BETTINARDI

Feel and performance from these gorgeous Cncmilled flatsticks is as good as they look

Bob Bettinardi’s dedication is to the precision of CNC milling, so every model produced by this flatstick genius and his son is created on a computer-controlled mill. In 2021 there are three families to choose from...

The Studio Stock family is 10 years old in 2021. The range has been refined over the years, but essentially it’s a line-up of six classic heel- toe weighted blades all with slightly different blade proportions, hosel configurations and toe hangs.

Queen B is a three-model family. Expect the brand’s firmest feel, and a distinctive rose gold-coloured PVD finish. n Inovai’s wider body design targets forgiveness head on. The three models all come with the brand’s softest feeling F.I.T (Feel Impact Technology) grooved face design.

1. STUDIO STOCK 28

HOSEL TYPES Single bend; 15° toe hang

We’re big fans of wide-body blade putters here at TG, as they offer more forgiveness over very narrow body traditional blade alternatives. So effective is the wider body, Bettinardi reckon the SS 28 is one of the most forgiving putters in their entire line-up. The 15° of toe hang is slight so the SS 28 is typically a good fit for straighter and slight arc strokes, but the model is also available as a centre shaft (25° toe hang) and armlock (15° toe hang) model, too.

2. STUDIO STOCK 17

HOSEL TYPES Slant neck; 43° toe hang

A very traditional compact heeltoe weighted blade. Ordinarily, this style of putter has a heavily curved sole, but by introducing a tri-plane alternative, Bettinardi have made it easier to set-up the SS 17 consistently in the same position. With 43° of toe hang, to avoid your stroke fighting the putter’s natural balance you really need to have a strong arc stroke or like to feel the ‘release’ of the putter through impact.

3. STUDIO STOCK 18

HOSEL TYPES Plumbers neck; 45° toe hang

“Game changer” is an overused term in the modern game, but Ping’s original cavity back Anser flipped putters on their head back in the ’60s. Today, makers like Bettinardi who’ve pioneered Cnc-milled Anser shapes have elevated this style of flatstick to new levels of not just precision, but desirability. The classic SS 18 has a low profile and a single sightline – the height of simplicity. With 45° of toe hang, you’ll need a pretty strong arc.

4. STUDIO STOCK 7

HOSEL TYPES Single bend; face balanced/zero toe hang

The SS7 is a personal favourite of Bettinardi’s son, Sam. He likes how the half-moon back shaping naturally helps golfers align putts more consistently. We like the face balancing of this compact mid-mallet. It’s a great option if you’re after a classic-looking and feeling putter, but happen to also have a straight line putting stroke.

5. QUEEN B #11

HOSEL TYPES Crescent neck; 40° toe hang

If traditional little mallets are your thing, you really won’t find better than the Queen B #11. The crisp and sharp edges, plus the superb detailing, showcase beautifully the intricacy that’s only possible by CNC milling a putter head. We love the feedback of Bettinardi’s trademark vertically-milled face. Just remember, with 40° of toe hang you will need a strong arc stroke to get the best from it.

6. INOVAI 7.0 SPUD NECK

HOSEL TYPES Single bend; 10° toe hang

All three Inovai heads are the same shape, but different hosels give differing amounts of toe hang, so the family can easily be suited to various stroke types. The sculpted sole naturally forces the Inovai to sit perfectly on a central pad, so you benefit from extra consistency. We reckon that feature, along with a simple bold T-shaped alignment aid, makes the Inovai a good shout for less confident putters. With 20° of toe hang, the Inovai Slant Neck is a great example of why tour pros are now switching to more forgiving MOI models, which only used to be available in facebalanced designs.