Are expensive putters a scam /con?

[Vicpete]

Just on fb marketplace some guy is selling a Scotty Cameron head cover for $250. It’s a Freakin cover.

And the cost of a Scotty is ridiculous.

There are 2 million putters you can buy. What makes a $800 putter better than a $400 or $200?

[3Puttpete]

You’re not accounting for how cool you look if you have one in the bag.

[Webster]

They are a trophy commodity, like Grange, Harley Davidson bikes, and Asian wives.

[Hatchman]

Only wives, not girlfriends?

[Kelsey86]

I got a second hand (was pretty much new condition) Scotty for about 500 3 years ago. Its condition has hardly changed since. I'm not the sort to constantly change putters though so it'll probably stay in the bag until either it wears out somehow or I can't play anymore, so for me a worthwhile investment.

[benno_r]

Generally we get them to remind the poors how much better than them we are. tut tut.

[Vicpete]

You’re not accounting for how cool you look if you have one in the bag.

Interesting and I know you are joking but I honestly have no idea what my mates own and use. I know their drivers but not irons. Doesn’t really interest me what others use.

[goonie]

I hate the putter cover on my scotty, ugly yellow and 2 cheap velcro flaps, cheap bastards, it has never seen the golf course, I bought an aftermarket magnetic cover which fits better and no velcro.

And I picked mine up cheap, no way I would pay full price for a scotty, I would have kept my Evnroll if it wasn’t for the sound, I just could not get use to it, but I putted great with it.

[JoeS]

If you have to ask then you haven’t used one. They are top shelf for a reason.


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[rickie prowler]

I hate the putter cover on my scotty, ugly yellow and 2 cheap velcro flaps, cheap bastards, it has never seen the golf course, I bought an aftermarket magnetic cover which fits better and no velcro.And I picked mine up cheap, no way I would pay full price for a scotty, I would have kept my Evnroll if it wasn’t for the sound, I just could not get use to it, but I putted great with it.

The putter quality to head cover quality ratio with Scotty's is garbage. A $12 special off ali express is heaps better than the stock Velcro crap from SC

[virge666]

The putter quality to head cover quality ratio with Scotty's is garbage. A $12 special off ali express is heaps better than the stock Velcro crap from SC

This is so true... why everyone doesn't use a magnetic putter cover is just beyond me. Velcro lasts about a year in the Sun, Wind and Rain.

They do make nice putters though, but Ody, Ping and Taylor are all of the same quality now and they all seem to be making the same putter.

The Zero Torque is the new buzz word.. lets see if they can keep charging $1000 for a putter head.

[Stuartd147]

I think you get what you pay for. It's an old adage but we can often hit driver 14 times a round and we hit twice as many (or more putts) a round. Decent drivers are upwards of $1000, so good putters are cheap and a valuable investment I reckon. I played snooker at a decent level, both snooker and golf are "still ball" sports requiring equipment that is predictable, reliable and as forgiving as possible. For a keen amateur expect to pay $1-2k for a cue, however if you want to be able to continue to improve and never have to replace your "weapon" you can pay upwards of $2.5-3k, a 2nd hand professional cue (like a Parris Ultimate) can even go for $5-7K. Again, considering that you can buy a real good putter that you can trust and use "forever", they are relatively cheap.

[Ron Burgundy]

Everything is a scam. An expensive car does effectively the same job as a cheap one. Same for an expensive house vs a cheap one. And so on.

Things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. And life is short, so do what makes you happy. If buying a Scotty will make you happier than buying the Costco Kirkland Signature version of effectively the exact same putter, then do it. No one on this forum is plays golf for their livelihood so the performance doesn’t matter anyway.

FWIW I have a custom lajosi that I love. Cost me a bomb and I almost certainly putt worse with it than any of the off the shelf mallets I cycle through, but I keep going back to it because it’s pretty and makes me happy.

[jimandr]

Interesting and I know you are joking but I honestly have no idea what my mates own and use. I know their drivers but not irons. Doesn’t really interest me what others use.

This is an interesting point worthy of further thought.

There is no doubt the prestige factor does affect some golfers. Many have tour blades they can't hit, but persist with because they look cool. I suspect there are many who cycle through drivers for the latest and greatest for the same reason.

But does that apply to putters?

I often have a quick look at what others use, but usually in a slightly negative way. There was a trend to TM Spiders some years ago, and half the golfing world seemed to have one, including two guys I know who play off more than 30 handicaps. I tend to think 'what a jerk' about people who putt poorly but have expensive putters.

I putt poorly but do not have an expensive putter, and I don't think I'd ever buy one because the quality is wasted on me. But if it enhances your enjoyment of the game go for it.

[ParkRoyal]

Nearly every TaylorMade Spider looks like garbage after a year.

[goughy]

My scotty from Nudgee cost me $100, bordering on 18 or 19 years ago now. Best thing is it wasn't mint, so I don't feel too precious about it! And really, it's just a big Ping Anser isn't it?

[Dotty]

I just paid over $400 for the latest Wilson 8802 and it didn't come with a sight line, multi-material face, MOI enhancing wings, fancy hosel, adjustable weights or cricket bat grip.

I can miss putts with anything, but I feel cooler missing with an 8802. (And twice as cool, sinking one without relying on any NDIS aids.)

btw. Cleveland make a good range of affordable putters, but you don't see these around much. I assume that these sell quickly at around $200, leaving the comparable $600+ models for other OEMs still on the pro shop rack.

Ping also have a range of 'no frills' classic putters (e.g. Anser2, Zing2, B60) that are hard to find, as bandwidth and shelf space is dedicated to the forged, multi-material, lab-design, custom weighted, etc. models costing three times the price.

[Courty]

Too many posters applying logic to the situation. We all know OZgolfers are impulsive purchasers.

[Pickles]

the good thing about the premium gear is that if you buy it second hand and look after it then It holds its value pretty well.

Stupid shit like $250 head covers though are for wankers with more brains than sense.

[LeftyHoges]

I bought a custom $1K Lajosi, and putted better with that than most putters, so there's that.

I putt less well at length with what I've got with the double-sided Seemore, but I also don't defecate in my pants with a 3-footer any more, so I guess the moral of the story is "you do you, boo."

Find what works best for you, even if there is some placebo effect with an expensive putter.

There is no doubt that for consistencies sake you're better off with a brand name putter over a KMart $49 whatever, but as for the difference between a $170 Cleveland or a $600 Scotty there's most likely absolutely **** all difference. But confidence with the flat stick is KING.

[AndyP]

We all know OZgolfers are impulsive purchasers.

Steady on there with the generalisations.

[goughy]

Damn straight!