Method to Their Madness

2009-08-14

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By Steve Pike

The Nike Golf putter that already has won two major championship this year will be  available in limited edition quantities Nov. 1. The "Method'' putter will officially be available to the public Feb. 1, 2010 in four blade styles and one mallet style. Suggested retail price will be $249.99, meaning the putter will likely sell in stores for around $200.

The Method putter features a polymetal groove technology that Nike Golf says "is influential'' in creating a faster forward roll after impact. While most traditional steel faced putters start the ball with backspin causing the ball to initially bounce a little higher, Nike Golf says the polymetal groove technology starts the ball with forward spin to minimize bounce and keep the putts on line.

Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink used the Method putter when they won 2009 U.S. Open and Open Championship, respectively.

Paul Casey, who was the first player to win with the Method putter this year – twice on the PGA European Tour and once on the PGA Tour -- has improved 43 spots in his putts per round ranking.

"You can really feel the difference in how the ball comes off of the face and you can see the difference in how it rolls,'' Casey said.
 
Nike Golf says the Method's flowed-through low-durometer polymetal groove technology  dampens impact vibrations for soft touch, while the interspersed milled steel face maintains audible feedback for proper distance control.

A multi-material face, according to the company, starts the ball on a positive spin that is faster than both a steel putter as well as putters with a polymer face insert.

For increased Moment of Inertia (MOI) and added stability, Nike Golf says the ported polymetal groove technology allows 30 grams of internal weight to be excavated from the face and body and relocated to the perimeter.