55 replies to this topic

[cmrl1986]

So I know that Bettinardi's are suppose to be just as good as Scotty Cameron's. I can't say from experience as I've never played with a Betti. Everyone here swears by them and prices are comparable to Cameron's. For all of this, why have I never seen a Bettinardi in play at a tour event on tv? It seems like when they do close ups of putters its either a Cameron, Odyssey, PING, or TM with the occasional Rife thrown in the mix. I've seen the pics of the Bettinardi tour bag full of putters on the putting greens, but have never seen one actually in play. Am I crazy? I know players have contracts but it seems like sponsors seem to let players choose putters in most cases so why no Betti love? This is in no way a rip on Bettinardi's, nor a Cameron vs Bettinardi thread, I was just wondering why the heck I've never seen that particular high end putter in play before? I'm sure somebody has evidence of tour use! Can any e help?

[SMGolfer]

I think Brian Gay still puts with the BB8 (anser 2) style with fit face. That's if the camera ever shows him, I am sure there are others out there who are putting with Bettinardi's, its just we don't see them enough. But I hear what your saying about seeing pretty much every other manufacturer other than Bettinardi.

Still an awesome putter none the less, I still game my BB1!

[Thrillhouse]

I have seen them on tour, but few and far between. Its tough to get tour guys to use your clubs!

[kitsoasis]

The correlation between tour usage and whether a club is any good is really quite low...

[Thrillhouse]

kitsoasis, on 01 May 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:

The correlation between tour usage and whether a club is any good is really quite low...

I hear ya, there is no logical explanation why the hammer doesn't get more tour usage!

POOOOWWWWW!

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I can almost count the number of putter brands I recall seeing on Tour on the fingers of both hands. Maybe even a couple fingers left over. What about a putter made it "good" enough for a Tour player. There have been more tournaments won with crummy-looking mass-produced Ansers, Bullseyes and 8802's than all the high-$$$ boutique brands put together. Exclude Scotty Cameron and it's hard to think of any big-$$$ brands on Tour.

Face it, the reason to spend 200, 300, 500 dollars or more on a putter is because it's fancy and exclusive and lovingly hand finished (if not even hand made). If you want a putter good enough to win Tour events you can do it for 80 bucks, easily.

[hebron1427]

Thrillhouse, on 01 May 2012 - 07:24 PM, said:

kitsoasis, on 01 May 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:

The correlation between tour usage and whether a club is any good is really quite low...

I hear ya, there is no logical explanation why the hammer doesn't get more tour usage!

POOOOWWWWW!

zolex

[indyvai]

Bettinardi doesn't rely on tour usage like the big companies do to sell mass quantity.  I'm pretty sure they sell what they make and offer tour Cameron quality for 1/3 the cost.  Fantastic operation...

[cmrl1986]

indyvai, on 01 May 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

Bettinardi doesn't rely on tour usage like the big companies do to sell mass quantity.  I'm pretty sure they sell what they make and offer tour Cameron quality for 1/3 the cost.  Fantastic operation...

A company still needs cash flow and sales to thrive. That being said, from what I've heard, Bettinardi does offer a better fitting process and a quality putter, I just haven't had the chance to roll one! That again would make me think that the tour guys would give them more of a look!

[Thrillhouse]

cmrl1986, on 01 May 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

indyvai, on 01 May 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

Bettinardi doesn't rely on tour usage like the big companies do to sell mass quantity.  I'm pretty sure they sell what they make and offer tour Cameron quality for 1/3 the cost.  Fantastic operation...

A company still needs cash flow and sales to thrive. That being said, from what I've heard, Bettinardi does offer a better fitting process and a quality putter, I just haven't had the chance to roll one! That again would make me think that the tour guys would give them more of a look!

I think Bettinardi makes his money milling stuff for the military, and not from his golf division.

I could be wrong though.

[indyvai]

cmrl1986, on 01 May 2012 - 09:12 PM, said:

indyvai, on 01 May 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

Bettinardi doesn't rely on tour usage like the big companies do to sell mass quantity.  I'm pretty sure they sell what they make and offer tour Cameron quality for 1/3 the cost.  Fantastic operation...

A company still needs cash flow and sales to thrive. That being said, from what I've heard, Bettinardi does offer a better fitting process and a quality putter, I just haven't had the chance to roll one! That again would make me think that the tour guys would give them more of a look!

He has a maximum quantity he can produce, and he seems to sell out.  Great business model...

[RNT golf]

Very popular on the Asian tour.  What they don't sell here in the states they ship over seas.   Also I believe there are some Nationwide players using them.

[cmrl1986]

I live 30 minutes from the Tinley Park, IL Studio B.. I'm thinking a custom fit Betti may be the birthday present this year..

[Scaldy]

I think that Bettinardi would be a great pickup for a Big Golf company like Titleist partnering with Scotty Cameron. Maybe Cleveland Golf? Bridgestone?

Bettinardi makes a darn good product, but they are certainly lacking in exposure.

[ZBigStick]

Scaldy, on 02 May 2012 - 12:41 AM, said:

I think that Bettinardi would be a great pickup for a Big Golf company like Titleist partnering with Scotty Cameron. Maybe Cleveland Golf? Bridgestone?

Bettinardi makes a darn good product, but they are certainly lacking in exposure.

He already partnered with Hogan and then Mizuno.  It didn't really move the needle.  His Asian business does much better than fighting the good fight over here in the mass market.  Boutique for the U.S. is where he's at.

Brain Gay's Betti looks incredible!

Dude can roll the potato!

[Espirence007]

What you see is just an illusion. Tigers Titleist were really Miura. Do you really think Phil Mickelson Odyssey is the same as the Odyssey you can buy at Golfsmiths. Do you think Matrix Ozik for Taylormade, Adams etc are the same aftermarket Matrix Ozik shafts bought directly from Matrix No.

Bettinardi makes the finest putters but Odyssey whose owned by Callaway sells 1000 times the quantity if not more than Bettinardi so they can afford the royalities involved with sponsoring a pro BUT IS THAT PRO REALLY USING THE ODYSSEY WE BUY NO NO NO NO NO

[Texsport]

I'm pretty sure that David Toms has used a Bettinardi on Tour.

Texsport

[jcigars]

Here's a link to the list of Tour Victories on Bettinardi's website

http://bettinardi.com/tour_victories

Jimmy

[J.W.]

Espirence007, on 02 May 2012 - 03:57 AM, said:

What you see is just an illusion. Tigers Titleist were really Miura. Do you really think Phil Mickelson Odyssey is the same as the Odyssey you can buy at Golfsmiths. Do you think Matrix Ozik for Taylormade, Adams etc are the same aftermarket Matrix Ozik shafts bought directly from Matrix No.

Bettinardi makes the finest putters but Odyssey whose owned by Callaway sells 1000 times the quantity if not more than Bettinardi so they can afford the royalities involved with sponsoring a pro BUT IS THAT PRO REALLY USING THE ODYSSEY WE BUY NO NO NO NO NO

[JGalls]

Don't forget that contracts, tee up money and tour presence which isn't cheap all play a large roll.

At the end of the day... who cares?

I use Bettinardi putters because...

1. The people associated with the brand (Jimmy, Nick, Keith, Ben, etc.)  Not to mention most if not all of the "collectors" are top notch lads as well.
2. I've seen the quality of production first hand and it's second to none.
3. Made in the USA.  My grandfathers both worked their entire lives in USA manuf. factories.  To me... made in the USA means something.
4. They are good!!!

Edited by JGalls, 02 May 2012 - 08:09 AM.

[SoonerChris]

JGalls, on 02 May 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

Don't forget that contracts, tee up money and tour presence which isn't cheap all play a large roll.

At the end of the day... who cares?

I use Bettinardi putters because...

1. The people associated with the brand (Jimmy, Nick, Keith, Ben, etc.)  Not to mention most if not all of the "collectors" are top notch lads as well.
2. I've seen the quality of production first hand and it's second to none.
3. Made in the USA.  My grandfathers both worked their entire lives in USA manuf. factories.  To me... made in the USA means something.
4. They are good!!!

Totally agree with all these statements.  AND....which MAJOR OEM putter manufacturers allow you to come to their studio and get fit for a putter EXACTLY like a tour pro would?  I can't think of any.  I'm sure you can't walk into Scotty's studio and get fit and buy a circle T.  I'm not bashing Scotty, I like his putters, just stating a fact.

I'm going to putt with the best feeling putter and I can find, which, in my trials, is a Betti.

Edited by SoonerChris , 02 May 2012 - 08:17 AM.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I use a BB-32 because a) it's real heavy (360g) in clubhead weight, b) it's fairly upright in lie, c) it's face balanced and d) I got it slightly used for a decent price.

But in honesty I can make just about as many putts with a Bullseye or my Yes mallet as with the Bettinardi. And so can the guys on Tour. It's really down to personal preference, this isn't like a driver shaft where for good players extremely picky little differences can translate to better ball flight. Almost any putter will put a good roll on the ball when your stroke is as good as the Tour players.

[golfnut5438]

Scaldy, on 02 May 2012 - 12:41 AM, said:

I think that Bettinardi would be a great pickup for a Big Golf company like Titleist partnering with Scotty Cameron. Maybe Cleveland Golf? Bridgestone?

Bettinardi makes a darn good product, but they are certainly lacking in exposure.

As was mentioned earlier, Bob Bettinardi actually makes 75% of his revenue machining parts for govt. contracts etc.  Only 25% comes from putter sales; both OTR and Tour putters combined.  I'm not sure any other company could convince Bob to sell just his putter business.  Also I believe he's much more into quality, not quantity.

[SALUKI LEFTY]

kitsoasis, on 01 May 2012 - 07:16 PM, said:

<br />The correlation between tour usage and whether a club is any good is really quite low...<br />

<br /><br /><br />

That holds true with drivers and irons.  


Wedges and putters though are more what players like IMO.  Hence a lot of Vokies in play and the 2 or 3 main putter companies.

[phibulls]

golfnut5438, on 02 May 2012 - 07:08 PM, said:

Scaldy, on 02 May 2012 - 12:41 AM, said:

I think that Bettinardi would be a great pickup for a Big Golf company like Titleist partnering with Scotty Cameron. Maybe Cleveland Golf? Bridgestone?

Bettinardi makes a darn good product, but they are certainly lacking in exposure.

As was mentioned earlier, Bob Bettinardi actually makes 75% of his revenue machining parts for govt. contracts etc.  Only 25% comes from putter sales; both OTR and Tour putters combined.  I'm not sure any other company could convince Bob to sell just his putter business.  Also I believe he's much more into quality, not quantity.

Check out this link.  http://www.donsonmac...businesses.html. This is where the Bettinardi's really make their money.  Were Tiger's Titleist's really Miura's?

[BC33]

Jim Furyk won a US Open with a Baby Ben Bettinardi.  I know that Matt Kuchar has used a Bettinardi in the past,  IIRC Phil also had a Napa style Bettinardi at one point as well.

I've owned two, they really do put a fantastic roll on the ball.

[oldpalchamp]

jcigars, on 02 May 2012 - 07:54 AM, said:

Here's a link to the list of Tour Victories on Bettinardi's website

http://bettinardi.com/tour_victories

Jimmy

Jimmy, your list doesn't include all of those wins by you know who with his Terrilium putter milled by...

See you at the Social.

[DixieMafia]

Tour presence with putters come from two things...either being locked in a "club contract" by your sponsor or the players being paid $1500+ a week to use a certain putter like most players on tour playing a Cameron.  If Bob wants to step up his putter count on tour all he has to do is start paying the players and I can assure you they will be lined up around the tour van waiting to get one in their hands.  But the fact is...Bob DOESN'T pay.  Not sure why, but he doesn't.  I'm not even sure why he waste his money sending reps out to tournaments when NO ONE is going to use his putters when they can make most of their travel expeses up by using a Cameron.  

For what its worth...I use a Bettinardi and hae for the last 7-8 years.  They are as good as anything on the market and the fact that they are made here in the US is an even bigger plus.

[Espirence007]

JGalls, on 02 May 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

Don't forget that contracts, tee up money and tour presence which isn't cheap all play a large roll.

At the end of the day... who cares?

I use Bettinardi putters because...

1. The people associated with the brand (Jimmy, Nick, Keith, Ben, etc.)  Not to mention most if not all of the "collectors" are top notch lads as well.
2. I've seen the quality of production first hand and it's second to none.
3. Made in the USA.  My grandfathers both worked their entire lives in USA manuf. factories.  To me... made in the USA means something.
4. They are good!!!

Bettinardi not only stands for craftmanship he's a true Amereican Innovator. I beleive he invented the one piece technology putter and the honeycomb milling producing a flatter face.

I believe in the American Heritage of Innovation, Ingenuity and Quality Work and if we could replace the Congress we would again be the leading the world in Innovative Products and Production.  

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I had a Kunnan putter back in the early 90's that was "one piece". The entire putter, hosel, shaft and everything was one continuous piece of graphite. And it was not the first "one piece" putter even then.