Zebra Putters - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy TCB]

Zebra Putters Testers Announced! 

MyGolfSpy Forum is really excited to have this iconic brand as part of our member testing and we are thrilled to have these testers take part in a review. 

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for the Zebra Putter Lineup!

@tony@CIC - AIT4
@aguybadatgolf - AIT3
@cciciora13 - AIT2
@LinksgolfFever - AIT1
 

[tony@CIC]

Hey everyone,  my final review is at the bottom of this thread! 

 

Holy cow I got picked for the Zebra putter!  A big thank you to the Mods for selecting me. Coincidently, putting is where I’m losing the most strokes and yesterday’s 18 was a great example, four 3 putts and one 4 putt - so I gave up 5 stokes that would have made the difference between shooting 89 and an 84 oh and yes I was on the green in regulation for the 3 and 4 putts. And that's after lots of practice before the game. 

If you guys and gals checked my signature you’ll see that I’ve been around here since 2017. What you may not know is that I only took on golf when I retired. Prior to my current golf obsession, my wife I were sailors, racing and cruising the Great Lakes along with  the Caribbean.

A bit about my golf game: I’ve been fit several times over the years from big box stores to indy fitters and even Club Champion. However, the latter’s prices were a bit rich for me since I’m retired. I typically shoot in the high 80’s with my strengths being driver and other long clubs. Consistent weakness; wedge game and putting.

I’m gaming Volkey 52*,56* wedges and a Glide 3.0 60*  along with Odyssey 0 works putter. Note: I have a slight arc putting stroke and 2* was the preferred loft. And for those who’ve been around here for a while – no I didn’t win the MGS 2018 Odyssey giveaway . 

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Over the past few  months I’ve taken 2 putting lessons which have had a great impact (no pun intended), lots of practice, plus my instructor/coach thought the std. weight (15 grams each side) was too light for my game, so I added an additional 17 grams to both the toe and heel, and that has worked well for me. FYI my putting was even worse before the lessons, practice and additional weights. 

Unlike the rest of my bag, I have been very hesitant to change putters. But what the heck, I even tried my wife’s right- handed LA Golf Belaire. So this will be a great “forced” opportunity for me.  Unfortunately, though I'm going to have to wait for a delayed shipment to accommodate our travel schedule from Florida to Ohio. 

Will it be the operator, the equipment or both – time will tell.

So stay tune for the verdict folks

 

My Delivery and Initial Inspection Update 6/26/23

It’s always a good day when Fedex driver leaves one of these packages in your garage.

But even before I opened the package and even before I applied to be a tester, I did some research on the designer: Austie Rollinson. After all, if I’m really focused on improvement with lessons, lots of practice, why not learn a bit about the designer as well.  If you’re so inclined, you can see his full bio at https://www.linkedin.com/in/austie-rollinson. Austie is currently on the Acushnet team, but he was with the Callaway/Odyssey team for a couple of decades. Has he created something better than my 2018 O Works Black or the several hundred other putter designs on his resume?? The comparison between the AIT4 and the O Works will be the starting point for me, since right now it’s raining cats and dogs in Ohio.

Onto the unveiling: Unlike some of my previous club orders, the putter was well protected and the specs were spot on: AIT 4, left hand orientation and 35”. Not hard to mess that up but other golf companies have in the past.

Additionally, in the package is an extended 2 year warranty. I’m not sure what value that adds since the worst thing that’s happened to my past putters is either a lost putter cover or overdue grip replacement. On the latter, I’ve been using Super Stroke Fatso 1.0 grips for several years so the change to the Winn AVS pistol grip will be interesting.

 

Some initial comparisons to my O Works Black:

- The AIT4 head is slightly wider by about 6 millimeters but slightly shorter by about the same amount.

- The ball mark is also wider – maybe that’ll help me square up the club better (?)

- There are other subdued ball marks to the left and right of the primary – not sure of their value other than promoting Zebra stripes.

- You can’t miss that this is a Zebra putter. The graphics are on the grip, shaft, putter face and head cover.

- The plumbers neck and shaft look like they came from the same factory as my Odyssey.

- The putter cover is first class. Note: I’m too embarrassed to show a pic of my Odyssey putter  

I mentioned the grip difference, while this is not limited to Zebra it may represent an initial challenge for me even though there’s only a 3/8” difference in circumference between my two putter grips.

Also, the putter face is not quite as high – visually the difference of 20mm for the Odyssey compared to 18mm for the Zebra seems to be more but, rulers don’t lie. Perhaps the difference of 3* vs. 2* loft might offset the difference in the face.

 

First blush; this looks and feels like a $200+ putter and I would not have been disappointed if I ordered (re: paid for) it from Zebra. It's spot on for looks/aesthetics. While the graphics are present everywhere as mentioned previously, they are not over-powering - It’s a Zebra and proud of it. 

The same for (high)l quality. The cover is a quick way to judge the quality of the product – and this is no exception. The cover is of a similar quality to my wife’s LA Golf Bel Air        which costs quite a bit more. Also, there were no visible imperfections in the putter head, shaft, or grip.

A miss is options available. This kind of harkens back to that old Henry Ford Model T quote – “you can have any color as long as it’s black”. Zebra’s version is; you can have     any grip as long as it’s Winn AVS Midsize.  I would have liked to have seen grip options to appeal to a wider audience. While it doesn’t have to be Super Stroke, having standard and jumbo grips would be nice. Alternatively, package the current midsize grips separately or offer the option to purchase the Zebra Winn grip. That would allow those of us that regrip clubs to utilize multiple layers of tape. An additional option would be custom weights installed when ordering.  FYI, I’m ok with an additional cost for both the grip options and the weights. Hint to Zebra; expand the website to make future grip, weight, and putter cover purchases. 

What's Next?

The challenges ahead for me: This coming Wednesday will be the first time playing in a couple of weeks with no practice in between. The course we’re playing doesn’t have a practice green. What State (Ohio) entity thought of that money saving trick?

This will also be the first time on Bentgrass after having spent the last 9 months getting use to Tif-Eagle Bermuda greens. Then there’s the grip, the toe/heel weights that are currently 15g each, and just the visual difference between the 2 putters. BTW, I am sticking the 30g weights from my Odyssey in the bag just in case. On the other hand, I am excited to try this new putter and hoping the Zebra will send the ball galloping into the hole on the first putt. 

 Here's to many one Putts! 

 

JULY 6TH update: 

As mentioned the current putter I’m gaming is an Odyssey O Works Black, what I didn’t mention is that I started out with a Ping Anser many years ago – however, it had a polymer face that just didn’t work, therefore the switch to the 2018 Odyssey, which worked better. Also putting lessons which I had in Florida resulted in just minor tweaks. I didn’t notice much change in my putting numbers after the lessons, however I have been diligent about working on the tweaks recommended by my instructor. The putting stats from the last 15 rounds in Florida,  incorporated improvements from my lessons and practice

:

 

 The Switch To AIT4

Now I’m in for 3 rounds with the AIT4. Initial feedback: I am on fire with this putter! The first round was last week and a bit shaky, especially since I was back on Bentgrass greens for the first time in a year and coming to grips (pun intended) with the Zebra pistol grip. It was also on a public Links course that I’m not particularly fond of.  The second round, yesterday, was on my old home course which had recently punched greens but was also set up for an upcoming competitive event. In the past the best I’ve walked off is about 36 putts on average.  Yesterday I was nailing every putt within 7 feet and one that was 21 feet. Total number of putts = 25 and no 3 putts.

 

Yesterday's putting stats

 

 

Third round today on a different public course and the putter was on fire as well! I made several long putts., no 3 putts and overall, 28 putts on the board. I have never put these type of putting numbers on the board.  

What’s Different: 

-Different grass - Bermuda vs Bentgrass? While I do think Bermuda is a bit more challenging, it shouldn’t have made a difference and if anything, I should have had worse numbers for these three rounds because of the switch.  

-Are the lessons taking hold? Maybe,  I did practice a lot in Florida but hardly any practice since we’re back in Ohio. Early results look very promising; however, I will reserve judgement til I have about 15 or 20 rounds.

Early Recommendations:

The cover is of a high-quality material but a little tight. I’m always checking after I put the cover on to make sure that the magnetic snaps engage.

While my gamer is a Vice Pro, I tried matching the triple stripe Callaway with the putter stripes today. There is something to be said for having the extra stripes on both the putter and the ball for better aiming, unfortunately the stripes to the left and right are very subdued and not very visible. If the putting performance continues as anticipated I might add a bit of color to those stripes.

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more round feedback  - in the meantime I'm relishing the 5 stoke pick-up

 

July 16th update: 

A few more rounds under my belt and the putter is performing admirably. 

Yesterday was a brutal day on the course for me (92) - I attribute it lack of sleep the night before combined with cart path only conditions + high humidity and smoke from the Canadian wildfires. On the other hand I was making putts from long distances like crazy. But before I started out yesterday, I decided to put a spare 30g weight in the heel to see what impact (no pun intended) that would have. The additional weights are on their way from Zebra - but since I had one on my O Works I decided to try it out. 

The 1st hole was terrible - deep greenside bunker were I launched the ball onto the most distance part of the green for a 3 putt 7  but things did improve on the green after that. The next hole was a 1 putt from 29' 

 

 

On #12 I saved a bogie with a 12' putt

 

On #14, a peninsula green - yeah that's green water surrounding it,   I putted for a bird from off the green! 

All in all I had 6 one putts over 18 holes - that just shows you how bad the rest of my game was. At this point I won't attribute it to the added weight - at least not for now. I will say that I am very confident with this putter. More info to come with 2 more rounds scheduled this week. 

 

Breaking News 

The official weight kit arrived today with  2 - 20 g weights. I'm going to lock in the previous stats as phase 1 with 15g weights - from this point forward the stats will represent 2 - 20g weights. 

 

The Final Review - Holy No 3 Putt

Well, I’m finally done with the initial test of my AIT4. To say I’m impressed is an understatement, as this putter exceeded my expectations. You’ll see data points below, but as a preview, I’ve gone from at least several 3 putts per round to none along with making several long 1 putts as well. My instructor tells me that putting is as much a level of confidence as it is skill. Does skill precede confidence or vice versa? Who knows? BTW, he also tells me, as motivation for continued work on putting skills, that the average golfer is only confident of making an 18” putt. BTW something I never mentioned in my earlier posts: I’ve never done a putter fitting; however, I did use the Ping putting app/analysis that utilized the iPhone - that 'fitting' showed a slight arc and a preferred 2* loft. Before I received my AIT4 I had several preconceived notions about the putter and the upcoming test.

A quick review of My Preconceived Notions:

I’ve been using a SS Fatso grip ever since I bought my last putter in 2018. It felt right, especially since I use midsize grips with multiple layers of tape underneath (XL glove user). My Preconceived Notion: The Zebra pistol grip would create more hand pressure and thus affect my swing path for the putter. False. The grip took about one round to get used to and from that point I never noticed the difference.

It’s a Zebra not a Scotty or LA Golf or the latest Ping, etc. etc. My Preconceived Notion: how much better could it be? Well data doesn’t lie – my results show it’s significantly better than my old Odyssey O works. As to other premium putters, they could improve my results even more but why bother when you’re getting great results. A funny story: I was playing with my old golfing partner, note; there’s a bit of competitiveness between us, and I’m making putts left and right, long, and short. He grabs the putter out of my hand and says let me try that putter. He gave it a complete look over and said – that’s a great putter. Wait? Was he referring to the Zebra or me? As a comparison between my old gamer and the Zebra AIT4; it has a slightly softer feel upon impact, which is helping me with speed control.

Putter weights: As you probably read, my instructor recommended increasing the toe and heel weights of my previous putter to 30g each side. My Preconceived Notion: I need to do the same for the AIT4. I ordered the additional weights which BTW are 20g each and you can see the data below for yourself. What holds true for one putter doesn’t for another even though they look, feel, and have similar total weights. I tested the AIT4 with std. 15g. weights, adding 30g to the heel along with swapping out the std 15g. weights to the optional 20g. The standard 15g weights gave me the best results. Note: Zebra does have a 10g weight kit available as well.

Zebra stripes help with alignment: My Preconceived Notion: The additional stripes on the top of the AIT4 will help with alignment. I played a couple of rounds with an ERC and even put additional ball marks on my gamer, a Vice Pro. The stripes didn’t help – in fact I only noticed the primary/center stripe when lining up the putter - it looks like the stripes on the AIT1,2, and 3 are more prominent. I mentioned in an earlier post I might toy around with painting the additional stripes – but my sense is I’ll still focus on the primary alignment stripe. Oh, and here’s a ‘crazy’ thought what if there was a stripe on top of the putter (perpendicular) to the alignment stripe, somewhat like a MLA putter – would that help square the face to the ball?

Let’s go through the numbers:

First up is a summary of my last 15 rounds prior to the Zebra Putter test. As you can easily see I’m suffering from 3 putt-itis.  For someone who is diligent about lessons and practice – something just hasn’t kicked in, as I’m literally leaving strokes on the course.

 

Immediately after unpacking the Zebra, I updated on ‘bag’ in ShotScope so that I can keep an accurate track of my putts. Surprisingly it only took one round for me to get used to the putter. Was this karma or just a universally good putter.

After 5 rounds you can see the 3 Putts went away and I picked up 5 strokes – that was easier and a lot less $$$ than changing out the rest of the bag.

 

Well, if it worked so well with the standard 15g. weights, how about experimenting with a 30g. in the heel while I’m waiting for the Zebra 20g. weights to come in.  And after another 5 rounds…...whoops, that didn’t work so well.

The experimentation continues with another 5 rounds, this time with the optional 20g. weights. The numbers just confirmed that the 15g. weights are the best configuration for me. Obviously, it’s different for every golfer and I’d recommend experimentation to find out the best weight configuration. The cost of the optional 10g or 20 g. weights is minimal and well worth playing around.

0.

 

And Now The Final Countdown (no not the song):

Final Scoring: My take on the AIT4 could just easily end with the slide that showed the improved putting results. However, you may be interested in other metrics as well:

First Impressions: 17 out of 20. Granted the AIT4 has only been in the bag for ½ of the summer, however, it seems to be as good as any other putter at that price point or even a more expensive one. In my initial review I gave it high marks, however as mentioned previously, I also gave it slightly lower marks for lack of grip options and the less prominent secondary stripes. 

Aesthetics: 9 out of 10.  The Zebra logo on the grip and the cover, along with the head are well executed and the zebra stripes on the weights are a nice touch.

The Numbers: 10 out of 10.  If you've read on earlier comments, you'll know by now that it is all in the numbers: Accuracy? Check! Distance control? Check!, Forgiveness? Absolutely! It took 1, yes 1 round to get used to it. The putter felt good, even with off center hits. Unlike all the other clubs in my bag, I have been avoiding changing out my putter. That O Works was in my bag since 2018 and has seen new drivers, woods and wedges come and go. The hesitancy in changing out putters was probably spurred by my low confidence level in putting, so thank you Zebra and MGS for forcing me out of that paradigm.

On the course: 19 out of 20.  This is a confidence inspiring putter - which takes the pressure off both long and short puts. Sound? Ok!  I confess, I’m not sure I even hear the putter when I hit the ball as my concentration is on the path and speed, so I’m zoned out. However, the sound is not distracting so in that case I’m happy with it. Plus, the sound I really want to hear is the ‘clunk’ as my ball drops in the hole.

The good, bad the inbetween: 17 out of 20. No thing bad - but minor tweaks could take this putter over the top as mentioned previously. Not necessarily bad - but the 2 yr. warranty has no effect on my purchase - I'd save $$$ printing costs. Options for additional weights, additional logo grips along with expanding ancillary products would be nice - think Vice Ball marketing. 

Play it or Trade it:  20 out of 20. You'll have to pry this putter from my cold....hands. I can now walk up to a long putt and think I can make it vs. the old me looking at the putt saying looks like I’ll have to settle for a 2 or maybe even 3 putt.  That precisely summarizes how I feel about the AIT 4 in my hands – I can make this putt. With that kind of inspired confidence why wouldn’t you give it a 20 out of 20.

Total Score 92 out of 100 

 

 

Again, thank you Zebra and the Mods for selecting me. Perhaps now I’ll change my screen name to No3putt-Tony . And, this putter is definitely staying in the bag. 

 

p.s. I'll end with this screen shot again 

 

Edited November 9, 2023 by tony@CIC

[cciciora13]

Hello fellow MGS enthusiasts. My name is Chris and I want to thank MGS and Zebra for this wonderful opportunity. I have been a long-time reader of MGS and the community truly feels like a home and I am honored to give back with this review.  

A little bit about me

My wife and I currently reside in Franklin, WI just outside Milwaukee... (yes I’m a BEAR fan behind enemy lines). We also have a two year old golden retriever named Henry and are looking to grow our family in the near future. I am originally from Chicago, IL and play some great golf courses between the two spots. When I’m not on the golf course, I work as a Physical Therapist. Golf has always been a passion of mine and I have been playing for about 25 yrs. (High School Golf Team and Marquette University club golf team as well). This is the first year I am carrying am official handicap, and currently sitting around 5 but it’s been a hot start to the year. I typically shoot in the upper 70’s to around 80, with a good day getting me in at 74/75. I have always considered ball striking one of my strong suits and typically hit my Sub 70 irons fairly well.  Putting is one of my weaknesses. I give myself makeable birdie putts throughout the round but struggle to make them. (10 footers kill me- ). I am also prone to the occasional three putt which adds strokes to the round.

 

I typically utilize my custom Sub 70 004 Master’s edition mallet putter for most of my rounds but do change putters every now and again. Switching between Ping Anser putter, an a Odyssey 2 ball, (because it’s the arrow not the Indian right??) I am extremely excited to test out this putter as I am not convinced that the Sub 70 004 putter is the putter for me. It just seems a little heavy- great for 5 footers, but a little harder to control for those longer putts.

 

Thoughts on Testing

When I utilize a putter- the sensory input, feel, and feedback are important to me to be able to putt correctly. The putter I currently game is CNC milled, so I am looking to see how this putter with an insert compares in terms of feel. I am very interested to see how the Zebra line pattern looks and see if I am able to start more putts on line and give them a chance to drop. I am too young to remember the old zebra putter, but I hope to be able to give a “younger interpretation” on this new reincarnation of it. I hope to play 1-2 rounds a week and visit the putting green another 1-2 x week in order to test this putter out---Working from variable distances from 3 ft to 25ft with different breaks and uphill/downhill putts. Also will utilize my putting mat in the basement with the close eye of Henry for assistance!

Here are the big things I will be looking at for this review:

-       Feel- how does an insert compare to my CNC milled putter?

-       Roll and alignment- Excited to see the Zebra pattern and true roll insert, and think I will help my putting with starting the putt on line. At least that is the hope.

-       Look- A putter that looks good makes more putts right?- Well no, but if it instills confidence that would lead to a feeling of making more putts and I would definitely welcome that.

-       Performance- If not making more putts during the round then all the rest doesn’t matter. For this to make a stable in my bag, I will need to stay at or under 36 putts for an 18 hole round.

 

I’m really excited to test out the Zebra  AIT 2 putter and hope it will affect my putting for the better. Time will tell but I do expect more putts to start on line with the Alignment system. Will they always drop? Let’s hope so! Hang around, and I hope you enjoy the rest of my review!

 

Show me your stripes- Zebra AIT 2 First Impression (18/20):

Zebra got these clubs out super quick, which was an added bonus. It came securely packaged up with bag surrounding the putter. The box is simple yet provides I like the simple logo placement of Zebra on the outside. However- there was little if any padding or paper or anything to cushion the club in transit. Not a big deal as there was no damage or anything but I think it is worth noting.

 

The headcover is quality and something that you would expect with a $250 putter. The zebra stripes on the back look slick! The only thing I dislike about the head cover is that it is a Velcro enclosure. It would have been nice to have this be a magnet enclosure. I am unsure if it is fully on sometimes when applying the headcover as it fits kind of snug.

                                 

 Inside a nice card about the designer—Austin Rollinson, as well as a 2 year warranty which is a nice- hope nothing ever happens but it is nice to have in case. Being a die hard for Sub 70 clubs and their DTC business model I love their personal messages in every order and I liked this card in the box as well. It just gives it a little bit of a personal touch.

 

Aesthetics (10 out of 10) 

This putter looks sharp! I really like the black color of the mallet with the white alignment lines- that is one reason I typically use this style of putter. It helps get things lined up. The Zebra lines around the center white alignment are subtle with the muted grey but present if you are looking for the em.

I also enjoy the feel of the face- slightly firm but soft enough to give you a good feel in the hands when striking the ball. It looks nice in grey and I like the “Z” mark on the inside to the emphasis the Zebra brand but not over the top.

The sole of the putter is simple but one thing worth noting is the weights. Again I enjoy how they added the Zebra stripes into the design of the weights as well. It just continues to tie in the theme in subtle ways which is cool.

Numbers: 8/10

            I found this putter to be accurate- particularly within 5-7 ft. The addition of the Zebra lines really do help get the ball lined up. I was consistently rolling balls on the target line, although pace was an issue at times leading to most putts missing just on the high side. Distance control was interesting. If I left myself a putt going up the hill, I had a hard time gauging how firm to hit the putt- it took quite an adjustment to hit it firm enough to get the putt there- especially from 20-30 ft. I loved this putter from the opposite end going down the hill as it was easy to get on line and just let the ball “die into the hole”.  I had no issue using this putter from the fringe and as it’s easy to line up on any slope or break of a putt. Just find you line, get the zebra stripes in line, and GO.

I was not a huge fan of the The standard grip is the Winn AVS pistol grip. This is a thinner grip than I am used to playing as I play the Superstroke Pistol GT 2.0 on my other putter This thinner grip seemed to give the head of the putter a heavier feel which was… different. I think I will change to a Superstroke grip at some point to help with the feel in my hands. The stroke was much more stable to me with the superstroke grip- Maybe because it is what I’m used to but it is worth noting. With the Winn grip I seemed to be pulling putts to the left- which leveled out following the addition of the Super Stroke. That is one knock with the Zebra putter line. They only have one grip option for the putters which I think limits the audience. It would be nice to have different options for different players and for $250 dollars for a putter should be an option. Spending another 25-30 dollars on a grip is a little much.

 

On course performance: 17/20

First two Rounds with the AIT 2 were really impressive:

Round 1: 35 putts- score 76

Quickly went out to the course for a 630 am tee time. Gave the putter 3 putts on the practice green for the first time from 10 ft and onto the course we went LOL.  And guess what happened- 3 putt on the second hole from 25 ft- burned the edge on a 5 footer. Made really good saves on hole 14 and 15. Hole 14 led to a 7 footer from a sand shot for par- a little right to left break and buried in the center. Hole 15 was easily my worst drive of the day and had to take a penalty and drop. Was able to get it to the green with about 20 ft up the hill for par and sunk it just in the front edge for the par save. That really kept the round together as the wheels could have came off.

Round 2: 33 putts; score 75

Definitely getting more comfortable with the AIT 2. The zebra stripes are really easy to line up for putts from the 5-7 foot range. Had a few bogeys to start out the day due to poor drives but bounced back with a few pars in a row and then a big 8 foot right to left putt up the hill on hole 5 to save par to keep the front 9 together. On hole 9 had a left to right breaker down the hill from 10 feet for birdie and buried it in the center. The back led to another back to back bogeys to start but bounced back with back to back birdies on the next two holes- a birdie chip in from the fringe on a par 3 and then a nice 6 footer which was fairly straight on the next hole. A very dumb 3 putt on the last hole from 15 ft as I got aggressive with the birdie putt down the hill and missed the 7 footer back. 

The feel seems to be slightly on the firm side- but receptive enough with the feel in the hands. I wouldn't say it is as soft as a fully milled putter. The weight seems to be nice and the Zebra stripes seem to be living up to their legend as they do help get the putter lined up. I have 3 more rounds scheduled for the next 5 days so will be putting it through more of the paces and excited to see how it continues to perform!

 

Round 3: Score: 81- 34 putts

 

This putter kept me alive in the first few holes as it was not my best ball striking day. I took a double bogey and was starting to feel the pressure.  Hole 2 I missed the green right and chipped on to 15 ft for par. This putter helps with putts under pressure. I love how I can find the line, Get the Zebra stripes in line and go. Led to a par save in the center of the cup. I did have two 3 putts- struggling to get the speed right on downhill putts- running the ball too far by.

 

Round 4: 7/17/23: Scramble: 4 under

 

This was a scramble with my high school buddies. I am the best golfer in the group and we usually use most of my shots. We finished 4 under and the most memorable putt was a 51 foot bomb up the hill going to Right to left. Loved how I was able to get the pace right and make the putt. I am getting better at judging the distance on these longer lag putts, but to see one drop was both exciting and encouraging.

Round 5: 7/19/23: Score: 80, Putts 38 putts

This followed the addition of the 20g weights. It was my worst putting round to date. I thought this would have helped make the putter more stable and lead to a more consistent stroke, but that was not the case. I was surprised as my Sub70 007 is a heavy putter coming in at 390g stock. I was really having a hard time with distance control this date and the 5-8 footers I was making for par earlier were not dropping. I pushed two 6-footers to the right and then pulled one to the left. HAD 5 three putts! Not the best day. Maybe it was mental, but I switched back to the 15g weights following the round.

Round 6: 7/23/23: 9 Holes: 38, Putts 18

            Switched back to the 15g weights and the putter for me felt more balanced and my distance control was better. I was able to make those “knee knockers” from 5-7 ft and did not have a 3 putt. It was a better day putting for sure.

 

Round 7: 7/24/23: Score- 80, Putts 34

Another good day on the greens. Only one three putt, but it was a tough breaking putt from a little over 60 feet. Getting more confident in lining putts up with Zebra stripes and the roll is much better with a little less weight.

Overall this putter has improved my putting slightly. Over the 9 rounds my putts per hole averaged 2.0 putts per hole. It has decreased my total of three putts per round, and on the putts that I do miss- it gives me a makeable distance for the putt coming back. Can’t make them all, but subjectively I feel a little more confident on the greens. Putting has always been mental for me and now having a little confidence on the greens will hopefully get me over that hump. I knew little about Zebra putters prior to this test and review, but was impressed in the design and feel of the putter. It is SUPER easy to line up with the zebra lines as well as the fang putter design. It felt much more comfortable in my hands following the addition of the Super Stroke Pistol GT putter grip. I would love to see them develop different grip and shaft options in the future to really stick at a premium putter price point.

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (15 out of 20)

The customer service from Zebra and Shop247.com INC was really good. They got our specs right away and then shipped the putters out the next day. When weight kits became available, they were also able to send those out right away as well. I dislike the inability to choose a different putter grip and only have one type of putter shaft (double bend)  As a premium putter at $250, different grips and shafts should be something that should be expected in my opinion. It would also give more golfers a stock option for them and appeal to a variety of players. The headcover was very visually appealing, but feel that it could be improved by making it a magnetic closure. At times, I was worried that the headcover may fall off as it was a little difficult to get it securely snug.

Play it or Trade it? (15 out of 20)

This putter is going to stay in my bag for now. I think the Zebra lines have helped line my putts up, and assisted in my ability to start putts on line. I was happy with the 2.0 putts per hole average and think I can improve upon that the more I work with the putter and get more practice with it. The price at $250 seems a little steep, and I am unsure at that price point I would shell out that for a remake of a putter from a previous generation. For that price you could get a putter from established brands like Odyssey, Taylormade, or Ping ect. If I wasn’t chosen to review this putter, I believe I would have had a hard time searching out and giving this putter a chance. With a grip change this putter will run you nearly $275. I am happy to have found it, and will continue to work on it’s performance, but have a hard time seeing this putter spread to a wide variety of golfers. It seems suited to golfers who were fans of the original or for nostalgia.

Conclusion

The Zebra AIT 2 putter is easy to line up with the Zebra lines and had an overall firm but receptive feel when rolling putts on the green. I liked the premium feel of the headcover, as well as its performance--keeping my putting average at 2.0 putts per hole. I keep going back to the price point though. At nearly $250 this putter only has one grip option and one shaft option. You may be better suited to go to other brands at that price point, if this putter does not have the grip or shaft option for you.

Total Score:  83/100

 

 

 

 

 

[aguybadatgolf]

The Final Review (7/28/2023)

Zebra Golf AIT 3  – Official MGS Forum Review by Christopher Rapp

Intro - A little bit about me

I'd like to first say thank you to My Golf Spy and Zebra for the opportunity to test the AIT3! This will be my first testing opportunity and as a major gear nerd and lover of reviews like this I am very excited to participate. Allow me to apologize in advance if I ramble a bit.

I am 26 years old and have lived in Colorado my entire life (GO NUGGETS!!). I currently live in the Denver area but have lived all along the front range. I got married to the amazing woman I met the first day of class at CU Boulder this past June at the Wellshire, a local golf course. We have 2 dogs and a lot of shared hobbies including golf. In my professional life I  work for the State of Colorado and help provide IT services to other state agencies.

Sports and how I got into golf

I grew up skiing, mountain biking, playing baseball, basketball, and a myriad of other sports. In college one of my friends took me golfing. I would be lying if I said it was love at first sight. I had played baseball for many years and the different grip and swing just didn't feel right. I was also terrible. I only went a couple of times and decided I was not much of a golfer. 

Fast forward to May of 2021 and I was talked into trying golf again. I ended up really enjoying it. After that round I went straight to my local Play it Again and bought a set of clubs for myself. I started going to the range or playing a round once a week and was enjoying it as a second summer hobby. Then at the end of last July I had a pretty good crash on my mountain bike and ended up tearing my PCL. Golf became the only sport I could still play while going through physical therapy. The more I played the more I got hooked. By the end of last summer I had gone from shooting 143 in my first round to a low of 106. Not great but a major improvement for me. This summer has been where I have seen my greatest growth. I've received some coaching from a very talented friend who is a scratch golfer. At the time of writing this final review I am down to an 18 handicap, I started the summer at a 23 so I am pretty pleased by my progress. 

Why should you care about a review from a high-handicap golfer?

Who better to test a putter designed to be very forgiving than a golfer who needs all the help they can get? For example, the other day on a short par 4 I drove to about 30 yards off the green. I chip on to about 18 feet from the hole and proceed to 3 putt for a bogey. Ouch. I will certainly put this putter through the wringer, find out with me how forgiving this putter is when I inevitably miss the center.

Why I wanted to test the Zebra AIT3 how I plan to test it

When I first saw the options available to test I was immediately drawn to the design of the AIT 3. Advertised as the most forgiving, high MOI, putter they offer? Check. Lots of alignment aids? You bet. Unique and attractive design that looks like a Taylormade Spider and an Evnroll Zero had a baby? It has that as well. 

I currently have 2 putters I will be able to use in this test. My current gamer is a Taylormade Ardmore 3 with 15g weights. I also have an Evnroll Tour Stroke as a milled option to compare it to. I have an old TearDrop Roll-Face but I don't plan to use it in my comparison as a second blade putter seems redundant.

I have a Putt About practice green that I used on a regular basis while testing the putter and working on my game. I also plan to use the practice green at my local course 2-3 times a week to test it on a real green. I typically play either one round of 18 or a couple 9s per week with an occasional par 3 course if I’m really busy and it’s all I have time for. 

I will try to be as scientific as I can and eliminate as many variables as possible. I will only use the Vice Pro ball for my testing (the best ball I don't mind losing). I have a few different thoughts on how best to do the on course comparison which I am still debating, more to come on that. 

The key areas I would like to focus my test on are:

• Feel - Is the face really firm or soft? How does it sound? Are the alignment aids useful or distracting?
• Forgiveness - How much speed do I lose on a miss hit? How hard is it to keep the face square? Does it inspire confidence on tricky putts?
• Quality - How well do the paint and face hold up to regular wear and tear? What level of quality is the headcover?
• Looks - We all want a putter that looks nice and we appreciate the occasional compliment or question from playing partners. Does this putter do that? 

Thank you for reading and I look forward to providing an update and first thoughts when I receive the putter! 

First Impressions and Unboxing (19 out of 20)

I received the putter on June 16th.

Shipping box was pretty standard for a club. There was some shredded paper and cardboard to help keep it safe and it arrived in perfect condition. No complaints here but I am wondering if it will be protected if it is handled poorly during shipping.

The headcover immediately caught my attention. It is high quality with an eye-catching design that is not overly flashy. 

The matte black finish looks great with the silver, white, and gray accents. I love the alignment lines and Zebra pattern on the removable weights, it's a nice touch. 

The Winn midsize pistol grip has the Zebra logo along with the brand's name. Keeping with the same color scheme it is black, white, and silver. I will note that I have larger hands and generally play with oversized grips. It is a little smaller than I am used to or like to play but it has a nice soft and tacky feel that is similar to the Odyssey Jumbo grip I have on my current gamer. I am curious to see how it works for me on the course. 

Overall I am very impressed by the appearance. Only concern would be how well the packaging would protect the club if you catch the delivery guy on a bad day. Which is the only reason I am deducting a point. 

Aesthetics (9 out of 10) 

Looks

As I stated in my first impressions, it is a good looking putter. I also find that the website did a good job of accurately portraying the putter. It is exactly as I expected it to look. 

From the Zebra website for the AIT 3: “This oversized, winged mallet design is the ultimate in forgiveness and alignment. The wing feature borrows material from the circular hole to make this design the most forgiving in our line-up. This hole also works with the Zebra stripes to create the ultimate alignment package. The Friction Roll Control insert completes the forgiveness package of this new design, while giving impact a soft feel but with great responsiveness and feel.”

The overall design reminds me of a Taylormade Spider. One of the most popular putters ever made is not a bad putter to look like. The one key difference is the hole in the middle of the Zebra AIT3 that reminds me of a friend’s Evnroll Zero.

I would agree with Zebra’s claim that the hole works with the Zebra stripes to help create a great alignment aid. I find that I have no problem rolling the ball on the line I chose, the issue is more my own ability to find the right line. I was concerned all the lines would be distracting but with the neutral colors and matte black finish I have hardly noticed it. The top of the putter hides a hint of bling on the bottom of the putter head which is seen in the chrome putter weights, especially the removable weights. Overall the color scheme and design blend together very nicely. My playing partners and wife were all very impressed by the looks and all commented on how good it looks when standing over the ball. 

Sound and Feel

I love the way this putter sounds. It makes a very satisfying “low click”, it is not as loud or “pingy” as my Taylormade Ardmore. It sounds more similar to the milled Evnroll which makes more of a “dull click” or high pitched “thud” but the Zebra is quieter and softer sounding due to the insert. It sounds almost like gently tapping a heavy oak cutting board with the handle of a kitchen knife, a dull “tock” if you will. On misshits out of the toe or heel the sound was slightly louder which provided useful feedback so I could correct my next stroke. 

As for the feel, this is where I think the putter really shines. It feels fantastic. I have never really liked the clicky feel of a milled putter but have also found the really soft inserts don’t provide much feedback sensation in my hands resulting in me feeling disconnected from the impact. The AIT3 has a nice balance between the two and is right in my sweet spot. It feels firm but not harsh or unforgiving. It gives really nice feedback so I can instantly tell if I found the center and put a good roll on it.

The Numbers (8 out of 10)

Overview

The putter's stability is like no other putter I have owned. I see the stability of the AIT3 as the foundation the putter was built on. This has resulted in improved accuracy, distance control, and forgiveness. I have always struggled with lag putting when I get to 20+ feet from the hole, especially if it is uphill or on a ridge. If you look at my on course numbers I have dropped to 2 putts per hole on average and the improved lag putting is a huge reason why. The weight and stability that result from it have helped me not feel like I am hammering the putt which always makes me nervous from those distances.

My Head to Head Test

I went to my local course’s practice green and tested all of the putters from 2 distances. I rolled 50 putts with each putter at each distance. I wanted to pick a distance that provides a challenge but is reasonably makeable for my first distance. I expect to make more than half my putts from 7 feet so that was my first distance.

As you can see it was pretty close but to my surprise the AIT3 was not the top performer at this distance. I made 8% fewer putts at this range which is not insignificant. This is where I deducted 2 points. 

For the next distance I chose 12 feet. This is where most people start to see a large drop off in their make rate. I felt it would give a good idea on how well the putter does on long but still somewhat make able putts and give a good sense of distance control and forgiveness. 

This distance is where the AIT3 shined. The stability and heavier head helped me find the correct speed from longer distances. The forgiveness also became apparent. Admittedly I did not track how far my misses were with each putter but anecdotally the Zebra left me with in a foot for more misses than any of my other putters. This is a huge positive for me. Distance control and proximity to the hole on missed putts is key for me staying at a 2 putt average, which is always my goal. 

On-Course (19 out of 20)

In case you have not picked up a common theme for my golf game, confidence in the shot I’m taking is key for me. In all sports I am very much a feel guy. If you ask me how I did something on skis I would be unable to tell you unless I made myself think about it while doing it. So if I can stand over the ball on a putt with a hot dog on the line and not have to think about how the putter is moving, I will be getting that hot dog more often than not. The AIT3’s stability and forgiveness helped me feel like I was moving the putter smoothly and on the right path. This allowed me to focus more on the putt itself rather than the putting motion. 

I track my shots with 18Birdies. On my first round with the AIT3 I averaged 2.3 putts per hole. On my most recent round, after changing to a larger grip, I averaged 2 putts per hole. My best round with the putter was a 1.8 putts per hole. An interesting trend I noticed was that when I played 9 holes I averaged 2.15 putts per hole. On my 18 hole rounds I averaged 1.9 putts per hole. This speaks more to my mental game than it does the putter. I tend to take the 18 hole rounds much more seriously. If I can stay locked in everytime I play I am confident I can average 2 putts or better per hole with this putter. This is a massive improvement from the handful of times I tracked rounds with my Taylormade Ardmore 3, where I averaged 2.4 putts per hole across 3 recorded rounds. 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (15 out of 20)

The Good 

The AIT3 looks great. I cannot emphasize this enough. When I saw the pictures I was intrigued and thought they looked decent but I was worried the finish wouldn’t match the $249.99 price tag. When I got the putter in my hands and could look at it in person I was blown away by the quality and attention to detail. The looks and quality met my expectations at this price point. I did not have the pleasure of working with Zebra’s customer service myself but I will say everything I heard from @GolfSpy TCB was very positive. They also used express shipping to get the putters to us ASAP and made sure to get us different weights as soon as they had them in stock. Customer service should be a part of your consideration when buying a higher end club and Zebra nailed this. 

The Bad
Now this area is where my own personal preferences come into play, what's bad for me may not be bad for you. I am 6”4” with large hands even for someone my height and they offer minimal customization to accommodate this. You can only get the putter in 3 lengths (33”, 34”, and 35”). You cannot select different grips, there is no option to adjust the lie angle, and you cannot select different shafts. If you look at a similarly priced Odyssey, White Hot Versa PUTTER, at $259.99 you can select all of this and have many more length options. I ended up replacing the grip for my last full round of 18 and played one of my best rounds with this putter. I also used the larger grip in my final comparison with the other putters I have played. I feel that in order to be a competitive option Zebra will need to offer more customizations. It's for this reason I am deducting 5 points in this section as I feel that this is a somewhat significant con for Zebra. 

The Inbetween

There is one small annoyance that had zero impact on the putter's performance. The hole is too small to pick a ball up with. I understand that the hole is there to help move weight further out and add an alignment aid. But would it really hurt to make it a hair bigger so I can use it to pick up the ball?

Play it or Trade it? (17 out of 20)

I can say confidently that this putter helped me play better. For that reason I will play it. With that said I do need to make a few more tweaks to the putter to ensure it is a good fit for me. I already put a different grip on it. Since I will be making this my gamer I will take into my local fitter and get the lie angle and length dialed in. I am likeling going to play it at 36” and get it a couple degrees more upright. With these adjustments I anticipate gaming it for many years to come as the feel, forgiveness, and sound are fantastic. It is also incredibly stable so I feel much more confident standing over an important putt and am not as worried about missing my line.

Conclusion

Overall I was impressed with the putter. I had actually never heard of Zebra until I saw the testing opportunity. The AIT3 is exactly as they market it. Very forgiving and stable. I think the average golfer who buys off the rack would get along well with this putter. I personally saw a pretty big improvement in my putts per hole that resulted in 3-4 fewer strokes per round by the end of the testing period. 

Unfortunately I think where Zebra struggles is when you compare it to larger manufactures such as Odyssey, Cleveland, etc. who offer more customization at a similar price point. If Zebra can add options for different grips, shats, more lengths, lie angles, and hosel shapes they could be much more appealing. I have had to make some tweaks and plan to make a few more in order to fit it to my stroke and preferences. As much as I have liked the AIT3, unless you get a deal on it or just really like the design it is hard to justify purchasing over the competition.

Final Score (87 out of 100)

Thank you to Zebra and MGS for the opportunity to test the AIT3! @LinksgolfFever @tony@CIC @cciciora13 It has been a lot of fun following each of your posts and updates. If any of you are ever in Colorado and have time for a round or a beer let me know! If any of my fellow spies have questions about the test feel free to reach out!

Edited July 28, 2023 by aguybadatgolf

[LinksgolfFever]

Welcome to my Official MGS review

First and foremost, many thanks to ZEBRA and to MGS for allowing me to participate in this.  I am looking forward to all of the golf I am going to have to play in order to make this a great review.

About Me:  I am from Santa Cruz, CA and my family has been here since 1910.  I grew up playing everything but golf, I never saw the allure of golf.  After high school I enlisted in the Army and that was my plan.  After a traumatic knee injury cut my service time, I returned to Santa Cruz and was looking for my next life story to write.  A couple of weeks later my Grandfather was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was not expected to make it 6 months.  He asked me to go out and play golf with him, my dad and uncles.  Of course I said yes, but wasn’t expecting to enjoy the golf just my time with him…  Totally not the case.  I WAS HOOKED!  I got a job a local course in the cart shed and started playing as much as I could.  Two years later ,I was playing on the golf team at college.  Playing competitively for the next few years.  Then it was time to get a real job, got married and life happened, not very much time for golf.  Fast forward to 2015 and while on vacation in Maui, my love for golf was rekindled.  More life changes and my wife Anna and I met.  We have two boys at home with us and for the next 2 months they are the same age. (9 months difference between them).  Anna and I got married last year and for our honeymoon we went to Ireland and Scotland.  She is totally supportive of my golf, so much so that when I broached the idea of taking my clubs on our honeymoon she didn’t even pause when she said “you should absolutely do that.”  While in Scotland we stayed at Carnoustie and I played three rounds there.  She came out and walked with me and kept remarking how beautiful it was and even recognized some of the course from seeing the Open championship.   

Aside from an awesome partner and an amazing honeymoon, the highlight of the golf at least was holing out from 125 yards on the 5th for birdie.

I gamed an original Zebra in my early golfing days and am very interested to see how this new putter stacks up. 

Testing Plans:

While all of the MOI, lateral spin, top spin, º of impact, etc.  are interesting to me my golf is more about sensory perceptions.  I want to know how the putter sounds, how it feels, how it looks, what kind of confidence it inspires or doesn’t?  I have a few rounds of golf to play each week, along with a few practice sessions that will both provide the most feedback.  I will also be doing some comparatives with the 3 other putters I currently have/use. Basic testing will be putts from 6’, 12’, 18’ and 24’.  My plan is to continue with these tests weekly and have an aggregate data set at the completion of the review.  I will be testing each of the four putters from these lengths from 4 sides of the cup: uphill putting, downhill putting, left/right sidehill putting and right/left sidehill putting.  Questions answered by the completion of this review:

1.       Look of the putter and head cover are they aesthetically pleasing?

2.       Feel of the putter.  How does the feel differ between center/off center hits?

a.       How reactive is the feedback in the putter, will I feel the center/off center hits?

3.       How does the putter sound? Does it differ between contact types?

4.       Overall scores for putting ranges 6’-24 feet. 

5.       How Confident am I at judging distance with the putter, compared to my current putter(s)?

 

Thank you and I hope you enjoy my review.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

The Zebra has landed.....

Once I got my tracking number thanks @GolfSpy TCB I was anxiously checking FedEx for shipment updates...and to my surprise the package was early!!!  Box arrived in perfect condition subtle Zebra on the outside. Packaged very nicely and a card from Zebra.  

Arrived in perfect condition!!!

Clean and safe packaging

Good marketing, and nice touch

 face balanced...

Nice set up

Attention to detail

 Good looking headcover

Now for the competition....

I will be comparing this against my current gamer (Scotty Cameron Circa '62 No.3-plumbers neck) and the my other two putters currently on timeout (Scotty Cameron Circa '62 No.2-straight hosel, and PXG Blackjack-double bend face balanced).

Left to Right PXG, Cameron No. 2, Cameron No. 3 and the Zebra AIT1.

Just in case an emergency golf situation happens this is what my trunk always looks like.  Its a Subaru WRX/Golfmobile....My clubs, my boys clubs, 3 pairs of shoes (you never know), launch monitor, extra balls, tees, towels, etc....

MGS virtual tour bag tag(thanks again @GolfSpy TCB )and my bag tag from Carnoustie  ...

First Impressions: (15/20)

Aesthetics: (7/10)-Headsize, larger than i am used to/expected.

Numbers: (8/10)-Set up to get face square took some trial and error with grip and stance.

Putter arrived early big plus, clear markings, subtle design notes.  I like the attention to detail paid on the putter and head cover.  The Head is probably twice the size of the original (from memory at least)  I am trying to get my hands on one to have a side by side photo shoot.  The weight feels good with the stock 15g weights, I would be curious to test this with the heavier 20g weights if they become available soon.  Gripped up with a Zebra branded Winn pistol grip.  Standing over the putter for the first time, I like the look but I feel like in my normal/regular putting position the face sits a couple of degrees open.  Overall great first impression, next stop rolling a few practice balls.  I will be doing a "get to know Zebra" at my home course to get a feel for the AIT1.

The testing equipment

Rolling a few putts to get a feel for the AIT1.  Thank you @GolfSpy SAM for the assist and suggestion to upload my video to YouTube.  

 

 

 

 

 

I will start reporting the Side by side comparisons Monday, for now I am diving into the deep end, quitting Scotty Cameron “cold turkey” for the testing period….Good Luck to me, LOL.

Rounds of Golf:

6/17/23 Round 1:  Early morning round today 2 hours 30 minutes walking ahead of all of the crazy pre Father’s Day rounds.  I was worried on the first hole, I had 25 feet for birdie and rolled the putt 7’ past the cup, but rolled in the comeback for par.  The from nine yielded 14 putts, no 3 putts.  I had 3 slippery breaking outs from 6-10 feet that found the cup with precision.  Off to the back nine, the roll felt smooth but left a few short of the hole.  I will blame the pre mowed, dew covered greens for that and my lack of consideration, not the putter.  My biggest apprehension/worry was being able to lag putt and or get close with confidence those long putts I wind up with a few times per round.  Hole 13 is a 400 +\- yard par 4.  I hit a great drive and had about 125 to the pin, my second shot came off a little flat and I got to the front of the green.  35 foot putt up hill with about 3 feet of left to right break, I rolled the putt to 1 foot hole high on the low side.  Par, check.  18th hole my approach didn’t check as much as I planned and left me with about 25 feet for birdie.  Slightly down hill right to left break about 2 feet and I jarred it.  14 putts on the back.  28 total putts with about 80 feet of putts made.

6/18/23 Round 2:  Happy Father’s Day (6:30 tee time, 1st golfer out and I’ll be home before breakfast….).  32 Putts today and about 65 feet of putts made.  A few hours of swimming and paddling in the surf with my youngest yesterday made me more sore than I thought I’d be.  So getting from tee to green today wasn’t great, LOL.  Putting was decent, longest putt made today was 12 feet.  I am still getting used to the setup, the camber on the bottom of the putter will open the club face a few degrees if you set up heel down, closed a few degrees toe down.  Good rolls happen with miss hits but distance is reduced by 10-15% (best calculation based on my initial read and planned roll out).  A nice click sound from on center hits and a noticeably muted click almost a thud on off center putts.

6/22/23 Round 3:  NCGA Match play today (group of 32), I said I was going 

and I meant it!  Maybe a little crazy, but I will say the Zebra AIT1 has given me enough confidence to continue with the Cameron pair on the bench.  Today the round was at Monterey Pines Golf Club.  The Greens were SLICK today.  14 putts on the front with a THREE PUTT. (No fault of the putter, I caught a flier from 90 yards out, missed the backstop and had just under 70' with about 5 feet of break.  Inside 6 feet I feel very comfortable over the ball, more so than I had previously.  The official match was done on 10, on my way to the round of 16....  Putting on the back 9, same as the front (no 3 putts, ).  28 putts for the round. 

After 3 rounds I am averaging 1.63 putts per hole, which is about .25 putts less than I had over the past month (10 rounds).  

Round 4: 6/25/23 Played today at Pacific Grove Golf Links in Pacific Grove.  The Course has finally dried out from all of the winter rains, but the wind was in full force. Gusts @ +25/mph.  The last time I played there, water hazards were a real thing in the fairways on the back 9.  Today started out slow and unfortunately continued through the front 9.  15 putts, with several that were near enough to peak in but not drop.  The back 9 was about the same 16 putts including a 12’ comeback putt after I nuked one past the cup.  Today was the first time in using the putter I have found the heavier putter head without a counter balance in the grip was problematic.  The bright side is it forces me to have a big muscle (shoulder/arm) stroke.  When I am not focused and my grip softens too much, I get more hands in the stroke and with longer putts that can be a PROBLEM!!  Round totals 31 putts and 65 feet of putts made.

Round 5: 6/27/23  Played my home course today (Pajaro Valley).  Super grey and cold (but can finish a round in 3 hours or less). Best way to start the day before work….Round went well started off with a birdie on 1 just about 12 feet.  Gave it right back on the next hole with a nuked 8 iron that had 15 yards more carry than its normal max.  15 putts on the front 9 with 32 feet of putts made.  On the back 9 I finally beat my nemesis (hole 11 par 3) which usually counts for a bogey or worse on my card.  Today I almost jarred it.  I had about 10 feet of roll out from my tee shot and from my vantage point it rolled over the cup….3 feet for a birdie, yes thank you.  Finished the back with 16 putts and 30 feet of putts made.  Round total 31 putts and 62 feet of putts made.  The saga continues with the weight of the club head vs. shaft and my grip pressure/putting stroke.  I had another putt today from about 30 feet out and I managed to roll it about 8-10 feet past the cup.  Good news is I managed to get the comeback putt to fall. 

Round 6:  (7/2/23) Red White and Blue Tourney.  You pick the tee need to play 6 from each.  Putting was okay today, the rest of my game was pretty ROUGH….I started from the blue tees and I start my round with a slight pull off the 1st tee and about 225 uphill to reach the par 5 in 2.  5 iron from the rough and a duff leaving my 3rd shot about 140 out and a push to the front right bunker. 4th shot good bunker shot but no check and it dribbled into the left greenside bunker…..about 10’ for bogey and I miss it low, +2 after 1 hole. ☹  Not too many highlights today, other than a 30’ eagle putt on 4 that I got inside 2 feet for birdie.  Front 9 +9 with 16 putts (25 feet putts made).  Back 9 +7 with 15 putts (30 feet putts made). Had several opportunities to score but caught a bit of the hossels with a few wedges that left my concentration on the green less than stellar.  I felt very uncomfortable over the putter today (alignment, stroke, read, etc….) on a good note I made ALL of my comeback putts.

Round 7: (7/4/23) Played my home course early morning to avoid the crowds.  Today was a better round but still feel like alignment continues to be hit and miss.  No David Hosseltoff’s today which was awesome, left a few birdies on the course with putts just off line (over and under the cup).  Chipping was the saving grace finished the round +7 (+4 on the front, +3 on the back).  30 putts with about 60’ of putts made.  Spent about 2 hours after the round putting….

Round 8: (7/10/23) Played Laguna Seca Golf ranch today, (R.T. Jones Jr&Sr designed course).  Greens were a little patchy but then so was my play. (too many game improvement thoughts) and A LOT of wind 10-15 mph with gusts above 30 mph.  Front 9 16 putts (30 feet of putts made).  I left myself too many long putts.  Pay attention to grain direction…. Back 9 14 putts (about 31 feet of putts made).  Had 1 good 12 foot putt for a par save on 16 (up hill par 4, I missed the green short left and had a little more spin on my chip than I would have liked to have.  30 putts and about 61 feet of putts made on the round.  The putter felt a little off in my hands today, had a few putts run to the right from my intended line. 

Round 9: (7/15/23) Team match play event at my home course (Pajaro Valley GC).  Still trying to get out of the mechanics/over thinking mire.  My line/reading speed was improved somewhat today but kept leaving those birdie putts rolling over the lip.  If I had a 10 foot putt to save par it dropped, but 5 feet for birdie lips out…I won the match 4&3 with a total of 33 putts and 70 feet of putts made. 

*7/17/23- 20g weights arrived from Zebra today.  The remainder of the test/review will be completed with the 20g weights.

Round 10: 7/18/23- 0530 hrs round this morning at Laguna Seca.  Plan for today, plan the shots, execute the shots, quickly measure previous shot outcome to plan and MOVE ON!  1st hole 20 feet slightly down hill with about 2 feet of break from left to right, center cup drained BIRDIE!  (heavier weights, are working?!?).  Finished the front with 13 more putts.  Game was back on and I was much more comfortable today.  Average make distance after 1st hole about 4-5 feet.  Back 9 similar putting, overall proximity was much closer average length of putts made about 3.5 feet.  3 holes where I missed the green and had putts from the fringe/apron/first cut rolled really well.  I think this is where the extra weight  makes this putter more comfortable and reliable to get close.  Hole 16 (my nemesis) had a wedge into the green, too much spin and landed on the center undulation between the tiers on the green left me about 70 feet for birdie, lagged up to 3 feet and made my par.  18th hole 120 to the pin hit my 53º wedge to 3 feet (and made the putt) BEST round to date with the putter, 29 total putts and 77 feet of putts made. Round was a 5 over 76 with a birdie on 1 and 18.

*NCGA Match play round of 16 Sunday planning on riding this Zebra all the way to Pebble!

Please check out my putter comparison testing 6 feet, 12 feet and 18' have been completed. Putting stats before/after my old gamer vs. the Zebra....

Before Zebra:

With Zebra: 

Happy golfing….

 

I was discussing the Zebra test with the course manager at my home course (Pajaro Valley Golf Club).  yesterday and this morning after my round he broke out his original Zebra check out the side by side below…

 

First round of comparisons:   Here are the results thus far (practice green).  Putter testing is the Zebra AIT1 vs. my equipment( 2 camerons, and a PXG, see above for details).  THE TESTING HAS BEGUN!!!!  40 putts from 6 feet with each putter (uphill, downhill, right and left sides of the cup).  The Zebra just snuck past the cameron (no3) with the top score of 34 of 40 putts made.  I added a legend to clarify the missed putts, where/how missed (included on the screenshot below) But will explain.   #1 Short of the cup and below the cup, #2 Short of the cup and above the cup, #3 Long of the cup and below the cup, #4 Long of the cup and above the cup, #5 Offline/bad read/missed Line.  I have added a #6 for the 18' and 24' putts for anything inside 2 feet "good lag".  

Hopefully this all makes sense, I am a nerd at heart and love data!!!.  

*Current issue with Putter and my grip pressure/putting stroke.  On longer putts it becomes very important to keep my hands quiet.  If not, it rockets off of the clubface and cruises past the cup.  (Not to say this is a putter issue, rather the putt'e (sp.) that is handling the equipment).  A nuance to work around, but I am curious if a counterbalance in the grip could/would mitigate the issue.

 

 

The black and white flag (or putter as it were) at the finish line

 

The testing has concluded and my initial test of the Zebra AIT1 is complete. Thank you to Zebra and the MGS team for the opportunity to test the AIT1, this was a lot of fun and a great excuse to play A LOT of golf.  This road was a little bumpy at times, but all and all a successful run with the AIT1.  My comfort level started strong, dipped a bit and finished fairly strong. 

Review of initial impressions

First impressions (20/20) *revised*– The customer service from Zebra (while I did not interact directly, the quoted times and service were met and beat quoted times).  The packaging was perfect, enough filler in the box to keep the putter secure, but didn’t fill up my refuse or recycling cans and included a nice card from Zebra. Simple and straight forward care instructions.  The head cover looks great and well put together, will last. 

Putter aesthetics (8/10) -*revised* it was a bit larger than expected/than I am used to playing, but it does grow on you(In a good way).  I like the contrast between the bold lines on the club head and the subtle designs like the ghost zebra print on the sole.  Great sound feedback from center and off-center hits.  The center strike has a great click and you feel it in your hands.  Off center hits have a more hollow tin like click sound that you can also feel in your hands, enough difference between the two to know it. 

Numbers (8/10) Set up to feel the face square and aligned took a bit of trail and error moving stance/ball position/grip.  This was most noticeable on faster greens, more grainy greens.  Please see below for comparative analysis.

End review feedback and data

 

Comparison testing was completed using my 2 Scotty Cameron putters and my PXG putter.  The Zebra performed considerably better than the other “face balanced” putter in the test (PXG-Blackjack). The testing against the Cameron putters was marginally better/worse depending on the distance recorded. 

 

On Course rating (16/20)

My initial rating for this was higher @19/20, the first 10 rounds in my on-course testing were completed at my home course (Pajaro Valley) and another regular haunt where the green speeds are fairly constant around 9-10.  The last 5 rounds were played at another pair of courses Monterey Pines and Bayonet where the green speeds are variable but play minimally 10+.  At the constant speed and sub 10 speed on the greens I had a lot of confidence in the putter and my stroke.  On the faster and variable greens I lost quite a few strokes on putts inside 10 feet.  You can see in my play comparison in putts pre-Zebra(top) and with Zebra(bottom) there were certain distances I made improvements, others where I declined. 

 

The Good, Bad, and the other (16/20)

The Good- The feel and feedback with the putter is EXCELLENT.  I love the sounds with this putter on center strikes have a noticeable soft click and you see the ball roll and roll, the off center feedback is great as well because you can hear the difference between a center and off center putt.  The weight (stock) and additional weight kit was a great option, also priced well (for those who would need to purchase).  Great attention to detail; the alignment stripes on the head are bold and not trying to hide, while others like the subtle zebra tones on the sole of the putter and the grip are there and visibly pleasing but not yelling at you like a day glow tank top.  Top quality putter throughout.

 

The Bad- For me, not necessarily for you.  I am not a fan of the pistol grip in general, and the grip selection is singular and one size.  You can have any grip you’d like as long as it is this one!  As a customer I would hate to purchase a new putter and know it was going to get regripped before I played it.  Length choices are limiting as well. Regardless of one’s height it would be great to have a window larger than 3 inches to select from.  I completed the testing with the provided grip as I felt this was the best way to trial the product, with the available options from the manufacturer.  3 points deducted for lack of choice.

 

The Other- An annoyance probably than anything else.  All of the aspects around the size of the AIT1 increased compared to the original, except for the most important one.  The face height is TOO small for my preferences.  It is about 20% shorter on the face compared to the original and almost 50% shorter compared to my Cameron putters.  I noticed this most when I started to lose confidence in my stroke and I think it just got smaller (in my mind….).  1 point deduction for a short face. 

 

Play it or Trade it (15/20)- I really enjoyed the putter, on the right greens (specifically the right green speeds for me) I would play this putter (with a few necessary modifications- e.g., grip, sole weights, shaft length).  The challenge I had with this outside of use on courses with faster greens is the weighting/counter weighting that isn’t present.  I found at times I got a much hotter/faster putt than planned or anticipated, probably my stroke and more use of my hands but was an issue.  I think a more comprehensive look at loft/lie and shaft will be in order before I commit this to my putter line up on a permanent basis. 

 

Conclusion- Overall this was a good putter for me.  I am excited to see where the new Zebra will go.  I think this has the potential to be a GREAT putter for someone that fits in the range of options offered.  For me the testing had a bit of a curve to it, where mid testing is where I saw the best returns from the putter, the end fell a little short of my expectations.  If you have a stroke with near zero to minimal toe flow this is THE PUTTER for YOU!!!  The downside is options that aren’t available, hopefully in the future more selection in shaft/weight/grip will be available.  Again, if the “off the shelf” settings work for your game, it is a steal at MSRP.  If you need something outside of that, it ends up being less of a deal and a harder justification for the purchase.

 

Final Score (83/100)- MANY THANKS to Zebra and MGS for the opportunity and the excuse to play MORE GOLF to perform a thorough examination of the Zebra AIT1.  When you are planning a vacation to sunny Norcal and want to get in a round or 2 send me a message, my clubs are never further away than my trunk in the Golfmobile AKA “Subaru WRX.”

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by LinksgolfFever
update for review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Fun group! Looking forward to your reviews and big congrats to the new testers. Great to see new names getting involved... No pressure

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Congratulations testers! Now the fun begins, enjoy it!

[russtopherb]

Hey congrats all! Looking forward to your reviews.

[Josh Ross]

Always awesome to see new testers! Congrats to those selected, such a cool opportunity!

[rkj427]

Congrats. to this group of testers!

Looking forward to their comments and reviews. 

[MDGolfHacker]

15 hours ago, GolfSpy TCB said:

Zebra Putters Testers Announced! 

MyGolfSpy Forum is really excited to have this iconic brand as part of our member testing and we are thrilled to have these testers take part in a review. 

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for the Zebra Putter Lineup!

@tony@CIC - AIT4
@aguybadatgolf - AIT3
@cciciora13 - AIT2
@LinksgolfFever - AIT1
 

Congratulations testers!

[MIGregB]

Congratulations testers! I read a lot of posts from tony@CIC and have always liked his approach/style. I'm anxious to read all the reviews, but his review in particular. Thanks!!

[MattWillGolf]

Congrats Testers! Enjoy the process it’s worth it.
And you’re putting may improve cuz you’re going to have to practice. Mine did.

[Willie T]

Congrats to all those chosen to test the Zebras!  Make ‘em roll straight and true!  

[Bogeys ov]

Congratulations to all chosen!

[Mr Orange]

Congrats on getting selected. Been really looking into a new putter and excited to see how the testing goes.

[JerBooth]

Cant wait to see the tester reviews on this one. I'm possibly in the market for a new putter since my 3-ball face fell out.

Zebra was very kind to get us Spier's in on this. Thank you Zebra

[Derek Lusk]

Congratulations Testers!!! Looks like a great group. Can’t wait for your reviews 

[Madden B]

Lucky lucky lucky! Congrats testers, can't wait to read up on these beautiful putters!

[tdroma98]

Congrats Testers!! Looking forward to reading your testing experience, especially the AT1 and how its changed in 30yrs, LOL

[tony@CIC]

2 hours ago, MIgregb said:

Congratulations testers! I read a lot of posts from tony@CIC and have always liked his approach/style. I'm anxious to read all the reviews, but his review in particular. Thanks!!

Thanks Greg. I can't wait to putt it through the paces , I even have a spare (new design) Shotscope putter sensor waiting. 

[Vanna]

Awesome ! Congrats everyone ! I'm jealous  if you are not able to test ==========> send them on my WAY 

[CB Lobo 4 Life]

18 hours ago, GolfSpy TCB said:

Zebra Putters Testers Announced! 

@tony@CIC - AIT4
@aguybadatgolf - AIT3
@cciciora13 - AIT2
@LinksgolfFever - AIT1
 

Congrats testers! Excited to hear about these results. Played an old Zebra putter back in Freshman and Sophmore year so, I would love to hear how they are so many years later!

[Hendu33]

Congrats to all testers. Cannot wait for the review.

[JohnH1]

Good luck testers. I’m really interested in the review of the AIT4. Have fun!

[MadisonGolfbum]

Congrats testers! I still have the original Zebra, in black finish, and look forward to your reviews of the new model.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Derek9rx]

Congratulations to the winners 

[TSauer]

Congrats, fellas! I'm not familiar with Zebra, so I'm curious to see what they're all about.

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers! I've never used a Zebra, but know they were used a lot bank in the day. I'm looking forward to hearing how the current model work for each of you. 

[Triple_Putt]

Congrats Testers!  Looking forward to seeing everyones results!