Equipment

Kinsler Putters: Will the Raptor roar like Kinsler’s engine parts?

Published

9 years ago

Mar 13, 2015

Zak Kozuchowski

This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015!

Here’s a story about putters that starts with a story about racing.

Kinsler Fuel Injection is a company that makes the engine parts that make up the fastest cars in the world. It’s based in Troy, Mich., and uses some of the world’s most advanced engineering and milling machines to make the engine parts that have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, 24 hours of Le Mans and many other racing championships.

James Kinsler, 30, runs Kinsler Fuel Injection with his father, but his passion for golf now has him running a different company – Kinsler Putters. He’s a four-handicap, and has been playing golf since he was a kid. Like most serious golfers, he’s passionate about golf equipment, but what makes Kinsler different is that he has experience and access that most golfers never will.

The Raptor Race Car Throttle, from Kinsler Fuel Injection

The making of Kinsler’s parts involves the same discussions you might hear inside the walls of a golf equipment company — moment of inertia (MOI), transfer of energy, center of gravity (CG). It wouldn’t take much for Kinsler to leverage his expertise and machinery to make a putter, and it proved too great an urge for him to resist.

Kinsler is a trained mechanical engineer, so it wasn’t a stretch for him to sketch a putter design, create it in CAD and program a milling machine to make it. He liked what he made, and so did the people who tried it. After several revisions to his original prototype, he decided to start Kinsler Putters with his homemade design, the Raptor, and expects that more models will follow.

Kinsler’s workspace is full of reminders of his company’s racing success.

Golfers are notoriously picky about how their putters look, and with mallet putters like the Raptor the reactions are generally more polarized. The good news is that even the most discerning golfers should be able to find something they like about it.

3.5 degrees of loft is milled into the face of the Raptor putters. They are available for both right- and left-handed golfers.

The Raptor’s shape revolves around its three parallel alignment lines, which are milled from the face of the putter all the way to its back end to help golfers square the putter face to the target.

Its finish is one of those cases where something functional turned out to be stylish, as well. In many of Kinsler’s racing components, the company uses a coating called MIL-A-8625 Type 3 Class 2. The layman’s term is “black hard coat anodized.” It does not come off, because the coating actually penetrates into the surface of the part, unlike typical anodizing. That makes the finish resistant to chemicals, which is critical in racing components because of the corrosive fuels that are used.

: A Raptor putter after the first part of the milling process.

: A closer look.

: These putters are ready for the second part of the milling process.

Putters exist in a much safer environment, generally free of the chemicals that can erode a putter. But Kinsler liked the way the finish looked on the Raptor, especially when paired with the orange alignment stripes.

Despite the Raptor’s bold looks, Kinsler’s hard sell is not his putter’s aesthetics. The Raptor is milled on a 5-axis milling machine (see the video below), which uses a rotating table that limits the amount of times an object needs to be repositioned during the milling process.

[quote_box_center]”It’s virtually impossible to relocate an object exactly where it was when you reposition it, Kinsler said. “That handling creates inaccuracies.”[/quote_box_center]

The Raptor is milled in two steps, but nearly all of the milling is done in the first step. Only the putter face and the shaft bore are milled during the second step. Since the Raptor is a reversible design, the two-step process allows Kinsler to create a left-handed putter if needed.

Kinsler said he’s bought a lot of putters, and was always surprised at how few of them sit flat at address. So he engineered the Raptor’s sole to rest flat on the ground, and also square to the target. He also tweaked the way the putter shaft and head are secured with his Radial Lock Technology, which uses 10 bumps that “grip” the shaft, while still providing enough room for the epoxy to bond correctly.

[quote_box_center]”It takes longer, and it’s certainly more expensive than blowing a drill in it [to make the bore], but I think you get a nicer product in the end,” he said.[/quote_box_center]

Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 4.39.17 PM

It came as no surprise to me that a man who makes his living making custom racing parts understood the value of custom-fit putters. To help golfers get the right head weight for the them, the Raptor comes with two stainless steel “Sync Weights,” which are threaded into the sides of the putter to raise its MOI. The body of the putter weighs 285 grams, but the adjustable weights allow golfers to pick a stock head weight between 325 and 385 grams.

If you’re interested in purchasing multiple weights and tinkering with the weight of the putter, Kinsler sells the extra weights ($16.87 each) and a custom aluminum wrench ($47) that he designed to adjust them.

The Raptor is available on KinslerPutters.com and carries a base price of $237. Golfers looking to personalize their putter can do so with a custom sole engraving ($43).

: Each Raptor putter is individually serialized.

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48 Comments

E H

Apr 1, 2015 at 8:13 pm

I assume this is made from carbon fiber?

Reply Report comment
Jeff

Mar 28, 2015 at 9:28 am

This putter is LEGIT!

I had the opportunity to test it on a Quintec System. It destroyed the numbers I was getting off my $2500 Scotty. Set up is perfect, looks are beautiful and the feel it unbeatable. But what sets it apart is the performance. Numbers do not lie, and they we unreal!

I did not bat an eye, I ordered one on the spot. I cannot lie, I am a Scotty guy, through and through, but this is going in the bag the second it arrives. Now if only the season will start NOW!

Reply Report comment
Marc White

Mar 22, 2015 at 8:18 pm

Style, feel, design, customer service and customization. From the precision engineering to the color scheme, the Kinsler Raptor Putter has everything going for it right now. As a 30 year PGA teaching professional, I personally like the balance, the weight adjustability and the soft feel it provides. My students agree, and they also appreciate the story behind the design of this outstanding putter.

Reply Report comment
Uncle Jimmy

Mar 21, 2015 at 11:38 am

I have had the opportunity to see these putters, for I live in Michigan. They are very sharp, I really enjoy the finish on them and the face feel is not so soft that you can’t feel the ball, but It doesn’t feel like you are hitting a rock, either. That is the way I like my putters. I have one on order, but I currently use the Taylormade Rossa Monza. Not a bad price point considering other custom putters on the market. We shall see how I fare this season with one, I am excited!

Reply Report comment
Dash Riprock

Mar 20, 2015 at 4:58 pm

What a bunch of suck-ups gushing over this anvil on a stick – nothing about it is revolutionary or groundbreaking to justify the price point, not to mention the “custom designed wrench” for an additional $47 bucks! Seriously? P.T. Barnum was right! Go sell these at NASCAR races where you belong!

Reply Report comment
- Kinsler Putters
  
  Mar 20, 2015 at 6:11 pm
  
  Dash,
  Golf is a new market for us. I agree the wrench is costly. I apologize for that. Perhaps down the road we make a simpler wrench with less components. We wanted every aspect of our golf products to represent our racing quality. A simple hex key wrench would have worked, but the aesthetics would have fell short (my opinion at least).
  
  I believe the putter is a fair price. They are milled in the U.S.A. and built one at a time per customer order.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jeff

Mar 17, 2015 at 11:47 am

Putting has always been the weakest part of my game and I have gone through dozens of putters searching for something that would give me the consistent confidence and feel I was looking for. I’ve played a handful of rounds with my new Kinsler Putter already and I love the thing. Could only be in my mind, but it seems to go where I am it and that is what counts for me.

Reply Report comment
- Logan
  
  Mar 18, 2015 at 1:55 am
  
  How is the feel of this putter? I love the looks and the technology behind it, but I have a hard time buying something that I have never actually seen in person and have no idea what it will feel like when it strikes the golf ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kinsler Putters

Mar 15, 2015 at 2:31 pm

Many have asked if we offer a counterweight model. Yes, up to 38″ long. Currently we stock the SuperStroke 2.0XL grip (white black). The putter comes with SuperStroke 50 gram backweight kit. The counterweight option is an additional $21 dollars over standard. If you are interested send us an E-mail. I will add it to website shortly.

Reply Report comment
Preston

Mar 15, 2015 at 9:57 am

Seems like anybody with a CNC machine is a putter maker these days.

Reply Report comment
Martin

Mar 15, 2015 at 9:42 am

I really like the look of this putter, unlikely though I will see on in Canada to hit a few with.

Reply Report comment
CB

Mar 15, 2015 at 8:39 am

sitting the club flat looks like it will not be an issue

Reply Report comment
eron

Mar 14, 2015 at 2:08 pm

I love the look and softer curves on the top of the putter.
For some one like me, who likes a straight-back and straight through putting stroke. Also square design fits my eye better for my putting stroke, more than non symmetrical putters like the golo which felt awkward due to St. Cameron’s disbelief in anything but arced paths

Reply Report comment
KK

Mar 14, 2015 at 8:33 am

This putter with more curves would be amazing.

Reply Report comment
Ryan K

Mar 13, 2015 at 7:42 pm

Really dig the looks of this one!

Reply Report comment
THONG

Mar 13, 2015 at 7:07 pm

how about a petrified dog turn with a slim jim for a shaft

Reply Report comment
- Kinsler Putters
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 7:17 pm
  
  Perhaps it is better I do not comment, but I did get a good laugh out of the comment. LOL Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No offense taken. I feel the same way about many things.
  
  Have a good one.
  James
  
  Reply Report comment
Bernard

Mar 13, 2015 at 5:17 pm

Like the putter, the use of hard coat finish is a good choice. Very durable.

Reply Report comment
Ken

Mar 13, 2015 at 5:12 pm

I hope a center shafted model is in the plans!

Reply Report comment
Puddin

Mar 13, 2015 at 4:09 pm

Coming from an engineering design background and racing background. I’m surprised it took a gear head this long to tackle the golf world. It makes too much sense. The precision and engineering it takes to manufacture race parts is black art most of the time. Mr. Kinsler looks to have transferred this into his putter design. This looks like a great product. I love the looks and the orange stripes. I cant wait to take this one around the track for a few hot laps. Bravo, I say!

Reply Report comment
- Jimmy
  
  Mar 14, 2015 at 12:02 pm
  
  Gene Nead has been making putters for years.
  
  Reply Report comment
4pillars

Mar 13, 2015 at 4:08 pm

Wow cool putter

I like the orange stripes

Reply Report comment
gib

Mar 13, 2015 at 3:38 pm

I really like the concept of this putter. one thing I could not find, and I may have missed it, but what is the amount of offset the putter has. it does not look like a full shaft in the pics.

Reply Report comment
Tittylist

Mar 13, 2015 at 3:01 pm

I wonder if Potty Cameron is already making a clone of this putter in his studio.

Reply Report comment
DB

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:36 pm

Love the idea of this company.
Love the precision milling.
Love the adjustable weight.
Love the focus on having it sit square.
Love the price point.

Do not love the aesthetics of this first design.

Reply Report comment
- LMB
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 7:47 pm
  
  Agree!
  
  Reply Report comment
Tim

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:29 pm

Obvious question – is it available for lefties?

Reply Report comment
- talljohn777
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 2:02 pm
  
  Yes, and it says so in the article….
  
  Reply Report comment
- lsf_21
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 2:10 pm
  
  Wouldn’t be an obvious question if you read the article.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jon B

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:22 pm

Wouldn’t the change of weight change the toe hang of the putter?

Reply Report comment
- talljohn777
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 2:05 pm
  
  Only if you mix different weights together. If the two weights, heel and toe are the same, then no.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Kinsler Putters
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 2:14 pm
  
  Talljohn is correct. Toe hang only changes if weights are staggered (30 on one side and say 45 on the other). Some customers have staggered them on purpose to change putter dynamics.
  
  Reply Report comment
Kinsler Putters

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:16 pm

Appreciate the Kind words about our newest product.

Mikey_P The putter requires an extra operation to mill the face. It made sense to us to make all the putters the same through the previous operation. This allows maximum flexibility for right/left hand putters on final operation.

Jon Thank you for the comment. We worked VERY hard to keep our price reasonable.

Reply Report comment
- Brad
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 1:27 pm
  
  Bravo. I cant say enough about how excited i am to see you guys step outside of” the box”… And being born & raised in Indianapolis, i absolutely LOVE the racing connection. It is apparent in your design, that racing has influenced your eye. I think i speak for most racing enthusiasts that also LOVE golf… This is P1. Keep it up guys!!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Darrell
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 2:20 pm
  
  I have the Taylormade Daddy Longlegs putter which I like very much but this looks like an awesome putter in another class altogether. What excellent engineering, keep up the fantastic work.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Mar 13, 2015 at 4:39 pm
  
  Kinsler Putters,
  Where can I try this putter out?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Kinsler Putters
    
    Mar 14, 2015 at 11:27 pm
    
    Scott,
    Where are you located.
    This is a brand new product for us. Currently we are working on setting up a small distribution network.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Scott
      
      Mar 15, 2015 at 9:43 am
      
      I live in Shelby Township. I work in Auburn Hills.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Kinsler Putters
        
        Mar 16, 2015 at 7:07 am
        
        Scott please send an e-mail through my website. I am currently working with some local golf shops to set up distribution.
        
        Reply Report comment
- Mikey_P
  
  Mar 16, 2015 at 4:20 am
  
  Thanks for the reply!! The milling looks very tidy. I like the dowel pins in the tool, someone would be going well to round that off!!
  
  Reply Report comment
PaloAltoPlaya

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:16 pm

Oh boy! Karsten and Hogan spinning in their graves right about now. At least the putter ain’t gimmicky!

Reply Report comment
Kess

Mar 13, 2015 at 1:04 pm

Wow, what a price point for a nice piece. I would change the paint fill and I’m not a mallet guy but it may be worth a shot at that price point.

Reply Report comment
RH

Mar 13, 2015 at 12:34 pm

I actually like the look. Unique but not in a hideous way.

Reply Report comment
Mikey_P

Mar 13, 2015 at 12:26 pm

As a machinist, curious to know why the shaft bore isn’t machined during the 1st operation, can only guess that it is to ensure the relationship between face and shaft is as good as it can be.
5-axis is slightly limited by rotational accuracy within the rotating table, and can only assume the error in loft/lie is exaggerated at the grip end 34″ or so away?

Reply Report comment
Jeff B

Mar 13, 2015 at 12:25 pm

I would remove the paintfill on top IMMEDIATELY but aside from that i kind of dig it.

Reply Report comment
Jon

Mar 13, 2015 at 12:23 pm

I guess they don’t realize they should be charging north of $350 for a piece of art like this. Sign me up!

Reply Report comment
- You are trying too hard
  
  Apr 1, 2015 at 4:55 pm
  
  This is obviously Kinsler’s mom… Try to be a little more subtle next time, okay sweetie?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Kinsler Putters
    
    Apr 23, 2015 at 9:48 am
    
    LOL. Dam mom please do not try so hard. I know you always say “whatever it takes” but please make it less obvious next time ;(
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

9 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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