Hey Geoff,
I was just wondering if you could explain the design concept of the STX sync models. I have been reading tons of stuff relating to MOI and COG but as you know many arguments are in the opposite camp. The STX sync design seems solid. I own two sync models and they awesome sticks.

I have 23 putters. 7 pings of which only one model , the pal 5 (face balanced) does not gate. A cameron, HOG, Odyssey Rossie II, and others. I have concluded one thing for certain; no matter how simple (TPM II) or fancy the design of the head I like a stick with a straight shaft and center shaft.

I have tinkered with some of the "hot" new designs and did not particularly care for the Futura or Two ball.

I have several models I would love to try:
Grace MOI
Voodoo
Frankly Frog
Reeso
Nickluas center shaft mallet
Slighter needle
Gauge M3
Positive putter
Aserta
Lindsay
Q-roll
Ping center shaft models
Guerin Rife
STX Envision

I appreciate the fact that you do not endorse any particular product for objectivity reasons but would appreciate any feedback you may offer. Most of these sticks are not readily available in local shops with the exception of the Ping models and Voodoo. It would take a hefty investment to test these out just to have them end up in the reserve bag with most of the other models I have.

Just for fun, What are your other 13 sticks in the bag?

Thanks.

Best,

Russ

Dear Russ,

That's quite a nice list of putters! I would only amend it slightly, something like this:

Grace MOI
Voodoo
Reeso
Nickluas center shaft mallet
Slighter needle
Gauge M3
Positive putter
Aserta
Lindsay
Q-roll
Ping center shaft models
Guerin Rife
STX Envision
Taylormade TPi series 25 & 29
T-Roll
Railgun
Burrows MAC Ion
Mitchell
SeeMore

These are all nice-swinging putters. Chuck Todd, the designer behind American Putters, makes a very nice center-shafted milled-face stick, and he has been bought out by SeeMore. So look for some very nice new models in the SeeMore line!

If the good folks at Frank Thomas' Frankly Golf care to send me a Frog, I'll be glad to try it out. But based on the information on the website, it appears to be just another MOI. The site lines look a little ill-conceived, the "frog eye" appearance is very distracting, and I can't tell what he's done with the COG in terms of how high on the face the COG presents to the ball. My experience has been that "just another version" is seldom special.

The Taylormade putters in the TPi series are really sweet. For some reason, they don't seem to move off the sales floor very quickly. But it appears that other putter manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon of a good design and made their own versions that look a lot like the TPi.

The Railgun has the added advantage of being suitable for use either lefty or righty!

I'm very glad that Ping now has a center-shafted face-balanced putter. It's pretty nice, but apparently not quite weighted right, as it has a tendency to come out of square a little more than other center-shafted putters.

The Positive Putter is something different and special. Its "reality balancing" is nice, and has a bit different feel during the stroke that is very easy to get used to and like. A real innovation.

The Mitchell putter is an excellent effort by the world's top makers of clubmaking equipment. It's on a par with the Bobby Grace V-Foil MOI putter series. It appears that retief Goosen just this week switched from the Grace MOI putter to the Never Compromise Voodoo. In my estimation, that's a mistake, as my experience with the Voodoo hasn't worked out so well in comparison to the Bobby Grace or the Mitchell.

I'm sorry I can't offer any comments presently about the STX Envision. For some reason, my computer won't display their website. I probably don't have the right plug-ins. But hey! maybe they'll send me one to take a look at.

I play Mizuno blades, the old 14s, and have an odd-ball "Long Kat" driver taped up.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.

Over 610,000 visits and growing strong ...

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Greensboro NC 27401
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As the owner of a Bobby Grace Amazing Grace, over a dozen Bettinardi's, several Pings, Tad Moores, and other assorted putters, I can say that the STX Envision is in the top three of my favorites. The appearance and feel is fantastic. I am currently trying to locate a Red Faced Envision (I have the Black Face). The Envision is not currently on the STX web site as the site is being reconstructed. That is what I was told by the marketing director who actually called me in response to my email. Great customer service.

I too did not care at all for the Voodoo. I owned on for two days and traded it in. I never cared for the Never Compromise line of putters and should have know better.

I am a 6 handicap and have tinkered with dozens of putters over the years, and I would definitely recommend the STX Envision - if you can find one.

John