SHO-ME, SHOWS OFF

By Roy Love

I had the opportunity to participate in an unofficial putter test conducted by the golf club testing company, Rankmark. 

This was an informal version using the same format that Rankmark uses in tests conducted throughout the country.  Because of the informality, only two people participated.  Peter King, with a 12 handicap and mine at l7. 

A sampling of top of the line putters was selected
Also included in the group was the newly designed Sho-Me Stinger. 

The Sho-Me Stinger certainly has a different look. As you can see below.

The main difference is the flange on the back which slants up at a 45 degree angle.  According to the company's President Tom Maurer, the upright flange moves more weight to the top of the putter’s head, thus creating more over spin.

The putters were placed in two groups.

After hitting all the putters selected, putting both 6 and 12 foot putts, it boiled down to a putt-off between one of the top of the industry putters and the Sho-Me Stinger. 

The putt-off results:
The six foot putt-off resulted in a tie.  In the 12 foot putt-off, the Sho-Me Stinger won by one stroke.

Although winning by one stroke was not a major victory, the important thing was that the Sho-Me Stinger was able to hold its own against the other top putters, some of which retail for more than twice the price.

I particularly liked the 41 inch Sho-Me belly version (not part of the test).  I have tested  several long putters in the past, none of which have excited me. They all felt like you were hitting a croquet mallet with a wooden ball. The 41 inch Sho-Me had more feel than any of the the others.  According to Maurer,the ball gets more over spin due to the high center of gravity created by "perimeter" weighting with brass weights above the ball.  It did roll out better than any of the other long putters that I have hit.  Maurer also said that due to the space age engineered polymer insert, you get more feel when the ball comes off the face.  When hitting short putts it was amazing how the ball rolled to the hole with so little effort. 

Rankmark will soon be giving an official putter test which will include the Sho-Me as well as all the top putters in the golf industry.   It will be interesting to see how Sho-Me “shows up.”

To find out more about the Sho-Me putter click on their Website: http://www.shomeputter.com/

UPDATE
September 23, 2003
Sho-Me putter makes Rankmark's "Best of the Best" in official putter test.

                                                                                                       http://www.rankmark.com/putters.asp