Would you pay the same for a putter as you would for a driver?

[harpo_72]

Not really bothered, if I feel flush and can afford it and I like it ... I’ll have it. I keep the majority of my putters, I have an appreciation of them. I have a scotty I picked up second hand and refurbed, I have Scotty Del mar as well, both I don’t play with now, there is a wilson 8802 also sitting in the garage, with a taylormade roho mallet, a couple of yes putters and my dad is using the TM ghost ( which needs some love now he has finished with it) . I currently play with a 2ball fang thingy, but everything apart from the del mar was under £100, because the second hand market is competitive.
Drivers, I don’t like how they have got to £450, I have opted out of this for the last 8 years, with some steady eBay trading. However I am in the market for a new driver, I have some pro shop winnings and some eBay sales done and that will go to the driver budget. I will then flog the current driver and that will start the cash for the next driver update .. I am roughly 3 yrs behind current release so I am looking to be purchasing a current release...
I suppose it’s about manipulating your assets for me .. my wife is happy in a club reduction and we see some loss but less than purchasing at peak year on year ... putters stay longer though and always will, their lifespan is greater

 

[Ross61]

I can’t see what a £400 putter has over a £150 putter. I know some players with Scottys that can’t putt straight or read a green, and lots of players with £150 putters that can out putt the scotty owners purely by a consistent stroke and The ability to read a green. Even so if you can afford it and it makes you feel better with almost half a grands worth of putter in your mitts then rock on.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Yes, can’t see it being an issue.

Then again the club is whatever it costs you, my driver was more expensive than the putter by about 30%. I think that is pretty normal.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Yes - but only if the driver didn't cost me more than £150

 

[slowhand]

Took the plunge an boughta second-hand 2018 Newport Fastback. Looking forward to giving it a try

 

[Grant85]

I have always hankered after a Scotty Cameron putter. I love the yway they look, the way they sit and feel (i've never properly tested one on the putting green) but always been put off by the price. However, with the cost of a driver at about £450, and only using it at most 14 shots a round, actually less around my home course, I was wondering if in fact they are as relatively expensive as they seem. So I was wondering if forumers would pay driver money for a putter, (Scotty, Toulon, Ping Vault etc.)? Would it depend on your perceived ability at golf (high/low handicap)?

Personal view is if you want to buy a premium product (e.g. Scotty Cameron) then buy it. Don't try to justify it in terms of value for money or golf performance or shots per round etc. as the value is in simply having a premium product that looks nice and makes you feel good / confident.

The most I've ever spent on a single club, is £195 on a Ping Anser Putter. I've now had it 2 years, still use it every week and have no plans to change it and I reckon in 10 years time I'll still be using it. My Driver cost £135 new (last year) so I guess if you are prepared to spend £450 on a Driver, you should be able to justify a Scotty.

My view is also that a Driver will likely need replacing before a putter so why not spend as much on a Putter that you will probably have for longer.

 

[Crazyface]

If the putter brought the same increased improvment in my putting as my new driver has with my driving, then HELL YES !!!!! (Just to say the driver cost £150)

 

[jim8flog]

I have done so in the past without regretting it.

One putter was about 25% more than drivers at the time and stayed in the bag for about 10 years.

The other one was admittedly very slightly less than a driver at the time but is still in the bag and has also been there for about 10 years.

Both of these putters I can consider to have more than paid for themselves in prize money.

 

[GG26]

I would certainly pay as much for a putter as for a driver as it gets used for more shots than any other club. My putter was fitted and cost £200, my driver (ex-demo) was £175.

 

[Foxholer]

While I'm not a fan of Scotty's (own) retail putters, I've 'sampled' a few of his Tour (Circle C) ones and they do feel nice (no idea what the difference is!). I've certainly spent more on (each of several!) Bettinardi putters though (it was a Bettinardi made one that made Scotty's name!), including the one (from a 1/24 run) that's been in the bag for nearly 20 years - a punt purchase through a US forum.

So go for it - at least with a pre-owned one, so initial outlay is less and resale value is pretty much what you pay for. Just make sure it's genuine!
And do your homework on what style you like/is best for you. It won't matter how 'great' a putter is if it's not a match for your style!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

It seems that some on here actually believe the marketing guff surrounding the so-called technology in drivers.

In my view we should all feel free to buy whatever kit we want with our own money, be it a driver, putter irons or whatever.

Just don't feel the need to justify your purchase by churning out the BS produced by the mfrs.

 

[KenL]

I dont think Scotty putters are a patch on what they used to be, so I would not pay that much for a new one.
Try for a mint stainless one from about 10-15 years ago.
Will hold its value better if you don't get on with it. They are not for everyone.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Drivers produce quantifiable improvements in distance and dispersion as years go by, that's indisputable fact.
Not EVERY new model and every year produces improvements, but over time it does.

I agree that there have been significant increases in distance achieved by those at the top of the game over the last 20 years.

However, this forum is mainly populated by average recreational golfers and, as a group, they have not, over the same period seen anything like such improvements.

Plus the gains achieved by pro's and elite amateurs can, at least in part, be attributed to improvements in physical fitness and, thus, technique. Also following the introduction of the Pro v1 and others the ball has had an effect.

 

[sunshine]

Yes, because the fact there is little to no “tech” in most of them means it won’t be out of date any time soon. I plan to have my Scotty for many years to come.

Don't quite understand the logic. You recognise there is little to no tech, so there is no justification for the high price.

Having said that, I think people are very entitled to spend their money however they wish!

 

[sunshine]

Not really bothered, if I feel flush and can afford it and I like it ... I’ll have it. I keep the majority of my putters, I have an appreciation of them. I have a scotty I picked up second hand and refurbed, I have Scotty Del mar as well, both I don’t play with now, there is a wilson 8802 also sitting in the garage, with a taylormade roho mallet, a couple of yes putters and my dad is using the TM ghost ( which needs some love now he has finished with it) . I currently play with a 2ball fang thingy, but everything apart from the del mar was under £100, because the second hand market is competitive.
Drivers, I don’t like how they have got to £450, I have opted out of this for the last 8 years, with some steady eBay trading. However I am in the market for a new driver, I have some pro shop winnings and some eBay sales done and that will go to the driver budget. I will then flog the current driver and that will start the cash for the next driver update .. I am roughly 3 yrs behind current release so I am looking to be purchasing a current release...
I suppose it’s about manipulating your assets for me .. my wife is happy in a club reduction and we see some loss but less than purchasing at peak year on year ... putters stay longer though and always will, their lifespan is greater

Let me play that back:
You have gone long on putters, you've taken some profit by trading around your assets in ebay positions, and now you're going to go short by liquidating your driver position.
Nice!

 

[harpo_72]

Let me play that back:
You have gone long on putters, you've taken some profit by trading around your assets in ebay positions, and now you're going to go short by liquidating your driver position.
Nice!

Yeah cashed in at the top of the market to squeeze out the most ... to then blow on a poor investment

 

[sunshine]

I’ve always wondered how a putter can command such a high price given the relative lack of technology that goes into them. I’m assuming that with a Scotty it is more about the craftsmanship that it takes to mill them

Not really. You're paying for the little Scotty logo (although it's a big logo now). Plenty of other brands invest as much time and effort into their putters.

Putters are all about feel. Sometimes an expensive one feels better, sometimes a £10 dunlop putter can do the job, it's all about how it sits in your hands and suits your eye when you take up a natural putting position.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Whilst I might disagree, I've not been keeping data on anyone so any argument would be slightly pointless ?
?

I refer my learned friend to Golf Monthly, August 2019.?

 

[shane3003]

Yep I would, purchased a new driver and putter last year and both were similar costs. If you add in the putter fitting, the putter was slightly more than my driver.

I actually wanted a Scotty as I do think they look gorgeous, but on the fitting I actually preferred an Evnroll and Ping putter.
I’d didn’t like the finish on the Evnroll and went Ping, but that could have been to match my other clubs.

 

[Siolag]

Don't quite understand the logic. You recognise there is little to no tech, so there is no justification for the high price.

Having said that, I think people are very entitled to spend their money however they wish!

If you are buying a new driver, it’s going to be because you think the new driver will go further than the old one you have.

A putter isn’t the same, and if you like the way it looks, feels and generally performs, you’ll likely keep it much longer. If my Scotty goes 10 years, that’s £35 a year. Granted, a driver could easily last that, but I think you’d be feeling like you could do better with newer. That’s much more likely to happen at the long end of the bag for most.

Having said that, there’s no need for £350 putters, and one half or a third of that will definitely do the job. It then becomes like any other stuff you buy.