Over the years, I’ve shared with you many ways to cut costs and make smart purchases on golf gear. Buy shoes with replaceable studs for better traction. Purchase tees online in bulk. Invest in quality rain gear instead of cheap items that leak.
What I am about to say may come as a surprise, but it is true. An ultra-premium putting putter can easily cost $450 and more. It could be the best value for your golf game.
Many golfers find it absurd to pay a price comparable to a driver for a putter. Many high-quality putters are available for less than $200, and many of them feature useful technologies.
Custom fitting and buying a putter, such as the recently released Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport 2 or Toulon Memphis or Ping PLD Milled Oslo 4 (all of which retail for $449) requires a large outlay of money. Consider these factors before you dismiss the idea.
1. These shapes will never go out of style. These shapes are timeless.
2. The technology is timeless
Technology is constantly changing when it comes to driving. The technology is constantly changing. Faces get thinner, crowns lighter and manufacturing advances lead to more ways to hit the golf ball further.
In contrast, putter technologies change slowly. Most high-end putters still use stainless steel and are milled out of a single piece. In many cases, materials like aluminum and tungsten have been strategically added to enhance performance. These putters may have unique weighting or special face inserts to improve the way you roll the golf ball. Like their appearance, the technologies found in ultra-premium golf putters have been tested over time.
3. They’re cheaper per shot than drivers over time.
Let’s do a little math. You will spend at least $550 on a new driver, such as the Callaway Pardym or Cobra AeroJet. If you play 30 rounds of golf in a year and hit your driver 14 times per round (14 drives), that’s 420 shots. This works out to be $1.31 per drive. If you play the same driver for five years and skip a few generations, that is 2,100 shots.
If you purchase a $450 golf putter, and you need to make 30 putts each round, you’ll pay 50 cents for every putt in your first season of 30-rounds. If you have a properly fitted, ultra-premium, putter, it can be used for at least five years. So, if you are playing 30 rounds per year for five seasons and taking 30 putts each round (4,500 shots), your cost for each putt will drop to $0.10 per shot.
A premium putter costs less per shot than today’s drivers.
4. The items retain their value.
When buying used gear online, be cautious to avoid fakes. You won’t be able to find used putters like the Bettinardi Queen B Series Putters for less than $200 or $150. Many still sell for $300 and more. There are few ultra-premium models available, but demand is high. This can keep the value of these putters strong for many years. If you choose to sell your high-end putter you will receive a nice credit or be able to sell it for a fair price.
A good value doesn’t mean that something is cheap. If you are willing to spend $450 on a golf club, or more, it is a significant investment for your game. Here are some ultra-premium putting clubs that any golfer will love.
