Coolest factor on the market within the GolfWRX Classifieds (10/27/23): Scotty Cameron Particular Choose 2.5 Circle H putter

Earlier than we get into the analysis experiment beneath, I needed to say one thing shortly: NO ONE, ever, has “found out” the way to putt.

There are some golfers who’re much less horrible at placing than others, actually, or they’re much less horrible than they was, hopefully, however nobody has ever found out the right approach, grip, shaft, head design, face design, hosel configuration, toe dangle, or swing weight.

Through the years, there have been numerous waves, tendencies, fads and techniques that get launched to the world of golf.

Some concepts come and go. Some concepts are a flash within the pan, they usually work for a number of rounds, or for a number of folks, however the golf world finally ends up transferring on.

However, from time to time, some concepts spark an entire paradigm shift, and assist transfer the way forward for the golf business ahead, whereas additionally making golfers higher.

Are graphite putter shafts merely a flash within the proverbial pan? Or are we standing on the forefront of an enormous shift in what’s thought of a “regular” putter?

If a golfer, within the yr 2023, stepped on the tee field with a steel-shafted driver, they’d be enjoying the sport utilizing historic expertise. And probably mocked by their enjoying companions.

Is that the place we’re heading with putter shafts? Will each putter have a graphite shaft in 20 years?

From my perspective, as somebody who covers golf gear on the PGA Tour week-in and week-out, it has actually appeared that graphite putter shafts are gaining extra traction amongst PGA Tour gamers. Extra gamers testing every week, and extra gamers switching.

A couple of many years in the past, there was one choice to your putter shaft: Metal.

Now, there’s a broad spectrum of composite shafts which can be out there to PGA Tour gamers, provided in a variety of various flex-and-weight choices.

As I not too long ago realized from Collin Morikawa’s putter shaft prototyping process, it’s not at all times straightforward to seek out the best mixture of stiffness and weight with a graphite putter shaft, however hanging that steadiness can show profitable.

Some PGA Tour gamers appear to be discovering better stability, and thus, much less face twisting all through the stroke, when utilizing graphite or composite shafts.

Placing is placing, although, so discovering the best really feel and weight for pace/management functions stays important. It’s not purely about stability, since there’s nonetheless human movement concerned.

Odyssey putters on the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Generally, composite shafts have undoubtedly grow to be extra mainstream, and varied producers are at present promoting graphite shafts to the general public. It appears the listing of choices, and the listing of corporations making graphite putter shafts, continues to develop.

With all that being stated, I needed to know what the putter shaft panorama appears to be like like for the time being. What are one of the best gamers on the PGA Tour utilizing? What are the top-ranked putters on the PGA Tour utilizing?

Are we using a wave of graphite putter shafts, or is that this extra of a everlasting shift?

I’m contemplating this story because the baseline information pool for future reference, in order that we will look again later to find out if the variety of graphite putter shaft customers is rising, or shrinking.

On this story, I tracked the highest 25 golfers, as ranked by the Official World Golf Rankings, to see what putter shaft fashion they’re at present utilizing. Then, I tracked the highest 25 golfers, as ranked by the Strokes Gained: Placing class for the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season.

Under are the outcomes, as of the 2023 ZOZO Championship.

I’ll see you once more in 2024 to see if the numbers have modified.

High 25 within the Official World Golf Rankings

1. Scottie Scheffler: Metal
2. Rory McIlroy: Metal (Black)
3. Jon Rahm: Metal
4. Viktor Hovland: Metal
5. Patrick Cantlay: Metal
6. Xander Schauffele: Metal (Black)
7. Matt Fitzpatrick: Metal
8. Max Homa: Metal
9. Brian Harman: Metal
10. Wyndham Clark: Metal
11. Tom Kim: Composite (LA Golf P135)
12. Tyrrell Hatton: Metal
13. Collin Morikawa: Composite (Mitsubishi Diamana 105-gram Prototype)
14. Jordan Spieth: Metal
15. Tommy Fleetwood: Metal
16. Cameron Younger: Composite (UST Mamiya All In)
17. Keegan Bradley: Metal
18. Brooks Koepka: Metal
19. Cameron Smith: Metal
20. Sam Burns: Metal (Black)
21. Jason Day: Metal (Black)
22. Tony Finau: Metal
23. Sepp Straka: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab, all-steel, half-composite)
24. Rickie Fowler: Metal
25. Justin Thomas: Metal

Takeaways

• 4 (4) golfers from the High-25 within the present OWGR are utilizing a composite shaft
• 4 (4) of the 22 golfers who’re utilizing metal shafts are utilizing metal shafts with a black end
• 17 golfers within the top-25 within the OWGR are utilizing silver metal shafts

High 25 Strokes Gained: Placing

1. Maverick McNealy: Metal
2. Taylor Montgomery: Metal (Black)
3. Denny McCarthy: Metal
4. Harry Corridor: Metal
5. Xander Schauffele: Metal (Black)
6. Max Homa: Metal
7. Tyrrell Hatton: Metal
8. Sam Burns: Metal (Black)
9. Justin Suh: Metal
10. Matthew Fitzpatrick: Metal
11. Andrew Putnam: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
12. Sam Ryder: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
13. Tommy Fleetwood: Metal
14. Brendon Todd: Metal
15. Sahith Theegala: Metal
16. Adam Scott: Composite (TPT Prototype)
17. Eric Cole: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
18. Harris English: Metal
19. Peter Malnati: Metal
20. Keegan Bradley: Metal
21. Brian Harman: Metal
22. Adam Hadwin: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)
23. Alex Noren: Metal (Black)
24. Aaron Baddeley: Metal
25. Nicolai Hojgaard: Composite (Odyssey Stroke Lab: Half-steel, half-composite)

Takeaways

• Six (6) of the top-25 putters use a composite putter shaft
• 4 (4) of the golfers who’re utilizing a metal shaft are utilizing a metal shaft with a black end
• 15 golfers within the high 25 of Strokes Gained: Placing are utilizing a silver metal shaft

Conclusion

The PGA Tour is a good place to seek out out in regards to the gear that’s trending among the many finest gamers on this planet.

Truthfully, there have been fewer top-25 gamers utilizing graphite shafts than I might have guessed. However, there are positively extra graphite shafts getting used among the many high putters on this planet than among the many high gamers on this planet. I’m not saying there’s a correlation, however there’s a distinction.

Both means, take this story as a nudge into experimentation. If a few of the finest gamers on this planet try graphite putter shafts and placing them in play on the PGA Tour, then possibly it’s time you give one a attempt for your self.

Subsequent time you could have the prospect, ask your native skilled fitter or educating professional for those who can provide a brand new graphite putter shaft a take a look at. Perhaps it’s your reply. Or possibly not. One of the simplest ways to know is to know.