There is a lot to like looking at this putter. Just like when the Versa design first came out in 2013, the black and white contrast really squares off the putter. There are so many straight lines and different ways to get the putter aligned at your target it almost seems impossible not to.
The White Hot face is something we now all trust to be excellent, and the weight ports on the sole near the face are new technology to bring the centre of gravity closer to the face. I don’t typically reach for a mallet putter in the pro shop but I am very interested to test this one.
To say I like blade putters would be an extreme understatement. I have a nice collection growing at home, and I even have a Ping Zing putter that’s over 20 years old that sometimes comes out for a spin went the greens are really smooth.
I do have high standards for a blade, and I know exactly what I’m looking for in a putter, so getting my hands on Cleveland’s new HB Soft Milled 4 putter was quite exciting. I put it straight into the bag and have used it for four rounds of golf now, so it’s had a thorough testing.
The first thing I had to do was change the headcover. Cleveland’s was velcro and just didn’t match the quality of the putter at all. I know this isn’t a headcover review and likely not important to many players, but it feels important to note. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
The big story with the new HB Soft Milled line is the precision design and build. Cleveland are trying to make the production process more efficient, so are only milling the face and back of the putter, which reduces waste and cost, so that savings can then be passed to the golfer.
The face milling pattern is a specific design that is closer together in the centre and gets progressively wider away from the centre, is designed to equalize ball speed for good and bad strikes. As blades are generally less forgiving than a mallet, this is great news.
We’ve all been there when you hit a 40-footer from the toe, and you still have 10ft left; the new milling aims to stop this from happening. Consistent ball speed across the face is exactly what we want from a putter.
My experience testing this putter is a wonderful one. I don’t know if it’s just because an increase in form has coincided with getting this in my hands, but I’ve been using it pretty well.
I find it really easy to line up with the edges of the putter being so straight and square, so my short putting has been pretty reliable. I also find that the putter feels really well-balanced. The weight of the head somehow feels perfectly matched up with the weight of the shaft and grip, and it just swings really well.
Because of the putter’s balance, and the new milling design on the face of the putter, my lag putting has also been really good. The ball reacts really well from the face and rolls well very quickly which is exactly what we are after.
Something I really like about the Cleveland HB Soft Milled 4 is that there are some pretty good custom options available which aren’t that common in putters. You can upgrade the shaft for a UST Mamiya graphite which is stronger and flexes less in the stroke, improving your lag putting consistency.
You also get a choice of grips, both Golf Pride Pro Only grips but one slightly thinner than the other. These are supposed to either compliment your arcing stroke or more straight back straight through stroke. I’m not sure how much I believe that the grip is anything more than a personal preference, but it’s great to have the option.
Cleveland say that this putter head shape is designed for a player with a slight arc stroke. I have never particularly bought into the idea that one putter head will suit one type of stroke, but I do understand the points they make. This is a great putter, and I think you shouldn’t be put off trying or using it just because you may not have a slight arc.
This is a blade you should get out and try. I really like it, and it is staying in my bag for the foreseeable future and maybe for the whole season. Having it in my hands gives me confidence on the greens and I can’t look much past that.
Odyssey White Hot Versa Twelve putter review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £279 / $259.99
Shaft lengths: 32 – 37 inches
More information: Odyssey White Hot Versa Twelve Putter UK / Odyssey White Hot Versa Twelve Putter US
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