Face-Milling, Offset and the Controversial Swingweight | Thoughts from the Pro Shop

Today, Tom talks about face-milling, offset, and swing-weight as it relates to Slighter putters.

How does Face-milling effect a putter?

I began adding deep milling to my putters in 2001.  I believed the deeper milling provided a much softer feel as the ball came off the putter face.  I received much criticism for the deeper milling, but it is now being used by many manufacturers.

Slighter standard is dimple soft face, which creates both a soft approach to the ball and a pleasing sound as you connect.

Face milling on putters serves a couple of purposes: Consistent ball contact, and sound. The face milling has a more important job to play in terms of consistent ball contact.  Because the surface of a golf ball is not completely round, there are chances you could hit a flat hole, or ridge without even knowing.  By face milling, you create a more consistent and repeatable contact with the ball.

So why do we mention sound? Because sound = feel. Producing a more hollow sounding contact, or a “pingier” contact can be the difference in how soft or hard your putter feels.

How does Offset effect a putter?

Offset in a putter is mainly personal preference.  An offset effects how the putter aligns to the ball at address.  It mainly is whatever pleases one’s eye when looking down at a putter at address.  Offset can have an effect on whether you push or pull a putt.

There are 3 offset styles – no offset, half-shaft offset and full-shaft offset. As standard, Slighter putters come with no offset to the putter shaft. You can, of course, choose a half-shaft or full-shaft offset. The full-shaft offset can be achieved with our plumberneck hosel or long bottleneck.

The offset impacts toe-hang as well. There are things we can do to balance your putter no matter your offset, so this will be an important part of the conversation.

• No Offset – Commonly found in putters with a straight shaft that goes directly into the putter head. From address, the left edge of the shaft will line up straight with the leading edge of the putter face.
• Half Shaft Offset – Commonly found in putters with a smaller bottleneck hosel or double bend shaft with no hosel. This means that half of the width of the golf shaft is ahead of the leading edge of the putter face at address.
• Full Shaft Offset – Commonly found in putters with hosels and with double bend shafts. This means that a full shaft width will be ahead of the putter face at address. We have a plumberneck, or long bottleneck hosel to create a full-shaft offset putter.

And what about the controversial importance of swing-weight?

I do not believe swing weight is relative in a putter.  Trying to dial in a specific swing-weight in a putter is too daunting of a task.  Too many variables in the construction of a putter to focus on a desired swing-weight.  The length of shaft, desired weight of putter, aesthetics of a putter, shaft type, grip type, are just a few of components in a putter that will effect swing-weight.

There is so much variation across the board that there should be more emphasis on using one putter and practicing with that same putter over and over again until it is second nature.  Another aspect to consider is to use the same ball time after time.  By switching up balls, you factor in differences in not only the inside make-up, but also the outside coating.  Because feel is a huge factor in putting, and sound is the best way to identify feel, keeping a consistent ball will help create a consistent draw and strike on your putts.