Sub 70 Putters - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Testers Announced! @GolfSub70 Putters

Just because the seasons are changing doesn’t mean there isn’t still ample time to test and review golf clubs. 

In MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing Sub 70 has performed well year over year and claimed third overall in 2023 Most Wanted Blade with the Sycamore 005 Wide Blade.  Bolstering an impressive lineup of 16 putters they have an option that will surely appeal to any golfer. 

Sub 70 says “Every Sub 70 putter is milled from a billet of 1045 carbon steel which leaves no welds, castings or inconsistencies in the head. This is the best way to make a putter head and you will not find a more solid, great feeling putter. Aesthetically each of the Sub 70 putters offers a clean, classic black and white color scheme with traditional alignment lines. We have purposefully made the heads slightly heavier than the industry standard as we feel it allows a more natural pendulum like putting stroke. “

Sub 70 also introduced a new graphite/steel putter shaft this year that offers more technology, feel and stability. Add in these Sub 70 putters will often cost half of what major brands sell for and there would seem to be perfect balance of value and performance. 

Please welcome and congratulate our four testers!

@Dweed

@Mr Orange

@BallsLeon 

@snoopy79

[Dweed]

@GolfSub70

Sub 70 Sycamore 004 Mallet Putter- Official MGS Forum Review by Dick Erdmann

Introduction

A little about me. I’m retired, almost 70 and no pro, but my grandkids do think I’m the cat’s meow on the course. I estimate that 95% of my play is on courses that average 5700-6000 yards.  About 95% of my golfing occurs between April and mid- November. I would classify myself as a fair-weather golfer. Mid- Michigan is home and I play the vast majority on public access courses. I enjoy the sport as recreation and for emotional release. Currently my handicap index is 8. I have played golf since 10, learning from my dad, playing during summers as a junior and on my high school team. Spent 20 years in the Army and played occasionally. Once retired, I picked up the sport again and actually devoted time to practice. As I have aged and losing some flexibility my distance has dropped. I feel I’m playing the best golf of my life right now in part due to technological advances and becoming a more strategic golfer stressing accuracy and repeatability. My current putter is an Odessey Versa Works 7- 350g. (Shown below)  

This has been in my bag since 2016. It was a huge improvement over my past blade style putters from mixed match sets. Putting well has always alluded me in some respect. Reading greens consistently as well as repeatable swing has contributed to 3 putts on average, one to 2 times per round. My current basic putting stats for this season are shown below:

 

My goal is to improve my putting overall. I’m not looking for huge differences. What I’m looking for is sustainable improvements. Reducing the 3 putts. I plan to concentrate on distances from 21 feet and in. I plan to test this putter on the course, but concentrate on the local practice green. My measurement tools are what everyone possesses. One pace for me equals 34 inches. It takes 7 paces and a foot to reach 21 feet for me. I settled on testing at 21 feet and less because I feel any putt longer is difficult to measure for an accurate and consistent lag, for me anyway.

Why test this product? The DTC model is of interest, but I’m not 100% sold on it yet. I’m curious about their graphite/steel shaft. Sub 70’s 004 Mallet is heavier and being able to adjust head weight is of interest to see how it might impact my swing, if I can actually tell of any difference. Sub 70’s website ordering was efficient but with the custom choices available, average golfers need to have a decent understanding of what this all means. It’s hard to place an order without seeing or feeling the product. Again, this is me. Ultimately it comes down to how does it look, how does it feel, am I making more putts, can I afford it? All of these will decide if it goes in my bag.

 

@golfsub70

 

 

I was to get out twice earlier the week for 2, nine hole rounds. Monday I shot even par, wait folks, this is on a 5695 yard course. Just saying, not that exciting but it was the best round I had this year. I had 17 putts. Not bad but ZERO 3 putts. Today I did another 9 holes in the middle of the national emergency alert test, no less. My shots were generally short of the green. I only had 14 putts. Not ready to commit that the @GolfSub70 004 Mallet was the savior of my round (40). The greens were aerated and sand treated over the past 2 days so it made putting ...fun. I will 100% say that the added weight of the 004 Mallet helped in overcoming the bumps. So far on practice greens I have noticed that missed putt dispersion is much closer than my other putter. I like the tight dispersion. Going to rain for the next 2 days and temps back down to low 50's. Indoor testing now.

 

Aesthetics:

The shape of the 004 Mallet is nothing new but what I did like is the black putter head. The white aim line was a nice contrast and very much directs my eyes to that area.

The putter face milling has a distinct pattern as well as the entire putter head. The putter head bottom is covered with sycamore leaf etching as well as the company logo for Sub 70. The head cover is equally well decorated. Not obnoxiously so, but enough that it captures your attention. The steel/graphite shaft combination just naturally blends with the putter head.

How do I describe the feel or sensation when I hit putts. It is solid with a deep click which I personally like. Even when I purposely hit off the heel or the toe the sound is very similar. I could tell for sure that I mishit it, it’s just that it isn’t a devastating or wimpy sound. The feel is solid, whether it was a light tap or a forceful wrap to get the ball up a hill. It felt good. You know that feel when it happens, and it happens a lot with this putter. As far as the shaft goes, I don’t have any equipment that could help me quantify if the material combo was better or worse than any other putter shaft. All I can say is I liked the feel. The lack of hit vibration in my hands was noticeable and I did like the added weight of this putter. It appeared to balance well with my swing and was easy swinging. Didn’t feel I needed to give it extra ump on longer putts. Scoring: 10 out of 10

The Numbers:

I’ve been testing this putter for 3 weeks now. A total of 12 hours on a practice green and 4 hours on my indoor putting mat on rainy days. Each session lasted about an hour to avoid back fatigue. I used my current putter and the Sub 70 004 mallet putter. My testing consisted of hitting three putts from 3 feet, then 6 feet, backing up to 9, 12, 15 18 and finally 21 feet. I recorded each putt as to the result. Sunk it, long left, long right, short left, short right, left even with the hole and right even with the hole. Using my putting mat indoors I could only use the 3 and 6 foot distances.

One thing I noticed from 9 foot and beyond putts, my dispersion was closer when using the Sub70 mallet. I can’t quantify it other than my visual perception. But it was noticeable to me. My results on the 3- and 6-foot indoor putting mat were very similar to the results experienced from the outdoor practice green so I didn’t create a separate tracking sheet for the indoor mat.  Something I had never quantified before were my short putts. I’ve always known that a short putt has a 100% chance of missing, but never really tracked until now.  Overall, I saw an improvement of over 6% fewer short putts using the Sub70 mallet. As you’ll see on the screen shot below, my “make” percentages from almost every distance was higher when using the Sub70 mallet putter. Also noticeable was my longer putt misses were approximately 20 percent less using the Sub70 club. At first it wasn’t computing in my brain until I viewed how much higher the make rate was for the Sub70. Then it dawned on me, yeah right. Fewer missed long putts should equate to more made putts. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Scoring: 10 out of 10

On-Course:

I mentioned before, on the practice green, I was seeing what I felt was a tighter dispersion of my misses. While playing the course it was hard to compare since I was hitting one ball. But in looking at it over the past 3 weeks I do believe that is still a valid observation. The Sub70 004 mallet is an easy putter to align, I like the white aim line against the black body. It fit my eye well. This aspect is certainly an individual choice for sure. This time of year, the greens have been recently aerated and are running a bit slower as the greens repair themselves. As I putted during my round, I liked the added weight compared to my old putter. Cleaning this putter was easy and tended not to collect as much sand or clippings as my old putter. Based on the limited play for this year, the Sub70 004 mallet did edge out my old putter by a slight margin. The below posted chart shows my putting stats for 2023 before the test and 2023 doing the test. Granted my 2023 season 9-hole rounds involved 45 rounds versus seven rounds with the Sub70. One thing I plan to tinker with more over the off season and into the spring start up is trying to dial in a preferred weight adjustment for me. I believe I had mentioned this earlier that more of my misses were to the left than the right. Trying to even that out should equate to more made putts as well.  Scoring: 20 out of 20

The Good, the bad, the in-between:

It’s really easier to call out the bads on the product. From my perspective there really are not any bads. The only glitch I came across had to do with the web site order process and that was addressed in my first impressions. The good? The added weights are nice. I like the way it swings. That pendulum feel is much more noticeable and feels like I’m in-control of that movement. The packaging was well done and very sturdy. I liked the way the aim line on the top of the putter contrasted nicely with the black putter head. It helps guide your sight along that line. The grips are really totally dependent on the person and many kinds are available when it is ordered. The only in-between I noticed for me was the bend in the shaft. I was used to a double bend which wasn’t available. I opted for the single bend. When I started to putt with it, that threw me off a little bit. Surprisingly though I adapted to it pretty easily and it is second nature now. So far, the numbers look very promising, it is too bad our season had come to an end a little earlier that other years. That is another reason to look forward to 2024 and establish some specific goals around putting performance. Scoring: 19 out of 20

Play it or trade it?

For sure, I’ve seen enough positives to leave in my bag. I think the numbers I captured definitely show positive improvements. How can I say no? Scoring 20 out of 20

Conclusion:

No doubt, the Sub70 004 mallet is a quality putter. The CNC workmanship is readily identifiable.  It will replace my Odessey Versa 7. I like the looks and the feel when I’m standing over the ball. The swing feel is noticeable. A heel or toe mishit is noticed but doesn’t result in a disaster. One thing to note it will not break the bank. I bought my OD seven years ago and paid around $250.  Ordering the 004 mallet today would cost just a hair over $200 and it is made in the USA.

Final Score: 97 out of 100

Thank you MGS and SUB70 for this test opportunity.

Edited November 8 by Dweed
added final

[BallsLeon]

Sub 70 Sycamore 009 Mini Putter Review

Introduction - 9/19/23
Hello everyone, and welcome to my review! My name is TJ, hailing from Overland Park, Kansas, and I'm a 32 year old, married, IT systems engineer who has been playing golf off and on since he was a child. I have only started taking golf more seriously in this past year, and I'm trying my best to bring that handicap down. I am definitely a casual player (don't belong to any leagues or play tournaments) but I like to play at least once a week and have a weekly golf lesson. When I'm not golfing I love to bike (mountain bike and gravel), cook/grill, cheer on my teams (Jayhawks, Chiefs, and Red Wings), and play some videogames/boardgames.

When it comes to my golf game, my putting is anywhere from slightly below average to dumpster fire. I started using GHIN in mid-June to track my rounds, and so far have 16 rounds logged. I am currently averaging 38 putts over 18 holes, and 30% of the time I'm making a three putt, NOT GREAT. But there's hope after all... the golf gods have taken pity on me, they looked down upon me and said, "Congrats everyone on being selected for the Sub 70 Putter Member Test." 


 

So, why do I think this putter is going to improve anything? And how do I figure that out? Well, my current putter is an Odyssey Eleven Tour Lined S, I was turned on to this putter by MGS Buyer's Guide for 2022 in combination with a good CPO sale. I have no complaints with the design or build quality of this putter, but I just have found it does not suit my stroke. The 40° of toe-hang is a little dramatic for my stroke, my usual miss is right, but it becomes immediately apparent when trying to square the face with PuttOut Devil Balls, I almost never fully square the face and have to fight the putter to do so. With that in mind, I wanted to try a putter with 15-20° of toe-hang and narrowed down my choices to the following: 003 Mallet, 008 Mallet, 009 Mallet, and 009 Mini. After some deliberation, I opted for the Sycamore 009 Mini, the design is very attractive to me, I have had good luck tinkering with a similarly styled putter (PXG Mustang PB neck), having the adjustable weights was a plus, and a slightly smaller face might make this putter a little more versatile than a full-size mallet (texas wedge/fringe putts). To finish the build off I've opted for the graphite/steel single bend shaft 35" (15-20° toe-hang), 72° lie angle (this is standard, but 2° more upright than current putter which should put me more over the ball), and a Garsen Ultimate grip. My impression of Sub70 is already positive as I've had a chance to demo one of their hybrids and iron combo set. The price point and options for customization are certainly very attractive when you compare to some of the bigger brands off-the-shelf offerings.

Now that is settled how will I test it? I have a couple tools at my disposal: tracking my weekly golf rounds with GHIN, PuttOut trainer and matt, PuttOut DevilBalls, a really nice practice green at my local course, and will likely have specific putting lessons with my coach. I already have several rounds using the Odyssey to compare to, so I only plan to play rounds with the Sub70 during this testing. However, I will put the putters into direct comparison while practicing and document those results. To earn a spot in my bag, I'd like to see that average start ticking down but I will also settle for 36 putts or less in two rounds (something I've only managed once with the Odyssey).

Also, if you as the reader have any questions or requests of me during this review process please reach out!

First Impressions (19+1* out of 20) - 10/08/23
The Sycamore 009 Mini putter arrived late on Tuesday (9/26) about 8 days after the mods told us the order had been placed. I never received a shipping notification so I only noticed it had arrived when I was taking out the trash after cleaning up dinner. Really glad I did, and didn't leave it outside all night! The package looked to be in decent condition, and inside there were foam supports that lined the box providing plenty of protection.
Upon opening the package the first thing that greeted me was the almost blindingly neon green Garsen Ultimate grip. I have to come clean here, this was admittedly not my first choice and I had requested the red version (if possible). Not sure if that note was never received, or just unavailable, but the neon green has quickly won me over.
The next detail that stood out to me was the weight of this thing. For it's mini size, the 009 mini feels pretty dense. I would have said it's heavier than my Odyssey Eleven mallet. However, upon closer inspection with my kitchen scale the Odyssey is 11 grams heavier (535g Sub70 vs 546g Odyssey). Definitely something I want to mess with by the end of this review with the handy weight kit that was included! Also included in the box was a handwritten note from @GolfSub70, ball markers, and 009 mini putter cover with magnet closure.
Once out of the box, I was impressed by how quickly I was able to adjust to it. The more upright position of the Sub70 (72° lie angle) compared to that of the Odyssey (70° lie angle) let me get closer to the ball with my hands in slightly higher position that feels more natural. The Garsen Ultimate grip is quite a bit larger than the Odyssey pistol grip, but definitely for the better allowing me to still use a traditional putter grip comfortably. 
Now that I have had the putter for a couple weeks, I've been able to play one 9-hole round and two 18-hole rounds. Things started out pretty hot by matching my best 9-hole putting performance, 16 putts. I followed that up with another decent performance on a 18-hole round of 35 putts (20 front, 15 back). All good things come to an end, as I turned around and posted maybe one of my worst putting performances over 18-holes, 43 putts (24 front, 19 back). That looks not great, but even with that awful performance I am still managing a slightly better 9-hole average, 18.8 putts versus 19 putts prior. Really can't blame the putter for that performance, the ball is going exactly where I want but the operator was having trouble with speed (way too much) and reading greens. The performance of the putter is incredibly promising, excluding that round I would be averaging 17 putts over 9-holes, BUT that's not how golf works so have to include my good days with my bad.
I am docking one point here because of the lack of communication on shipping/ordering. I know this is not the traditional ordering process, but I am curious what the end-user experience would be for someone ordering. Potentially more on that to come...

Aesthetics (10 out of 10) - 10/08/23
This section of the review is incredibly easy for me with the 009 Mini being a solid 10 in my book. The design of the Sycamore line is quite simple: all black with white leaf stamps/detailing and the yellow Sycamore script. Paired with clean milled lines give it a very classy look. The putter cover does a good job extending that design aesthetic, and was pleased to find they are all model specific. As I mentioned above, the neon green Garsen was not my first choice, but I have found it pairs quite nicely with the black/yellow/white of the Sycamore line. Perhaps growing up in the 90s with Nickelodeon has made me predisposed to enjoying slime green. I've only played a few rounds so far, but have received compliments from strangers every round so far on it's looks.






The Numbers (10 out of 10) - 11/12/23
During this testing period I had a few occasions to place Sycamore 009 Mini and Eleven Tour S in direct competition with one another. My first test (here), where the 009 handily defeated the Eleven on my PuttOut trainer from various distances (62.5% vs 40.6% putts made). Additionally, I performed a similar test (here) on the practice greens where the 009 managed another win over the Eleven (67% vs 58% putts made). The milled face of the Sub 70 translated to a hotter ball off the face, which required a short period of adjustment, particularly noticeable in the 6-foot+ putts. Despite this, I grew to prefer the increased feedback it provided. Adverse conditions like recently sanded greens failed to perturb the putter's solid performance, instilling confidence regardless of the terrain.



On-Course (18 out of 20) - 11/12/23
Since the Sub 70 arrived, I've managed to play eight rounds, averaging 35.625 putts per round (exclude one particularly bad round and I would be averaging 34.57 putts)—a noticeable improvement from my previous average of 38 putts per round. Even with the natural variance in performance (the inevitable "outlier rounds"), the putter played a role in reducing my handicap index significantly from 29.2 to 23.4. However, to be fair there was an adjustment period where I posted two rounds with terrible putting and I have docked a point for each round.



The Good, the Bad, the In-between (20 out of 20) - 11/12/23
The 009's grip, weight, and minimalist design aesthetics were immediate standouts. The simplicity at address (I believe partly due to the shaft/hosel connection to the head), compared to my previous putter, did wonders for my confidence when stepping up to the ball. The model specific putter cover, and additional weight kit are a pleasant surprise given how affordable the putters are. I also found the feel of the Sub 70 steel/graphite shaft nearly indistinguishable from a Stroke Lab, slightly more vibration with the Stroke Lab but likely due to the thinner pistol grip. The only issue encountered was my own ability to read greens. No fault of the putter as I've found I can put the ball exactly where I want (if that’s the right spot is up for debate). Lastly, I’d like to address my criticism of Sub 70 ordering/communication this was a hiccup due to the atypical ordering process. During this testing period I ordered another club from Sub 70 (post here), and the process/communication was excellent, so I am adding a point back.*

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20) - 11/12/23
Play it! The Sub 70 Sycamore 009 Mini fits my game like a glove. The combination of the more upright lie angle, beefier grip, and reduced toe-hang has significantly improved my putting game. In combination with the value proposition offered by Sub 70 and their diverse line up, I think there is a putter in their line-up to suit any golfer's game (006 and 007 look really cool imo). The 009 Mini has definitely earned a spot in my bag by dropping my overall putts per round average, 5 rounds with sub-36 putts, and dropping my handicap index over the course of this review!

Conclusion - 11/12/23
If this review were a putt, consider it sunk - straight in the heart of the cup. True to their packaging, my expectations were redefined by this putter. I now step up to the green with confidence, and the expectation that I can make this putt. I am giving the Sub 70 Sycamore 009 Mini a near perfect score of 98. The few points I docked are minor grievances, a miscommunication that is not typical of the Sub 70 ordering process and my own shortcomings as I adjusted to a new putter. I expect this putter to be a staple in my bag for the foreseeable future, and I'm already in the process of selling my Odyssey.

Final Score (98 out of 100)

Edited November 12 by BallsLeon

[Mr Orange]

Introduction:

About Me: My name is Ryan and I joined MGS forums earlier this year. I’m married and have 3 kids (6/8/10) so life can be quite hectic at times. I live about 45 minutes south of Green Bay in Wisconsin and grew up in southern Wisconsin. I have played golf since I was a little kid and played on my high school team all 4 years of high school. I took a bit of a hiatus from golf after my 2nd child was born in 2015 and my love for the game was rekindled a couple years ago when my fantasy football league buddies started picking up golf and got me onto the Grint where I can get jealous when I get notifications of all them playing.

My Game: Short game and scrambling is one of the stronger parts of my game. I’m strong w/ my wedges and have some decent distance off the tee. Accuracy w/ my driver is a weakness so my golf game tends to hinge on how hitting the driver on a given day. Currently I’m a 15 hcp and average about 33 putts/round.

Why me: I’ll be a solid tester for this product as I recently did a putter fitting on the quintic putting system. Found out I had too low of loft on my putter and was having a tendency to drive the ball into the ground. I ended up w/ an Odyssey White Hot OG 7. The difference is night and day and already I am averaging almost 2 strokes less putting per round. I will be testing the 004 model (same style as OG 7) in a 33 inch length and standard lie w/ a superstroke tour 1.0 grip and the double bend steel shaft. I did my best to match my current putter specs w/ similar size grip and same lie/length. The loft I left standard but if needed I will get it adjusted to my current putter loft.

Test Plans: For testing purposes I plan to visit a couple different courses w/ varying green speeds near my home and do some testing on the practice greens. I plan to compare to my current putter. Ideally I would like to get out on the course for full rounds but depending on when the putter arrives I don’t know how many rounds I can get in before courses start shutting down for winter in my area.

My expectations: I’m excited for this test. I honestly don’t know a whole lot about @GolfSub70 but have read that they make some great clubs. Having just updated my putter I’ll be curious to see how this one stacks up and whether it can match my current putter’s performance. I am very curious to see how the feel of this putter will differ as I’ve used a putter w/ an insert since 2004. If it can match the performance of my current putter I have a feeling it will be in my bag as black just looks sexier than silver

First Impressions 18/20

My first impressions overall of this putter are quite good. The packaging was very nice and the putter was very well packaged to prevent damage. With the putter they included a nice little ball marker as well as a handwritten thank you note for purchasing (a nice touch I might add) and extra weights for customizing the overall putter weight. The weights on the putter come standard as 15 grams but they included 5/10/20 gram weights as well. The putter comes w/ a nice quality headcover that fits the putter head very nicely. Unfortunately the headcover is velcro which although it feels like a heavy duty velcro I am disappointed that it was not magnetic. I emailed and asked about this and they said their mallet headcovers are velcro but their mid mallet and blade putter covers are magnetic. If this makes it to my bag I most certainly will be looking at grabbing a different headcover that is magnetic.

Overall this is a very good looking fang style putter and sizewise matches up perfectly to my white hot OG 7 putter. I love that they made the steel shaft black to match the putter head. It really completes the look. The bottom of the putter is nice and flashy w/ the sycamore leaves which adds some nice style to the putter. I shared a few pictures w/ some buddies and one of the first comments I got was “that looks amazing.” There is a white alignment line on the top of the putter which stands out nicely w/ the black background (I actually prefer this to the 3 dots on my OG 7). Sub70 notes their putters are heavier than average and that was easily noticeable right off the bat that this putter was heavier than my OG 7. I do not visually see any blemishes on the putter and it is perfectly symmetrical to the eye w/ a nice milling on the putter face.

The score I am giving for the first impressions is 18/20. If the putter headcover were magnetic I’d have no problem giving it a better score but I definitely much prefer magnetic closure on my putter covers. This is obviously my own personal preference as some may actually prefer velcro. One other thing as others have mentioned is that their website wasn’t exactly up to date with what’s in stock but they were quick to email and provide options. They didn’t have the original shaft I wanted and the putter grip on the site they didn’t have the black color available but had other colors that weren’t advertised. Other than that the packaging was great and a nice touch w/ the extras such as the handwritten thank you note. Overall this is one very good looking putter that I am looking forward to getting some testing done with.

 

 

Aesthetics: 10/10

This putter just looks top notch. I think Sub70 absolutely nailed it with the all black look. The black shaft really completes the look w/ the black putter head. The shape of the head matches up w/ what you would expect from a fang putter and overall shape is the same as my current Oddyssey OG 7 as you can see in the comparison picture in my first impressions section. The white alignment line stands out nicely w/ the black background of the putter. Would be great if they offered some customization on accent colors in the future but white is a great standard choice. The graphics on the bottom of the club are really well done as I stated in my first impressions. The sycamore leaves give the putter some nice character and adds a little flare. Overall the sound of the putter is pleasant. It is a bit louder than what I’m used to but I’m used to using a putter w/ an insert. Best description I can think of would be a dull click type sound. Feel is very consistent across the face. I purposely hit off the toe and heel and the difference is miniscule in terms of feel. I didn’t notice any difference in sound. 

- note I took this video and it was rather windy. I’ll see about getting a better one that can show the roll of the ball more.

The Numbers: 10/10

For initial testing purposes I went to my local course’s practice green as well as some practice on my home putting mat. In most of the initial testing I did the same tests w/ the putter I was recently fit for using the Quintic putter fitting system at 2nd Swing which was the Oydssey White Hot OG 7. Overall in the initial testing I saw no noticeable differences in overall results between the Sub70 004 and the Odyssey OG 7. In testing I was consistently hitting my lines. I set up my Tour Aim to test hitting through a gate about 1-2 feet from impact. I was able to consistently hit through the gate and I even tested hitting off the toe and heel in order to see if it affected accuracy. There were no noticeable differences in the accuracy. Feel differences in off center strikes were minimal and not as noticeable as they were w/ my OG 7 which I attribute to the fact the OG 7 has the white hot insert vs no insert on the 004. 

While I would like to spend more time messing around w/ the weights in the head I did feel (anecdotally) that I had more control w/ the heavier head on the 004. I put the heaviest weights (20g) on the putter head and while the results showed no difference in performance it at least felt like I had a bit more control in my putting stroke. I’ll have to continue playing w/ the weights and get a larger sample size in practice to get a better idea on what weight is going to be ideal. Overall for “The Numbers” I’m giving the putter a perfect 10/10. I was very happy w/ the performance and was getting results that were not any different than my OG 7. Here is a link to a post in which I did some testing:

On-Course: 20/20

I had a relatively smaller sample size than I would have ideally liked as I played 27 holes w/ the putter on a couple courses I don’t normally play. The one course had been a few years and the other I had never played before. My average putts per round w/ my OG 7 is currently sitting at 33.6 per 18 holes. In my 2 rounds out w/ the 004 I had 17 putts on 9 holes and then 37 putts (20 front 9, 17 back 9) on 18 holes. The 18 hole round was on a course I had never played before and they had some tricky pin locations. I had some big difficulty in getting good reads on the greens and in talking to buddies who played at that course more than me they indicated the greens tend to be tougher to read so that may be why I struggle a bit more. Overall at both courses I was hitting my lines but was just not taking the right line. I had 2 stretches of 9 holes where I hit 17 putts which is a normal outcome of putting for me. The 9 holes w/ 20 putts is definitely more than I usually do but since I was consistently hitting the ball on the line I was going for I think it was clear that I just wasn’t reading greens very well that day. 

I am giving the 004 another perfect score (20/20) for on-course performance because I was confident with it during my rounds. Missed putts were generally speaking because I picked the wrong line off a bad read. Mishits were rare (only recall one putt where I pulled it and missed my line). The weather in my neck of the woods has started shutting down courses for the year so until I get a larger sample size I’m basing my score off of the fact that the higher round of putting was more due to myself misreading putts rather than the putter not performing. Here are the links to my 2 rounds played with the putter: 

 Video I took on course of a putt. Missed long about 5 ft and sink the putt coming back

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween: 17/20

The Bad: I’m going to start w/ the bad because overall I really don’t have much of anything to say that would be negative about the putter. About the only thing I’m really not a fan of is the velcro putter cover and I much prefer a magnetic cover. Most putter covers I have seen from all the big manufacturers have been magnetic so it definitely surprised me to see the velcro. I know it sounds stupid to complain about the velcro but I need to find something to at least say was bad even if it meant getting really nitpicky.

The Good: Simply put this is a really nice putter. The quality is top notch and it feels great to hit it. I was a bit nervous (and curious) to see how I would like a putter w/ no insert having used a putter that had an insert for the last 19 years and I was pleasantly surprised by the fact the feel still felt soft (not as soft as the white hot of course). The all black look (putter head and shaft) is something I really love about the putter. I think it really elevates looks having the shaft match the color of the putter head and not be just plain old steel. I’m a guy that tends to like flash and color but something about the all black just hits the right spot. I would love to see in the future Sub70 adding more color customization options even if it’s just giving the option to choose different colors for the accents (ie. logos, sight lines). In my testing it performed at least as good as my Odyssey OG 7 and I would argue given the all black color scheme that it looks better (and flashier) as well.

The Inbetween: This is where my 3 point deduction comes from here. None of this was quite in the “Bad” section because I would quite consider a negative. I think they could do a bit better on the front end in terms of keeping things up to date w/ what is in stock on their website. When I placed my order the website showed no indication that the graphite shaft I wanted was out of stock. They also only had one color to choose from for the Super Stroke grip I selected (black) on their website however they were out of stock for that as well (not indicated on their website). These were not big deals to me however because they were quick to email about the fact they didn’t have those options in stock but they did have other colors on the Super Stroke grip to pick from. Would be nice if they were able to add the extra color options on the website. The little bit of interaction I had with customer service I was very pleased with and it's why I wouldn’t throw these things in the “Bad” category.  The only other thing I had that would be in this category is that the lie and the loft didn’t quite match what they indicated on the website. At least it did not when I took it into Golf Galaxy to have them adjusted to match the measurements on my OG 7. The website indicated loft should be 3 degrees and GG indicated it was 4 degrees (not sure this made any difference) and the lie was they said about 68-69 degrees whereas the website indicates it should be 72 degrees. I had it adjusted to match my OG 7 putter at 71 degrees. I don’t want to put this in the bad because it is something that is extremely easy to correct and maybe I just had one that slipped through w/ slightly different numbers or maybe GG machine is off slightly. Either way it was easily fixable and not a big issue in my eyes. 

Play it or Trade it?: 20/20

For me this is an easy Play It. I have been very happy to this point w/ my testing of and playing w/ the putter that I am putting it in my bag for now. I want to get a larger on-course sample size and do some more testing on the practice greens comparing it to my OG 7 putter to fully confirm I will at least see the same performance or better. I think the price is more than fair at less than $200 for a putter that is honestly probably similar in quality to a main brand name at double the cost. I think anyone who is looking for a quality putter at a reasonable price that isn’t dead set on having to use a particular brand (ie. Odyssey, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade) should take a look at Sub70. You will get a quality putter that will perform similarly at a much lower price point and quite honestly sports a very good look that will garner compliments from fellow golfers. 

Conclusion

The short and sweet conclusion of my review is that Sub70 makes a really good quality putter that performs just as good as the big brand names, looks really really good, and runs at a cost that is less than the main brands that everyone knows. They had beautiful well put together packaging to match just how good the putter looks. I absolutely love the fact that they made the shaft black to match the black putter head. The putter performs just as good as it looks and in testing the Sub70 004 mallet performed at least as good as my Oddysey White Hot OG 7 putter while (in my personal opinion) looking like the sexier/flashier putter dressed in black. Their customer service was on par and was quick to contact and help w/ ordering even if the website was showing certain options as available when they were not. 

Final Score: 95/100

Edited November 6 by Mr Orange
Added rest of review

[snoopy79]

Hello everyone! First I would like to thank MGS and @GolfSub70 for this incredible opportunity! I am honored to have been chosen. So cool.

 

I am 43 going on 44 and live in Kettering Ohio with my wonderful wife and teenage son. I have been playing golf since I was 12. I played all through high-school, both on the golf team and with my Dad during off-season. My approach game has always been my strong suit (thanks to the Par 3 course I grew up on), but I held my own on the green using a hand-me down putter from someone I can’t remember. All i remember is that it was gold or brass. Kind of like this one

After I got married and moved to Ohio in 2007 I began playing golf more regularly. Typically with my good friend @ZoonORama

In 2015 I took a break for 8 years when my son was young. Then in June 2023 an old golf buddy invited me to The Memorial PGA tournament.   

The golf bug bit me again that day ...hard! Now I hit into the net every day and work on my game. I have a renewed passion for the game now that my son is playing too!

Before this test I had never bought or owned a brand-new putter. I am always using second-hand or older ones from flea markets. They did the job.

Not that I am cheap, but I choose to put my $ elsewhere. I am shooting in the mid- 80’s nowadays with the putter I have.

I am cost-conscious, so sue me. Call me crazy, but I think some of you out there may also react the same way I do when I see some of the prices of golf equipment. 

 

@GolfSub70 has a great following and reputation in the industry. I like the DTC concept for clubs, which for budget minded golfers like myself, is a big draw. I see a lot of fellow spies here with Sub70 clubs in their WITB signatures so I know the quality of those sticks must be worthy. I have no experience with Sub70 personally, so this will be a fresh review..

I chose the Sycamore 008 Mallet Putter in RH with a Super-Stroke Tenergy Tour 1.0 grip, overall length of 36” with a Sub70 Graphite/Steel single-bend shaft. Whew, just saying all of that gets my adrenaline going. LOL!

My quest is to answer a simple question, “Is this worth the investment for the weekend golfer?” Of course the biggest variable in this test is me, so other questions are “Will my putting improve?” and “Why or why not?”

I will compare it against my old run-of-the-mill putters on several data points, but more importantly I will take it out to real-world greens during a round or two and really see if the benefits are evident. 

 Looking forward to interacting with all of you. Let’s see what we see!

 

The Unboxing

So the box is clearly marked and sturdy enough for shipping. Inside the box the packaging was a very stout styrofoam with notches in it that held the putter in place so it would withstand the journey from Sycamore IL. Also tucked away inside an envelope was a hand-written note, a business-card, and a ball marker. Rounding out the package was a set of weights and a tool with which to remove and place the weights with. All in all a great start!

 

First Impressions (19.5 out of 20)

Since this is my first “new” out of the box putter I was already very giddy about receiving it. I was eager to see it and use it. I want to sink more putts, and look good doing it. Who doesn’t? Right? My initial impressions could be summed up as “Wow, this thing looks and feels amazing!” But let’s dive in a bit more.

The 008 Mallet is part of a line of putters from Sub70,  the direct to consumer (DTC), manufacturer out of Sycamore, Illinois. They have a dozen different styles to choose from and all of them are CNC milled from a solid billet of 1045 carbon steel. Sub70 claims that this provides the best sound and feel for the putter head. I will say that immediately upon having the 008 in my hands you could feel that steel putter head like it was hanging from a wire. The weight is very noticeable compared to other putters I have held. Which is exactly what Sub70 believes will provide better ball roll and feel in the golfer's hands. 
 

As you can see in my unboxing pictures above this putter has an eye-appealing shape to it. It’s not obnoxious and noisy, but rather sleek and stylish without being stuffy. All of the maple leaves on the sole and writing on the putter are done in a bright white color, except the Sycamore tag on the bottom. All told it all looks amazing against the deep black. These striking contrasts are extremely helpful when using the alignment lines at address. Before I even lined up a put this design was giving me confidence looking down at it. That is a big deal! 

I chose the 008 style because I liked the look of it, and I wanted to try something new besides the blade styles I had been using for years from flea market finds and hand me downs. I chose an oversized Super Stroke Traxion 2.0 for control and stability in my grip and then paired that with Sub70’s custom graphite & steel combo shaft. This shaft is a new concept for me, yet it’s been talked about in the OEM and golf forums for a few years now. Bottom line on this shaft type is it is aimed at improving your feel & stability while limiting twist during impact (yes there is twist in a shaft/head during a putt). All told I think this combination can further enhance the feel and lead to better control for more center-face hits. 

There are some great posts on MGS about graphite/steel putter shafts here.

The only point deducted on my first impressions is a somewhat minor one, but during ordering you don’t know what is in stock when you are customizing grips and shafts. I think that is important to know before placing an order. They did communicate with me via email so really that is only a half point.

 

Aesthetics (10 out of 10) 

The first putts on the practice green at Yankee Trace GC felt crisp and the sound was perfect. I think the sound is exactly like what you hear when watching the pros on TV. The 008 is face-balanced, meaning it favors a more straight back and through putting stroke. If you watch the video you can see the putter toe is pointed up. That’s due to my habits of using blades mostly and I will modify things going forward, but the hits were consistent across the face. Not clicky at all if you caught it near the heel or out near the toe.

From 6ft From 8ft

When putting with the 008 I just felt confident with it and it was so easy to line up putts with the color scheme. When it's sitting in the bag with that quality leather headcover on it, it catches the eye like it's just begging to roll some putts in. I think overall Sub70 has done a phenomenal job with the looks and feel. 10 out of 10 on aesthetics in my book.

The Numbers (9 out of 10)

Getting familiar with the Sub 70 008 mallet was a joy. The combination of the single-bend graphite/steel shaft, the super stroke 2.0 grip, and the putter head with adjustable weights allowed me to find my perfect blend of feel and roll consistency. I don’t know how else to say this but the overall result is great.

• Accuracy - She is accurate. The alignment aid on top of the putter head gets you started and rest is all up to you. I picked a spot several inches in front of the putter and likewise several feet away on my intended line. I marked the first spot with a “gate” using tees on either end. No sweat.
• Distance Control - This putter’s weight takes some getting used to and distance control can be sporadic at first. A key to this is setting up your adjustable weights for your personal feel. After trying several combinations I settled on the 15g weights in both the toe and the heel. Once I had that locked in my distance control improved markedly after 20-30 putts.
• Stability of Stroke - Stability with this type of mallet is no issue. Because of its size and weight it will allow even the novice golfer to remain more stable on the backswing and thru impact.
• Forgiveness - This putter head is incredibly forgiving on all areas of the face. I only noticed slight differences when hitting on the toe versus the heel. Namely the sound and feel were slightly off from center face hit. None of that drastically affected the way the ball rolled.
• Playability - Putting from the fringe or putting out of some thicker grass just off the green is no issue for this mallet. I do, however, think this is one area I can confidently dock a point. The weight of the putter head becomes tricky to handle on severe slopes and long putts, and you can either power one by the hole on a downhill or come up woefully short with an uphill putt. Quite a few variables are involved in this measurement, but the 008 is VERY playable.

 

On-Course (20 out of 20)

This is an easy score. The 008 is a beast on the greens. While I did not play a lot of rounds over the past several weeks, I did play 3 18-hole rounds with the 008 at the time of this writing. In addition, I spent time at the clubhouse putting greens at one of my local public courses. I have said it before and I will say it again, the weight of this putter and the feel it provides have just worked wonders for my confidence when at address. You feel like the ball is just in the way!

The first round I played with it was an amazing adventure. You can read up on it here.  Those were very SLOW greens that were super soft because of the recent rain bands that had come through over the previous 24 hours. These conditions plus some drizzle and mist during the round made it challenging to judge speed on putts. The 008 performed wonderfully though, with most of my lag putts being within 3-6ft when I was 20 ft or further away.

During my second round I recorded a very average 36 putts. While not a superb result I was especially pleased with performance on longer putts I had from 10ft and out. The alignment and roll provided were a decisive step up from my run-of-the-mill putters. On the shorter putts within 5ft I had no problem rolling the ball in with authority as the heavy putter head with two 10g weights in it easily jammed those in. As I got further away I had an easier time lining up thanks to the white/black contrast on the alignment lines.

My 3rd and final round was a 35 putt effort. My putts per round with the 008 remained around the 34-36 mark, and while this is not a significant improvement in my stats I do like the overall feel and roll I got from it. Whether it was a short, long, or a big left to right breaker I felt confident with it.

Final Performance Comments:

• Overall, how did it perform? - Perfectly. The more I use it the more I like it. I really think its improving my putting overall.
• Did it help improve my scores? - This is one of the main questions I wanted to answer when the test started. The answer? It slightly improved my scores. I didn’t see a huge change in the number of putts per hole/round. While that is mostly attributed to me what I will say here is that I feel this 008 has helped improve my confidence. Especially when putting from a longer distance which kept me out of trouble a number of times during both rounds. I think this fact will help lead to lower scores over time.
• Would I change anything on this model? - Not at all. It's purposefully made and does what it's supposed to do.

The Good, the bad, the in-between (20 out of 20)

Nothing bad to talk about here. The fit and finish on the 008 putter is fantastic. With all the options available to customize your order with, I would implore anyone considering the Sub70 putter line to take a look at the graphite/steel combo shaft. It really adds to the overall look and feel of the putter. It’s only available in a single-bend or straight shaft, but if you have the option I recommend it. 

I know it may sound trivial, but another thing I liked was the magnetic head cover that was provided for the 008. The magnet is strong and allowed me to just stick it to the cart or pick it up off the ground without bending over. I got in the habit of just throwing it on top of the irons before I walked up to the green. Plus the look just jazzes up the bag a bit. LOL

Play it or Trade it? (19 out of 20)

Play it! No reason not to. I know other big name companies are making some amazing putters out there that the pros and scratch players make it look so easy with. Those high-end OEMs certainly deserve their street cred, but not everyone is looking to drop that dough on a new flat stick. If I walked up to the green with those guys and I had this Sub70 008 in hand there would be no mistaking it belongs amongst the thoroughbreds, if not for its black beauty, then certainly for its comparable performance.

This putter has impressed me and is in my bag for what could be a very, very, long time. 

Conclusion
Weekend golfers who want something at a manageable price point that performs, oozes quality craftsmanship, and looks amazing on the green as well as in the bag…look no further than the line of putters from @GolfSub70. If you are in the market for a mallet putter I would highly recommend you consider the 008 in your favorite configuration. The folks at Sub70 have all grip types and sizes, different shafts, and the adjustable weights in the mallets really help refine your putting stroke. If you struggle with lining up your puts these black on white color schemes are really helpful. The heavier putter heads from Sub70 set you up with confidence but will take a little adjustment for the weekend golfer. All in all this beauty makes my bag for the 2024 season. If you want some advice, don’t settle for run of the mill putters and don’t break the bank for a high-end putter. Get the quality and the style along with the playability of those high-end pieces at a more affordable price. Just do it already! 

Final Score (97.5 out of 100)

Edited November 7 by snoopy79
Final Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Congrats to the selected testers! This should be a fun test and looking forward to when your builds arrive and you start rolling some putts!

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers! Putter testing is always fun and informative and it looks like we've got a good group to put the Sub70 putters to the test. I'm looking forward to the reviews!

[ejgaudette]

Congrats everyone, will be interesting to see how you roll them

[Josh Parker]

Congrats!  It's going to be an awesome test.

[MattF]

Congratulations testers.

I hope you like them as much as I like mine.

[ParFore74x]

Congratulations testers!! Already looking forward to your thoughts on these. 

[MDGolfHacker]

Congratulations testers!

[Ben Joest]

Congrats Testers! 
 

Now the fun begins! 

[Parshooter36]

Congrats to the testers, I look forward to following along.

[Jnoble89]

Congrats, testers! Love @GolfSub70 and can’t wait to see how the putters perform for you guys. Definitely has my interest piqued as putters are so unique to the individual based largely on feel IMO. 

[acatalano32]

Congrats everyone! Have fun testing! I’m kinda jelly lol 

[Placasse61]

17 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced! @GolfSub70 Putters

Just because the seasons are changing doesn’t mean there isn’t still ample time to test and review golf clubs. 

In MyGolfSpy Most Wanted Testing Sub 70 has performed well year over year and claimed third overall in 2023 Most Wanted Blade with the Sycamore 005 Wide Blade.  Bolstering an impressive lineup of 16 putters they have an option that will surely appeal to any golfer. 

Sub 70 says “Every Sub 70 putter is milled from a billet of 1045 carbon steel which leaves no welds, castings or inconsistencies in the head. This is the best way to make a putter head and you will not find a more solid, great feeling putter. Aesthetically each of the Sub 70 putters offers a clean, classic black and white color scheme with traditional alignment lines. We have purposefully made the heads slightly heavier than the industry standard as we feel it allows a more natural pendulum like putting stroke. “

Sub 70 also introduced a new graphite/steel putter shaft this year that offers more technology, feel and stability. Add in these Sub 70 putters will often cost half of what major brands sell for and there would seem to be perfect balance of value and performance. 

Please welcome and congratulate our four testers!

@Dweed

@Mr Orange

@BallsLeon 

@snoopy79

Good luck testers! Looking forward to the results and feedback as I look for a new putter in 2024

[Getoffmylawn]

Congrats gents.  Enjoy the testing process.  Can’t wait to see those unboxing pics!

[TJ Hall]

Congratulations to all testers…putt well and enjoy the new flat sticks!

[JeremyD]

Congrats Testers! Looking forward to some great results