Putter Design (materials)

[Silver Fawkes]

I get the milled putters are cool looking and all that, but there's really only so much you can do with milled metals. Why aren't companies designing putters the way they design drivers? You can build a putter head frame out of carbon fiber and then you have an insane amount of flexibility on where to place weight to affect things like off center hits. You have the flexibility to place inserts made of whatever material you want to achieve whatever feel you want.

Is there anyone here that's involved in club design that could explain why this isn't being done?

[BallsLeon]

I believe LA Golf is attempting this to some degree, they are using "forged carbon" to make their putter heads. Maybe it will be something we start to see more.

[GolfSpy_APH]

I think you are seeing some companies take different angles with various materials. Cobra 3d printing is likely the biggest example.

I have a few others I can name, but may be giving away some testing secrets

[Rob Person]

There have been a few companies that are using mixed material builds for putters. The hardest part I see for them is the weight systems used.  Odyssey for example uses 4 different types of weight designs, and they made sure there size and insert type are very unique to ensure no cross compatibility.  I believe PXG also just released a putter that is built using mixed materials as well.

[cnosil]

12 hours ago, Silver Fawkes said:

I get the milled putters are cool looking and all that, but there's really only so much you can do with milled metals. Why aren't companies designing putters the way they design drivers? You can build a putter head frame out of carbon fiber and then you have an insane amount of flexibility on where to place weight to affect things like off center hits. You have the flexibility to place inserts made of whatever material you want to achieve whatever feel you want.

Is there anyone here that's involved in club design that could explain why this isn't being done?

The question becomes what are you trying to accomplish by doing this.  You're off center hits fix is simply about moving weight to the heel and toe.   Putters like the Cure RX3 do this already and provide high MOI.   You could look at the old Machine putters that enabled players to customize the look and weight placement.   Boutique putter makers have been providing inserts of all types in milled putters.   Companies like Spry evo have been making specialized inserts for mainstream OEM putters.   

You control the putter and as many people will say you don't move the club that fast; therefore, you should have the strength in your hands to minimize the twisting and loss of speed on off center hits.