The Clubmaker Report

Hot Rod Putters, Mitsubishi Tensei, Graphite Design Tour Win

Hot-Rodded High MOI Putters

You may have read about the Odyssey Putters that Ricky Fowler, Keegan Bradley, and Wyndham Clark used for three consecutive PGA Tour wins in a row.

The heads are a bit heavier that standard at 385g or so, they’re using a 17” oversize 3.0 Superstroke grip for back weighting, and are a few inches longer than the typical 34” putter at 37-39”.

I’ve been building a high MOI putter (shown above) with a standard size grip, black putter shaft, and to 34”-35” and have done really well with it. This combination is $100 plus shipping.

I’m thinking about hot rodding one to similar specs to the Odyssey but with a few changes so it’s not quite as shocking a change using the Odyssey components.

The red head above is 360 grams, is high MOI to help with mis-hits, and has a firm feeling face insert. It is design for a slight arc putting stroke. I can make the putter longer to 36” or so without a shaft extension or I can go the full 39” with a shaft extension if you like. No reason this wouldn’t work at 34”/35” if you don’t want to move far from standard.

After the three victories, 17”/3.0 Superstroke grip is sold out. They do make a 13.75”/3.0 version that is a little lighter at 100 grams but still will give the back weight feel and balance with the slightly lighter clubhead weight. I can build this combination for $150 plus shipping.

The flat red paint treatment is beautiful but has has a cover on it while in your bag or it tends to show marks. The bad news is that they ran out of putter covers for this head a few months ago and don’t know when they’ll be in stock so you’re on your own with the cover. I’m using an older mallet cover I found floating around my shop and it works fine.

Send me a note to order the High MOI/Winged putter.

Yamada Turtle MO Milled Putter

Whenever I get an order for a Yamada putter I try and order an extra putter to have in stock as they take about two months to arrive from Japan.

The Turtle MO head is the heaviest in Yamada’s lineup at 385 grams. It normally comes only in the Platinum finish shown above but I ordered the extra one with the popular burning copper finish. It is assembled by Yamada in Japan and includes a Yamada grip and headcover.

I ordered this one about a month ago so probably about a month before this order arrives. The price for the milled Yamada putters is $425 plus shipping.

Graphite Design Tour Win

Nice job by Graphite Design getting a major Tour win.

From Graphite Design: The winner of the 78^th U.S. Women’s Open held at Pebble Beach Golf Links was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-6 SR (Stiff Regular) flex wood shaft in her Ping G430 #3 Fairway metal wood and a Graphite Design Tour AD DI-6 Stiff flex wood shaft in her Ping G430 #5 Fairway metal wood. The 25-year-old Hawaiian native shot a 4-day score of 69, 70, 71, 69 to win her first LPGA tournament and to also become the first woman to win a major championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

This model has a firm handle, medium middle and firm + tip and is priced at $385 plus shipping. I’ll do free OEM sleeve/install labor special ($40 value) with any of the Tour AD shaft models.

The Tour AD shafts come in 14 different models/profiles and in weights from 40/50/60/70/80 gram series (typically middle weight, i.e. 45, 55, 65 grams) and in L/A/R/SR/S/X flexes. Send me a note and let me know what you’re trying to accomplish and I’ll help you choose.

Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Shafts

Saw an online comparison with orange, white, and the new blue profile. The blue has their most popular profile (which I’m assuming is similar to the old Diamana Blue profile). The Tensei 1K Blue has a stiffer handle vs. the orange and white and a more active tip. I think this will match up with a lot of swings.

It’s available in 50/60/70 weights.

The 1K material reduces hoop deformation just below the grip of a driver shaft for improved dispersion.

From Mitsubishi:

The material innovation in our line of TENSEI™ 1K Pro Wood shafts – 1K Carbon Fiber – has officially been incorporated into hybrid models. TENSEI™ 1K Pro Hybrid and TENSEI™ 1K Black Hybrids incorporate super-premium 1K carbon fiber into the handle section of the shafts to provide unrivaled stability and unbelievable feel. Instead of developing individual hybrid shafts in all different TENSEI™ colors, TENSEI™ 1K Pro Hybrid uses a silver band meant to symbolize the design elements pulled from all TENSEI™ hybrid shafts and melded into one. TENSEI™ 1K Black Hybrid provides a true, piercing, low launching, low spinning option for golfers seeking maximum control.

These are $350 plus shipping. Send me a note to order.

Fujikura Tour Wins

The LPGA PGA Champ, Travelers Champ both used Ventus.

Just because pros use doesn’t mean it’s good for you but they do make easier to hit profiles in all of their shafts. The Ventus Red is available in different weights and has a higher launch/spin profile vs. the black and blue Ventus models. 37% used Fujikura shafts in their drivers at the John Deere tournament. 41% used Fujikura in their driver at the US Women’s Open.

The proven Ventus design allows extreme stability even in lighter weight shafts for improved control and longer drives.

These are $350 plus OEM sleeve/install labor ($40) and shipping. Send me a note for help choosing/to order.

Short Shots

I’ve got some of the always popular Hiskei Wave shafts in stock as well as a few of the Hiskei 45 gram superlight shafts. The Wave shaft is $150, Superlight is $125. You can see these at my Square Online Catalog here