Golf Club Review

The Xeon Centre Putter is made by Pinemeadow Golf and follows the Yes Golf® C-Groove Putters which retails from $139 up. It is a blade-style putter that weighs in at a heavy 350 grams, has a standard lie of 72 degrees and comes with an offset hosel to assist the putting set-up. The main feature of this putter are the concentric grooves that are supposed to help you to put more accurately - hype or reality?
 
How does it work
 
Who hasn't been there: you putt the ball, and the putter's impact causes the ball to hop, skid, slide and maybe even back spin before the ball begins to roll on the green. For players of all levels, beginners or pros, these effects are the most frequent causes of missed putts. The solution is to induce the forward rolling motion immediately upon striking the ball, and the concentric grooves on the Xeon Centre Putter promise just that. The idea is that, upon impact with the golf ball, the concentric edges on the putter face grip the surface of the golf ball. By applying friction forces the putter simultaneously lifts the ball out of its resting position and initiates an over-the-top rolling action.
 
According to Yes Golf® (which initiated this development) these results have been proven using a computer controlled putting robot and high-speed cameras. Over a 20 foot putt, the Yes Golf® C-Groove Series Putter was tested by an independent testing company against several putter models of the major golf companies. In all cases, the C-Groove putter dramatically outperformed the competition. Does it work in real life? Well, Retief Goosen must think so as he won the 2002 US Open with a C-Groove putter.
 
What we think
 
Being more accustomed to a flat faced putter like most of us I could clearly feel the friction when the putter face 'gripped' the ball. It felt almost like a bit of glue was sprayed on the putter face. And yes, it does prevent the ball from hopping when struck a bit hard. Together with the rather heavy weight of the putter it felt like I had lot of control over the ball, especially for short and mid-range putts of up to some 15 feet or so.
 
While the Xeon Centre Putter doesn't have a putting aid is still easy to line up due to the square shape of the head and the offset hosel. For some players who are used to lighter putters it may take some time to get used to the weight of the head, especially for longer putts that require more confidence. The extra control that the concentric grooves provide is especially apparent on faster greens, so for those of you who play during warm and hot weather this club will come in handy.
 
Our verdict
 
This is a great putter that supports true putting. For below $30 this is a cheap way to improve your game, and we think the Xeon Centre Putter is clearly worth the money.

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