Who remembers Byron “Barney” Adams? If you don’t Mr. Adams is the entrepreneur who brought you the Tight Lies fairway wood and is the founder of Adams Golf. Over his decorated career in the golf industry Mr. Adams holds several patents on golf products.
Mr. Adams is back with a new company. The founder of Breakthrough Golf Technology is introducing the Stability Shaft. Putter shafts (for the most part) have gone unchanged for decades other than an exception here and there. Putter shafts for the most part have been noting but a steel tube. In a press release (shared below) it goes on to say that the industry has applied the same shafts even though putters (mallet types in particular) have gotten heavier. Essentially, the heavier putter heads that are being produced today means that the shaft is more prone to oscillation and twisting. The result… putts straying off line. The weight of the Stability Shaft is a “beefy” 125 grams while measuring 37″ and features an ultra-stiff flex shaft profile. What does all of this mean? Stability.
I am excited to share with my readers that I will be testing and reviewing this shaft in the near future. I’ve decided to put the shaft to the test by using the heaviest headed mallet that I’ve used to date. Weighing in at a generous 620 grams the MOI MAXX from Lateral Line Putters is my chosen subject. It’s a putter that’s won its way into my bag and gained my trust. So stay tuned as the shaft arrives and the testing commences.
For more details on the new Stability Shaft from Breakthrough Golf Technology please see the press release below. Thanks to Mary Beth Lacy of golf marketing firm Mary Beth Lacy Inc for providing the release.
Dallas, TX – For 50+ years, the putter shaft has not changed; historically it has been a simple steel pipe. Yet head designs for putters have evolved and gotten dramatically heavier. This has resulted in shafts that are not stable or strong enough to keep these heavier, advanced putter heads from oscillating, twisting and turning. In fact, the strongest part of the putter shaft is under the hands, where it does the least good; the weakest part is near the club head. Why would any golfer trust their putter to an inadequate steel shaft if they had a better option? After all, golfers use their putter almost twice as much as any other club.
Photo Credit: beakthrough Golf Technology
Introducing the Stability Shaft from Breakthrough Golf Technology. Breakthrough Golf uses scientifically advanced multi-material design with geometries never before used in a putter shafts. The Stability shaft has a unique look and a more solid feel than a traditional steel putter shaft.
CEO, Barney Adams states, “When I first learned about the product I knew that it could be significant. It’s a step forward in golf equipment technology. What has been rewarding for me is that the Stability Shaft works better for amateurs. Pros are great putters and while the shaft does help them, it’s the inconsistency of the amateur that it corrects most”.
Photo Credit: Breakthrough Golf Technology
There are four parts of the Stability shaft that work in concert to greatly improve putting performance. BGT calls this ‘Advanced Materials Integration’™:The performance of the shaft was exhaustively tested with hundreds of putters using state-of-the-art high-speed cameras, robots, SAM Putt Lab, Quintic Ball Roll software and Trackman4. The result was to re-invent the putter shaft from the ground up.
Eight layers of high modulus carbon fiber specifically layered, wrapped and widened, with a no-taper design to greatly reduce torque.
Through ‘Finite Element Analysis’ a lightweight 22g aluminum insert was developed and precisely located to reinforce flexural rigidity.
A 7075-aluminum connector that helps to stiffen and reinforce. This versatility allows attachment to virtually any tip diameter of any putter, regardless of the bend profile.
The stainless-steel tips have extremely consistent wall thicknesses for superior strength and are coated with a smoke PVD finish to add protection from corrosion and rusting.
Designed to improve any golfer’s game. The Stability Shaft delivers the face more squarely at impact for improved accuracy, solid feel and has a lower launch for a predictable roll, resulting in better distance control.
You’ll get a higher ‘Smash Factor’, hit the clubface more consistently and ultimately make more putts. It’s a perfect synergy of technology and materials to improve putting performance.
The Stability Shaft has a MAP price of $199.99 and is available from golf retailers in the US and Canada.
About Breakthrough Golf Technology
In a suburb of Dallas Texas, lies a new golf shaft company born in 2014 but with 100 years of experience. The state of the art facility utilizes the latest technology to develop and bring to market the finest, most precise shafts available.
Founder Barney Adams, who has always had the unique ability to see what is truly missing in Golf equipment decided to focus on the putter shafts since there had been no significant innovation for decades.
A team of award winning engineers was assembled and no shaft company on the planet delivers innovation in golf shafts like Breakthrough Golf Technology.
Putters. So much can be said for putters in every golfers bag. From the avid recreational golfer to professional golfers all over the globe, there’s a reason why we putt with the instrument that we do. For some it’s cosmetics and others it’s just comfort. I have long said that the putter is “the most intimate piece of equipment in a golf bag”. Meaning that when you have the right putter in your hands… you just know. In a way, it’s like having a mate. Not to mention that out of all of the clubs in your bag you use the putter the most… and it’s not even close.
What I love about the golf industry is that there are options no matter where you look. Some people stick to the names they see predominantly on television or the large golf box stores. The subject of today’s review is none other than relative newcomer to the industry, ARGOLF. Prior to the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show, I was contacted by Tiffany DiPanni who I’ve known for a few years through the golf industry. She set up a meeting with me so I could see what ARGOLF was all about. It would be a chance to learn their story and have a look at their custom putters.
Pendragon (Photo Credit: ArGolf Putters)
Formed in 2010 by Olivier and Sébastien Colas, and a golf professional Emmanuel Carlier the story of ArGolf Putters takes us to Brittany (a region in France). This is where the home of legendary Camelot and the location of a legendary castle and court where King Arthur was closely associated. Names where Merlin, Uther Pendragon, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table congregated. As it turns out, the factory (Armour Mecca) is located a mere 50 miles away from the legendary location. “Armour Mecca is an advanced engineering company in northern France that has been in the Colas family for three generations. Armour Mecca produces metal parts for Boeing, Airbus and NASA. ARGOLF’s founder, Olivier Colas, is an avid golfer and started designing putters to use the same high-end materials and manufacturing from Armour Mecca”. For these reasons it makes sense that ARGOLF features models of putter named Merlin, Uther, Pendragon, Lancelot, Arthur, and Excalibur among others. While most golfers aren’t familiar with the ARGOLF brand the same can’t be said for golfers on the Champions Tour where ARGOLF has gained traction in a very competitive niche of the golf industry.
In crafting their putters ARGOLF founders drew off of years of experience from the aeronautics industry. In doing so ARGOLF has established a fine balance of “art, industrial design, precision, finesse and performance”. Designs of their putters through using CAD design (Computer Assisted Drafting) while the design team also employs a “tri-dimensional metrology machine is calibrated to a high level of precision for ARGOLF”. Materials used in the production of ARGOLF are of the highest quality leather (headcovers) titanium and stainless steel. Further connecting ARGOLF to the aerospace industry is the use of “sulfuric anodic oxidation” which cancels out light reflections. Through special metallurgical processes, ARGOLF will not see corrosion blemish their wares.
Merlin (Photo Credit: ArGolf Putters)
Leading up to my arranged meeting, I walked past their booth on several occasions. From a distance I took a look at they offered and one of the first things that I saw were putters that were a myriad of colors. Amongst the finishes seen were some in orange, green and yellow. The putters offered from ARGOLF are customizable as far as etching, colors of both the shaft and head as well as the grip, headcover and neck style go. Meaning you can make your putter exactly how you want it. When it came to putting with putters at the Equipment Test Center (Putting Zone), I would focus on two models of mallet… the Pendragon and the Uther. I also made a few putts using their Merlin, which is a blade putter.
Pendragon – The Pendragon is quite simply a putter that’s in my wheelhouse. Why? Because this is a head heavy putter that sees a head weight of 405 grams. The Pendragon is a face balanced putter that is geared towards a straight back and thru putting stroke. The head is milled from aeronautical grade 7175 Aluminum.
A total weight of 580 grams… Pendragon is very stable throughout the putting stroke. (Photo Credit: ArGolf Putters)
I can’t say enough good things about the Pendragon. First and foremost, it already has a Major title to its name, as Kenny Perry won the 2017 U.S. Senior Open. A fact that is easy to justify. There have been only one or two other putters that I’ve made strokes with that provided the type of feel that Pendragon offered. Soft and fluid. Because of the head weight, you could really feel the putter throughout the entire stroke and, in particular, through the hitting area. The alignment lines are functional enough and you get a real sense of your eyes tracking back and forth to the hole. My stroke was very stable with Pendragon in my hands and I holed more putts than I missed on the practice green (artificial) on the show floor. I think a few variables contributed to these results, but I think the ability to keep the face square through impact was chief among the reasons. The patented C – Claw Technology seemed to get the golf ball rolling promptly with no naked eye evidence of skidding. I was very impressed with the Pendragon.
Uther – The Uther is another mallet model offered by ARGOLF. Quite honestly, I was never initially interested in the Uther. This was until Tiffany DiPanni put it into my hands. This was until Tiffany DiPanni put it into my hands. When ARGOLF designed the Uther, they had a couple of things in mind. They wanted to create the “ideal” putter in terms of “design and touch”. The craftsmanship of ARGOLF ensures such a high standard of milling that it results in perfect balance. The Uther also features an aluminum base and the head is milled from a solid block of 7175 Aluminum. Available in both heel shafted and center-shafted versions. The head weight is slightly lighter than its Pendragon brethren (380 grams).
The Uther… customs colours are an option. (Photo Credit: ArGolf Putters)
Considering that I wasn’t interested in the Uther, it turned out to be a great putter. I’m glad that Tiffany put it into my hands. There was so much that I liked about this putter over the Pendragon. I thought that the alignment aid was much better as it extended from the leading edge all the way to the trailing edge. The overall balance and performance I felt was pretty even with the Pendragon, but my eyes simply liked the Uther more. Perhaps it was the notches in the crown that reminded me of a “Celtic Shamrock” or some sort of insignia that you’d be inclined to see on a suit of armour. I felt that not only the name was inspired by Camelot, but I felt that design was more to the point. Like the Pendragon, the Uther also utilizes ArGolf’s patented C-Claw Technology. Getting the ball started on line was a breeze and the Uther rolls the ball as well as (if not better) than most putters I’ve used. It’d be interesting to get the Uther (and Pendragon) on a Quintic Putting System.
A balance of feel, performance and precision. (Photo Credit: ArGolf Putters)
Victories aside, on the Champions Tour there’s a reason why putters from ARGOLF won a Teezy Award at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show. In fact, it was the Uther that won the Teezy Award for Top Putter. Pretty impressive considering my lack of initial interest. No matter what putter you choose from ARGOLF, there are a numbers of things that you can count on. The highest of quality and putters that are serious performers. For more information on ARGOLF please visit http://www.argolfusa.com.
In the golf industry you’d be hard-pressed to find a brand that has the quality, craftsmanship, and artistry that matches that of Miura Golf. Long known for their “Miura feel” it seems that when I have a forged iron in my hand it just seems no matter the brand Miura Golf is the standard to which all others are compared.
The “Hands of God” have recently released a new wedge to further bolster that image and perception. With the new Miura Golf Tour Wedge the brand introduces the first design to utilize a CNC-milled club face and grooves. Looking at the Tour Wedge you have a head that is as clean and elegant as they come. Other than the Miura stamping near the toe the head is void of any markings. Endearing to this writer.
Please read the details below in a press release shared by golf marketing firm Mary Beth Lacy Inc.
Scottsdale, AZ – Featuring cutting-edge milling technology, Miura’s latest release delivers the legendary feel that golfers around the world covet. “The Tour Wedge is the first Miura design to use CNC milling for the club face and grooves,” explains Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf. “Combining this technology with Miura’s classic forged steel construction creates a feel at impact that can’t be beat.”
Made of premium (S25C) carbon steel, the Tour Wedge is designed for mid- to low- handicap players who want solid feel with versatility. The CNC-milled face and grooves provide increased precision and the control necessary for enhanced spin control. Additionally, the wedge’s hollow back and higher center of gravity improves trajectory and accuracy in each loft offering. Available in even-numbered lofts ranging from 48° through 60°, the Tour Wedge is finished in a satin chrome that looks as good as it performs.
About Miura Golf
Miura has been making the world’s finest forged golf clubs since 1977. Designed and constructed by the Miura family in Himeji, Japan, each club is individually made using the patented Miura forging process.
World-renowned craftsman Katsuhiro Miura began hand crafting and grinding irons in 1957 and has since created one of the most respected brands in the golf industry. Miura’s endless quest to make the perfect club has introduced over 10 product series. This number continues to grow as the next generation of the Miura family-led by sons Yoshitaka and Shinei-continue the meticulous refinement and evolution of the Miura product lines. Each club is handcrafted and never mass produced, as generations of passion and steelmaking skill bring to the world the finest forged golf clubs.
For more information on Miura Golf, visit www.MiuraGolf.com. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/MiuraGolf, on Twitter @MiuraGolfInc, and Instagram @MiuraGolf
