The Clubmaker Report
Zero Torque Putters, Ultra Rebound Driver, Aretera Shafts, LA Golf Sale
Breakthrough Golf Zero Torque Putter
Breakthrough Golf has been releasing unique designs for a few years ago and their new Paradox putter continues this trend.
One of my longtime customers bought the new putter from me and sent me this feedback:
John I have played twice with new putter. WOW it tracks well feels like hitting balata . Played 14 holes and had 18 putts on greens healing from being punched. Hope it continues . -a
The hot putter trend over the past year is “zero torque”, popularized by L.A.B. golf’s super hot putter design.
Breakthrough took Paradox a step further than just your basic zero-torque putter by using Principal Axis Technology. The weight is high in the toe and low in the heel so it’s swing balanced.
According to Breakthrough:
Paradox™ achieves swing balance through Principal Axis alignment, which optimizes performance dynamically through the golfer’s stroke. This works just like a car alignments to deliver smooth, reliable performance.
Why Don't Other Companies Use It?
They stick to conventional putter designs focused on center of gravity optimization. The emphasis is on weight distribution, center of gravity, and face balancing, but no one has fully optimized how a putter behaves dynamically during the stroke.
Paradox is the only putter balanced to stay square to your swing path.
The Paradox design offers:
More putts made & 10% Closer to the hole on misses
Achieved pure roll 20% quicker than the competition.
Price is $499 plus shipping and includes a Breakthrough low torque graphite putter shaft. Choice of mallet design or blade. Let me know the length you’d like and I’ll get one out to you asap.
Aretera Golf Shafts
I’m excited to announce a new line of shafts I’ll be carrying from a company called Aretera (pronounced Are-Uh-Tera) after reading some great reviews on their new line of shafts.
I received my first shipment and they’re a premium, great looking, great performing with profiles to fit any golfer.
One of my customers sent this feedback:
“John, the Aretera Blue shaft you built for me is working very well. I’m wondering if you think I would work well in the Hiskei Plum Blossom Ultra Rebound clubhead?” (the answer was yes).
The new Hiskei Plum Blossom head (see below) is sale priced at $475 (reg $499). Send me a note to order.
Here’s information and specs on the new shaft:
The company was started by four industry veterans Alex Dee, Michel de Fontaine, Bill Stiles, and Chris Elson and their enthusiasm about their products and company is contagious.
The shaft designer is Alex Dee. Alex was with Fujikura for 25 years and was responsible for their popular Ventus line, as well as the Vista Pro, Axiom, Pro, Speeder Pro, Motore, and Blur. He also developed their Enso system.
The first two shafts are the ΣC1 Blue and Grey. They’re both mid launch/mid spin designs with the Blue having a slightly softer tip vs. the grey. I love the classy graphics and paint treatment, quite a break from some of the wild designs I’ve seen from other companies.
Their shafts are designed 20 plies where a standard shaft has 5-7 and a softer mid section/firmer butt and tip section. The plies alternate one layer at 45 degrees, one layer at 0 (most shafts have an inner layer at 45 and outer at 0). This gives the shaft its unique feel and control.
Here’s what they have to say about the new shafts:
At ARETERA, we pushed our limits to design a shaft line with a compliant mid-section while simultaneously addressing erratic performance and stability issues often associated with similar shaft profiles.
We started with reimagining the typical layup of a golf shaft and employed an advanced layered technique in the ΣC1 product line to unify plies responsible for resisting twist and bending throughout the wall thickness.
The ΣC1 utilizes ultra premium exotic materials to the layup in critical areas and in strategic orientations promoting enhanced torsional stability with a seemingly effortless flowing transfer of power.
Features a more compliant mid-section with firmer butt and tip sections providing for a very smooth, balanced feel promoting higher launching conditions.
Enhances overall connectedness and torsional stability throughout the shaft without compromising feel or performance while minimizing excessive spin common to off center hits. Promotes more consistency in repeatable centerness of contact and a more fluid loading of the shaft not typically experienced in compliant mid-section designs.
Here are the specs for the ΣC1 Blue and Grey:
ΣC1 Grey
ΣC1 Blue
The price is $320 plus shipping. I’ll install an OEM sleeve and Star grip at no extra charge (a $40 value). Send me a note to order this unique new shaft.
I received my first sample of the Hiskei Plum Blossom driver and it’s a beauty.
It has a very clean look, hot face, lower easier to hit face profile vs. deep face designs, and is the maximum 460cc volume vs. smaller/reduced head size of the competition.
The new Hiskei Plum Blossom Driver is a nice break from today’s far out driver designs, with the major OEM favoring adjustable sleeves, screws covering the sole, strange bulges off the back, side, and sole, and $600 prices.
The new Hiskei driver has a beautiful clean design and a (non-conforming) ultra rebound face for extra distance. The only markings are a very small Hiskei logo and loft number out of sight on the toe and the nifty plum blossom logo on the sole.
The COR/CT is COR .856 or 317 CT for the new face design.
(.83COR /257CT is conforming).
I’m building this driver with the Wave shaft or the Hiskei 45 gram SuperLight.
The price with the Wave or Superlight shaft is on sale for $375, $75 less than the competition (regular $399) The head is lightweight at 195 grams so no need for flex adjustment with the softer flex Wave shaft. Just order your normal flex. Loft is 9 degree or 10.5 degree. The lighter head means the length will be 45.5”-45.75”.
The price with the new Aretera shaft is on sale for $475 (reg. $499).
Send me a note to help choose the right flex for the new Hiskei Plum Blossom Ultra Rebound Driver with Wave shaft, Aretera shaft (or about any shaft made). I can also build with about any shaft you like, send me a note for a quote.
LA Golf 30% off sale ends June 30
George Harrison wrote All Things Must Pass and the LA Golf shaft sale is no exception.
LA Golf is having a great sale that continues until the end of June with all of their shafts a mind blowing 30% off!
I’ll join the fun and do free adjustable sleeve/ Star grip install (a $40 value).
The Gold series (with Boron) is a great deal at $244.30 (regularly $349). Some of the super premium Japanese brands charge $500 for their boron shafts. You’ll love the feel, performance, and now the price on these fantastic shafts. This is their best shaft, you’ll love it.
Bryson plays an LA Golf shaft in his irons, woods, and putter, and they’re also on sale
Bryson irons $149/Sale $104.30, Bryson Wood $449/Sale$314.30
Here are the prices on all their shafts. Please send me a note at johnmuirjr@me.com for help choosing or to order.
L Series Taper Irons-Regular $125/Sale $87.50
L Series Wedges- Regular $125/Sale $87.50
A Series parallel Irons-Regular $99/Sale $69.30
A Series Hybrid-Regular $149/Sale $104.30
A Series Woods-Regular $299/Sale $209.30 with free adjustable sleeve/install/grip
P Series Putter Shaft-Regular $299/Sale $209.30
Gold Series Shaft with boron (my favorite shaft) Regular $349/Sale $244.30 with free adjustable sleeve/install/star grip).
The new rebound face Hiskei Plum driver is out and is a beauty. Hot high rebound face for extra distance and I can build a beautiful driver with the LA Gold shaft. Send me a note for a quote.
Here’s information on LA Golf. Send me a note for specs for each shaft and help choosing.
LA Golf bought Matrix Composites a few years ago and they use Matrix 16 sided HD tooling and technology in their shafts. It’s the same HD tech used in the Matrix Ozik and their other premium shafts.
The Gold series adds boron for superior feel and performance. Al Jackson from AJ Tech worked with Matrix for a while and helped them with his expertise in using boron in carbon fiber shafts. Boron enhances the shaft's durability without adding extra weight, one of the issues with carbon fiber. I see that longtime shaft designer Jeff Meyer is on their team as Chief Design officer. Al (AJ) always spoke highly of Jeff and his skill as a designer (AJ didn’t dish out too many compliments to other shaft designers). Jeff worked at Titleist for a long time and also has his own performance composites company.
Here’s their information on the HD/Boron Gold shafts:
The Boron layer in this shaft offers unparalleled smoothness and stability under compression, enhancing the strength of traditional carbon fiber for superior feel and consistency on the course, setting a new gold standard in golf technology.
The combination of HD technology and Boron generates an exceptional experience through the swing. This is the smoothest feel of any shaft from LA GOLF.
This shaft delivers high launch and mid spin, ideal for golfers seeking enhanced accuracy and distance.
The LA Golf Gold series comes in 45/55/65/75 weights.
The A Series irons are unique in that you can order them custom made for you in different launch angles at given weight classes. Pretty cool!
Send me a note for help choosing or to order LA Golf shafts. They’re made to order and take about 10 days to 2 weeks to ship.
Should You Be Playing A 9 Wood?
I received a sample of this reasonably priced, high quality fairway wood and it looks like it’s a winner. It comes in higher lofts like a 7 wood or 9 wood and it’s much easier to hit vs. a hybrid or long iron. Very easy to get up in the air for better approach shots.
Our friends at MyGolfSpy wrote a great article on adding a 9 wood to your bag, find the article here.
This great looking fairway wood features a CG location that delivers a blend of high launch and low spin. More weight is shifted lower in the clubhead to maintain a high inertia with an enlarged face profile.
The smooth sole plate reduces friction at impact.
Its available in 3/15 degree, 4/16 degree, 5/18 degree, 7/21 degree, and in a hard to find 24 degree/9 wood.
I like a little heavier shaft in a fairway wood and I’ve matched this up with a 68 gram 3.0 torque shaft that will bring out the best in this clubhead but can build this with a lighter 50 gram shaft if you prefer for the same price. I can build with about any shaft you like, send me a note for a quote.
A #4 16 degree loft is a great option as they’re easier to hit than a 3 wood and go about the same distance. It can give you extra room in your bag when you get rid of your #3 and #5 wood, maybe adding a 7 wood or 9 wood to your bag.
Price is $125 each with either the high moi shaft or the 50 gram superlight, send me a note to order.
Short Shots
I’m in the midst of changing my product mix to focus on the companies I’ve written about above. A lot of the original companies I’ve sold via Clubmaker Report and Clubmaker Online have either gone out of business, the owner retired or passed away, or they’ve lost their way after having some earlier success.
Aretera, LA Golf, Breakthrough Golf Technology, Alpha, and Hiskei Golf all offer the kind of high performance, new, exciting “don’t follow the crowd” designs that I like to feature. I’m also working on adding LAB Golf to my offerings. (the putter used by the US Open winner). These companies also offer excellent customer service, something sorely lacking with many golf companies. These guys are new and they just try harder to make their customers happy and are loyal.
I’ll have a full range of components to offer (drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, putters, putter and wedge shafts, wood, iron, and hybrid shafts). Some of these products are premium priced (but below the major OEM’s) and I’m also going to be featuring some value components such as filament wound graphite iron and wood shafts at affordable price points, products like the above fairway wood, and more. Stay tuned!