Equipment

Axis 1 pushes its putters as an answer to anchor ban

Published

11 years ago

Feb 9, 2013

The Axis 1 Golf putters may be the stereotypical black sheep with their looks, but that does not mean golfers should not give a second look to them.

Thanks to its perfectly balanced design, Axis 1 says that its putters will help golfers roll more of their putts on line.

Axis 1 putters have the center of gravity in the middle of the club face and aligned to the axis of the shaft. Its patented heel counterweight causes more weight to be on the front of the club.

According to Phil Long, Axis 1 vice president of sales and marketing, Axis 1 putters could be the answer to the looming anchored putter ban. He said the putters offer the same balance and stability as an anchored putter.

Despite the advantages of the putter, most comments in GolfWRX’s forum showcasing the putters from the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show Demo Day tended to dwell on the unorthodox look of the putters.

[youtube id=”j53cmg8o1Gg” width=”620″ height=”360″]

For those golfers who look past the non-traditional look, there are two variations from which to choose. There is the classic-looking blade Eagle putter, which weighs 340 grams. It sells for $299 and comes in three different lengths — 33, 34 or 35 inches.

There is also the slightly heavier, modern-mallet putter, the Umbra. This 350-gram putter also sells for $299 and comes in the same three lengths as the Eagle. Golfers can also get the heavy version of the putter for $349 and is available in either 34- or 35-inch models.

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9 Comments

Jeff

Mar 4, 2013 at 9:15 am

If $299 is too rich for you, then wait a bit for the knockoffs to start arriving from china…

Reply Report comment
Phil Long

Feb 14, 2013 at 12:39 am

Hello Steve,

The answer to your question is EVERY other putter (not only center shafted but heel shafted too) flops wide open at address. Ours does not. This video better explains what I am talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7-075NYY14.

If you have any other questions please contact me at [email protected]

Reply Report comment
- Preston Webster
  
  Apr 15, 2013 at 11:46 am
  
  I have been playing golf since I was 14….I’m now 64. I am also considered an avid putter collector. I have used Scotty Camerons, Bettinardi’s, Edel, Palombi, Piretti, C&L, Sunset Golf, Odyssey, Lajosi and others. I took a severe gamble on the Axis1 Eagle putter. I watched all the YouTube videos I could find and checked the website. I admit, the design initially looked more than just different. But, after listening and reading about the putter I just had to try it. I have been using this putter religiously for close to a year now. Sure, I get the usual “stares” from onlookers on the practice green and lots of questions. I challenge everyone I meet to putt a few balls with this putter and then putt with their own brand of specialty. The look on their faces spell volumes! They are quickly convinced how the Axis1 Eagle provides immediate “feedback” when the clubhead meets the ball. My putting has improved considerably since using this putter. On putts inside 15 feet, I am as confident of making the putt as I am with a 3 footer! My scores and handicap have both dropped as a result of not missing the “money putts” inside 5 feet. At 64 I still carry an 8 handicap which I am quite proud of. I post every score no matter what course I play or what tee box I play. My handicap is legitimate enough to play courses of varying slope rating and know that I will play pretty close to my handicap. The look on the faces of my playing partners is what I treasure! Due to the “weird” shape of the putter head, when I make a long “bomb”, my partners just say “Snaked Again!” I am such a believer in this putter that I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Anybody and everybody uses a Cameron or Ping or Odyssey? Just because those companies spend multi-millions on advertising doesn’t mean they are “the best” putters? If one was the best, why wouldn’t all the other putter makers just close up shop? I have been an insurance salesman for 42 years, but I feel like I could sell these putters to anyone! If you are sick and tired of 3 putting with your fancy Cameron or Bettinardi, take a chance like I did. This might be the best money you have ever spent on a golf club! I would love to try the Umbra or the newest model clubhead offered by Axis1. I sincerely feel like this company is a winner and if I ever get a chance to play “against” you, I WILL make a believer out of you!
  
  Reply Report comment
Saul

Feb 12, 2013 at 10:08 pm

This putter will not twist off line no matter how soft of a grip you have. It promotes a tension free feel. The look is disgusting but what gives if the face twists when you make contact. I putt straight back and through with a doubele interlocking grip so it works for me…those who putt on an arc might think it feels weird in their hands.

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Tony

Feb 11, 2013 at 4:40 am

Was thinking the same thing, do centre shafted putters have a COG at the centre? The shaft will be on the same axis.

Don’t think you can charge $299 for a putter that looks like that, halve the price and you might start getting people buying.

Reply Report comment
Steve

Feb 10, 2013 at 9:04 pm

So what does this do that a center-shafted putter won’t do?

Reply Report comment
Troy Vayanos

Feb 10, 2013 at 8:08 pm

Yes I would agree the look of the putter seems to be the biggest sticking point. I would feel very uncomfortable over the ball using that.

The price seems a bit excessive as well.

Be interested to hear any feedback from anyone that has used one.

Reply Report comment
Kyle

Feb 10, 2013 at 11:27 am

Theres a much better answer. Its called a fore arm putter. its still ok to use one. I been using one for years now. Im the best putter iv ever seen.

Reply Report comment
Mark H. Davis

Feb 9, 2013 at 6:00 pm

This is conforming?

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Equipment

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

Published

11 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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