Puetz Golf • IN THE BAG

BY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

We’re in full-swing mode now. The diehards, radicals and

fanatics have been at it since January when snow lay on the ground or frost delayed starting times, and three or four layers were only just enough to survive all the way to the 18th green. Others joined in as the worst of the weather abated and the grass began to show signs of life once more. But now, as the sun finally seems set for another glorious Washington summer and temperatures soar all the way into the 60s and, dare we say, 70s. We are all emerging from our quiet, closeted clubhouses eager to do battle with this confounding game which continues to cause us a fair amount of frustration and distress but which provides more than enough glorious, memorable moments to remain firmly in the black with enough credit to keep us coming back again and again.

Those that are just now returning to the links might not be aware how active the golf equipment industry has been so far this year, suffice to say the wheels have continued to turn despite the global supply chain issues that have wreaked their own brand of havoc. Manufacturers are still pushing envelopes coming up with innovative gear that enables us to enjoy the game even more than we already did and which guarantees a load more of those glorious, memorable moments.

And Puetz Golf has got it all. Here are some of our favorite products that will help make it another great season.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $429.99

Pride of ownership is strong among Scotty Cameron users. Those fortunate to have one in the bag treat theirs much like Judge Smails did his own Billy Baroo in ‘Caddyshack’ — a revered, precisely engineered tool that evokes love and devotion. The Californian putter-maker, who introduced his first putter 31 years ago, released the original high Moment of Inertia (MOI) Phantom X mallet line in 2019. Since then numerous different models have been added to the family. This year, seven new shapes became available in April and three more will arrive in June. The majority of the Phantom X line combines lightweight, central 6061 aluminum bodies with steel in the heel and toe to create stable heads that refuse to twist at impact (propelling your ball offline), no matter how far from the sweetspot you strike the ball — obviously the closer the better but mallets, and the Phantom X in particular, give you a pretty big margin for error. The sole-plate X is designed to make it easy to set the putter squarely to the target and flush on the ground. The new putters feature a new, textured grip and new graphics, and the faces are milled 303 Stainless Steel that produces a firm, satisfying feel. The X5 and 5.5 have been redesigned and the X7, 7.5 and 12 updated. The X9 and 9.5 are brand new. Hi-Bend, lowbend and straight shafts together with multiple alignment styles make it easy to find a putter that fits you perfectly.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $198.99

PING, founded by Seattle native Karsten Solheim who attended the University of Washington, began life making high-MOI putters, progressed to equally high-MOI irons (Eye 2, Zing, etc.), makes drivers with the highest MOI in the game (G425 MAX) and has also been making highly acclaimed wedges for many years. The Glide 4.0 replaces the Glide 3.0 (see how that works?) and is the best-looking Glide wedge yet with its blade styling and attractive Hydropearl chrome 2.0 finish which reduces glare as well as flyers from the rough in damp conditions. A wedge needs more than good looks though — these are the all-important scoring clubs after all. There are four grind options — Standard, Wide, Thin and high-toe ‘E’ that suit all swing shapes, angles of attack and different turf conditions (firm or soft and lush), and the soft 8620 carbon-steel body has an elastomer CTP insert that gives a soft, responsive feel at impact. The grooves in the lower-lofted clubs (46-, 50- and 52-degrees), which you typically use for full shots from around 70 to 110 yards, are milled with a 20-degree sidewall and a .005-inch edge radius while the higher lofts (54-, 56-, 58- and 60-degrees), used for shorter shots around the green, are milled to a .004-inch edge radius with a 28-degree sidewall to impart more spin. The new ‘Emery’ face blast adds texture to the clubface, creating more friction between the club and ball which produces more spin and a slightly lower launch which adds up to more control. Glide wedges are popular and we suggest you pick up yours sooner than later.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $249.99 Vintage, $349.99 3D

Cobra Golf has added black editions of its 3D and classic Vintage Series putters, identical to the original clubs except for the sleek, no-glare finish. The 3D putters were first introduced in May 2021 and were typical of the sort of highly adventurous and innovative clubs Cobra have been coming out with in recent years. The 3D putter features a 3D-printed, nylon, lattice cartridge created using HP’s advanced Multi Jet Fusion technology which sounds great but does perform an important role — optimize weight distribution within the putter chassis and, thus, increase the club’s MOI which, as we know, makes the club more stable and forgiving. In the 3D Series, the original Grandsport-35 plumber, SuperNova single-bend, and Agera single-bend models were joined by the Agera 30 and Supernova 20 and 30 at the end of April. And new hosel styles were added to the King Vintage Series line which appeared at the same time as the 3D line and features SIK Aluminum face inserts with Descending Loft Technology (DLT) as well as an Adjustable Weighting System that allows for simple weight adjustments (additional weights sold separately). The oversized mallet King Cuda, King Cuda-40, oversized blade King Widesport and oversize mallet King Stingray also became part of the King Vintage Series line which included the classic blade King Sport-45, King Sport-60, fang-shape King Nova, KING Nova-40, oversized mallet King Stingray and King Stingray-40. King Collection putters come standard with a Cobra SuperStroke Traxion Tour 2.0 grip and KBS Tour 120 shaft.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: Starting at $399.99

Robert Bettinardi founded his putter company in 1998, building simple, elegant putters from a single block of metal while the major manufacturers used more elaborate methods to produce theirs. Bettinardi became the darling of OEMs designing clubs for many of them and introducing his beautiful milling patterns and sophisticated machining methods. As he returned to building putters under his own label, he teamed with son Sam who has become Vice President of a company that now boasts over 90 professional tournament wins. The current Bettinardi lineup has four styles for 2022 — BB, Inovai (6.0 and 8.0), Queen Bee and Studio Stock. The BB (Bob Bettinardi) family is made up of four handsome models built using 303 Stainless Steel instead of the carbon-steel of previous years and has an attractive PVD (PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition coating, also known as thin-film coating, is a process in which a solid material is vaporized in a vacuum then deposited onto the club’s surface) finish. The BB-1 is a classic Anser-style blade, the BB-8W is similar but shorter from heel to toe and wider from front to back, the BB-1F features a distinctive flow neck, and the simple mallet BB-46 has a beautiful curved back. The two Inovai series are made up of high-MOI mallets that combine 303 Stainless Steel with 6061 aluminum. The 303 Stainless Steel Queen Bee putters feature an attractive Rose Gold PVD finish. And Studio Stock, also fashioned from 303 Stainless Steel, feature Roll Control Face-Milling and a distinctive Diamond Blast finish.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: Drivers $549.99, Fairways $349.99, Hybrids $279.99 Irons start $144.99 per club

There’s so much tech in the new Rogue ST MAX driver: Tungsten Speed Cartridge, Artificial Intelligence-designed Jailbreak Speed Frame, Triaxial Carbon crown and sole, etc. Callaway says it’s the highest MOI driver the company has ever made. The face is designed to remain stable at impact making it very forgiving. And the low CG makes it so much easier to launch the ball high. The family of drivers also includes the ST MAX D which, as the D suggests, is designed to promote a draw, the ST MAX LS (Low-Spin) that flies a little lower and without a draw or fade bias, and the 450cc (a little more compact) ST Triple Diamond LS which really reduces spin and launches the ball on a low, boring trajectory and is, undoubtedly, the better-player’s club in the Rogue ST line up. There are three fairway woods — Rogue ST MAX, Rogue ST MAX D and Rogue ST LS and four hybrids — Rogue ST MAX, ST MAX OS, ST MAX OS Lite and ST Pro. And no modern family is complete without irons. Callaway says the Rogue ST MAX iron is the longest it’s ever created and made possible by several innovations including 62 grams of tungsten that improves launch conditions and maximizes speed. The company’s patented urethane microspheres give the club amazing feel. The other Rogue ST irons are ST MAX OS, ST MAX OS Lite and ST Pro which features the ST MAX’s game-improvement technologies in a more compact, hollow-body head. The hollow construction brings an exciting trampoline-like experience with each strike.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: Drivers $449.99, Fairways $299.99 Hybrids $249.99

Cobra’s KING LTD driver, introduced in 2015, was built with input from scientists in the International Space Station and was the first driver to position the CG on the Neutral Axis — the imaginary line running between the center of the clubface and the back of the head. This gave it an optimal combination of ball speed, launch and spin. This year’s LTDx is the next zero-gravity driver and features PWR-COR Technology which positions a substantial amount of weight low and forward in the head for faster ballspeed and reduced spin. An additional tungsten back weight increases the MOI to help make the club more forgiving. Cobra’s famous E9 face which effectively increased the size of the sweetspot has become the AI-designed H.O.T. Face with multiple zones of varied thickness to increase ball speeds across the face. The standard LTDx is joined by the LTDx LS (Low Spin) for players with faster swing-speeds who want to work the ball and the very forgiving, highest-launching LTDx MAX. There are three fairway-woods, two hybrids, and the game-improvement irons feature a steel core bar behind the CG suspended in a soft polymer. Together, they create great ballspeeds and great feel. The PWRSHELL Face has a larger thin area, which increases ballspeeds when you miss the sweetspot and the L-shape cup face wraps around much of the sole reducing spin, raising your launch angle and increasing speed. A thick topline and generous offset is the game-improvement combo 20-handicappers and higher love to see.

Roll it and hole it with these 2022 high-tech golf ball models designed to improve optics and functionality.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $49.99 per dozen

Golf’s first five-layer ball, the TP5 has a low-compression core and four increasingly stiff layers whose interaction creates greater ballspeeds. Those speeds are enhanced by HFM (High-Flex Material) which is designed to absorb energy and rebound quickly. The Tour Flight dimple pattern and urethane cover help send it far but stop quickly on the green. Twelve evenly spaced graphics make it easy to see in different light conditions and easier to line up.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE $39.99 per dozen

A three-layer, Tour-quality ball with soft, low-compression core that helps boost ballspeed, a urethane cover that feels great and helps you generate spin around the greens, and a new dimple pattern that improves aerodynamics. The lime-yellow stripe wraps around the entire ball making it easy to line up on the greens and give you instant feedback on the quality of your roll.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $199.99

Long a mainstay of Ecco’s impressive range of golf shoes, the Biom has seen numerous updates and improvements over the years. The leather H4 comes complete with micro-perforated embossing and GORE-TEX waterproofing, MTN GRIP outsole for stability, FLUIDFORM Technology that creates a comfortable, lightweight sole, a smart PU midsole with TPU inserts for stability and grip, NATURAL MOTION Technology which brings your foot closer to the ground, X-TENSA INVISIBLE Technology which links the sole to the laces for stability, and an Ortholite inlay sole for comfort.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $229.99

The latest Biom COOL PRO model comes with its own lengthy list of technologies that give ‘breathable comfort and exceptional performance with a contemporary, sneaker-style aesthetic’.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $199.99

The design of the S-Three emphasizes comfort and style, but there are several other technologies that deliver great stability, traction and waterproofing.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $129.99 - $159.99

A stylish, lightweight, well-cushioned, waterproof shoe that, FootJoy says, delivers ‘max walkability’ with a full rounded toe and full fit across the forefoot and instep. A toe spring and a slightly narrow heel complete the athletic profile.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $189.99

The Tour Alpha is a waterproof, leather, full-on Tour shoe that features FootJoy’s proprietary Optimized Performance Stabilizer system.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $139.99

A classic-looking shoe with full-grain leather for exceptional comfort, durability and style, and Pulsar LP cleats from Softspikes for great traction.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE: $89.99

Skechers’ patented Arch Fit insole system with podiatrist-certified arch support was developed with the help of 120,000-foot scans.