Hello Brandon,

What putter are you gaming right now? What is your all time favorite putter, and like some of us car guys what is that putter that you let get away that you wish you still had?

Thanks,
Mike in Gulf Breeze, FL

Great question Mike...my story is interesting for a guy who loves putting as I've only every really used one head model all these years.

My first putter when I was a kid was my dad's old png Anser, which got me hooked on that head style and shape. Many years ago I changed to a Scotty Cameron Newport and have been using that head style ever since. My all-time favorite is the teryllium face because I want the impact to feel as soft as possible. I have a few iterations but the one I always come back to (and my current gamer) is a Scotty Cameron Button Back (circa 2008). Every so often I change to a different Newport model, but always seem to gravitate back to the teryllium.

We've gone from thin forged blade (bullseye style) flatsticks to all sorts of exotic shapes.

How good were golf legends putting with old fashioned head shapes, and what are the keys to head shape today to help me putt better.

What is your opinion on a blade versus mallet putter. I currently have a 1998 Tel3 Newport 2 and ordered a 2021 X 5.5

The question of "blade" versus "mallet" has more to do with your personal preference and feel than anything else. Some people find a larger mallet easier to consistently line up the face, some prefer the look of a smaller head, or anything in between. There is something to be said about MOI on off-center hits being better with a mallet, but the real question you need to answer is the amount of tow flow you need relative to your stroke style and eye position.

What is your greatest lesson learned from reading greens?

That the everything DOES NOT break toward the ocean or away from the mountain! hahaha

Seriously...I'm being funny but honest. The biggest lesson I learned was that the only thing that really affects the break is the small space directly between your ball and the cup...essentially the ground the ball is rolling over. It sounds very simple when you think about it, but the mountain, or ocean, or bunker (or any other landmark!) that's not directly between your ball and the hole has ZERO effect on the break.

I have a new 5.5 phantom I the feel is fantastic what would be the difference if I had the same putter in a tcircle.
Fitted? Materials? How it putts?
Many thanks
Tim

Great question...the "circle-T" branding simply means it was made as a special edition that was not mass-produced for the public. It began as a way to designate a particular putter as "made for the tour only," but has been expanded in recent years to other uses. It could be as simple as a custom stamp or two, or a special finish, or even an exotic metal (such as GSS stainless steel), or a special construction method (such as a welded hosel or custom shaped head).

A "circle-T" putter is rare because in some way or another is was built as a one-off and likely the only one like it that exists in the world.

Brandon, Is it best to putt with your eyes open or closed?

While some may have experienced some success with closing their eyes, or practiced drills with their eyes closed trying to work on a particular issue, I tend to believe that we will always be better putters using such an important sense as our vision. We are used to using our eyes day-in-and-day-out to help us see the world around us and take in incredible amounts of information for our brain to use...surely it would be better for our putting if we kept our eyes open.

I still plumb bob with my Newport 2....what is your take on plumb bobing....an old friend of mine who use to play with some of the greats from years gone by encouraged me and thought me how to ensure my ball was centered in my stance by using a coin and my forehead.....he was a master putter even in his 80s.....