Mizuno Golf Putters

Mizuno has teamed up with well-known putter designer Bob Bettinardi who has created several lines of putters that will appeal to golfers who prefer a traditional look, although Bettinardi has added modern design techniques and materials. The two product lines are called the Black Carbon series and C Series, and both of these will be described in this article.

Black Carbon Series

This product line is the latest offered by Mizuno, and it is made up of 3 different putter

models. Common characteristics of all three are milled putter heads of one piece carbon steel, and a black finish which cuts down glare. In addition, a new milled face design has been incorporated which reduces the contact area of the ball by 70%, and which offers a softer feel at impact. This face design is not a separate insert but is milled into the putter head. The BC1 model is an offshoot of the old Ping Anser design with weighted heel and toe and an open center cavity. The BC1 has rounded heel and toe sections on the rear flange and an over-the-hosel plumber’s neck. This means that there is no offset on the putter. The BC2 has a round rocker style back flange with more weight in the heel and toe sections. This putter has a standard plumber’s neck with offset. The BC3 model is a mallet style putter. Once again the back flange is rounded and the weight is concentrated in the heel and toe sections to provide a higher MOI, or moment of inertia, and this configuration offers more forgiveness on off center hits. The back cavity is open and the flange is relatively thin.

C-Series

The C-Series is once again a line of traditionally styled putters and is made up of 6 models. All these putters are plated and have what is called a satin pearl finish, and they all sport Bettinardi’s Honeycomb Face, a patented milled design conceived to offer better feel and consistency at impact. The C-Series putters all have more weight in the heel and toe areas and open cavity areas behind the putter impact area. The C01 model has rounded edges on the rear flange similar to the BC1 described above. A unique feature is a slightly longer plumber’s neck hosel. The C02 also is rounded on the rear flange and has a standard plumber’s neck, although this is set at a slightly different angle from what is considered standard. The C03 has squared off edges on the trailing flange and comes with a standard plumber’s neck. The C04 has a rounded rocker shaped back flange, and it has an over the hosel plumber’s neck which means the shaft has no offset. The C05 is a heel and toe weighed mallet style putter with an open cavity area behind the impact area. The rear flange is thin, similar to that of the BC3. The C06 is another traditional heel and toe weighted putter, and its shaft connects directly to the putter head. All the putters come with a standard lie angle of 71 degrees, and the C01-C04 have 4 degrees of loft, while the C05 and C06 have 3 degrees of loft. Only the C03 and C05 models are available for left handed golfers. The C01-C04 are available on the Golfsmith web site at a retail price of $229.99.

Mizuno golf putters do not come in the more modern mallet type designs with large rings around the back, for example, but for the golfer who is partial to classic styles, these clubs might be an excellent choice. Berrinardi clearly has an eye for creating putters that have a distinctive look even though he is working from classic designs. His name is on each of the models described.