Putter Zone Golf @ PutterZone.com

Putter Buzz: Sergio Sizzles at Last

2008-05-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

Sergio Garcia finds his putting mojo, Phil Mickelson gets a “new” flatstick, and Rife rolls to victory again. Here's the latest Putter Buzz on the PGA Tour and beyond:

1. Bravo to Sergio Garcia for sinking some crucial putts to help secure a victory at the Players Championship. After dating several putters and committing polygamy earlier this year with two putters in his bag, Garcia seems to have settled into a putting groove under the tutelage of short-game guru Stan Utley, who has urged Garcia not to get too caught up in mechanics. Some folks will say that Garcia’s putting performance over the past four days was less than stellar, but you can’t argue with the paycheck or the trophy. In the past, his putter has often failed him at crucial moments. Yesterday, it didn’t. He sank a seven-footer on the 18th hole that got him into the playoff. He also sank a 45-footer on the 14th hole that proved to be a momentum changer. PutterZone.com is a big believer in Stan Utley’s “feel-based” approach to putting. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of Utley’s book The Art of Putting.

2. TaylorMade’s Spider putter continued its ridiculous run of success in the hands of Paul Goydos yesterday. If not for an untimely shot in the drink, Goydos might be wearing the Players Championship crown today. The Spider has already been used in two PGA tournament victories this year, and Goydos was so close to making it three. Click here to read PutterZone.com's TaylorMade Spider review.

3. Much has been made in the media about Phil Mickelson’s “new” putter, which really isn’t new at all. His main stick is still an Odyssey White Hot XG #9 putter. He simply had it lengthened from 33.5 to 35 inches. What’s interesting is the reason Mickelson gave for wielding a longer putter. He says that he’s grown between a half and a full inch taller as the result of an intense stretching regimen. Of course, he didn’t grow overnight, and a change of 1.5 inches in putter length is no small transition, so PutterZone.com suspects there’s a bit more to the story.

4. Denis Watson won the Champions Tour’s FedEx Kinko’s Classic with a Rife 2 Bar Mallet (pictured here) in hand, sinking a birdie on the final hole to capture a one-stroke victory. Rife reports that five players wielding Rife putters finished in the top ten at the FedEx Kinko’s Classic, earning more than $710,365.00 and accounting for more than 33 percent of the total prize money.

5. Peter Lawrie won the European PGA Tour’s Spanish Open with a Yes! Marilyn model putter in hand. Yes! putters also enjoyed a 1-2-3 finish at the Japan LPGA Tour’s Crystal Geyser Ladies Open, with Miho Koga winning with the Marilyn model, Maiko Wakabayashi finishing second with a Callie model and Ritsuko Ryu finishing third with a Tracy II model.

6. Ignacio Garrido finished second to Lawrie at the Spanish Open after placing a Heavy Puttter B1-M model into play for the first time. Trailing by one shot on the final hole of regulation, he drained a 30-foot birdie putt to force a playoff. He also notched a course record nine-under-par 63 with just 25 putts during the second round of the tournament—reminiscent of Adrien Mork’s record score of 59 using a Heavy Putter on the European circuit a few years ago.

Yes! Nicky Putter Review

2008-05-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

With its new Nicky model putter, Yes! Golf has gone back to the future, incorporating modern groove technology into an old-school blade.

Does the Nicky ($149) do justice to the classics? Following is PutterZone.com’s Yes! Nicky putter review.

The Storyline
Yes! Golf unveiled its first C-Groove putters at the 2000 PGA Merchandise Show and entered the U.S. Market in 2004 after Retief Goosen won his second U.S. Open title using the same C-Groove putter he used in his 2001 U.S. Open victory.

Today, Yes! Golf ranks at the top of LPGA putter usage, and is also a force on the PGA Tour, with Goosen, Stephen Ames and Colin Montgomerie among its converts.

The concentric C-Grooves on Yes! putters are designed to send the ball on a truer topspin roll for enhanced directional and distance control. A truer roll essentially means less skidding and hopping, which translates to improved accuracy.

As Yes! Golf CEO Francis Ricci stated in an earlier interview with PutterZone.com: “The groove edges on impact—assuming the plane of the strike is slightly upward—grip into the surface of the ball and impart an over-the-top rolling force.”

The Nicky is a classically styled heel-shafted blade, one of a wide variety of putter styles offered by Yes! Golf. The 304 stainless steel head weighs 350 grams, which is heavier than most traditional blade putters. The sole and grooves are chromium plated. Two alignment lines are scored in black atop the crown.

The View from PutterZone.com
In profile, the Nicky looks sleek and classic, but its shiny chrome accents and signature C-Groove face are purely 21st century. The Nicky manages to be both flashy and classy, and it will definitely turn heads on the green.

As a fully toe-down blade, the Nicky naturally favors a gated stroke (as opposed to straight back and through). Additionally, the heavier 350-gram head seems to magnify the blade’s predisposition to opening and closing along the path of the stroke. In the words of Volkswagen, this putter requires some “Fahrvergnügen.” It’s a putter for folks who like to take their putter for a ride, not vice versa.

To me, the feel of the Nicky is neither firm nor soft, but rather both. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but the Nicky exhibits a clicky firmness as well as a supple core, sort of like biting into an Oreo cookie.

I’ve generally been noncommittal when it comes to the efficacy of putter grooves in matters of imparting truer roll. Putters with face grooves usually have lower lofts, and I play in a dry climate with relatively hard, fast greens—conditions that favor less loft. So is it the chicken (grooves) or the egg (less loft)?

The C-Grooves on the Nicky, however, do make me wonder. There just seems to be a little bit of magic in the roll off the Nicky. It’s tight and glassy and precise. The ball hugs the ground, a mesmerizing visual effect that translates to heightened performance.

I’m not crazy about Yes! Golf’s black-white-yellow brand color scheme, which is found on the grips of all Yes! putters. However, the folks at Yes! tell me that this scheme is a big hit for them, so what do I know? It certainly sets the brand apart. And, color aside, the Nicky’s grip feels great in the hands.

The Bottom Line
The Yes! Nicky is a sexy blade for those who prefer the look and behavior of a more traditional putter. It offers classic blade performance with the added advantage of the signature C-Groove face, which enhances accuracy by way of a beautiful roll. Yes! Golf is coming on strong these days, and the Nicky is no exception.

Rife Rolls Out New Cayman Putter

2008-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Rife Putters is set to unveil the newest model in its acclaimed Island Series—the Cayman blade.

According to Rife: “The latest addition to the Rife Island Series…will appeal to golfers looking for a more traditional look and feel. The new Cayman, like all of the Island Series putters, is 100-percent CNC milled from soft 303 stainless steel and features Rife’s patented ‘RollGroove’ technology, producing the quickest roll in golf.”

The Cayman has already been spotted at several PGA tournaments. According to Rife, it will be posted for sale on the company’s web site at the end of this week, and will start appearing at retail outlets shortly thereafter. The price is $179.

The Cayman borrows from the classic “softtail” design popularized by T.P. Mills and others, with a curving topline toward the toe. At first glance, the Cayman looks striking.

The initial iterations of the Cayman featured a “sound slot” at the base of the cavity behind the face for enhanced audio feedback. However, Rife determined that the Cayman performed better without the sound slot, so the retail version will not have it.

Rife says that the Cayman’s “mid-slant hosel produces a toe-ward weight bias promoting a open to close swing path so common among the greatest players in golf.”

Following are the Cayman’s specs:

Head weight – 345 grams

Lie Angle – 70 degrees

Loft of head – 2 degrees

Shaft kickback – .5 degree (shaft leans back away from the face toward the right eye)

Effective loft – 1.5 degree (head loft minus kickback)

Groove to land ratio – 1 to 3 (groove width 45/1000” to land 15/1000”)

Lengths – Available in 35” and 34” RH and 35” LH

Winn custom AVS grip

Proprietary extruded tube stepless steel shaft

Head cover with magnet clasps

Tattoo Your Titleist

2008-04-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

A remarkably cool golf ball accessory is coming to a store near you.

Indeed, from shamrocks to aliens, flowers to flames, you can now tattoo your Titleist (or any favorite ball) with something more stylish, and less messy, than a Sharpie marker.

Golfdotz were first unveiled at the PGA Merchandise Show earlier this year, and PutterZone.com recently put them to the test with very happy results.

The genius of Golfdotz is their simplicity and durability. You just cut out your chosen icon from a sheet of twelve, peel off the backing paper and press it onto your ball. Within seconds, the icon is transferred, adhering cleanly to the dimples as if it were printed just like the ball’s own brand logo. The price is $4.99 for a pack of a dozen Golfdotz, which are proudly made in the U.S.A.

Golfdotz are the invention of entrepreneur David Poole, an Englishman who came to the United States by way of Japan. He spent seven years in Japan, studying martial arts, becoming fluent in Japanese and heading up the marketing division for a large Japanese corporation, including starting and running an Indy motor sports sponsorship program.

According to David, “I took up golf as I had a fear of looking like a complete idiot on the first tee of big corporate outings. Sadly, this plan failed!”

In 2002, after moving to the U.S., David started a company that specializes in “new generation transfer technology.” After success at the industrial level, he wanted to test the retail marketplace with his own ideas. His company, Transfer Studio, unveiled Golfdotz and Footiez (tattoos for shoes) simultaneously in January.

“Response from PGA show has been incredible and we picked up distribution all over the world," David says. "It is going to be an interesting year.”

Among the many Golfdotz designs are alignment lines that can help you line up your putt and gauge your ball’s rotation. However, PutterZone.com thinks you’re more likely to sink that crucial putt when feeling the good vibes of an alien or a shamrock.

If you are looking for a sleek, unique and stylish way to personalize your golf balls, look no further than Golfdotz.

Putter Buzz: Boo Scares Up Another Win

2008-04-22T00:36:00.000-07:00

Boo Weekley repeats with a familiar putter, Lorena Ochoa dominates with a new model and Tiger Woods puts some bark in the arc. Here's the latest Putter Buzz on the PGA Tour and beyond:

1. Boo Weekley wielded his trusty Never Compromise GM2 Exchange #7 putter (pictured here) while securing his repeat victory at the Verizon Heritage tournament, picking up a cool $990,000 in the process. Never Compromise is on a PGA Tour roll right now. Steve Flesch used the same #7 model putter at the Masters, finishing in fifth place and earning $275,000. Vijay Singh and David Toms were among others playing with Never Compromise putters at the Masters. Click here for PutterZone.com’s review of the Never Compromise GM2 Exchange #2 putter.

2. Lorena Ochoa’s remarkable run of four straight victories has been aided with a PING Redwood Series ZB putter, one of PING’s two new Redwood Series models. Her latest win at the Ginn Open tied the LPGA record for consecutive victories, and she has now qualified for the World Golf Hall of Fame at the age of 27.

3. Rising star Andres Romero is making noise with a Rife Barbados model putter, tying for 8th place at the Masters. According to Rife: “This is the 3rd year in a row that Rife has had a top 10 finish at the Masters, with a T-5th place finish in 2007 and a T-3rd place finish in 2006.” Click here for PutterZone.com’s review of the new Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter.

4. Tiger Woods’ putter may have failed him at the Masters, but he’s still a genius with the flatstick. Charlotte Observer writer Ron Green, Jr. recently took a lesson from Hank Haney, Woods’ instructor. According to Green, Haney told him: “Woods…rotates the putter 11 degrees during his stroke, 4.5 degrees open going back, 6.5 degrees closed on the follow through.” Surely, the amount of rotation depends on the length of the stroke, but the point is clear—Woods not only putts with an arcing stroke, he does it with surgical precision.

Golfers Say Adios to Back Pain

2008-04-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

Can golfers with chronic back pain regain their game without undergoing surgery or other intensive measures? Yes.

In the latest issue of Golf Digest, you will find this revealing little tidbit in Tim Rosaforte’s Tour Talk column: “Ben Crane says he can partially thank Dr. John Sarno for three top-12 finishes in early 2008. Crane was in so much back pain in 2007, he visited Sarno, who says a lot of back pain is caused by tension and anxiety. Crane says he’s now free of pain.”

What Rosaforte doesn’t mention is that Dr. Sarno has authored several books that can give the rest of us relief from back pain, too.

Even if you’ve been told you have a bulging disc or some other structural explanation for your pain, you should consider what Dr. Sarno has to say, because it just might save you untold grief and money. What you are about to read is strange but true—just ask Ben Crane.

The View From PutterZone.com
It seems that every few months we hear of some PGA tour professional who is suffering from a sudden onset of mysterious ailments, many of them related to back, neck or joint pain. Mike Weir and Aaron Oberholser are some recent examples. Ben Crane, however, is the first professional golfer I’ve heard about who has consulted Dr. Sarno.

I can personally attest to Sarno’s methods, as his methods cured my own persistent bouts of severe back pain about nine years ago. Shock jock Howard Stern and ABC investigative reporter John Stossel are among the many believers as well. A former boss turned me onto Sarno’s books. I was resistant at first, but I couldn’t argue with the results. We're talking nothing short of a miracle here.

The only thing you need to bring to Sarno’s teachings is an open mind. Just listen, absorb and accept what he’s saying. If you don’t, it won’t work. Sarno’s methods do not require exercises, stretching or physical therapy. Rather, they simply require you to come to terms with the mind-body pain process.

Contrary to what the medical establishment would have you believe, Sarno says that back pain is usually a physical manifestation of a non-physical cause.

In other words, the physical pain is very real. It’s not in your head. However, the physical ailment that causes the pain is frequently rooted in personality traits and psychological tensions that many of us harbor—even wealthy professional golfers with great lives and wonderful families. If you come to terms with this, and if you accept it as the cause of your back pain, you very well may find that your pain has suddenly gone away.

Even if you’ve been diagnosed with a bulging disc or some other structural cause for your back pain, you need to consider that many pain-free people are walking around with bulging discs, totally unaware of the condition. What the medical establishment views as causation, Sarno has proven is often just correlation.

Also, if you can attribute the onset of your pain to a specific incident or accident—such as straining yourself while lifting a heavy box or, in Mike Weir’s case, a fan jumping on your back—you need to know that Sarno’s teachings account for this as well.

Of course, there are instances when traditional medical intervention is required to alleviate back pain and physical damage—just not nearly as often as the medical establishment would have you believe.

I won’t go into all of Sarno’s insights here. All I will do is recommend that you start with his first book, Healing Back Pain. It’s a quick read, and you can find it new for $10. Then read Sarno’s second book, The Mindbody Prescription.

I have no personal or vested interest in Dr. John Sarno. I’ve never spoken with the man. I’ve just read and benefited from his books. I am grateful for his work and feel obligated to spread his good news. It worked for me, it worked for Ben Crane, and it just might work for you.

And The SeeMore Putter Winner Is...

2008-04-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

The winner of PutterZone.com’s recent exclusive drawing for a $325 SeeMore mFGP is Mark Zubert of Minnesota.

Mark was thrilled to receive the good news. It turns out that he is a fan of SeeMore putters and, in fact, even made his own putter based on the principles of the SeeMore RifleScope alignment system. While he likes his creation, he says that the mFGP will definitely knock it out of his bag.

Just prior to receiving the call from PutterZone.com, Mark said he’d been out on the practice putting green during lunchtime. He sounds like the type of golfer who will put in the hard hours to make the most out of this magnificent putter.

Congratulations, Mark! Please stay tuned at PutterZone.com for future drawings and special offerings.

Which Putter Will Win The Masters?

2008-04-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye out for the hottest putters at the Masters on Sunday, because they will speak volumes about the personal nature of putting.

People often write to PutterZone.com, asking about the “best” putter, or which is a “must have” putter. The fact is that no such putter exists—and the evidence of this can be witnessed right now at Augusta National.

At the Masters, the elite of the elite are competing for what many consider the greatest honor in golf, the green jacket. Yet they are all pursuing the same goal with remarkably diverse putting instruments.

The same can’t be said for any other club in the bag. Take the wedge. Sure, there are many different wedges out there, but the differences between them are relatively slight when compared to putters. The same can be said for irons and woods.

Yet take a look at Padraig Harrington’s Odyssey Two Ball, Zach Johnson’s SeeMore FGP and Sean O’Hair’s TaylorMade Spider, to name a few players within the top 15 of the Masters leaderboard going into Sunday. Or Steve Flesch’s Never Compromise mallet, Stephen Ames’ Yes! Valerie or Tiger Woods’ Scotty Cameron Newport 2.

Some of these putters are massive, others are slight. Some are mallets, others are blades. Some are face balanced, others are not. Some have inserts, others don’t. Some have face grooves, others are flat. It’s a veritable Wild Kingdom of putters out there at Augusta National. Yet each of these putters has earned a starring role on golf's biggest stage.

If the most elite golfers can field such a range of putting instruments, it stands to reason that the rest of us would be subject to a similarly personal affinity for certain putters. Indeed, what feels like a shovel to one golfer can feel like a scalpel to another.

Which is why there is no “best” putter. That’s the bad news for those trying to find an easy answer. But the good news is that there is the "right" putter out there for everyone, from the average golfer to the guy who will be fitted with a green jacket on Sunday.

UPDATE: 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman's putter is a Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport Circle T putter.

Drill Bits: Masters Edition

2008-04-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

The putting instructor to 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson has a tip for you, too.

Indeed, for the latest entry in our Drill Bits series, PutterZone.com turned to Pat O’Brien, instructor to Zach Johnson as well as Vaughn Taylor. Who better to consult on the eve of the 2008 Masters?

Drill Bits is currently focusing on “silent killers,” the sneakiest ailments that can wreak havoc on your putting game. One such ailment is poor posture, and O’Brien is at the forefront of preaching proper posture as essential to successful putting.

Over time, it’s easy for any golfer to start falling prey to hunching over the ball when putting, lurching from the waist instead bending at the hips—a posture issue exacerbated by the fact that so many of us spend countless hours hunched over a computer keyboard or steering wheel. This can unwittingly cramp your putting style, causing undiagnosed performance issues and considerable frustration.

For this reason, O’Brien recommends that you learn to bend crisply from the hips, not the waist, to achieve a more athletic putting posture. When we queried him on the subject, he responded:

“Posture to me is one of the key elements to consistent putting. When your lead arm is hanging freely from your side, you can make a natural, arcing stroke. The simplest way to get there is to stand tall and relaxed. Let your hands tell your body where to go—the further they travel, the more you will feel a slight bend from your hips. Picture yourself shaking hands with a small child—your hands tell your body where to go, not vice versa. This is the correct sequence to achieve that athletic but relaxed posture that you see with great putters like Tiger Woods, Vaughn Taylor and Zach Johnson.”

Note that the hip bend recommended by O’Brien isn’t extreme, but rather a slight, comfortable tilt.

In addition to being a teaching professional, O’Brien is also a consultant to SeeMore Putter Company, which recently released a DVD titled Pat O’Brien on Putting. The DVD offers O’Brien’s insights into grip, alignment and setup as well as posture. It can be purchased on SeeMore's web site, where you can also view in-depth articles featuring O'Brien's methods.

P.S. Click here to enter PutterZone.com’s exclusive drawing to win a $325 SeeMore mFGP putter. Click here to read PutterZone.com's earlier interview with Pat O’Brien.

PING Karsten Anser Putter Review

2008-04-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

It sounds too good to be true—a classic putter made by a legendary company for under $100.

Indeed, with its new Karsten Series putters, PING Golf has released several of its beloved designs at a street price of just $89. So is there a catch, or do we truly have a steal on our hands?

Following is PutterZone.com’s PING Karsten Anser putter review.

The Storyline
No company has played the putting game like PING over the past 40+ years. PING putters have won more than 2,300 professional tournaments around the world since the 1960s.

Founder Karsten Solheim crafted his first putter in his garage in 1959, igniting a revolution in putter design. At the time, he worked for General Electric. It wasn’t until 1967 that he resigned from GE to start Karsten Manufacturing, the parent company of the PING brand, so named for the “ping” sound of the putter upon contact. That was the same year that Julius Boros helped cement PING’s credibility, winning the Phoenix Open with a PING Anser model putter.

According to the lore, Solheim initially sketched his "answer" on the sleeve of a vinyl record album. The putter featured a cavity-back design for heel-toe balance, as well as an offset hosel. At the suggestion of his wife, he removed the ‘w’ from "answer" so it would better fit on the club.

Today, the Anser is the most-copied design in the putter market, a testament to its enduring genius. PING was also a major force in iron design, and today offers a full range of clubs and accessories. The company remains a family affair, with Solheim's son running the show.

In late 2006, PING unveiled its Redwood Series putters ($249), its first foray into the high-end milled putter market. A year later, PING launched the Karsten Series, an affordable yin to the Redwood’s luxury yang. In addition to the Anser model, the Karsten Series includes other classic PING designs, such as the Piper and Zing.

According to PING: “For golfers preferring the performance of a steel face with an insert feel, the Karsten Series meets the criteria. An elastomer insert in the cavity provides enhanced feel while maintaining the solid response of a steel-faced putter. Weight savings from the new cavity shapes were redistributed to the perimeter to increase each putter's moment-of-inertia for added forgiveness.”

The View from PutterZone.com
I’ll never forget my father buying me a PING Anser in the late 1970s or very early 1980s (I can’t recall the exact year). I was over the moon. This was the ultimate putter at that time.

Playing the new Karsten Anser inspired me to dig that old Anser out of storage as a point of comparison. The new Karsten version is just a bit thicker, but otherwise looks identical in shape. Of course, there are points of difference, such as the older version’s darkened bronze finish, sound slot and lighter weight. But in terms of overall profile, the Karsten Anser is true to its roots.

The Karsten Anser is the real deal in matters of performance, too. While dozens of companies have produced countless iterations of the Anser, PING knows this design better than anyone else, enabling them to deliver the Anser’s classic playability at even the Karsten’s remarkable price.

I wouldn’t say that this putter has an “insert feel,” and that’s just fine with me. I don’t want my Anser to feel like an insert putter (ie: a face that isn’t metal). However, the elastomer insert behind the face (which doubles as a PING logo in the center of the cavity) does seem to add a bit of fullness the feel, which I find appealing. It’s still steely, but with a nice plumpness, too.

The color scheme of the putter is silver and black with accents of gold for a sleek, sophisticated look. The included head cover is equally sweet. Silver piping separates panels of black canvas and gray pleather, with the PING logo is embroidered in gold and white. There’s even a magnet sewn inside the top of the cover that gently grabs the putter for a cozy fit.

My only quibble is that the putter is a bit wordy. From head to shaft, grip to head cover, the words PING and Karsten appear a total of 15 times. Of course, some of these instances are minor (such as the little Karsten on the butt of the grip), but it’s still a tad indulgent.

Wordy or not, however, the Karsten Anser rises well above its price point in terms of performance and presentation. It seems like nothing is a deal these days—gasoline is going up, stocks are going down and money is tight for many folks. In that context, the Karsten Anser is a particularly welcome sight.

The Bottom Line
Rather than simply stooping to the under-$100 price point, PING raised the bar on it with the Karsten Series. The Karsten Anser delivers proven performance in an attractive package, making a serious value statement in the process. If you want bang for your putting buck without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong with PING’s Karsten Series putters.

The Putter Buzz for 3/31

2008-03-31T01:02:00.000-07:00

Yes! Golf continues to get bagged by big names, the TaylorMade Spider spins a web of success, and the Heavy Putter is back in black...

Here's the latest Putter Buzz on the PGA Tour and beyond:

1. Yes! Golf, already a leader on the LPGA Tour, is gaining ground on the PGA Tour as well. At the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational, Colin Montgomerie used a Yes! Victoria II model putter, while Stephen Ames wielded a Valerie model (pictured here), the same putter with which he won the Skins Game in November. Meanwhile, Retief Goosen returned to his old Tracy model, the putter that helped him win the U.S. Open. Click here for PutterZone.com’s earlier interview with Yes! Golf’s CEO Francis Ricci.

2. The new TaylorMade Spider putter has already racked up some remarkable stats on the professional circuit: 12 PGA Tour events, 83 times in play, 32 different players have used it, 15 top-25 finishes, 10 top-10 finishes and two victories already in 2008. If there has ever been a new putter introduction that was as sweeping and successful right out of the gates on the PGA Tour, PutterZone.com can’t recall it. Click here for PutterZone.com’s review of the TaylorMade Spider.

3. The Putting Arc reports that “the professional win total for known Putting Arc users in 2008 now stands at 20,” inclusive of the international circuits. The Putting Arc is a training aid designed to instill the feel of the optimal arc-type stroke. According to the company, “The modern putting stroke of the successful touring pro is the inside-to-inside or arc-type stroke. This is the stroke used by 95 percent of successful touring pros.” Click here for PutterZone.com’s earlier interview with the Putting Arc’s V.J. Trolio.

4. Heavy Putter just released its C2-DF Tour model putter, the production version of its C2-DF Limited Edition putter, of which only 500 were made. The C2-DF Tour belongs to Heavy Putter’s new Deep Face (DF) series, and features the same Anser-style head as the regular C2-DF model. The Tour version, however, is forged and milled from 303 stainless steel, and features a durable PVD (for “physical vapor deposition”) finish for a rich black profile with gold lettering. This is a seriously sharp-looking Heavy Putter. Click here for PutterZone.com’s review of the Heavy Putter DF series.

5. Tom Conway, a golf equipment representative based in Indianapolis and a contributor to PutterZone.com’s Drill Bits series, reports good news from Ashdon Golf—a newer producer of putters designed by Ronnie Pritchett. The company’s Bermuda Triangle model divides the putter into three equal segments to connect at the center of the heel and toe, resulting in a generous sweet spot. “These putters really boil down to stability and balance, which will help you make more putts,” Tom says.

Stay Dry During Wet Golf

2008-03-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

April showers might bring May flowers, but they can also put a damper on your golf game.

Thankfully, your choices in rain gear have never been better, not just from the standpoint of styles and brands, but also in terms of technology and performance.

Starting with your hands, TaylorMade’s H20 Wet Weather gloves (pictured below) keep your digits dry and cozy during a downpour, and they also work well when the skies clear, too. The durable construction resists water penetration, yet it is also breathable for heat dissipation. Silicone “hex dual grip” synthetic leather palms resist slipping in wet conditions.

Ironically enough (considering their brand name), Sun Mountain is a leader in gear designed for rainy days, including jackets, pullovers and pants. Their RainFlex gear isn’t cheap, but the quality is remarkable and worth the investment. Even the zippers and pockets are waterproof.

Keeping your head and face dry is important as well. Sun Mountain, Mizuno and others make caps and bucket hats that are designed to repel water. If the weather gets really crazy, you might consider a GustBuster umbrella, which has wind-release vents designed to withstand gusts of 55 miles per hour while keeping you dry.

If the thought of rain darkens your golf day, then you might consider upgrading your rain gear, so that you can keep grinding until the sun comes out.

This report was authored by Nick Taylor, proprietor of Golfland Warehouse, the official retail affiliate of PutterZone.com. The Golfland Warehouse Report is an exclusive monthly series designed to keep golfers informed about the latest equipment, technology and ideas in the world of golf, with an emphasis on putting and the short game.

Win a $325 SeeMore Putter

2008-03-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

With the 2008 Masters just around the corner, now is your chance to win the putter that won last year’s Masters.

Indeed, you can win a new SeeMore mFGP putter in this exclusive PutterZone.com drawing.

Entering is easy, and here’s what you need to know:

The mFGP is an updated milled version of the classic SeeMore FGP putter that Zach Johnson used to win the 2007 Masters—eight years after the late Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open with a SeeMore FGP putter. In addition to their FGP putters, Johnson and Stewart share another little-known connection. Teaching professional and SeeMore consultant Pat O’Brien was a good friend of Payne Stewart. Today, O’Brien is Zach Johnson’s putting instructor.

Now is your chance to own the putter of champions as PutterZone.com and SeeMore Putter Company team up to offer a SeeMore mFGP putter (34 inches, right handed) to one lucky reader. This putter belongs to SeeMore’s new generation of mSeries precision-milled putters featuring the company’s signature RifleScope alignment technology. The retail price of this putter is $325.

How to Enter / Rules
Simply send an email to sean@putterzone.com with “SeeMore Putter” in the subject line. Inside the email, provide answers to the following questions (the answers are above):

1. In what year did Zach Johnson win the Masters with a SeeMore putter?

2. In what year did Payne Stewart win the U.S. Open with a SeeMore putter?

3. What is the name of the SeeMore consultant with connections to Johnson and Stewart?

4. Be sure to also provide the following: Your full name, shipping address and telephone number.

IMPORTANT: Follow the above instructions carefully to ensure qualification. Deadline for entry is noon on April 14, 2008—the day after the conclusion of the Masters. Contest prize is limited to one putter for one winner. Sorry, eligibility is limited to residents of the United States and Canada. Only one entry allowed per household. Area codes and zip codes will be monitored to ensure that the proverbial ballot isn’t stuffed. The winner’s provided name, address and phone number must all be legitimate and accurate. Anything less will result in disqualification. Winner’s name will be publicized on PutterZone.com.

Determining The Winner
PutterZone.com will collate all qualifying entries and assemble them into a random order. The entries will then each be assigned a unique number. PutterZone.com will then ask a SeeMore Putter Company representative to randomly select one number within the final number range. The selected number will determine the winner.

PutterZone.com will call the winner to confirm name, shipping address and telephone number. If a message is left, the winner must call back to confirm within 48 hours or another winner will be selected.

A Sweet $10 Training Aid

2008-03-26T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simplest training tools are the most effective, especially when it comes to putting.

For evidence, look no further than the No Bogey “Perfect Practice Putting Cup,” which actually lives up to its rather lofty name.

The No Bogey is a soft vinyl practice cup that you place on your carpet or other indoor putting surface. Sure, you’ve seen a variety of practice cups and related devices. But the genius of the No Bogey cup (aside from its nifty $10 price tag) is its angled shock-absorbing lip that helps you calibrate your speed and distance control as well as your accuracy.

There’s nothing worse than stroking the ball perfectly in line with the cup, only to come up an inch or two short—which is why the patented lip on the No Bogey requires you to make your putt with just enough velocity and authority.

Conversely, if you have too much velocity, the ball will roll out and over the back of the cup. Only the surest putts settle into the No Bogey cup, which mimics what you want to do on the course.

There are no moving parts to the No Bogey cup. You just throw it down and start putting from any angle. The diameter of the cup is 4.25 inches, which is the same as a regulation putting cup. The No Bogey cup was created by entrepreneur Eric Schindler and is today marketed under the IZZO brand.

Drill Bits: Your Game's Silent Killers

2008-03-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Like the human body, your putting game can suffer from a variety of silent killers that erode performance and elevate scores.

These silent killers are the little things that can creep into your game unnoticed, at the risk of becoming habitual, not unlike hypertension or high cholesterol.

For the next three weeks, PutterZone.com’s Drill Bits series will focus on some of the sneakiest ailments, starting with putter deceleration…

As teaching professional Ed Weathers once wrote in Golf Digest: “The most common putting mistake I see the average club player make is this: Taking the putter blade back too far and then decelerating coming into the ball.”

It’s very easy to fall prey to deceleration, especially on shorter putts. Have you ever missed an easy four-foot putt and wondered what the heck just happened? Most likely, deceleration happened. When you decelerate your putter into impact, you randomize your results. Your tempo becomes jerky or yippy, distorting your angle of impact.

Deceleration is an easy habit to form, but also an easy habit to break. Awareness is a big first step. A good next step is to simply practice some four-foot putts and drills from the vantage of this awareness.

Establish the true distance you need to take the putter head back in order to make a smooth, natural acceleration into the ball, and for the ball to firmly reach the cup (it doesn’t take much from four feet!). Then, place another ball just beyond that distance point, and make some more practice putts without touching that second ball with the back of your putter.

This simple drill will help you synchronize your takeaway with the length of your putt while imparting the sensation of smooth acceleration into the ball.

SeeMore mFGP Putter Review

2008-03-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

The putter that helped Zach Johnson win the Masters last year is going back to the future.

Indeed, the classic SeeMore FGP putter used by Johnson has been refashioned into the mFGP putter ($325), a high-end milled version of the original.

Is the mFGP a worthy sequel to its legendary predecessor? Following is PutterZone.com’s SeeMore mFGP putter review.

The Storyline
The SeeMore Putter Company story has been told at length in earlier pieces here at PutterZone.com, including our review of the SeeMore m1 putter and recent interview with Jim Grundberg, co-owner of SeeMore Putter Company.

The short story is that Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open with a SeeMore FGP putter, sinking some epic putts to secure his victory and turning the spotlight on SeeMore in the process. SeeMore’s calling card was (and remains) its signature RifleScope Technology (RST) alignment system, whereby a blackened lower shaft visually intersects and hides a red dot on the putter crown. Two parallel white lines frame the shaft and serve as an indicator that the golfer is in perfect position to make a consistent and reliable stroke.

Despite its tour-proven success, however, SeeMore ultimately fell on hard times before Grundberg and his partner Jason Pouliot, both putter industry veterans, acquired the company in 2006 and re-launched the SeeMore brand in early 2007 with their new mSeries line of super-premium milled putters, including the mFGP.

Shortly thereafter, Zach Johnson seemingly came out of nowhere to win the 2007 Masters with an original SeeMore FGP model in hand (although PutterZone.com never gets tired of reminding people that we took note of Johnson and his SeeMore putter on Thursday after the first round). Some might have called it good fortune for SeeMore, but it seemed more like fate to those who knew the whole story.

Whereas the original FGP—which SeeMore still offers for $149—is cast from an aluminum-bronze material, the mFGP is precision milled from 303 stainless steel. The straight shaft meets the head just short of center, and the balance is nearly fully toe down. The head weight is 330 grams and the loft is 3.5 degrees.

The mFGP comes with three lie angle options, four grip options, lengths customized to the half inch, and your choice of one of eight available head covers. SeeMore is clearly committed to the concepts of proper fitting and personal customization.

The View from PutterZone.com
In contrast to its shapely siblings in the mSeries, the mFGP strikes a more industrial profile that is true to its FGP roots. The heel and toe are squared off, and the cavity has an old-school look—just like the original FGP.

At the same time, this putter just oozes the aura of quality that distinguishes the entire mSeries, with a classy black satin finish, fine milling marks on the face and elegant stamping on the sole.

To me, there is nothing sweeter than finely milled, high-quality steel that meets the ball with a sensual balance of firmness and suppleness, bringing music to the ears and magic to the hands. Like its sibling m1 blade, the mFGP delivers this beautiful sensation, but with a slightly softer touch.

Putters like the mFGP and m1 make me want to practice my putting. The sweet spot is so sweet that I keep coming back for more. Off-center contact is vividly communicated—it’s not harsh, but not nearly as rewarding, either. So I keep at it, pursuing the reward, challenging myself to groove the pure center again and again. While some putters are designed to mask your putting flaws, the mSeries putters inspire you to fix them.

The white framing lines of the RifleScope alignment system really pop against the black finish of the mFGP, making it very easy to ensure that you’re square to the target line. This alignment aid is a brilliantly simple piece of visual insurance that keeps your setup on the straight and narrow.

I wouldn’t suggest rushing out and investing in the mFGP or other mSeries putters with the expectation that they will provide a quick fix for your putting game. Rather, these putters offer something more lasting, and more important, than a quick fix. They offer the opportunity to take your game to the next level, particularly if you’re ready to commit to the tour-preferred arcing stroke and the RifleScope visual system, and if you’re ready to put in the hard hours required to raise your game.

The Bottom Line
The mFGP is a masterful update of a true classic, honoring the original FGP design with the highest levels of quality and craftsmanship. The RifleScope alignment system is a timeless performance aid, and the mFGP matches it with phenomenal touch and old-school style. With its mSeries putters, SeeMore is making nothing less than some of the finest putters in the world today.

The Putter Buzz for 3/17

2008-03-17T01:14:00.000-07:00

So what’s the latest buzz in putting on the PGA Tour and beyond? It’s all right here in PutterZone.com’s new Putter Buzz series:

1. Vijay Singh recently switched from a belly putter back to a traditional putter, a move that has helped him climb into the Top 10 money leaders on the PGA Tour for 2008. He hasn’t won yet this year, but he’s getting close, finishing third yesterday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and second at Pebble Beach last month. His current putter of choice? A Never Compromise Exchange Series #5 blade. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of the sibling Exchange Series #2 mallet.

2. Conversely, Mark Calcavecchia has switched to a belly putter—for now, at least. Calcavecchia is notorious for abusing clubs that don’t obey his will, including putters. Last year, he threw a putter five times before it broke, the head flying into a hedge near his hotel. Says Calcavecchia: “You hate to break a putter because then you have to go to a golf shop or something and buy one. It's always good to bring an extra putter.” Or maybe an extra psychologist.

3. F2 Golf recently released two new models under the Hamilton Series banner: the HM1 blade (pictured here) and HM4 mallet (both $99). In addition to changeable heel and toe weights, both putters feature F2’s proprietary MicroDome Face Inserts. According to F2, these dome-textured inserts have “more secure contact points touching the dimpled golf ball than a traditional flat face putter to send the ball rolling more accurately on its intended line at impact.” Stay tuned for the PutterZone.com review.

4. Bernard Langer has been on a serious roll lately with his Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter. On March 10, he won the PGA Champions Tour Toshiba Classic, beating Jay Haas on the seventh playoff hole. And yesterday, Langer finished just two shots off the winning score at the AT&T Champions Classic. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of Rife’s new Two Bar Hybrid putter.

Never Compromise Exchange 2 Review

2008-03-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

With its Exchange Series putters, Never Compromise aims to put tour-caliber customization in the palm of your hand.

Is it just a pipe dream—or a promise fulfilled? Following is PutterZone.com’s Never Compromise Exchange Series 2 model ($229) mallet putter review

The Storyline
In an earlier interview with PutterZone.com, Never Compromise’s Adam Sheldon observed: “There is no single putting condition, surface or stroke in the game today. In fact, it is safe to say that everybody is different and different players have different tendencies…If you look at the professional tours, most of the players have putters weighted to suit their preference. They also change their equipment regularly to suit the course conditions. We wanted to offer this same customization to our customers.”

Hence, Never Compromise’s Exchange Series putters, which feature four separate ports (two on the blade models) that can be mixed or matched with three separate pairs of included interchangeable sole weights spanning five, 10 and 15 grams—for a total head weight range of 320 to 370 grams. The weights are color coded and can be changed with the included allen wrench.

Not only can you align the weights evenly—say, one 10 gram weight on either side—you can also manipulate the balance of the putter by putting more weight toward the toe. This enables you to not only fine tune the weight of the putter, but its behavior as well. Such fine tuning can be used to combat personal tendencies, such as pushing or pulling putts.

The Exchange 2’s center-shafted head is milled from high-quality aluminum and features an aluminum composite weave insert for enhanced feel. The Exchange 2 is one of eight models in the Exchange Series.

The View from PutterZone.com
Many mallet putters these days are rather self-indulgent when it comes to cosmetics, but the Never Compromise Exchange Series 2 isn’t one of them. With its clean lines and confident profile, the Exchange 2 stands out from the louder crowd.

The advantages of this design are immediately apparent when you address the ball. The tapered edges add squareness and energy to what otherwise might have been a softer half-moon look. The company’s signature black-grey-black alignment scheme is aided by single black sightline, as well as a notching behind the face that mirrors the roundness of the ball for visual synergy.

The whole design seems very purposeful. Everything works—and nothing gets in the way. At the same time, the Exchange Series does bring a welcome bit of flash to the Never Compromise portfolio, with gleaming polished sole plates and red accents on the grip.

The aluminum weave insert is neither hard nor soft, achieving a happy medium with solid tactile feedback. The sound off the face, however, is a sort of synthetic pop that seems to come out of nowhere. I can’t say I’m a fan of the audio feedback.

Nevertheless, I found the Exchange 2 to be phenomenal in matters of touch and distance control. I’m not sure if this was due to the properties of the insert, the high MOI of the design, the consistency afforded by the putter’s superior alignment attributes, or a combination thereof. All I know is that it rarely left me far from the hole.

The Exchange system really allows you to explore the nuances of weighting and how it relates to your game. Amid the myriad combinations, there is something for everyone. Mine turned out to be a 15-gram blue weight on either side, for an evenly balanced head weight of 350 grams.

The Bottom Line
Never Compromise’s Exchange technology sets an unparalleled standard for personal custom weighting. The Exchange Series putters bring a fresh aesthetic twist to the Never Compromise portfolio while preserving the company’s distinctive look, and the Exchange 2 mallet earns points for its classy profile and confident performance.

Hot Putters Earn Big Bucks

2008-03-13T01:40:00.000-07:00

Two putters recently featured on PutterZone.com helped two PGA Tour professionals hit the jackpot on Sunday at the PODS Championship.

Sean O’Hair won the tournament and earned $954,000 using a TaylorMade Rossa Monza Spider putter, while Troy Matteson tied for second place with a Heavy Putter in hand, earning $285,000 along the way.

Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of the TaylorMade Spider, pictured above. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of the new Heavy Putter DF series, pictured below.

The Spider isn’t yet available to the public (the official release date is March 15), but it has already notched two victories on the PGA Tour while generating remarkable buzz.

Here’s what O’Hair says about the Spider: “I changed to the Spider in Hawaii…(it’s been) a nice addition to my game, and just the way it feels, the way it aligns…It has taken my putting to another level.”

Meanwhile, Matteson needed just 26 putts in the final round to shoot 69, bringing his putts-per-round average for the tournament to 28.8, eighth best in the field.

Here’s what Matteson has to say about his putter: “I've been using the Heavy Putter for several years. I rely on it to give me a consistent stroke every week. The biggest thing anyone who tries the Heavy Putter will find is that it improves your speed. And any time you can improve your speed, you're going to make more putts.”

Insider Interview: SeeMore's Jim Grundberg

2008-03-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

With the Masters just around the corner, now is the perfect time to catch up with the putter company that helped fit Zach Johnson with the green jacket in 2007. This time last year, the SeeMore Putter Company had only recently re-launched itself under the new ownership team of Jim Grundberg and Jason Pouliot (both pictured here, with Jim at right). The company was famous for making the putter that Payne Stewart used in his epic putting performance to win the 1999 U.S. Open, but had subsequently fallen on hard times. Grundberg and Pouilot, however, proved they were up to the challenge of saving the venerable SeeMore brand, launching their new mSeries milled putters in early 2007 to widespread acclaim (PutterZone.com called the m1 putter a “masterwork” in an earlier review). Then, when Zach Johnson won the Masters using an original SeeMore FGP putter, the rebirth of SeeMore was sealed. PutterZone.com recently caught up with Jim Grundberg to discuss last year’s exciting developments, as well as what’s next from SeeMore Putter Company. Following is our exclusive interview:

What sets SeeMore putters apart—and how does the average golfer benefit from using a SeeMore putter?
Our patented RifleScope Technology (RST) alignment system works to help the average golfer gain confidence and consistency with their putting stroke. SeeMore putters are very unique in that they offer the average golfer a built in system for game improvement.

This patented RST, known by a visible gun sight on the top line, allows the golfer to set up the putter perfectly each and every time in relation to the intended target line, by framing the black bottom part of the shaft between two white lines and covering the red dot. If the golfer is seeing red at any time during setup or the stroke, then there is something that needs to be fixed. When the RST is locked on, the golfer is able to focus solely on the speed of the putt, knowing that he is square to his intended target line.

For most golfers, and at all levels, putting is much more art than science. They are constantly seeking that magic putter, one which feels right and looks right, one which will give them confidence. Yet even when they find one they love, the feeling rarely lasts for long. Then they are onto a new search. That tends not to be the case with golfers who use SeeMore putters. When things start to get a little off track, the SeeMore RST provides important feedback to the golfer that will help him or her self-correct. It’s like having a putting instructor with you.

Can you briefly describe the state of the SeeMore Putter Company when you acquired it in 2006?
The SeeMore brand had been basically inactive in the market for the past five years. At the time we acquired SeeMore in 2006, it was nearly impossible to find a SeeMore putter in the golf shops. Golf professionals no longer knew where to find a SeeMore putter and wondered what had ever happened to the brand. Yet many avid golfers still used their trusty old SeeMore putters and swore by its benefits. In fact this period of being essentially off the market was a blessing in disguise for us as we set out to re-launch the brand. It meant that the prior owners had done a fantastic job of not sacrificing the brand in any way for any type of short-term gain. And they never gave up hope. They had waited for the right time to re-launch the brand, and decided it was better to do nothing rather than to bring the brand back to market under the wrong circumstances.

When we first met the prior ownership groups, they decided that Jason and I had the commitment, the resources, the passion, and the long-term plan that would be right for the brand that they had all so carefully built.

In our due diligence we could not find anyone that had anything bad to say about SeeMore. Most told us that the company had always had a core group of raving fans that loved the simple alignment technology. These SeeMore loyalists wanted this brand back and they wanted the company to adapt the proven RST alignment system to more models with an improved look and feel. Our best customers were already laying out the plan for what was becoming obvious that we needed to do.

What ultimately drove your new vision for SeeMore?
Based upon the feedback we received from golfers who had loved SeeMore for years, we added a new high-end milled line called mSeries (m1 model pictured here). Simply stated, our goal was to marry up the finest game improvement technology in the world in RST with the most expensive and precise materials in the world for the ultimate in precision putting performance. The unique, jewel like designs of each putter in the line would offer the ultimate in pride of ownership as well.

However we also wanted to continue to support our loyal customers and new RST converts with a more affordable option, so we kept our most important original model in the line and in fact plan to expand that offering later in 2008. So what drove our vision was to offer the best of both worlds. At the top would be the new and improved 100% milled mSeries at $325, which we consider the best of the best. But also we would keep the original cast FGP in the line at $150. It gives the customers a clear choice. The functional technology works in both models. The mSeries simply takes it to a new level of excellence. All of our putters are made in the USA, which is something we are very proud of.

We were delighted to learn last month that our blade and mallet mSeries putters were featured by Golf Digest in their exclusive 2008 Hot List, which is another great validation of the mSeries putters which PutterZone.com first featured last year!

People should know that the 2007 Masters win didn’t make the new SeeMore. Your new plan, vision and products were already in place when that happened. That said, the visibility couldn’t have hurt. Can you describe that Sunday night and the days following, in terms of how it impacted SeeMore?
The Masters victory in 2007 was obviously a catalyst for the re-launch of the brand. Jason and I were first and foremost golf fans that day, watching the Masters telecast from start to finish with our friends and families and enjoying every riveting second of the drama that was unfolding. We were on the phones all afternoon with our club designer Andre Shmoldas, as well as our international partners and our team here in Tennessee.

When Zach continued pouring them in on the back nine, it started to hit us that this dream might really be happening. By the last hole we were receiving hundreds of phone calls and text messages from friends in the industry who knew how special the exposure was going to be for us. Our public relations director Kevin Donnellon and I were on the phone until well after midnight polishing and executing our communications strategy. Our phones started ringing the day after and haven’t stopped since. It has completely energized our employees and our partners around the world to believe that they are part of something very special.

You are rolling out some new models and a new shaft for 2008. What do these add to the existing SeeMore experience?
We launched the mSeries with what we are calling the whistle shaft in 2008, based upon strong input from the tours and from our partner golf professionals at the club level. The Whistle line involves a new shaft with a simple bend that maintains the alignment and performance integrity of the SeeMore putting system while favoring a slight hands-forward at address position.

The original straight shaft versions of the mSeries putters, as well as the original FGP putters, are designed to have a golfer place his hands in line with the eyes and with the putter head. Golfers now have many choices with the new SeeMore line in terms of head shape as well as hand position. Many golfers told us they loved the idea of our system but have always putted with their hands slightly forward and felt more comfortable that way. We have designed the offset whistle shaft line for these players.

As a result of the Whistle design, golfers will still enjoy the multiple proprietary benefits of RST: the guarantee that the hands will be in the same place each and every time, the confidence that the putter head will be perfectly square to the intended target line at address and at impact, and the ability to groove a perfect pendulum putting stroke.

Thank you, Jim! Stay tuned for PutterZone.com's review of SeeMore's mFGP model putter.

Putt with Politics

2008-03-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

With the presidential hopefuls trading barbs like Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods, it was only a matter of time before politics made it to the putting green.

Indeed, now you can express your own party loyalties with new putter covers ($35) featuring Republican elephants and Democratic donkeys. In other words, now you can play golf like Sean Hannity or Keith Olbermann.

These spirited covers are made exclusively for Tour Spec Golf by Japanese company Como!Come!. They feature magnetic closures with velour lining, and the party mascots are embroidered in red, white and blue.

Tour Spec Golf is an online retailer dedicated to Japanese-made putters, golf clubs and accessories. The company was founded by Chris Pierson, who discovered an entirely new world of golf while traveling in Japan several years ago: “I walked into a golf shop for the first time and was in shock as I was transported into golf gear heaven. The plethora of equipment and brands that were available was mind boggling. I trembled with excitement as I handled these beautiful clubs and began making a wish list of what I need to get to make up my new bag.”

In addition to featuring Japan’s own unique brands and artisan clubmakers, Tour Spec offers “Japan only” gear made by Mizuno, TaylorMade and other familiar companies.

On the accessories front, Como!Come! specializes in whimsical, high-quality putter covers. Current designs feature scorpions, monkeys, sombreros, green peas (yes, green peas) and, now, donkeys and elephants.