Equipment

An Interview with T Squared putters, started by a high school golfer

Published

6 years ago

Aug 16, 2018

I’ve coached high school golf for over 15 years, and I thought that I had run out of “firsts.” Then, Anthony Tuber, one of our varsity six, told me that he builds putters. “Sure,” I thought. You purchase the components and assemble putters. Nice hobby to have. “No, coach, I build them from scratch. We have milling machines.” If that doesn’t catch your attention, not much will.

As a coach, you encourage your golfers from a base of experience, but I don’t have any club-making experience! The last time I played around with metal was in middle-school metal shop. In this particular case, the student is the coach, and the golfer is the teacher. I’m now the proud owner of a T Squared putter, and continue to be the proud coach of Anthony Tuber. He might be the next Bob Vokey, or Scotty Cameron, but for now, he is a varsity golfer and high school student. Oh, and he happens to make putters. Rather than write a review that might be perceived as biased, I decided to do a straightforward interview with T Squared Putters. If you want to learn more, visit the company website, or follow them on Twitter and on Instagram.

Question 1: What type of research and field testing did you do, prior to building your first putter?

Prior to making our first putter we bought a bunch of putters to see what we liked and disliked about them. Then we took those putters and tested them to figure out which roll we liked the best. The roll is determined by the weight of the putter the length and the groove pattern. After we completed the testing we drew up a design and shortly after that we had our first prototypes. We then tested those prototypes and they rolled exactly how we wanted. Time went by while we used these first putters but then we really wanted to see the competition. We went to the PGA Merchandise Show and that’s where we found out that we had a superior putter.

Question 2: Is there a style of putter that you like, that perhaps served as inspiration for some of your designs?

We bought and tested dozens of putters but two putters caught our eye and those putters are the Scotty Cameron Squareback and the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Notchback.

Question 3: Can you tell us a bit about the materials/components that you chose for T Squared Putters?

We use American-made 303 stainless steel in all of our putters, but we also we use 6061 aircraft aluminum for the insert on the 713i.

Question 4: How do you balance your responsibilities and commitments, with your T Squared production?

During the school year academics are my number one priority. Over the summer I have been balancing my Tsquared putters work while working on the progression of my golf game. Fortunately I have a team that is very supportive of my vision for T Squared putters.

Question 5: Any chance we will see a mallet-style putter from T Squared?

Yes, we are currently testing other mallet putters to determine the most desirable features for our mallet putter. We are anticipating a prototype soon.

Question 6: Are you a better putter now that you know so much more from the design and production side of putters?

Yes, I have an entirely different perspective when I stand over every putt.

Question 7: How do you get the word out about the quality of your putters?

We have been very active on social media. The golfers that are currently using a Tsquared putter have been spreading the word. We have also been attending local golf tournaments to establish our brand.

Question 8: Do you hope to make a career of this venture, or do you envision it as a step along the path of a 21st-century businessman?

Yes, as golf is my passion I hope to take Tsquared putters to the next level. Golf will always be a part of my life whether it is professionally or recreationally.

Question 9: Finally, what question haven’t we asked, that you wish we would? Ask it and answer it, please.

I haven’t been asked how this process has affected me as a person. As a 17 year old I have a new appreciation for patience, persistence and hard work.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

19 Comments

Scotty Cameron

Feb 4, 2019 at 8:37 pm

Kid didn’t do anything. Had no input on anything. All the work and ideas were ripped off from other putter makers.

Reply Report comment
shane

Aug 19, 2018 at 3:27 pm

Another overpriced Anser knockoff boutique putter “designer” edition for the truly discriminating who what to flaunt their unique putter made to their ignorant specifications…. look at my new pinisputter toy…!!!

Reply Report comment
Jack Donner

Aug 17, 2018 at 1:13 pm

And I thought the only cool thing about Nichols High School were their soccer fields and Christian Laettner. Cool stuff!

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 17, 2018 at 4:23 pm
  
  And the golf coach. He’s super cool.
  
  Reply Report comment
Joe

Aug 17, 2018 at 12:15 pm

(Just under) $500.00 for Ping/Cameron knockoff putters? Okay…

Congrats on doing something constructive kid, but the putters aren’t original.

Best of luck…

Reply Report comment
- HDTVMAN
  
  Aug 17, 2018 at 5:31 pm
  
  So true. The true originator of the current putter was Karsten Solheim. Ping has re-released the 1-A Putter, originally designed in 1959, and I have it in my bag. An awesome putter!
  
  Reply Report comment
DB

Aug 17, 2018 at 11:18 am

Very cool story, but the story makes it seems like he started the company. A 17 year-old purchased all the equipment necessary to mill putters? Typically this runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, doesn’t it? If he really did raise that money, those details would be interesting. If his father or someone else purchased all the equipment, that’s fine as well – still a cool story. Just seems those details are missing.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 17, 2018 at 12:00 pm
  
  Note that it is an interview, not an in-depth profile. I suspect that you can find out that information from the company.
  
  RM
  
  Reply Report comment
Calvin Wang

Aug 17, 2018 at 12:44 am

Have you guys evaluated the center of gravity location of the putters relative to the intended alignment features? Your ballasts look very symmetrical which should not be the case for Anser-style putters. There needs to be some amount of toe bias to account and balance the mass of the hosel, or else the CG location can be too much heel-ward.

Reply Report comment
rymail00

Aug 16, 2018 at 11:26 pm

Awesome, just awesome. It’s cool to see a kid really due this type of thing at such a young age. Hope the best for these guys.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 17, 2018 at 12:01 pm
  
  As his coach, I can confirm that he is a stand-up guy. I’ve been in the HS coaching biz for over 20 years, and young folks still surprise me. Perhaps that’s why I’m still at it!!
  
  RM
  
  Reply Report comment
rex235

Aug 16, 2018 at 9:31 pm

RH Only *sigh*

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 16, 2018 at 10:57 pm
  
  Sorry, friend. Send them an email. They might be able to make a LH model down the road.
  
  Reply Report comment
Matt Russo

Aug 16, 2018 at 5:23 pm

These putters are amazing. I previously owned a Scotty Cameron putter, and although they are very similar, I can still notice the difference in the T-Squared putters. Being the cousin of the owner, I have been able to watch the production. The time that Tony puts into each putter order is amazing. He will stop at nothing to make sure that each customer has an amazing product. I am very proud of Tony, and can’t wait to see where he takes his product.

Reply Report comment
Parts

Aug 16, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Flaunt it, baby, yeah, flaunt it!

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Aug 17, 2018 at 6:31 pm
  
  you gotta be stoopid to buy one of these silly contraptions…
  
  Reply Report comment
shawn

Aug 16, 2018 at 1:41 pm

Another superficial boutique putter maker of Anser-style knockoffs with fancy hosels…. at a price that reflects inefficient production. Of course if you can flaunt your one-of-a-kind custom-made creation it’s worth every bit you paid for it.

Reply Report comment
TexasSnowman

Aug 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm

Awesome! My only concern is that all putters pictured seem to be clones / variants of the Anser style putter, which although a they are a proven design, I’m not sure the world needs more of them.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 16, 2018 at 8:17 pm
  
  I believe that he addresses this (see what I did there 🙂 in his anser (did it again) to question 2.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

15 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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