SILVER
SILVER
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
OVERALL RATING ★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★ INNOVATION ★★★★ LOOK • SOUND • FEEL ★★★★
‘Lags like a beast.
‘I get the same muted sound and feel on long and short putts. Easy to keep on
Feels like a pendulum, and
it gets the ball rolling instead of hopping or
line through the stroke.’ – 5-HANDICAP
spinning.’ – 11-HANDICAP
CLEVELAND
COBRA VINTAGE Price TBA
HB SOFT 2 R2 900
WHY WE LIKE IT Don’t let the simple-looking designs fool you. Each putter’s perimeter weighting, hosel style and grip are distinct enough to resonate with different strokes, and custom counterbalanced weights provide a deeper fit. These putters technologically upstage almost all putters by using an array of face-milling patterns. Rather than one pattern for the line, each model has a milling density to match the head’s built-in forgiveness. These sleek, techy putters do all of this for a third of the price of some other brands. • Grip sizes and shapes change to match the stroke type. • Four head styles, six models (10.5, 11, 11C, 11S, 15, Retreve); plumber’s neck, slant neck, centre shaft, single bend; head weights: 365 grams; lengths: 33, 34, 35 inches (84-89cm); loft: 3 degrees
WHY WE LIKE IT The mission of a mallet is to minimise off- centre strikes, but that fixes only part of the problem. These putters use a face design that staggers loft from top to bottom, 1 degree on the bottom of the face increasing by 1 degree three times to 4 degrees at the top of the face. That way, when we mis-hit our putts high or low on the face, the ball still launches at the same angle, reducing skid and producing better roll.
There is more than one way to add loft to a wedge shot, but some are easier than others – an important point for those who don’t have a lot of time for short-game practice. The method I teach a lot of golfers gets much of the work done at address. When trying to create more loft with a wedge, some players get into their traditional chipping stance (narrow feet, ball back, shaft leaning forward) and then spin the face open so that it’s pointing more skywards ( above, left ).That setup can work, for sure, but executing from it requires more practice and near precise execution. Instead, you can create more height on your shots by simply standing wider and further away from the ball than normal, which lowers the shaft in relation to the ground so it’s less upright. Coupled with a forward ball position, almost where you’d play it with a driver ( above, right ), you’ve done most of what you need to create loft. There’s no reason to open the face. Just let the wedge trace the ground and slide under the ball through impact. You’ll pop it up every time. – with Ron Kaspriske Erika Larkin is one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Teachers in America. She is director of instruction at the Club at Creighton Farms in Virginia. CREATE LOFT WITH YOUR WEDGES THE EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE BY ERIKA LARKIN
One thing I love about mallet putters is how easy they are to align with your intended start line. Knowing this, I scratch my head when I give a lesson on the green and see a golfer step into their putts in a manner that makes it harder to get aligned properly. Let me explain: When you are about to putt, do you set the putter down at the same time or just after you start to get into your stance? If you do either, you’re greatly increasing your chance of misaligning the putter to your line. It’s difficult to get an accurate view from this perpendicular standpoint, which is exactly what happens when you set up feet first. Instead, always get your line from behind the ball and then set the putter down to that line before you do anything else ( above ). Keep in mind, you’re setting your putter down relative to the start line , which is the first few centimetres after you strike the ball. Also, when you do step in, don’t worry so much about being perfectly square to the line with your body. Just get in a comfortable, balanced position. – with Ron Kaspriske BE A LITTLE SMARTER WITH HOW YOU ALIGN YOUR PUTTER BY MOLLY BRAID
• Adjustable sole weight provides swingweight options. • Three models (Cuda, Nova, Stingray); single bend andslant neck; head weights: 350-365; lengths: 34-35 inches (86-89cm); loft: 1-4 degrees
FEEL
FEEL
Firm
Cushioned
Firm
Cushioned
HEFT
HEFT
Light
Heavy
Light
Heavy
SHAPE
SHAPE
Angular
Soft curves
Angular
Soft curves
Molly Braid is Golf Digest’s No 1-ranked instructor in Wisconsin. She teaches at Westmoor CC.
TOP 5 SOFTEST FEELING, MALLET PUTTERS, MIDDLE-HANDICAPS
TOP 5 SOFTEST FEELING, MALLET PUTTERS, LOW-HANDICAPS
103 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 104
HOTLIST 2024
HOTLIST 2024
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