Limited Release/CT/Tour putters

[Shank Aaron 262]

How many of you have gamed/are gaming your rare, exclusive, and/or otherwise super valuable putters regardless of brand? This isn't a question for the "I game what works", or the ever popular "go get fit" type answers. I'm genuinely curious about peoples opinions. Hopefully this turns out to be a good conversation. 

[RickyBobby_PR 5,243]

I game my circle t putters and if/when I buy another it will get gamed. Same goes for my scotty cameron headcovers most have been used already for at least one round

[dalejbrass 111]

I've owned a handful of limited release Scotty's over the years and on my 2nd Circle T putter. Gamed them all and still gaming my x5 CT. Only caveat is I'm very careful with them....trying not to bang them on other clubs. 

[Kansas King 232]

I say play with what you have. The only putters I would be cautious with are putters that are truly artistic or historical. If I bought the putter Tiger used to win his first masters, I would probably insure it, putt a few balls on carpet, then display it on the wall in a protected fashion. It would be unlikely to ever see a course but there is no reason it couldn't. The other putters I would be cautious with are artistic putters like the resin Bradley putters.

"Special edition" putters are something I could generally care less about. Most are just a slightly different design that is milled by a CNC machine or they have a different finish. If someone is scared to play with a new "special edition" Scotty, then they probably can't reasonably afford it. To me special edition putters are like Hot Wheels cars in Walmart, they might say they are number 87 or 415 but there is a whole wall of different cars available that are all "special".

My opinion is that outside of a putter being a historical artifact or cherished for sentimental reasons, they should be played. If you're too nervous to play with a special putter, then you probably can't afford it. I do understand some people are purely collectors and I think that is a little different situation. I just ask that people who "collect" modern milled putters like Scotty Camerons, please ask yourself if you're actually collecting something historical or valuable. Most modern milled putters from big brands won't be very special 30 years from now as they are nothing more than a block of CNC milled steel. That's not to say they will drop in value but would you rather see the $500 on your wall be worth $500 in 30 years or would you rather see that $500 turn into $5000 in your 401K (in today's dollars)? If money is no question, buy all the putters you want and do whatever you want with them.

[GolfSpy MPR 10,168]

I'd add one more option: Never had one, but I wouldn't game it. That's probably my category. If I were to buy a collectable putter, I would buy it for the purpose of collecting, not for playing. It would be for me, in the words of MGS founder Adam Beach (@GolfSpy_X) a "wall-hanger."

[Shank Aaron 262]

On 12/2/2020 at 3:06 PM, GolfSpy MPR said:

I'd add one more option: Never had one, but I wouldn't game it. That's probably my category. If I were to buy a collectable putter, I would buy it for the purpose of collecting, not for playing. It would be for me, in the words of MGS founder Adam Beach (@GolfSpy_X) a "wall-hanger."

I get that. I've never been much of what you could consider a collector of anything. If I have it, I plan to use it, or get rid of it. Function over form mentality, I guess.