ORLANDO ? If the short game accounts for more than 60 percent of all golf shots, then it stands to reason that selling its tools should be high on any retailer's priority list. Fortunately, there are as many choices as there are styles of putting and chipping.
Putters come in every style from the immensely popular 2-Ball putters from Odyssey to Nike's new offerings. And wedges have never been stressed more, from TaylorMade and Callaway's new entries to the classic 900 Series wedges by Cleveland.
But any modern putter story has to start with the Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball putter. So popular was it that retailers sometimes sold them as soon as they stocked them, so Odyssey has done the logical thing - it's extended the concept into a new offering, the Odyssey DFX line of putters.
The new DFX line, which features a reformulated Stronomic insert material found in the Odyssey Dual Force putters, is offered in five models, including the 2-ball.
"I think anything that's got the 2-ball alignment technology is a positive," says Randy Zanatta, who believes the new DFX 2-ball putter will be a hit as well. "It's something that works."
In addition to providing a different option in putting feel, the Odyssey DFX Putters also have a distinctive new finish. The charcoal finish reduces glare in bright conditions and highlights each putter's sight lines, which are painted white. The recognizable black Stronomic insert is outlined in white and has a white DFX logo near the heel of the putter.
Mizuno has introduced a new line of one-piece forged T.P. Mills Workshop putters designed by Mills and his son, David. They're forged from one piece of 1025 Select Mild Carbon steel, with computer milled heads for a precise shape, and the hosels are hand-crafted for a smooth look at address. The T.P. Mills Workshop collection includes four new models, each with a black oxide finish.
Never Compromise has added the TDP 5.3 to its premium line of TDP putters. The new putter features the extremely lightweight material known as Trans Matter, allowing for maximum weight to be moved to the heel and toe. The company also has a new training putter called the Stubby, which has a head that's the same width as the gray matter found in its regular putters. The idea is to improve focus and stroke, making it easier to putt when returning to a regular putter.
Meanwhile, TaylorMade continues to push its premium Rossa line of putters with eight new models - five to the Sport Line and three new models to the Tour Line, bringing the total number of Rossa models to 35.
The Sport line additions include a belly-length and long putter, while the more expensive Tour Line includes two mallet style putters (Maranello 8-01 and Fontana 4-02) and the blade-style/heel-to-toe weighted head Lemans 5-02 model.
For Nike Golf, the new Blue Chip Putters are the final category in the company's equipment arsenal. The three Blue Chip Putters - Pro Style, Mallet and Oz - are designed for optimal balance and feel and to diminish skidding at impact.
The key element is the Blue Chip insert on the hitting surface. The proprietary material is 65 percent lighter and 73 percent softer than steel for feel and forgiveness. The reduced weight in the face puts more weight in the heel and toe.
The Oz model has a bit more radical design than the other two, featuring bi-metal construction with aluminum in front and a stainless steel ring in back.
Ray Cook has a number of new additions, including its Putting System, which utilizes mirrors for alignment, the target and the stroke. The Putting System, says company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack Lynch, has been used by more than 160 tour professionals. Ray Cook is also reintroducing its Silver Ray line of men's insert putters and the Lady Cook.
Like clubfitting in irons, putter fitting has also become more important in recent years, and one of the pioneers in that area is Kirk Currie, which offers a variety of hand-crafted models including a Brazos belly-length putter.
For something a little different, there's the Switch Putter by Accurate Manufacturing Co. of California. Made to be used either left-handed or right-handed - the idea is for players to choose the side that produces a hook putt when there's break - the heavy, solid putters come in several models, including belly-length and long.
Pixl Golf has introduced a new model in its 1.8 Series, the T1.8, which is a heel-shafted flange blade model. All the 1.8 Series models also have a new high-end gray finish but still feature the patented stainless steel pixel insert technology.
STX Golf is showing three new models in its popular Sync line, for a total of eight models, and has overhauled its Greeny family. The new comprehensive putter line offers STX insert technology with both classic and contemporary head shapes. In addition to the company's traditional, soft black insert material, STX has developed a new insert material, dubbed XP4.60, which is brick red in color.
New alignment aids, new sole curvatures, new proprietary Winn grip design, new shafts, and new finishes redefine the STX Greeny Series, now termed the Greeny Plus Series.
Bettinardi, with its growing tour popularity, has several new models at this year's Show, including the new BBX Series that features classic designs and a new blend of material for an extremely soft feel. Additionally, Bettinardi has added the BB-18, produced with a 24-karat gold-plated insert, to the BB Classic Series and the face balanced BB-31 with extreme heel to toe weighting.
Wilson is offering a whole family of Deep Red Fluid Feel putters, including a pair of belly-length versions.
