Can a Different Putter Shaft Improve Your Putting?

You may or may not know the name Barney Adams. At the very least, if you’re a golfer, maybe you recognize the last name “Adams”.

That’s “Adams” as in Adams Golf. That’s “Adams” as in the Adams Tight Lies fairway wood. Yeah, it’s that Adams.

Barney Adams, the 1999 Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year, is back at it again, challenging the status-quo of golf equipment. But this time, with putters.

The inventor of the Tight Lies fairway wood has now set his sights on the putter shaft with his new company, Breakthrough Golf Technology, or BGT.

Adams and his team of engineers have developed what they call the Stability Shaft. It uses a multi-material approach along with different geometries. The result is a shaft that looks significantly different and is designed to deliver the face more squarely, while producing a lower launch for a more predictable roll, thus resulting in better distance control.

Oscillation measured using the Stability shaft.

Oscillation measured using a typical steel shaft.

Which is a lot of technical jargon that doesn’t real mean much to you or me…okay, mostly just me.

So what really makes this shaft different than your every day, run of the mill, steel putter shaft?

That’s exactly what I asked (among other things) the man himself, Mr. Barney Adams.

KM: How long has this shaft been in development and how many variations or versions did you go through before realizing this was the shaft you wanted to build?

BA: The Stability putter was in development for three-plus years and BGT tested over 12 iterations. It was extensively tested with state-of-the-art measurement platforms on a wide variety of putter brands, models, and styles, using both humans and putting robots.

KM: What really makes this shaft different than your every day, run of the mill, steel putter shaft?

BA: The Stability putter shaft will oscillate and twist significantly less. The Stability design was extremely challenging; invent a shaft that had the same weight as a traditional steel putter shaft but without being too stiff, heavy or having a deadened feel.  It also had to mitigate unwanted flex and twist.

KM: The next thing I noticed, when hitting balls on the practice green, I could really feel the impact in my hands differently than when it had the steel shaft. Why?

BA: What your feeling is the absence of vibration. The universal comment from the Tour is “ solid.” 

KM: Something else that happened when I first started putting with the new shaft, I was struggling a little with pace (it’s better now). Is that a temporary bi-product from the improved, more predictable action off the face of the putter?

BA: You will get more consistent roll out.

KM: Is there any consideration to implement what you’ve learned and this technology into other club shafts in the future?

BA: Yes, it’s being analyzed.

Here’s a drill for you, take a 10’ then a 30’ putt. Hit one center of the face then one extreme toe and one extreme heel and try for the same amount of force on each. Then note the distances.

Now, how would one go about getting a putter re-shafted?

What I had to do was actually send in my putter to BGT to get it done. Which, I’m not going to lie, I was quite hesitant about. I mean, I’m in the middle of my golf season! But I was assured it would take a few days and no longer than a week. But, there have been recent developments for BGT when it comes to re-shafting options and availability. More on that later.

One of the nice things about sending in my putter was BGT supplied a box and shipping label for me. So on the following Monday (after my Sunday round, naturally), I boxed up my putter, stuck the provided shipping label on the box, and off it went. And sure enough, my putter was back to me by the end of the week and ready to go back into the bag.

My first impression after pulling my “new” putter out of the box was I could immediately feel the head of the putter way better. Obviously, the putter head hadn’t gained weight since I’d last seen it, so this was clearly an effect of the shaft and its repositioned weight within it.

Naturally, this made me want to get to a practice green as soon as possible and give it a good testing.

Just as with felt like a heavier putter head, rolling balls with the putter was immediately convincing. The feel of the ball off the putter face was vastly improved. I can’t really explain the how or why, but it just felt better.

That being said, it did take a round or two to get used to the new feel of the putter. I was almost always on the intended line but my pace was suffering, both long and short. However, after a few rounds I’m putting confidently and with much more feel on the greens.

Now, recently Breakthrough Golf Technology has landed distribution agreements with both GolfTec and Club Champion. This is good news for you. Now, unlike me, you can go see, touch, feel, and, most importantly, test one of BGT’s new shafts.

I know for me, seeing (and feeling) was very believing.