Review

PrimeTimeGolf member Gene Nead, not only keeps as tight ship as a "CREW CHIEF"  for NASCAR driver Michael McDowell and JTG Daugherty Racing, but he also makes incredible “handmade” putters. I’m not exactly sure how much experience Gene has in taking on the putter making tasks, but I think he may be onto something here….this thing is AMAZING!!

LOOKS

My first impression of this “hand-made” after removing the cover…was “WOW”. The combination of both the 303 Stainless face and the carbon bumpers that went into this two piece putter were very different and original. The torch finish on the two different metals presented different colors which really stand out and make this putter very unique from most of the other putter designs available.

Overall, the head shape and welded neck are very attractive. In my opinion, this putter sits as square as any putter that I have owned. I actually like the presence of the weld marks where the two pieces were welded together and do not find them distractive at all while using the putter. I’m sure this is subjective, but everyone has their own preference in what they like in a putter. Gene finished the putter off with an added personal touch by hand stamping the bottom.. “Hand Made for Joe-PTG”

PERFORMANCE AND FEEL

I know the average golfer can’t really distinguish the difference between different putters, but I can assure you that some of us really can. This putter is as solid as any putter that I have ever used and I can assure you, I have had my share of putters. The putter produces a very “solid” feeling at impact and starts the ball rolling end over end very quickly. I’m not sure if the “bi-weld” of the two different metals produce a different feeling or sound, but the color contrast in the finish is probably worth the extra effort.

CONCLUSION

Not only does Gene Nead make one of the best looking “hand-made“ putters that I have ever seem, but he is one of the easiest and nicest guys to deal with. If your ever in the “hand-made” putter market, I would HIGHLY recommend talking with Gene to see what he can come up with. It is truly a remarkable putter and It will remain in my putter collection forever!!!

Specs:

Byron 007 Longboard
American Stainless Steel with sound slot
360 gram head
No sight lines or dots

Custom stamping and paint fill
34.5” in length
Winn Mid Size grip
Toe hang:  slightly past 3:00

Appearance:

As the pictures show, Byron’s stainless steel putter head is exquisite.  It is clean, precise, and very appealing to the eye.  Believe it or not, it is a weld neck.  Byron is expertly able to mill off the weld bead in a way that makes it nearly invisible.  I am very impressed with the precision design and milling of the putter head, but not surprised.  I have had the pleasure of rolling several Byron putters over the last year, and since my first experience I have had very high expectations for Byron’s putters.  The stamping is largely custom based on my order, and as you can see in from the pictures of the putter before it was finished, the stamping is very precise and very clean.

While stainless steel does not project the “twilight zone” milling nearly as well his putters that are finished in black oxide, to me it still provides the owner a very unique and appealing look.  The sound slot is very clean, and delivers a great feel from this putter.  The combination of bead blasted and high polish areas on the putter make a nice contrast.

If I could have changed anything, it would have been to convince Byron to come up with a longboard surfboard stamp for this model to go on the sole.

Performance:
As much as I appreciate the aesthetics, quality, and design that goes into a putter, performance is where a putter earns its reputation and keeps its place in the stable.

I putt with a "straight back, straight through" (SBST) stroke, or very nearly one.  So, I prefer putters that are face-balanced or very close to face-balanced, and I have a big affinity for Anser/Newport style heads.  When Byron responded to my request personally that he would love to make me the first 007 stainless Longboard with a sound slot, I was thrilled.  He seemed to have as much fun making this putter as I did collaborating on the finished product.

At impact, this putter emits a very pleasant, soft, clean “click”.  There is no ping, ting, ding, or other unpleasant sound.  Even on miss hits there are no unpleasant sound effects.  In short, the feel is phenomenal!!!  The sound slot softens the feel of the ball coming off the putter face enough to produce a great roll and the confidence of excellent distance control.  In short, I am very comfortable and confident when putting with my Byron Longboard.

Overall:
My Byron 007 Longboard is a great putter!  The basic 007 head retains its clean, classic form and lines, while the long neck, custom stamping, and twilight milling add some flair to the putter’s appearance.  The putter exemplifies the craftsmanship and quality that you can expect from a Byron putter.  Personally, I think that this putter is a head turner both in the bag and on the green.

The putter gives me confidence at address: I find it easy to get the putter set on my intended line and pull the trigger.  At impact I am rewarded with great feel and a soft, clean “click” followed by the true and steady roll of the ball.  Finally, I’d like to thank Byron for his patience in working with me, and for his enthusiasm in crafting this one of a kind putter for me.

What makes a putter worth a million dollars?  When it helps you win the WGC American Express Championship as it did for Mike Weir in 2000.  Weir used a design by Bruce Sizemore called the CU Rail, a putter that had been in the market for only a couple of months.  Fast forward some years later, Sizemore made improvements to this design – while keeping the meat and bones of the original – and released it as the XM-2, one of the flagship putters of his revamped collection.  Let’s take a look - both at these upgrades and at the XM-2 overall - and see how this model performs.

Looks:
The XM-2 is a triangular shaped mallet that is milled in the USA.  It showcases a unique blend of materials - aluminum and copper - that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional (more about this later).  One noticeable difference between this model and the older CU Rail may be the most important: the IND▪X face finish.  This is a proprietary process involving computerized, cross-sectional milling that produces an extremely flat surface with multi-directional milling patterns spaced 28/1000th of an inch apart throughout the face.  These patterns serve to soften the feel of the putter’s head upon ball contact while allowing the ball to roll along its intended line.  “Artistic” may be the best word to characterize the waffle-weave effect of the IND▪X.  In addition, the XM-2 features proprietary AIM technology, which basically involves the use of different interchangeable alignment inserts and helps the golfer focus on the proper line during the putt.  There are also differently weighted interchangeable end caps that add yet another dimension of customizability with regard to helping the golfer fine tune the XM-2’s response on the putting green.

Looking down at the putter at address, there is a considerable amount going on.  There’s a fine line between being detailed vs. being overly “busy” or distracting, and it’s this reviewer’s opinion that the XM-2 doesn’t cross this line.  This alone is a major accomplishment relative to what sees in a lot of other MOI mallets on the market. 

The shape of the head is relatively simple, and the corners are softened enough so as to not give the golfer any kind of jarring visual effect.  The two copper rails that span the width of the mallet and the AIM insert do in fact help the golfer focus on the line of the putt, and the contrasting colors of the copper vs. the grey aluminum further help to achieve this goal.   Brand new, the copper could potentially be problematic regarding sunlight reflection, but golfers should keep in mind that this metal will naturally darken over time, thus making reflectivity a non-issue over the long term.

Grade=A-

Feel and Performance:
The rubber grip is made by Karakal and is unfortunately the weak link in the XM-2.  It does look very attractive, with its shimmering reptile skin effect.  Practically speaking, however, it is simply way too slick, especially for those whose hands tend to perspire.  In addition, it seems to a lack a certain degree of cushioning found in other rubber grips, perhaps due to a thinner underlisting.  However, the vibrations transmitted to the hands through this grip do give one a good distinction between flush vs. missed strokes. 

The double bend shaft helps make the putter face-balanced, which therefore means the XM-2 is more suitable to the golfer whose stroke is more “straight back, straight through.”  The shaft is positioned in the head in a way that gives the putter a full-shaft offset effect at address.  The shaft works well with the head with regard to weight, balance, flex and feedback.

As noted earlier, the fusion of copper and aluminum not only look good, but it helps make the XM-2 feel and perform very nicely, too.  Center strokes are downright buttery, but never mushy.  Heel-side and toe-side misses give only a slightly louder click along with a touch more vibration in the hands … just enough to feel and hear the difference, nothing unpleasant at all.  More importantly, the putter’s high MOI helps the ball stay on its intended line with little or no distance loss during such misses.

The XM-2’s weight feels just right at approximately 345 grams.  Interestingly, judging speed may initially take some practice because one may potentially be fooled by the putter’s visual size into thinking that it’s heavier than it really is.  Using one’s normal stroke really is a key to success in working with the XM-2. 

Not to be overlooked, the putter’s sole design - with its sizeable rectangular depression – allows the face to consistently sit square to its intended line.   By giving the golfer one less thing to think about and not causing him/her to constantly fiddle around with the putter at address is an invaluable aid in and of itself.

Grade=A-

Overall:
Overall, the XM-2 crams in a great deal of artistic flare, technology and functionality that one rarely sees even in other high end MOI mallets.  Understandably, the $350 price tag may deter some customers who generally view the putter as just another golf club.  But one must consider the fact that other putters do not allow the golfer such a degree of customizability and ease of use that the XM-2 provides.  Perhaps this is one rare example where it’s actually worthwhile to make the effort to save the extra dollars to be able to afford such a unique putting instrument.

Overall Grade=A-

PrimeTimeGolf member Dennis Brumley, aka “Black Blade,” is a left-handed golfer who felt that he could give himself more options - compared what a lot of club manufacturers offer - by making his own putter.  Dennis has over 30 years of experience in the HVAC business, which includes a lot of day-to-day applications with sheet metal, so he is accustomed to being around and working with steel.  After some of his friends saw what he made for himself, they asked Dennis to make some putters for them as well – and at the exact specifications they provided - including right-handed models.  Dennis recently gave me the opportunity to review one of his prototypes, and below are my thoughts.

LOOKS
Dennis is a traditionalist when it comes to a putter’s looks, which is why he chooses the flange blade shape in his work.  This style, commonly referred to as “8802” or “Napa,” is really based on the post turn-of-the-century Spalding HB putter – or “hollow back.”  In Dennis’s case, his blade has a more rounded, fuller look at address.  The head and neck undergo a gun blue process that’s the same one sees in old English double-barrel shotguns, but results in a less “black” color compared to what may find in a TP Mills putter, for example.  In addition, instead of having a straight neck, he “goose necks” it using heat, and then welds it to the head (both of which, by the way, are made of soft 1018 carbon steel). 

The gooseneck in this prototype is set at about 3/4 shaft offset.  The offset and curved neck, along with the head having slightly more weight at the heel, helps reduce the putter’s toe hang (in this case, the toe drops to between the 5:00 and 5:30 position).   These traits also bring the sweet spot closer to the geometric center of the face, rather than having the sweet spot almost right at the heel as is commonly found in straight-neck flange blade putters.  More about the benefits of these characteristics will be discussed in the “Performance” section.

Overall, the head and neck are very attractive.  In my opinion, the lines flow into one another very smoothly with no visible trace of welding.  At address, the curved neck doesn’t provide any visual distraction during the stroke.  In fact, one would be hard pressed at all to figure out that this prototype has a gooseneck when one views the head at address.  It should be noted that Dennis uses a hand mill, meaning that there is no computer assistance involved, so one can really appreciate the time and effort involved in the grinding and shaping of this putter.

I have only a minor point to criticize with regard to the prototype’s looks: with this classic shape, I would prefer to see it as plain as possible without any alignment aid or face milling.  As it stands, the milling on Dennis’s prototype doesn’t cover the whole face, resulting in a somewhat “incomplete” feeling one gets when looking at the putter from the front.  However, this is a very subjective opinion and one that will likely differ from person to person.

PERFORMANCE AND FEEL
As noted above, the toe hang on Dennis’s prototype is significantly reduced compared to what typically finds in a flange blade putter.  This is specifically beneficial to the golfer whose stroke is more “straight back, straight through” - as opposed to “swinging gate” - because the face doesn’t open and close as dramatically as what one would see with a straight-neck blade.  Also, because the sweet spot is not so heel-biased, the golfer won’t lose too much in direction and distance control when ball contact is made at the center of the face.

With this particular prototype, I have two main concerns, both of which are easily remediable:

1. This putter came with a stepless shaft, which actually gives the head a harder feel with a louder “click,” especially during lag putts.  Otherwise, the head does in fact feel soft, yet substantial, during shorter putts.  A stepped shaft may give this putter more consistent feel and be a better match for this head
2. At 358 grams, the head is possibly a little bit too heavy.  I myself am accustomed to a lighter head, and more of than not found myself holding back as opposed to doing my “normal” stroke. 

Of course, these are also subjective preferences, since those who prefer heavier heads with firmer feel may enjoy this putter very much.

The bottom line is that this putter works!  It was designed for the golfer with a straighter stroke, and theory is successfully transformed into reality.  The rest is up to the golfer himself.

CONCLUSION
Not only does Dennis make a putter that looks good, feels good and plays good, he can also do all kinds of adjustments when it comes to head shape, neck style, offset, head weight, balance, and even type of steel used.  He is a very easy person to have a conversation with and is willing to work on almost any type of project within reason.  I will be posting a “Black Blade Q&A” topic in the member forums in the “Flatsticks” section, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have for him there.  You may also send him a private message or email him directly at BBputters@sbcglobal.net

SEE NEW V.J. TROLIO VIDEO "The Final missing piece of Ben Hogan's Secret Puzzle"

PrimeTimeGolf is proud to announce it latest partnership with the author of "The Final Missing Piece of Ben Hogan's Secret Puzzle" and co- inventor of the "Putting Arc".  You can purchase either of these items at http://www.theputtingarc.com/puttingarc/pages/pressroom/missing_piece.htm.   V.J. will be demonstrating in videos made exclusively for "primetimegolf.net" the fundamentals in his new book.  V.J. is the current teaching pro at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi, site of the 1999 Women's Open and the 2006 Women's Mid-Amateur.

The Putting Arc is now being used by over 680 touring pros. These pros have recorded 416 worldwide wins, with 84 wins in 2007. None of these pros are being paid to use The Putting Arc. VJ has an never ending list of teaching credentials including...

Teaching professional at Old Waverly Golf Club,
   one of Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses in the country
- 2003 Low Professional, Mississippi State Open
- 2002 3rd Place, PGA Assistant National Championship
- 1998-2000 played various tours professionally
- 1997 1st player to qualify for NCAA Championship from the
   University of Southern Mississippi
- 1997 #1 ranked player in Conference USA
- 1997 36th ranked individual in U.S.
- 1997 Arkansas Invitational Medalist
- Captain of Southern Miss Golf Team
- 1993 First True Freshman Letterman under Coach Sam Hall at the
   University of Southern Mississippi
- 1991 U.S. Junior Amateur Participant (Lost in Round of 64)
- 1992 Orange Bowl International Championship T-21
- 2A Mississippi High School Individual Champion 1990,1992,1993

TEACHING
-2000 to present:
*Has worked with teachers Rob Noel, Ron Gring, Mike Shannon, Ben Doyle,
  Eddie Merrins, Alex Sloan, and Tony Sills.
*Co-Inventor of The Putting Arc
*First Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine in Mississippi and one of less than fifty GSEM’s in the world
*Works with players ranging from the PGA Tour to the beginner

More can read about VJ and his instructions at his website at www.troliogolf.com