Equipment
Bettinardi 2017 Studio Stock and Queen B putters
For putter enthusiasts, not just Bettinardi fans, the yearly release of Bettinardi putters is exciting, even if just to see just what Bettinardi came up with this time. This year is extra special, as the 2017 marks the first time Bettinardi will control almost the entire production process in its recently expanded headquarters.
“We wanted to own the process,” says Sam Bettinardi, head of sales and marketing and son of company founder Bob Bettinardi. “It also speeds up lead time and gives us more creative freedom.”
Its Tinley Park, Ill., HQ is also its manufacturing facility is, and where the milling, polishing, paint filling, and assembly (shafts and grips) of Bettinardi putters takes place. The only thing the company doesn’t do at HQ is apply PVD finishes to its putters (it trusts a U.S.-based partner for that).
Bettinardi releases its BB Series and Queen B/Studio Stock Series putters on alternating years. This year, it’s the Studio Stock and Queen B’s turn.
With the new Studio Stock Series, Bettinardi introduces a new Mercury Grey finish and a blue-and-black paint fill scheme on the familiar, Tour-proven head shapes. You will notice a new model, the Studio Stock #3, which was in high demand after multiple Tour wins in recent years. The Studio Stock 28, popularized by Matt Kuchar in an Arm-Lock option, also saw a few adjustments, including additional head options.
The Studio Stock Series faces use Bettinardi’s F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) Face Finish, which is “Fly-Milled,” and then milled again to remove 55 percent of the material from the putter face. According to Bettinardi, the lack of material on the face is why the Studio Stock Series putters are the “softest milled putters you can find.”
In the Queen B series, Bettinardi introduces a bumble bee black-and-yellow color scheme, and swarms of bees are engraved on the soles of two completely new head shapes.
Bettinardi says the Queen B series is where Bettinardi really expresses its creative freedom in shaping and style. Both putters come with the company’s Micro Honeycomb milled face, which offers a “crisper feel,” according to Bettinardi. Check out more info about each head model below, and join the discussion in our forums.
Studio Stock #3
- Head weight: 352 Grams
- Toe Hang: Slight
- Lie, Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
- Lengths: 33-35 inches
- Material: Carbon Steel
The #3 is a new model in the Studio Stock Series line, and a more compact, stout mallet option with a slight toe hang. It’s available in 33-35 inch lengths, in both left and right hand, with a counterbalance option, as well.
Studio Stock #3 Counterbalance
- Head weight: 400 grams
- Toe Hang: Slight
- Lengths: 36-40 inches
- Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
The Studio Stock #3 CB has a head weight that is 42 grams heavier, making its total weight 400 grams. The putter is also 3 inches longer in length and equipped with a longer, heavier grip to produce more stability throughout the stroke.
Studio Stock #8
- Head Weight: 358 grams
- Toe Hang: Half
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
The #8, as you’ll notice, is the most classic-looking putter in the line, but differentiates itself from Anser-style putters with a raised toe, which Bettinardi says Tour players enjoy. It also has a plumbers neck.
Studio Stock #28 Arm-Lock
- Head weight: 400 grams
- Toe Hang: Quarter
- Lengths: 38-42 inches
- Loft, Lie: 71 degrees, 5 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
The Studio Stock 28 head shape takes after Matt Kuchar’s famous Model 1 Armlock putter, and is designed to be used with the grip secured along a golfer’s forearm to create a more stable stroke. The model Kuchar used in previous year’s had 7 degrees of loft and 2.5 shafts worth of offset.
Recently, however, Kuchar has “toned back the armlock,” according to Bettinardi, and the Studio Stock 28 takes after Kuchar’s new putter specifications. It has only 5 degrees of loft and 1 shaft worth of offset. That means armlockers no longer need to forward press as far. The new armlock head style also has a lower face profile than its predecessor.
Studio Stock #28 CS
- Toe Hang: Quarter
- Head weight: 358 grams
- Lengths: 33-35 inches
- Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
Bettinardi is also releasing the Studio Stock #28 in standard-length models as both a heel-shafted and center-shafted putter due to high demand for the head shape. The center-shafted #28 head model has a slight toe hang.
Studio Stock #28 (Heel-Shafted)
Studio Stock Series Specs
Queen B #8
- Head Weight: 362 grams
- Toe Hang: Quarter
- Lengths: 33-35 inches
- Loft, Lie: 70 dgerees, 3 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
The all-new Queen B #8 model has a slotback with a milled pocket in the flange thats helps better frame the ball and encourage more consistent alignment. It also has a more squared off look than a classic mallet, and is designed with isolated rear bumpers that create a higher moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of forgiveness. The putter has a quarter-toe hang for a slight arcing stroke.
Queen B #9
- Head Weight: 362 grams
- Toe Hang: Half
- Lengths: 33-35 inches
- Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
- Material: Mild Carbon Steel
“This model combines the best of the signature Bettinardi design principles with a gentle sweeping toe and crescent-milled neck to complement the compact and curved appearance,” Bettinardi says.
The Queen B #9 is also a new head design, which a crescent-milled neck that frames the ball slightly different at address than previous models. Like the Studio Stock Series #8, it also has a raised-toe design.
Queen B Specs
All 2017 Bettinardi putters will be in stores January 20, 2017, and will be available for pre-order on bettinardi.com in December. See more photos, and join the discussion in our forums here.
Related
- LIKE86
- LEGIT7
- WOW4
- LOL3
- IDHT2
- FLOP3
- OB1
- SHANK10
Whats in the Bag
Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)
- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
New Level launches new 480-DB irons, blending performance and forgiveness
New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
- LIKE10
- LEGIT2
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole4 hours ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
KK
Nov 23, 2016 at 1:07 am
I don’t understand the machined insert look face that’s not an insert. Why?
Pingback: Bettinardi 2017 Studio Stock and Queen B Putters - Bettinardi Golf