As tested: Piretti Cortino putter, headweight 360 grams, True Temper putter shaft, Lamkin grip
PROS: Softer than Country-Crock in the microwave, classic styling, heavy weighting, lower-than-normal loft ensures a true roll off the face
CONS: A little pricey for a smaller manufacturer, some golfers find the weight to be too much
OVERALL: Worth a roll if you're looking for a conversation starter that can actually sink putts
From the blog:
Not just another Anser clone, the Piretti line of putters is from a surprisingly small Houston outfit that has every intention of running with the big boys...and they have the talent to do so. I met these guys at the AT&T Championship in San Antonio last October, and it was all I could do to get a word in with Mike Johnson, President of Piretti. The Champions Tour players were walking off left and right with his creations, and it was immediately evident that Mike couldn't have been happier. However, he gave me his full attention on the putting green when I asked if I could roll a putter. Because I love the Anser style, and I was playing a Scotty Cameron California Monterey at the time, Mike suggested I try the yet-to-be-released Cortina. The rest is outlined below...
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| Just another Anser clone? Think again... |
Address:
There isn't much to say about the address of this stick and, for once, that's a good thing. I was immediately put at ease when I put a ball down. It's a classic style, plain and simple.
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| Address |
Feel:
From the instant you pick a Piretti up, the weight is evident. It's heavy -- my model is 365 grams, almost 30 grams over normal retail putters. The reasoning for the weight is sound - a heavier putter smoothes out an imperfect stroke. It also allows for a more natural stroke on slower greens and uphill putts. One drawback: on greens I play at my club (ranging from 9 to 11 on the stimpmeter), downhill putts can really get out of hand. There is a learning curve, but its not that big of a hinderance. Once you get past the weight, the next thing you notice is that putts come off the face with very little hop - even long lag putts come off smooth and true. The reason is because Piretti employs a far lower loft than other putter manufacturers. Unless its been to a shop, any Scotty or Bettinardi you've played has 4* of loft. At that loft, a well struck putt may actually come off the green for a short time, possibly leading to a poor putt or a modified line than originally intended. Piretti goes with 2.5* of loft out of the box, and I noticed right away that my putts rolled truer, and started out on the line that I intended them to be on.
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| Sole |
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| Deep Face Milling |
Overall:
It is strikingly evident from the instant you set your grip on a Piretti that you're handling a quality flat-stick. The depth of knowledge these guys have, coupled with the incredible enthusiasm they have for design-enhanced function is a breath of fresh air among the faceless and personality-free assembly lines that so many other "premium" putters are born from. If you're looking for Tour treatment, endless customization and a putter that may never leave your bag, look up Piretti Golf.
