Elmer golf M2 putter review

Before we get to my review I would first like to introduce the product. I know putters are a truly personal choice, and quite unlike any other club you have in your bag. I have included all the technical information for those of us that are interested in such things. It covers the M2 putter in much more detail than I could ever hope to glean from just holding and playing with the club.

The information and images are from web site : http://www.elmergolfusa.com/

Features:

Adjustable lie angle - an absolute must to ensure perfect directional control
Shaft/Hosel design perpendicular and connected directly behind the point of impact for the most solid feel and minimum twisting at impact.
Vertical moment of inertia positioned to achieve maximum top spin roll, the more topspin the more putts go in.
Face Balanced
Head Weight – 345 grams enables a really smooth pendulum stroke.
CNC Milled Polymer face insert compression tested to R&A and USGA specifications.

Custom Fitted Putter in the Palm of Your Hand

Some golfers, while appreciating the importance of having their putter set to their correct lie angle, are just not comfortable with 'mallet' putters. For these golfers we developed the Elmer M2 putter. The M2 putter has a more traditional 'blade' style design, but still manages to incorporate many of our unique technical features.

How Lie Angle Effects Your Game

Adjustable Hosel System and Multiple Shaft Length Options

The lie angle is a major factor in controlling the direction of your putt and that is why so many golfers insist on custom fitted putters. The M2 putter puts the club fitting technology into the hands of every golfer with an adjustable putter that you can adjust as often as you would like.

How Lie Angle Effects Your Game

The Design Criteria:

Balance - must be exactly in the center to achieve perfect face balance.
Hosel and lie angle adjustment must be the same as the Elmer M1
Head Weight - 340 to 350 grams including the adjustable hosel.
The specific gravity required to achieve the above weight at our design dimensions determines we must use Stainless steel as the production material. Loft 3°
Shaft perpendicular to the body (ignoring the face loft) and set to 1 degree more than R&A and USGA rule appendix II 1.d
Vertical moment of inertia to achieve maximum top spin roll.
CNC Milled Polymer face insert to R&A and USGA compression specifications.
Hosel must connect exactly in the centre of the face so the shaft is directly in line with the impact point.
One model for both left and right handed golfers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I44mp03dzQo

My Review

First Impressions:

Customer Service :

I have to say, these guys certainly excelled at customer service. Very friendly and knowledgeable people to deal with. Nothing is a problem for them. After my initial conversation with them my putter was dispatched the very next day, priority mail.

The order was sent out on a Thursday and was at my door on the Monday before lunchtime.

The putter was securely packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, well packed with newspapers to stop any damage from handling.

The Club :

Grip and shaft :

A good quality leather grip, I got a jumbo grip. It feels great. The shaft is steel.

Head :

Blade type design, it looks kind of chunky to me, which I dislike. I think blades look better sleek and slim. But I do understand, and the custom adjustability is definitely a worthwhile trade off.

One of the likes I have for the head is the center mounting of the putter shaft. It helped me get a nicer, smoother stroke.

I also liked the two alignment lines on the top of the head. These are grooved in, not just painted on. This is a personal preference I know, I just felt it gave me a better indication than the single line, more comfortable for me.

The big plus about this putter is of course the ability to adjust the lie, to make it a very personal fit (and as we all know, putters are a VERY personal fit) to each golfer. I experimented a good bit with the differing lies and I did find a fit for me. That surprised me as I did not think I was experienced enough to notice. I think once you find your lie you will be amazed by the feel.

Head Cover :

This had its good points and its bad points.

A good point is that it is a good fit, snug and secure. The coolest part of the cover was the little zippered hidden pouch that holds the Allen wrench that you use on the head adjustment screws. This is handy if you are out playing or practicing and you need to either adjust the head or possibly tighten one of the 3 screws.

Bad points were the zipper to the wrench pouch rattled constantly.. I might be being picky but this bugged me. The other bad point, again is me being picky, is the magnet in the closer flap. Every time I went to put the cover on the magnet would jump on to the putter head. It got pretty frustrating and I hope Elmer Golf looks into this part of the design for the future.

So.. how did it feel?

The big question everyone wants answered... How does it feel? How does it play?

Well, at first I didn’t like it, the set up was different for me. This was not only the first center fixed putter I have used, but it was also the first time I had ever used a jumbo size grip. It took a little time to get used to the new feels and to find my personal lie angle. I stuck with it, because I felt I owed it to Elmer Golf for putting their trust in their product in my hands, I wanted to do the best, most honest review I possibly could.

I am so glad I stuck with it. Since I got the putter I putted every day on my putting mat at home. The format there is 100 puts, 50 from 4 foot, and 50 from 8 foot.

After the first couple of days, getting used to the feel and messing around with the lie angle I settled right down into it. My rolls were smooth and true and gave me a personal confidence. It really does feel very comfortable. I play a piston style stroke with a slight forward press. The feel is solid, not hard.

I have also played for an hour on my local course practice greens each time before going and playing 9 holes in a summer league. My scores did not improve, Elmer Golf don’t promise miracles.

I don’t know if it is just my practicing that has caused such a good roll or whether it is the putter itself, but I really have noticed the distinct lack of bobbling and juggling when I strike the ball. This definitely gives a truer roll and has appeared, as far as my game is concerned, to help no end with the distance control.

Do I recommend it?

Yes. I do. It surprised me. I really didn’t want to like it, based on my initial impressions, but it won me over. I think it is a quality product that will appeal to all levels in the game, from high handicappers like myself all the way up to scratch golfers looking for that extra little edge.

And.. just to show a little more love ElmerGolf have decided to give all the members at GolfBalled.com a bonus discount of 10%. Just enter the code GBAllz at the checkout.