An Original Gold's Factory Private Stock #2

[wmclarenf1]

Recently bought a used Gold's Factory Private Stock #2 finished in what looks close to GF's Soft Black finish with matte finish on all areas the eye sees at address and with the face,sole and sides in a polished finish. Looks wise, this original Private Stock #2 (which I am told is maybe 4-5 years old) is the antithesis of what we see of many current day Gold's Factory putters. No bling at all! This is as plain as Jane gets! Engravings are all in rather plain type face and some too big. Aesthetics is definiely not its calling although the finish is very nice I think (and the previous owner, whoever it is in Japan, has kept it in fantastic condition).

The face has a very shallow mill compared to the original PZ horizontal mill on my GF Tuned GS Mono3. Not surprising then that the PS2 has a firmer feel and clickier note.

I've only had 18 holes in with it and apart from the firmer feel and clickier note, the skidding while not bad, is evident. I've set up the PS2 to be as close to exact head specs wise as my other putters. 3* loft, 71.5* lie and with the lighter head weight of 345 grams, I'm put a 12 gram tungsten weight in the tip of the Shimada 120 gram stepped putter shaft playing to 34 like all my other putters. Because the tungsten weight is 1 gram more than I would have liked, I have 5 inches of high density lead tape just under the grip to counter balance that. There is a difference in feel let me tell you.

We digress though... the skidding... so all this talk that different mill patterns do not have any effect on roll but only feel dictated by the depth of the mill... I don't know.. I'm still not convinced either way. However, it's only 18 holes so still early days. Let's see if this persists or maybe I just had a bad putting round.... or did I?

Maiden 18 holes, the PS2 with Shimada shaft came in with 28 putts.. only 1 more than my best ever putting round of 27. 2 birdies and lots of one putts (although 3 were literally tap-ins due to a hot Crazy wedge). Distance control was good and the ball definitely does not feel like it comes off the face the fastest. Despite the skidding, distance control on mid speed greens was good and putts seemed to hold the line well enough. Despite a hot 28 putt round, she had her 3 putt blemish on the last par 5. All in all however, a great maiden performance.

When I got the PS2, it was with the intention to send it in for GF pimping. I've been going back and forth with T on this and almost driving him crazy if not already. With how PS2 performed though, I'm now not so sure if I should. I'm still inclined to, just not as sure as before the round. I'm just thinking that with a horizontal PZ mill which perhaps can be a tad shallower in depth than then the mill on my GS Mono3, that may take care of the firmer feel and clicky note and more importantly, the slight skidding which should then give an even better roll... or maybe just leave good as good....hmmm...

Edited October 25, 2013 by wmclarenf1

[idrive]

I have in my Gold's collection almost that exact same Putter. I sent it in to have the original PZ milling done and I promise you the skidding

was reduced dramatically. The feel changed slighltly. To me it is just ever so slightly softer.

Also, GF loft on a Putter is usually 5* stock.

[supo]

id go with what jeff said.

my one , while superbly customed ,doesnt have the same feel as his. with the insert pz milling, even without the tongue, which makes this putter superb in my hands comapred to without it...

its a terrific putter , my fav golds head.

Edited October 25, 2013 by supo67

[wmclarenf1]

I have in my Gold's collection almost that exact same Putter. I sent it in to have the original PZ milling done and I promise you the skidding was reduced dramatically. The feel changed slighltly. To me it is just ever so slightly softer. Also, GF loft on a Putter is usually 5* stock.

MIne came as 4 and I had it adjusted to 3*. I hear you about the PZ Mill but if I send it int GF, I was thinking a bing job as well and that's where my rationality or irrationality as the case may be, comes in and I start hitting bumps in my thought process. Im convinced about the horizontal PZ mill reducing skidding and enhancing feel as I have that done to my GS.

[wmclarenf1]

id go with what jeff said. my one , while superbly customed ,doesnt have the same feel as his. with the insert pz milling, even without the tongue, which makes this putter superb in my hands comapred to without it... its a terrific putter , my fav golds head.

Interesting.. I have a smilar kinda mill on my Kitada KG00N but slightly deeper on the Kitada I think. No skidding with the kitata or none that I can feel or hear at least.

[wmclarenf1]

Hmmm.. the more I putt with this the more I like it. Will put it in the bag for the next few rounds and see if it'll return the same results. The DG shaft it cmae with made the head feel very crisp but now with the Shimada shaft, lead weight and cork plug in the shaft tip, the feel os totally different in a much better way. Turning out to be a very, very nice putter.