd like to thank Bettinardi and MGS for this opportunity and providing us an place where we can write unbiased reviews! Y'all are awesome! Edited April 15, 2019 by GB13 MaxEntropy, Wedgie, Nunfa0 and 22 others 25 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 (edited) OFFICIAL MGS FORUM REVIEW -BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK #38 ARMLOCK PUTTER Stage 2 - 5-27-2019 by GB13 INTRO Welcome back! I'd again like to thank Bettinardi and MGS for this testing opportunity. It has been an awesome test and a really fun review to write! Back in Stage 1, I outlined the criteria this putter needed to meet to earn a permanent spot in my bag. They were: -Better Speed Control -Eliminate Wrist Hinge -Slow Down My Tempo -Help On Short Putts -And Make More Putts Has the Bettinardi SS#38 met those criteria? Well, after thousands of putts, 10 rounds, and a couple of "putter face offs", I've reached a decision. Read on to learn more! LOOKS Classy, that's the best word to describe it. Beautiful would be the next word. The head is a beautiful, small, rounded mallet. It has a clear gloss finish, accented with royal blue paint fill, and a matching royal blue armlock grip. There was definitely a lot thought put into the details. From the polished satin, stepless shaft, to the matching royal blue headcover with an American flag, it's really looks like a boutique putter. Personally, I think this one of the best looking putters on the market, especially in the mid-mallet category. The heel to toe width, is on the smaller side, definitely shorter than my B60. Obviously since it is a mallet, is does have a deeper (front to back) footprint, but it isn't obnoxious like some larger mallets can be. It's firmly in the mid-mallet category, but maybe a touch on the smaller side. I'd say the best comparison is a smaller, more rounded, Scotty Fastback, with softer lines. The alignment aid is a single line, however the milling on the cavity, does a great job or framing the ball. I did struggle with my alignment, and personally I set up too far to the right most of the time. I'm not sure how much this can be blamed on the putter, but that the alignment line isn't adequate (at least for me) might be something to keep in mind. Overall Looks Score - 9 out of 10 (Deductions - 1 point off for lack of clear alignment aid.) SOUND AND FEEL Since this is so subjective, this is probably the most difficult category in which to give a clear, helpful review, but I'll do my best. As a general rule, to me, performance comes first, but I use sound and feel as a tiebreaker is performance is the same or the difference is statistically insignificant. However sound and feel on a putter is more important to me than any other club, not sure why, but I think it has to do with needing extra confidence to putt well, and better sound and feel gives me more confidence. For reference, my B60 has a milled insert, so I'm coming from a putter that falls on the soft end of the spectrum, and with a sound that is a little metallic. I prefer a little firmer of a feel so I tend to shy away from inserts, but the B60 is such a solid putter, performance beat out feel. Sound is a little trickier, I usually like a muted click, (if that makes any sense?). So not really loud, but still crispy. One thing I discovered while testing is that the SS#38 sounds and feels way different depending on the ball that is used. I know this is a fairly common occurrence with putters, but the Betti seems to really exaggerate the differences. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not really sure. My gamer is a Pro V1X so that is what I'm going to base this section on, but if you'd like my opinion on it with a different ball, just let me know, and I'll let you know. So far, the basic rule is; firmer = louder and clickier, while softer = more muted and dull. Bettinardi has claimed that they've added, "20% deeper grooves for an even softer feel at impact." Is it true? Well, maybe. It's tough because, softer than what? An unmilled block of steel? It is a milled putter, and feels like one. I wouldn't say it is a particularly soft milling either, but again, I like a firmer feel, so it doesn't bother me. I'd say the feel is similar to any milled Scotty, or Toulon maybe just a touch firmer, so if you like a milled feel, you won't be disappointed. Sound for me, ties very closely into feel, so much so that it can be difficult for me to make a large distinction between the two. The SS#38 sounds extremely crispy. No other word could be used to describe it. It's almost on the verge of clicky, but has a little more low end to turn the click into a crunch. If you use a softer ball, it definitely gets less crunchy/crispy. A softer ball produces a more muted thump. This is all IF you hit the center of the face. If don't, well, expect drastic differences in sound and feel. Personally, I like some change in feedback so I know that I hit a bad putt, and where on the face I missed it, but this is borderline excessive. A toe miss sounds and sounds really clunky and it feels like you just hit a baseball instead of a golf ball. A heel miss is less noticeable, it still feels similar, maybe a little less "solid" than a sweet spot hit. It just sounds a little thinner, with less depth to the sound. It's still provides adequate feedback to notify you that you've missed the center of the face. I'd prefer feedback similar to the heel, when I miss off the toe. All in all, I like the sound and feel of this putter when you hit it well, if I'm using a higher compression golf ball. If I'm using a lower compression golf ball, it isn't my favorite, but that is due to my sound and feel preferences. When you miss the sweet spot, heel is tolerable, but toe is very bad. It does provide good feedback as to where and how much you missed the center of the face. Overall Sound And Feel Score: 7 out of 10 (Deductions - 0.5 for the sound with a softer ball, 0.5 for the sound on a heel miss, 1 for the sound on a toe miss, and 1 for the sound on a toe miss) Side Note: This score almost feels unfair, since this putter is so sweet when all of the variables are aligned properly. It's kind of like scoring a set of blades, how much do you weight the awesome feeling pured shots VS the ones that make your fingers go numb? It's a tough question to answer, but I tried to find a balance. Basic Characteristics The Basic Characteristics (Accuracy, Distance Control, Stability, Forgiveness, and Playabilty) of the SS#38 seem to be fairly consistent with milled, low face tech putters, with certain exceptions due to the armlock style. I did do a couple of experiments to test accuracy, distance control, and performance from 3-5 feet (not a basic characteristic, but probably the biggest issue I wanted to address), the results of which I will outline below. I have found the SS#38 to be extremely accurate. The biggest issue with accuracy, after making a consistent stroke, for me, has been alignment. I had to change from a single Sharpie putting line to something that more closely resemble Egyptian Hieroglyphs than anything else. Yes, the single Sharpie line is much nicer looking. (See, it annoys me enough to have to add a picture about it.) Isn't the single Sharpie so much nicer looking?!?! Would that not annoy you? Grr! Anyway, clearly, I'm OCD. once I made the change to my new alignment aid, my accuracy has been impeccable. I believe the extra two lines, which closely resemble Callaway's Triple Track, help me align the whole body of the putter, instead of single narrow line, to single narrow line. Is it real? Is it a placebo effect? Maybe, but it works, so I'm not gonna mess with it. To test accuracy farther, I set up a test, which I completed over five different days, rotating putters (B60 and SS#38) frequently throughout each testing session as to not get comfortable with one of them over the other. I found a level spot on the putting green, and set up a tee gate about five feet in front of me and hit 20 putts with each putter, seeing how many I could get through the gate. For reference on stroke length, I was attempting to hit each putt with about 10-12 feet of speed. Over all 5 sessions, the B60 went 72 out of 100. The SS#38 went 83 out of 100. So I averaged about an 11% improvement in accuracy with the SS#38. Pretty good if you ask me. I do believe most of the difference is due to the arm locking, not necessarily the putter itself. YMMV Distance control with the SS#38 has been a definite work in progress. Again mainly due to the armlock method. It was a significant adjustment to go from throttling putts by gauging how much of a wrist flick to learning how much I have to rock my shoulders to get the proper speed. At this point, I can say I'm definitely improving, but this is the main area I need to practice when on the putting green. My test for distance control was performed very similarly to the accuracy test, but I was seeing how close I could get the ball to a marked spot about 40 feet away. (Slightly uphill as there were no flat sections this long on the green I used.) This time, the B60 averaged 5.4 feet away, while the SS#38 averaged 6.1 feet away. However, most of the damage was done in the first session for the Betti, in which I averaged 14.4 feet away. This was the first day I had the putter on the green, so removing that outlier, this test ends up in a statistical draw. I'm still working on my speed control especially from slightly farther away where my average would go up. A lot. The SS#38 isn't particularly stable for a mallet, due to its smaller footprint, especially on shorter putts. This very well may be due to my quicker tempo throwing the putter off-balance, but I really don't have confidence that the SS#38 will produce a smooth stable stroke, especially from 6 feet and in. Outside of 6 feet, the SS#38 is very steady, and has no tendency to waiver. Again, I conducted a test almost identical to the other two, but this time, I hit 3 footers exclusively. That was one of my main goals to improved upon, and it's time to see if the Betti delivered. (At least in a controlled environment.) Well, it improved upon the B60 by a score of: 83 to 72 out of 100 total. So the Betti won this round, but I still feel like I could/should make more in this range. At this point, it is probably more of a practice issue than equipment problem. So even though I "feel" the Betti waiver, it still performs better. I guess this is a case of feel isn't real. In terms of forgiveness, the SS#38 has decent MOI, but it isn't a huge chunk of heavy metal that has crazy high MOI either. Anyway, MOI is just one method of quantifying forgiveness, not the end all be all. If it were, everyone would use a high MOI mallet. Mini-rant aside, the Betti is pretty average for forgiveness across the face, although toe hits do have a tendency to struggle. Heel hits usually go about the same distance, but there is no corrective groove tech to bring them back online, so they do wander off right. Toe hits, fall a little left, but it really doesn't matter, because if you hit it off the toe, it isn't getting to the hole. "But what if you would have hit 10 feet by?" Nope, not gonna happen, still short. Long story short, if you have a consistent toe miss, this isn't the putter for you, so keep on looking. How does the Betti do out of fringe or around greens with big slopes? Well, pretty darn good. It puts amazing forward roll on the ball. My only guess to why is the milling. Those grooves are SHARP!! And I mean cut yourself sharp. Like, ridiculously sharp for a knife...err putter. It's insane. (Maybe I am too for rambling on about these grooves.) Whatever it is, if you have positive AOA, those grooves want to get the ball rolling ASAP, and that leads to excellent playability around the greens. It really reduces hopping and helps the ball "cut" through the longer grass. It's tough to see in the picture, but trust me, the grooves are there, and they are super sharp. It's difficult to condense all of that information into one score, but I'll do my best. Accuracy - Alignment is a concern if you don't like using an "crazy" aid, but otherwise impeccable. Distance Control - A definite adjustment if you have a wristy stroke, but once you get used to it, I think you'll see an improvement. Stability - Amazing outside 6 feet, inside of 6' it gets a little wobbly. Forgiveness - Heel miss is okay, toe miss isn't. Playability - Did I mention sharp grooves? Yeah, it's incredible around the greens. Overall Basic Characteristics Score: 15 out of 20 (Deductions: 1 for alignment, 1 for stability inside 6', and 3 for forgiveness off the toe.) On-Course Performance Well, on course performance is the single biggest deciding factor for me as to whether a club goes into the bag... or not. Did the Betti perform well enough to earn a spot in my bag? Short answer, yes. Long answer, Hell yeah! Let's dive deeper into why the Betti made this such an easy decision. First and foremost, my putting stats improved, my number of putts per round went down 4.1 and my total feet of putts made went up 247%! And the crazy thing about it, is I'm not doing anything super special! I'm just not missing as many putts that I know I should make! That 6 footer straight up the hill, now I have the confidence that'll I'll make it. Before, I was just hoping to not make a really big error and leave myself a 3 footer back down the hill. It's just been crazy, to not actually be putting out of my mind, but be posting numbers like this with my putter. Now for the other big question, is this the armlock style or the Betti itself leading to this gain? Well, I'd say it is a combo. I'd say it's 75-25 in favor of the armlock. Don't get me wrong, Bettinardi made an incredible putter, and while that isn't at all surprising, I just think the armlock has made the larger difference. It really has given me the confidence to make the pressure putts. I used to be terrified putting in tournaments, but now, I want to be on the green, and shoot a low score that way. I no longer feel like my ball striking has to be perfect for me to play well. It's really improved all facets of my game, by taking the pressure off and letting me "play my game". I really love the face milling pattern, and I hope Bettinardi continues using it on future iterations of this putter. It just gives me such great confidence that I'll get a good roll on every putt. However, I wish this putter could be a touch more forgiving on mishits. I don't know how to achieve this without changing the milling, but hopefully someone much smarter than me can figure it out. At this rate though, the lack of forgiveness hasn't impacted my putting stats negatively, so I can't complain too much. Overall, the Betti performed admirably on course. I feel like I should have made this section longer, but I can't say much that those two little numbers can't. It just performs well. I just feel that little spark of magic that you can't quite put your finger on and can't even really write about. Overall On-Course Performance Score: 30 out of 30 I mean, even with my nitpicking observations, I can't argue with numbers, and numbers say it's about as good as I can get, so I don't feel like I can justifiably take any points off. Miscellaneous Two thing stand out for me as something I need to add here. Bettinardi's quick shipping/order processing, and the darn headcover. First off, Bettinardi's turn-around time is incredible, given that they were presented with custom specs, and are a smaller company. Their shipping time and total order time is on par with any large OEM. It's very impressive. Now about that headcover. It is a beautiful, handcrafted, leather piece, embroidered with an American flag. (A detail which I love.) But is is TOO SMALL!!!! And it's VELCRO!!!! I initially thought it would stretch out but I truly knew even if it did; it would never be enough. I can now get it on and off without a *significant* struggle, but it's still a hassle. Everything was so well thought out, and no one thought to check the headcover dimensions! It's just annoying! Overall Miscellaneous Score: 8 out of 10 (Deductions: 5 off for that darned headcover, but plus 3 for great customer service.) Play It Or Trade It The SS#38 firmly locked into my bag now. It just flat out performs. Do I think $450 is worth it for this putter? If you are able to afford it, yes, but if not, I definitely recommend looking for a cheaper armlock too. It may not be quite as good, but the armlock style is amazing. It's remarkably consistent, and even if you don't end up gaming it, it could really be a great training aid, if you have a little too much wrist action in your stroke. I will say, that if you try an armlock, don't expect much until you've really gotten comfortable with it. It does have a adjustment period, for me, about 2,000 putts (about a weeks practice), for me to feel confident and comfortable. But, it was all worth it! I'm putting better than I ever have, so in the bag it goes! Overall Play It Or Trade It Score: 20 out of 20 Again, I can't argue with numbers, it HAS to go in the bag. Would have liked there to be less of an adjustment period? Yes, but I think it actually trained the wrist hinge out of my stroke, without me realizing it, so I think even that helped. Conclusion Back in Stage 1, I outlined five goals that I had for the SS#38. -Better Speed Control - Well, that's kind of a toss up, but I can see the speed control improving with every practice session. -Eliminate Wrist Hinge - This is the main benefit of the armlock, and it has blown away my expectations of LM this goal. -Slow Down My Tempo - Ehh, maybe a little, but at this point, it hasn't become a problem, so I'm not going to worry too much about it. -Help On Short Putts - Still some meat left on the bone here, I think this one ties closely into the tempo goal, so I'll keep working on it. -And Make More Putts - Absolutely! 247% more feet of putts made! If that isn't making more putts, I don't know what is! The SS#38 beautifully milled putter with a classic look and design. It is very accurate, and the armlock style makes distance control easier. Forgiveness is the main feature that I find lacking, toe hits are severely punished. I'd recommend that you at least try the armlock style once, as I think it can have a significant positive impact on your putting, once you get past the initial adjustment period. In the end, I made 247% more feet of putts, so who knows how much it can help your putting... It's so good, it almost feels like cheating. Final Score: 89 out of 100 Edited June 2, 2019 by GB13 downlowkey, bens197, GolfSpy MPR and 5 others 8 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post downlowkey Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 Stage One – Bettinardi SS38 Armlock - 4/15/19 My sincere thanks to MyGolfSpy and Bettinardi Golf for the opportunity to review this Armlock platform. Rather than bore you all over again with my story, I'll just leave this link to my Ping G400 LST review intro from last year - Stage 1 - Ping G400 LST If you'd rather not click through: (the short story) despite a very serious and time intensive approach to the game over the past 25 years, with age and hopefully increasing wisdom, it has become clear that truly having fun on the golf course was both an essential and missing ingredient from my experience. Don't get me wrong, I still _love_ winning, but have discovered it's personally a flawed foundation to build upon when the subject is playing my best golf. If you're interested WITB, my signature is up to date - all have spots for one reason... they work. My body (and life in general) no longer allow me to bang 500 balls a day, so I spend the majority of my time at the short game complex. I really enjoy working on all areas of the short game and my stat lines in that area are typically tidy. But the subject today is putting - more specifically Armlock putting (of which I am insanely curious). What the heck is Armlock putting? I'm glad you asked - it involves using a longish putter intended to take your hands/wrists out of the stroke via a design that intentionally "locks" the handle against your lead forearm. Why do I need an Armlock putter to take those body parts out of the equation? Another excellent question - technically you don't need an Armlock putter to neutralize their potential movement in your stroke...but it makes the task much easier. Why is important to neutralize those body parts? Many people actually don't think it matters much, but I disagree with those folks and I will explain further in Stage 2. I have not always been a good putter. In fact, I used to be a terrible putter or at the very least terribly inconsistent. Through High School my stroke was super handsy, some days it worked fine and others like I had never putted before. The stroke improved greatly in College but it was still pretty sad how close to the hole I was usually thinking "just don't 3-putt". I went through 4 putters over that stretch, all toe hanger blades. In 2004, I was introduced the concept of high-MOI faced balanced mallets. In my case, it was in the form of a center shafted Macgregor Bobby Grace V-Foil M5K GT. And it opened up a whole new world. It's been my gamer ever since, despite going toe-to-toe against 25-30 different face balanced mallets over the past 15 years. The M5K just won't go away. Let's talk a bit more in depth about my stroke - specifically path and face rotation. I adopted a straight back-through path in College. The face opens 1.5 degrees in my back stroke and is typically within 0.5 degrees of square (in relation to line) at impact. I'd say my tempo is somewhere in the middle of the road - not hurried but not really slow either. It's probably a combination of the M5K being a great putter for my tendencies, the experience of gaming it for over a decade and my love for practice, but I do not know anyone that putts better. Last season I played a stretch of 96 holes without a 3-putt. And there are also a few Spies that can additionally attest to the M5K's affinity for dropping bomb after bomb. Alright, thanks for staying through all the background, but I know you really came to hear about the Bettinardi SS 38 Armlock. Mine happens to be 40” long with a 71 degree lie angle and 3 degrees of loft. I say happens to be but those are actually the specs for which I was fit at my local Club Champion. I am of the opinion that being fit for your putter is important. And since this was my first real foray with the Armlock concept, I put myself in Mitch's (Manager - Club Champion Highlands Ranch) capable hands. First we confirmed my stroke stats with the M5K and then started comparing results with the Bettinardi Armlock putters they have in inventory. Almost all of my putters are set up with a 71 degree lie angle and 3 degrees of loft (2 degree of loft at impact is my ideal for USGA qualifier green speeds). At the end of my SAM Puttlab session, I was surprised to learn that my Armlock loft/lie specs were identical to my current gamers (more on why they matched and why I was surprised in Stage 2). Now let's dive into technical aspects of the SS38 Armlock with some putter porn. Bettinardi's packaging is both secure and classy. The deep etched blue cord grip (a Lamkin specialty product) is 15 inches long and feels firm, tacky and of a quality that will last for decades. I think Bettinardi has one of the cooler shaft band labels in the biz and the SS38 head is easy to sole squarely. 303 Stainless Steel is on the hard end of the metal spectrum from which putters are typically made and to soften up the face (and probably also improve the impact sound), Bettinardi milled some seriously deep grooves into the face. The top and face are both a matte gray finish but the polish can still shine back a bit under the right light (read: high noon). The sole is a much higher polish with a classy arrangement and paint fill, as is typical of Bettinardi. It's important to regularly check for cavities and also instructive to see the before/after of the rear cavity view to highlight how Bettinardi bumped up MOI on the relatively compact SS38 mallet. It's not quite face balanced (Mitch called it an eighther - roughly 10 degree toe hang) What does all this mean to me? Well, I'm intrigued but not certain of anything at the moment. Except that I intend to roll at least 200 putts a day on different practice greens (and a lot more dry fires in the living room sans golf ball) until I can conclusively determine what (if any) effect an anchored handle has on my path/face rotation, feel for pace and overall putting stats. In my experience feel -vs- reality can sometimes present an astonishing disparity, so I intend to continue analyzing and updating with video throughout the review process. Thanks again for reading and please reach out in the review thread if you have any specific questions or additional testing requests. yungkory, STUDque, goaliewales14 and 21 others 23 1 Quote PXG___0811 X 9* - Mitsubishi Diamana s60 Limited X Cobra___S9-1 Pro 15* - Matrix Ozik XCON 7 S Adams___XTD Forged 3i - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S Adams___CMB 4-PW - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S KZG___Tri-Tour 50.08__54.10__58.12 - Accra iCWT 2.0-95i S Nike___Method Converge B1-01 (copper insert) Maxfli___'23 Tour X "The most important shot in golf is the next one“ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post downlowkey Posted April 15, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 15, 2019 Stage Two - Bettinardi SS38 Armlock - Official MGS Forum Review by downlowkey It has been roughly six weeks since our review team embarked on this Armlock putting odyssey. And like any proper odyssey, for me, it has been an epic of tribulation, triumph and ultimately - reflection. I believe putting, more so than any other aspect of the game, offers the greatest latitude for personal nuance. Essentially, there are myriad ways to get the job done. However, as it relates to statistical success, the caveat to increasing complexity is the necessity of a quiet mind. And internal tranquility in the face of a breaking downhill three footer is a rare quality amongst amateur golfers. As distance to the hole decreases, potential damage to the ego inversely increases. For example, the mere thought of missing a hypothetical 12 inch putt, causes me substantial anxiety. Whereas the reality of missing a string of 20 footers, while not ideal, does not result in an overwhelming existential crisis. What should be the simplest physical segment of playing golf can subsequently present the greatest internal struggle. I believe the prevailing reason golfers are quick to "give" three footers is that we really don't want to see our playing partners miss them. For those of us that believe all putts should be holed, this creates somewhat of a dilemma. Fortunately, the market inevitably introduces specialized equipment to address every conceivable dilemma facing golfers. That's admittedly a depressing putter review intro, but it frames a subject that lies at the heart of Armlock methodology. Specifically, can a putter be intentionally designed to normalize communication errors between the head and the hands? Well, that's what I aimed to determine over the past six weeks of intense testing (~10K reps on the practice green and 80 regulation holes). Looks (9 out of 10 points) I don't give a damn how a putter looks - evidenced by the veritable miniature alien spacecraft gamer under my employ for the past 15 years. That said, as mallets go, the svelte SS38 looks ready for both business and the ballroom. Nonetheless, because of the increased shaft lean, I think most golfers would benefit from more pronounced options in the visual reassurance department (see below). Sound & Feel (10 out of 10 points) Where I don't particularly care about the looks, feel is _everything_. And in my experience, sound is overwhelmingly a byproduct of "feel" - more specifically, soft feel presents quietly. The SS38 Armlock feels somewhere between soft and solid. Sound generated by this head is a muted pop - something akin to the crack of a distant rifle report. And the energy flowing through my hands is electric - not at all what I anticipated from a broom handle. The F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) milled grooves turned this hard 303 Stainless Steel head into a big softie. Bettinardi got this one just right... for me anyway. Basic Characteristics (18 out of 20 points) I'm going to try my best to stay out of the technical weeds in this category mash-up of line accuracy, distance control, stability, forgiveness, etc. The foundation of Armlock methodology is limiting variability. And despite some solid physics watching your six, this style of putting feels like riding a tricyle after a lifetime of 2-wheeler freedom. Removing potential wrist coil and hand release is a fairly obvious design feature, but this system also addresses the oft overlooked lie angle axis. The consistency this system offers is notable. But it's not foolproof and when things go awry, saving the stroke with your hands is not really an option. Long story short, I learned a great deal about my prior tendencies over the past six weeks and making changes has been like trying to pick up a new language at 40 years old. Translation - it has been a lot of hard work and frustrating at times; but the process was also fun (and illuminative). As it stands today, my stroke is more compact with very little wasted motion. The result is more putts that start on line. With my regular gamer, I practiced deadweight pace (to make the hole effectively bigger) but I've become comfortable with a (+2 foot) pace and subconsciously select more exacting lines. Pace control inside 25 feet is automatic, and I'm confident that comfort radius will continue to increase with more experience. It's difficult speaking to heel/toe forgiveness when a putter always sends the ball straight out of the middle. The only mishit I occasionally experience is low on the face which results in negligible distance loss. And the longer handle should (in theory) resist twisting on off-center strikes more than regular length wands with identical MOI numbers. Regarding mechanics, any doubts I harbored about the Armlock style, have been replaced by faith. On-Course Performance (29 out of 30 points) In my neck of the woods (Colorado Front Range), we were on track to transition from harsh Spring straight into Fall, so I've been fortunate to sneak in (4+) rounds over the past month and a half. That's a pretty small data set to work with but I believe some tendencies have begun to emerge from the stats. Inside 10 feet I have only missed one putt - pretty incredible. The first couple weeks, my miss was always short on longer putts. But with more reps (and confidence), I've been rolling putts that look good for a very long time, from all over the place. Typing this out will surely break the spell - but I'm now 80 holes into the Armlock experience and have yet to 3-putt; with an average of 1.650 pph. Stats aside, the Armlock system has been a rock in windy conditions - it's appreciably more stable. The 2-point anchor (hands and forearm) have also translated to a much more consistent feeling setup. It has yet to be tested in a high pressure situation but this wand has outperformed all my expectations on the course thus far. Miscellaneous (7 out of 10 points) Let's talk headcovers. The finely crafted leatherwork and embroidery that arrives with the SS38 is a thing of beauty. But that's the only nice thing I have to say about it. If anyone from Bettinardi HQ happens to read this review, more than anything else, I hope your takeaway is this - It's.Too.Small. I knew immediately but hoped it might stretch to form with use. That has not been the case. And velcro? Ughhh. Using this noisy, ill fitting headcover sucks so much, I'm deducting 3% from the overall. This is pretty basic stuff - do better, Bettinardi! Play it or Trade it? (18 out of 20 points) I truly believe it would benefit every single beginner to hit their first putts with an Armlock. The motions it promotes _and_ prevents, pay dividends. I ran into @PokeForeLyfe at the course on Memorial Day and asked him to roll a few. Like most, his initial impression was "Looks closed, setup feels strange". Half a dozen 20 footers later he starts rolling one great putt after another, then cuts me open with the all important question, "Are you going to game it?". I took a deep breath, swallowed a lump in my throat and replied "Yeah, I think so". He stopped mid-stroke, stood up, looked me in the eye and said "With the way I've seen you putt, that's kinda hard to believe". I gotta tell you guys, it's hard for me to believe too. But I'm diving into the deep end on this one. I don't think the Armlock offers the magic to go low despite an off ball striking day, that my M5K occasionally produced. But on the other end of the spectrum, I think it's a reliable workhorse that will fundamentally improve my stats on the bad days when the hole suddenly appears to be the size of a thimble. This was a HUGE decision for me. Conclusion One of the consistently best putters I have ever witnessed was a full-time practice green hustler who concurrently shared the designation of most hideous stroke. He took the putter head straight outside on the way back, looped it way inside the line on the forward transition, finally pushing it back across the ball with a closed face at impact - but he did it exactly the same _every single time_. The man was a straight-up pickpocket on the moss. And on top of everything else, he got the job done with a ratty 50 cent garage sale putter, probably made from smelted automobiles. Applying deductive reasoning to the situation - a custom fit wand clearly wasn't the secret to his success, nor was it classically proficient technique. Lacking all the external hallmarks of a great putter, the only secret sauce left to ponder was his mind. I subsequently concluded that he must possess a supremely present mind. Over the past two decades, I have diligently practiced the intentional thought processes conducive to championship golf. But I'm not a robot. I still occasionally experience a crisis of confidence on the course. The Bettinardi SS38 Armlock not only gives me more confidence to execute, it physically handcuffs the demons. I cannot overstate the advantages of putting an Armlock in the hands of a beginner, to immediately put them on the track to success. In summary, the USGA got this one wrong - using an Armlock is cheating. Final Score: (91) *adjusted to 94 if headcover issues are addressed STUDque, JohnSmalls, GB13 and 13 others 13 3 Quote PXG___0811 X 9* - Mitsubishi Diamana s60 Limited X Cobra___S9-1 Pro 15* - Matrix Ozik XCON 7 S Adams___XTD Forged 3i - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S Adams___CMB 4-PW - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S KZG___Tri-Tour 50.08__54.10__58.12 - Accra iCWT 2.0-95i S Nike___Method Converge B1-01 (copper insert) Maxfli___'23 Tour X "The most important shot in golf is the next one“ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 My stage 1 is up! Please let me know if you have any questions, or any things you want tested. ole gray, bens197, 808nation and 1 other 4 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedgie Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Nice work GB! You said you’re still putting conventional with the Betti. Is this how most guys putt with this type of putter or do they use claw, left hand low, etc?Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy GB13 1 Quote Wedgie Driver - XXIO X Driver 9.5 - Launcher Turbo 2 hybrid - F9 One Length 3-L - ER 1.2 Top Flite Gamer Play Right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 8 minutes ago, Wedgie said: Nice work GB! You said you’re still putting conventional with the Betti. Is this how most guys putt with this type of putter or do they use claw, left hand low, etc? Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Well, I'm putting with an overlap grip, which is what I use on all shots, the only difference from my normal is the shaft running up the left forearm. I can't say how most people who putt armlock putt, but my guess is it's mostly "conventional". I can't say I've ever seen anyone putt left hand low with an armlock and I understand why, if the putter shaft is running up the forearm, you can't grip all the way around club with your right hand. The claw is the only other grip I've commonly seen used. I tried it but I started using my right hand to control the putter face too much. I am able to release the putter head very naturally with the convential grip, so that is why I've stuck with the traditional grip. M. Parsons, cnosil and Wedgie 3 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejaid Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Great start so far GB. How does the putter/arm relation feel after contact? It seems with the putter shaft running up the left forearm, the left wrist stays locked through the entire putting motion. How is that feel for you?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk GB13 1 Quote WITB: Stan Thompson “Reactionizer” persimmon woods 1-4 Spalding Tour Edition 3-PW Spalding Top-Flite E.V.A. Sand Club Rife Legend Z Putter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 My Stage One is up. GB13 and ole gray 2 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 1 hour ago, deejaid said: Great start so far GB. How does the putter/arm relation feel after contact? It seems with the putter shaft running up the left forearm, the left wrist stays locked through the entire putting motion. How is that feel for you? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Honestly, it feels great. It feels like you have less variability in your putting stroke. It's one of those things that is very hard to adequately describe, you just have to do it to understand, but I have no complaints about it at all. It seems very stable and the follow through is not uncomfortable once you get past the initial adjustment period. downlowkey, M. Parsons and CarlH 3 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downlowkey Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Stage One up and at 'em Official Forum Member Review - Bettinardi SS38 Armlock Please reach out in the official review thread if you have any questions GB13, Golfspy_CG2, 808nation and 1 other 4 Quote PXG___0811 X 9* - Mitsubishi Diamana s60 Limited X Cobra___S9-1 Pro 15* - Matrix Ozik XCON 7 S Adams___XTD Forged 3i - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S Adams___CMB 4-PW - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S KZG___Tri-Tour 50.08__54.10__58.12 - Accra iCWT 2.0-95i S Nike___Method Converge B1-01 (copper insert) Maxfli___'23 Tour X "The most important shot in golf is the next one“ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yungkory Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Nice stage 1's! GB13, CarlH and downlowkey 3 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max LS Tensei AV Blue S 3w/5w: TSi2 Tensei AV Raw Blue S 4h: CLK 22* Hybrid Tensei CK Pro Blue 80HY S Irons 5-PW: 223 Steelfiber PR 95 S Wedges: RTX Zipcore Tour Rack 50, 54, 58 Steelfiber PR 105 Putter: LAB Link.1 Ball: Z-Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirchunksalot Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Great start everyone!Sent from my SM-G955U using MyGolfSpy mobile app downlowkey, CarlH and GB13 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 15 hours ago, deejaid said: Great start so far GB. How does the putter/arm relation feel after contact? It seems with the putter shaft running up the left forearm, the left wrist stays locked through the entire putting motion. How is that feel for you? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk I actually like the feel of the shaft against the forearm and it provides some really good feedback. The left wrist indeed does stay locked in position and if you do get flippy with the wrist, the shaft will move away from your forearm and you'll get that feedback telling you so. As I was out testing it the other day, I handed it to several of my friends. Immediately, they tried to use it as you would a conventional putter, with the shaft pointing to the belly. When I explained how to properly hold it to them, they gave it one quick try and said they didn't like it. Of course, they didn't properly stroke it and the shaft did move away from their forearm as they flipped their hands through impact. Point being, like any change, you have to repeat it several times before it becomes familiar. M. Parsons, GB13, MDGolfHacker and 1 other 4 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejaid Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 Nice start everyone.I must admit, I am really interested in seeing how this style of putting works for all of you. I’d hoped to be selected for testing but since a I wasn’t I decided to make my own armlock out of an old Ping CU5.One thing I noticed is the lie angle needs to be more upright for the shaft to lock with my forearm. Second is I had to change how I addressed the ball. Usually I like the ball under my left eye for all my shots, but I had to put the ball further back in my stance with the arm lock design.I look forward to hearing more from you all!Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk downlowkey and GB13 2 Quote WITB: Stan Thompson “Reactionizer” persimmon woods 1-4 Spalding Tour Edition 3-PW Spalding Top-Flite E.V.A. Sand Club Rife Legend Z Putter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 9 minutes ago, deejaid said: Nice start everyone. I must admit, I am really interested in seeing how this style of putting works for all of you. I’d hoped to be selected for testing but since a I wasn’t I decided to make my own armlock out of an old Ping CU5. One thing I noticed is the lie angle needs to be more upright for the shaft to lock with my forearm. Second is I had to change how I addressed the ball. Usually I like the ball under my left eye for all my shots, but I had to put the ball further back in my stance with the arm lock design. I look forward to hearing more from you all! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk One of the issues with converting a standard putter to an armlock putter is that it will likely have too little dynamic loft at impact. Ball position is a big factor with an armlock putter, as it will alter your dynamic loft by placing it further back or further forward. You're correct in that it changes the way you address the ball. This is the issue that I'm working with in my own testing. Just due to the forward lean of the shaft, I've found that my eyes do not reveal the line like they do with a conventional putter and I've had to recalibrate my line of sight to adjust for this. I've settled on playing the ball pretty much center of my stance, perhaps a touch behind and being very conscious of my shoulder line. It's easy to open the shoulders at address and I've had to make a conscious effort to ensure that I'm square to my line, otherwise I will miss left. deejaid, goaliewales14 and cnosil 3 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejaid Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 One of the issues with converting a standard putter to an armlock putter is that it will likely have too little dynamic loft at impact. Ball position is a big factor with an armlock putter, as it will alter your dynamic loft by placing it further back or further forward. You're correct in that it changes the way you address the ball. This is the issue that I'm working with in my own testing. Just due to the forward lean of the shaft, I've found that my eyes do not reveal the line like they do with a conventional putter and I've had to recalibrate my line of sight to adjust for this. I've settled on playing the ball pretty much center of my stance, perhaps a touch behind and being very conscious of my shoulder line. It's easy to open the shoulders at address and I've had to make a conscious effort to ensure that I'm square to my line, otherwise I will miss left.I chose to use a CU5 as it already has a lot of offset and a thin plumbers neck.In addition to lengthening the CU5, I also bent the neck a bit to give me the 7* of loft that a standard Bettinardi armlock has. In order to have my arms in a comfortable position the ball needs to be further back in my stance.It’s still a work in progress. I just wanted to see if it is viable without spending hundreds of dollars.Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk CarlH and downlowkey 2 Quote WITB: Stan Thompson “Reactionizer” persimmon woods 1-4 Spalding Tour Edition 3-PW Spalding Top-Flite E.V.A. Sand Club Rife Legend Z Putter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCLeo12 Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 My Stage 1 is up enjoy MGS. bens197 1 Quote Ping G410 LST 10.5 set -1* Flat Accra TZ5 65 M5 Callaway Epic Flash 15* set -1 Aldila ATX Blue 75TX Ben Hogan FT Worth Hi 19* KBS Tour V X Ben Hogan PTX Pro 4-P KBS Tour V X 2* Flat 4* loft increments Hogan Equalizer 50* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 X 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 56* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 62* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat EVNROLL ER7 P2 Aware Tour Scotty Cameron Newport2 Buttonback P2 Aware Tour Grip Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUDque Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Great starts guys. Common theme definitely seems to be the adjustment period but I'm glad to see you all plan to roll hundreds or thousands of putts over this test period. If nothing else, looks like you'll be getting a ton of practice in. I think I'm the most interested in longer lag putts. Like many others, I gave the belly putters a try after the Keegan/Dufner shoot outs. The short-ish putts came with practice but I never could get the hang of speed control from distance. At this point, would any of you feel comfortable putting them in play for a league round right now? downlowkey and GB13 2 Quote In my Pisa, riding on a 3.5+ G410+ EXS 5W King F7 Hy i500 5-GW Equalizer 56/60 Heppler Ketsch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 8 minutes ago, GolfSpy STUDque said: Great starts guys. Common theme definitely seems to be the adjustment period but I'm glad to see you all plan to roll hundreds or thousands of putts over this test period. If nothing else, looks like you'll be getting a ton of practice in. I think I'm the most interested in longer lag putts. Like many others, I gave the belly putters a try after the Keegan/Dufner shoot outs. The short-ish putts came with practice but I never could get the hang of speed control from distance. At this point, would any of you feel comfortable putting them in play for a league round right now? Yes, for sure. I'm confident that it would at least be "serviceable". My speed control has actually been the biggest improvement so far. I really struggled with consistent strike because of my wrist hinge, and with the armlock, my impact is in the center more. This helps me get more consistent speed with the same length stroke, so I have more faith in the distance I'll get out of a specific stroke. downlowkey and CarlH 2 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 9 minutes ago, GolfSpy STUDque said: Great starts guys. Common theme definitely seems to be the adjustment period but I'm glad to see you all plan to roll hundreds or thousands of putts over this test period. If nothing else, looks like you'll be getting a ton of practice in. I think I'm the most interested in longer lag putts. Like many others, I gave the belly putters a try after the Keegan/Dufner shoot outs. The short-ish putts came with practice but I never could get the hang of speed control from distance. At this point, would any of you feel comfortable putting them in play for a league round right now? I feel better about the longer putts than I do the short putts. I think I'm controlling distance on the longer putts better with this putter than my standard putter, mainly because of the way the putter reinforces the use of the shoulders as opposed to getting armsy or wristy. Maybe it's just me and my flawed long putt method on standard putters I have put mine in play for one of my competitive group games for 9 holes, then switched to my regular putter because I just wasn't quite comfortable enough with the armlock. I will be using it tomorrow in play. Sadly, my knee surgery is going to interfere with golf significantly and somewhat limit my testing, but I should have enough data before that happens to give a good review. GB13 1 Quote Driver: Rogue ST Max (10.5* set at -1 and neutral) -- Mitsubishi Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Fairway: Rogue ST Max 3 wood (16.5*) and Heaven Wood (20*)-- Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Hybrids: Rogue ST Max 5H (23*)--Tensai Blue 55g R shaft Irons: Apex CF19 6-9, PW, AW -- KBS Tour Graphite TGI 70 shafts R +1/2 inch 3* upright Wedges: Edison 53* and 57* KBS PGI 80 Graphite +1/2 inch 2* upright Putter: L.A.B. DF 2.1 -- BGT Stability shaft Ball: Maxfli TourX...Golf Bag: Pioneer...Shoes: Hyperflex... Glove: Red Rooster Feather My Photography can be seen at Smugmug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB13 Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 (edited) Yeah, to add to my thoughts here, I'm really struggling on shorter putts. I've always struggled with short putts and I've been practicing probably 200-300 3 footers a day. It's really a hit or miss with the short putts. The problem is, it's a two way miss that stems from both setup and stroke. I'm working on it though, and *slowly* improving. I'm the personification of the tortoise in the children's story, The Tortise and the Hare. Edited April 17, 2019 by GB13 CarlH and JohnSmalls 2 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downlowkey Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 59 minutes ago, GolfSpy STUDque said: I think I'm the most interested in longer lag putts. At this point, would any of you feel comfortable putting them in play for a league round right now? My biggest concern going into this was controlling pace from longer range and initially it was indeed the shakiest aspect for me. But the miss was always short side and after the first couple days (500 putts) I wasn’t having pace problems at any distance. One thing I think has helped me adjust and may also be useful to the rest of the review team is Ben Crenshaw’s method of warming up the putter. The first thing I do on the practice green is spend 5 minutes rolling long putts from one edge to the other in several directions. The only thing I focus on is pace. Not having a hole as the target helps free up my stroke and also gives great overall green speed feedback on any given day. I feel like pressure putting is at the heart of your league gamer question and I wouldn’t mind gaming it in medium pressure situations. How it would actually hold up under those conditions would be a guess at this point but I’m still lacking the trust (read: sufficient experience) necessary to bag it for a big event. STUDque, KCLeo12 and artful_golfer 3 Quote PXG___0811 X 9* - Mitsubishi Diamana s60 Limited X Cobra___S9-1 Pro 15* - Matrix Ozik XCON 7 S Adams___XTD Forged 3i - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S Adams___CMB 4-PW - Matrix Ozik Program F15 120 S KZG___Tri-Tour 50.08__54.10__58.12 - Accra iCWT 2.0-95i S Nike___Method Converge B1-01 (copper insert) Maxfli___'23 Tour X "The most important shot in golf is the next one“ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCLeo12 Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Interesting I have had a little different experience. I have been very successful inside 10ft but struggled on long putts. To be fair I haven’t really practiced many long putts with it yet. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Quote Ping G410 LST 10.5 set -1* Flat Accra TZ5 65 M5 Callaway Epic Flash 15* set -1 Aldila ATX Blue 75TX Ben Hogan FT Worth Hi 19* KBS Tour V X Ben Hogan PTX Pro 4-P KBS Tour V X 2* Flat 4* loft increments Hogan Equalizer 50* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 X 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 56* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat Hogan Equalizer 62* KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 2* Flat EVNROLL ER7 P2 Aware Tour Scotty Cameron Newport2 Buttonback P2 Aware Tour Grip Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaliewales14 Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 Great start so far guys!! I've been really curious in arm lock putters for a while now to see what people think. Here are a few questions I've got for you guys. Starting with just the putter head itself, have you noticed a forgiveness level on off-centered hits? Is it close to the Envroll or Ping forgiveness if you've tested either brands Do you notice any difference in the roll versus your current gamers? How many grip positions have you guys tried to get "comfortable"? Have any of you tried actually doing left hand low and locking the grip into your forearm at the top of the grip? Do you think a certain grip style would have an easier transition into this type of putter GB13 1 Quote Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max 3 Wood: Taylormade SIM 3 Utility Iron: Srixon U85 4i – 5i: Taylormade P790 6i – AW: Taylormade P770 SW: Taylormade MG3 TW Grind LW: Taylormade Hi-Toe 3 Low Bounce Putter: PXG Battle Ready One & Done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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