The Ping G5i Putter was the 2006 Golf Digest Hot List Editor’s Choice in the Blade Putter Category and won again in 2007. Two years in a row—it has to be good, right?

I’ve tried this one in a local pro shop, and I think that it has a very nice feel. Accuracy was good, too. But the part I liked best was the grip. Best feeling grips I’ve ever felt.

The putter has an insert that surrounds a hard urethane middle with a softer perimeter for better feel. They also claim it has a better sound, but as long time readers know, I’m quite deaf, and can’t tell you a thing about that.

The design also is different from previous blade models. There are thru-holes and sole cavities to redistribute the weight and improve the moment of inertia (resistance to twisting). There’s also a new alignment system on the top rail that has been described as crescent shaped, a piece of metal that curves outward toward the ball. The back, which you can’t see in the photo, has a flat blue crescent shaped area to further help you align things.

Ping established its reputation with its putters, and I think they continue to maintain that one here.

Odyssey’s new SRT Tri-Ball putter uses a high-density alloy ring to move the center of gravity deep and back from the face of the putter. The high moment of intertia with this design helps you move the putter straight back, and straight through. The putter also takes the 2-ball alignment system one better by creating a three ball alignment system (a two ball system will be available later this spring).

I don’t think there’s been a more imitated idea in putter design than the two ball alignment system. Go to any golf show with a lot of independent golf club makers and you will find dozens of imitation two ball clubs.

The design, however, isn’t entirely original. Golfsmith had the Snake Eyes Strikeline ML with an orbital ring two years ago. I have played that putter for some time and think that its wonderful. You can find a review here.

Like the rest of the successful White Steel product line, the White Steel Tri-Ball SRT Putter face features Dual Insert Technology, which combines a modified White Hot(R) urethane insert with a milled stainless steel insert for the precision and accuracy of steel with the feel and distance control of urethane.

The new White Steel Tri-Ball SRT Putter is face balanced, has a half-shaft offset and is available in both right-and left-handed models in 33-, 34-, 35- and 36-inch lengths. It will be available at retail February 1, 2006 with an MSRP of $249.

You can get it at Golfsmith.

Harrods is offering a solid platinum putter for a mere $28,220.

I can’t even imagine having the kind of money where this would seem like a good idea.

A 140-year-old Philp Longnose putter was sold at an auction in Edinburgh last week for seventy thousand pounds sterling ... that’s more than $123,000 dollars.

Time to check the shed.

Callaway Golf offers its Odyssey White Hot Putters emblazoned with the logo of your favorite major league team. Mine would have to be the Baltimore Orioles.

Callaway Golf Baltimore Orioles Odyssey White Hot Putter

Callaway Golf Boston Red Sox Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball Putter

Callaway Golf New York Yankees Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball Putter

You can get any major league team at Buy dot Com