By ED TRAVIS
We all are partial to certain manufacturers based on our experience with their clubs and Cleveland Golf’s Huntington Beach family of putters for me falls in that category. The look, the feel and the price of $100 were all deciders.
As often happens though makers find ways to improve and Cleveland’s latest, the Huntington Beach SOFT, offer an updating on the previous model.
SOFT comes from “Speed Optimized Face Technology,” a clever play on words but the goal was to give consistent distance when impact was in the center of the face as well as towards the toe or heel. Distance control, far more than line, is the key to putting so building one that accomplishes that is a winner.
Each of the six SOFT models have the center of gravity directly behind the contact point of the putter face but the real difference is the Speed Optimized Face Technology which provides more consistent ball speed across the face. The uniqueness comes from adjusting the CNC milling pattern for each of the models as changes of the head shape change the CG and MOI or resistance to twisting.
Higher MOI SOFTs like the mallets have gradual milling variation from toe to center to heel while the lower MOI blades the variations are more rapid. Couple this with heads manufactured from 304 stainless steel which is 51% softer than 17-4 stainless steel and a confidence-inspiring feel is created.
All the Cleveland SOFT models will go on sale this week and each is priced at $129.99.
Cleveland SOFT
