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The floating slit line


TourSpecGolfer

Do you prefer a sight line ?  

39 members have voted

  1. 1.

    • I need a sight line.
      21
    • I like a sight dot.
      9
    • I don't need no stink-in line or dot !
      9


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What do you guys think about the feel and sound of floating slit putters? The feel IMO is very metallic and hollow. This putter in the pic is my Custom Tour Zero the slit line gives it the metal hollow vibe but the Teflon mutes it a tad too, I am not selling my tour 150 just yet but I'm really interested in experimenting with the floaters from now on. Kinda curious how a ingot-floater-aluinser-insert-Teflon anser putter would feel :cool:

Whats your thoughts?

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While I can sometimes get away without a sightline on anser type putters, I am much more comfortable with a mallet and 2-3 lines. Perhaps it is age or just a mental need that I have something to verify that I am pointed in the right direction. Now if I could just trust myself and believe what I see I would putt even better than I do..

I have never found slit putters to feel "right", something about the sound they make just grates. For now I avoid them because of that.

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Your talking about the slit in the bottom for a floating face right, not the sight line??

I hate the slot, makes the club feel unstable and "pingy" I perfer a muted feel where I hardle know the ball hit the face.

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The slot is an effort to mimic the old Pings. To get that sound. I have a putter in my bag now for a couple of years. No lines. This thing works better than anything I've ever tried, although I keep trying others. It's a classic style and for some reason, it always keeps me close.

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Kinda curious how a ingot-floater-aluinser-insert-Teflon anser putter would feel :cool:  

Whats your thoughts?

303 teflon, alu, floating face and ingots to make it heavy is a combination I would like to try. Team it with a Fuji TS putter shaft and it would look great. I prefer a full floating face compared to one that goes into it. I perfer either a sight dot or topline line for alignment.

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Here's something you may not have heard before on this note...more lines make you aim your putterhead left.

It may seem strange at first, but it's true. I've been working with a laser alignment system for about four years now, and of the several hundred people I've fit for their putter, a few tendencies continue to show up.

1. All things being equal, (i.e. same head, shaft, offset) more lines (like two or even three lines) tend to make a player aim the putter to the left. There are always a few exceptions, but this is nearly always true. No lines, or just a dot tend to make the player aim to the right.

2. As in irons, more offset means more left, and less offset means more right. Again, this is assuming you hold all other variables the same.

3. More offset tends to make the player press or deloft the putterhead...again, not always, but almost, even if just a little.

There are a few more generalities on this matter envolving lie, loft, and length, but these are the most relevant. These results again come from years of putter fitting, and while there are ALWAYS exceptions, these are usually true.

Also, better players tend to work with a putter until they can get it working pretty good, but if the player is always aiming 12 inches left or right he has to make compensations, however slight, to square the clubface. This theory closely resembles dynamic iron life fitting, the incorrect setup will actually make you play worse.

Don't believe me?? If you are in the area, drop me a line and I'll prove it(for free). Fitting is always important, but unfortunately how good the result is does in fact depend on the fitter. Always go with the most experienced fitter, (which is usually not the head pro or director of golf) at a green grass golf shop. PGA credentials are a big plus, but there are plenty of hack fitters that have passed a PAT, trust me on this one.

Last two things, nobody is standard...if anyone tries to tell you 'hey man, waddaya know, you're std.!' the guy is an ass and he's trying to sell you something. For one thing, std's shift as you all know, but it just doen't work out that way. Customizing clubs is a free service from OEM's, they don't really want you playing stuff that doesn't fit.

Lastly, when trying new stuff, try not to fit yourself...I know I know, 'I know my specs', so what? Any new club is going to be a bit different from the last, let someone else take a peek and tell you what they see...if the guy is full of crap you'll know.

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Kinda curious how a ingot-floater-aluinser-insert-Teflon anser putter would feel :cool:  

Whats your thoughts?

303 teflon, alu, floating face and ingots to make it heavy is a combination I would like to try. Team it with a Fuji TS putter shaft and it would look great. I prefer a full floating face compared to one that goes into it. I perfer either a sight dot or topline line for alignment.

What exactly is a full floating face compared to the one i have pictured? Drop me a PM if you have some insight, I will be ordering some fully tweaked custom GD ansers and am thinking about throwing everything at it.

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I've seen floating faces with different cuts- 1,2, or even 3 slits but I don't know what a full floating face is. If the slit is cut closer to the face it alters the feel and the sound so the crafter has to know every detail before making the putter. Personally, floating faces give off a wierd pinging sound (or the two that I've tried). Looks cool though :cool:

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What is the differences in feel/sound in regards to the location of the slit and size or # of them?

A full floating face doesn't go into the face at all, the cut goes behind the face, through the sole and into the cavity, so one can look right through the slit (so the face and cavity are separate). The other floating face is a cut in the sole that dissects the face and stops before reaching the topline, so one cannot look through it. Like the Studio stainless newport beach (floating face, but not behind the face, through the face) vs. the inspired by David Duval (full floating face). I've played them both, the sound the Duval makes is more noticable.

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Chris,

The one you have pictured is a "full floating face" i.e. behind the face in the cavity like oiamsobuff mentioned. The SSS Scotty NPB is a floating face cut into the face.

From the SC site

INSPIRATION:

The Newport Beach has a long classic history on Tour with a winning reputation. Scotty takes the refined Newport head, milled from 303 stainless, wider from front to back with a thinner topline, and cuts a slit into the face of the putter, stopping just short of the topline. This ''floating face'' gives the Newport Beach a distinctive sound, which translates directly to feel. Traditionally, the slit was cut into the flange of the putter but as the cut is moved closer to the face Scotty can manipulate the sound pitch changing the feel of the putter. The Newport Beach first originated in 1997 when approximately 100 putters were made for use on Tour and is widely used by such notable players as Davis Love III.

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Yep,

A slit cut into the cavity has produced the best sound for me. It was explained to me that the Alu insert is actually supposed to mimic a floating face, in balance but, I couldn't find it comparable. Bettinardis interpretation of .5 slots, and dotted lines just didn't quite sound as good as the full 4" cut. Anser heads have traditionally been the head of choice as other models don't sit well when they cut the slit. I've seen a SC studio 1 with a slit that looked pretty cool.

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i think the slit makes a better sound and it feels better to me.  

The bettinardi has the slit and it has taken over the gauge putter.  Too bad I didn't know the gauge has a slit option.

I wish I knew there was a slit option as well. Just picked up a tour zero recently and would definitely have opted for one. I think their great for feedback. Goodway to work on your putting stroke.

As far as sightlines go - they just mess me up. Get to focused on the line on the putter instead of the line of the putt.

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I have tried a lot of putters all mostly with the anser style head from Bettinardi, Bobby Grace, and Scotty.....I keep coming back to the Scotty Cameron Inspired by Duval model that IMHO is the best feeling/sounding putter with a slit made. I dislike the new newport beach made from stainless steel...the feel is just not there for me and prefer a head especially made in stainless steel that doesn't have a slit in the sole. I have tried the MC-3, the M-1 and a lot of thers and do believe that without an alignment aid you do have better aim and aren't as worried about lining the putt up with the aid perfectly....just my $.02.....

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