I get many odd golf equipment submissions for review. Many of these submissions may have new designs or technologies, but their true usefulness isn’t all that great. When I initially opened the box with the Axis 1 Putter inside, I thought I’d received yet another not-so-useful piece of gear. I was wrong.
Axis 1 Overview
The Axis 1 Putter is obviously a departure from normal putter design. The Axis putter is precisely designed to put the absolute center of the club’s weighting on the sweet spot. This is done primarily by moving the weight of the putter’s heel forward of the club face.
When I pick up any new putter the first thing I do is see if the putter “wants” to stay square to the target line. My moderately unscientific way of determining that is to place the putter in my address position, then lighten my grip so that the putter head is free to move. I support the shaft just enough to keep it from falling to the ground.
If the putter head moves off line then I know the “default” position the putter wants to be in is not square. If the putter head stays square when I loosen my grip, then the putter wants to be square. I figure if I’m putting and off a little with my stroke, a putter which tends to stay square will help during those times.
The Axis 1 wants to be square.
True Balance
I was just messing around with the Axis and discovered something I’ve never noticed on any other putter. Sometimes you’ll spin the a club in your hands for fun when you are bored. If you do that with any standard putter, it becomes very obvious that the balance of the putter is off center. When you spin it, the putter throws its weight from side to side and the whole club shakes back and forth.
When I spin the Axis 1 putter in my hands the putter is perfectly balanced. There is absolutely no weight shift at all, no shaking or moving from side to side. In other words there’s exactly the same amount of weight on either side of the shaft, and the shaft itself is perfectly centered with the face. It is hard to explain and I hope you get the idea.
Looks and Feel
The initial look of the Axis 1 is hard to get used to. It just doesn’t look like a standard putter or anything you’d be used to visually. But when you get over that initial impression, the putter itself is very beautiful.
The feel of the putter was what won me over instantly, before I even knew about the whole Axis balance concept.
Weights
There are a couple of stainless steel counter weights in the head of the putter which allow you to tweak the weighting. There’s one weight in the toe and one in the heel.
Trust me, no tweaking of the weights is needed.
Face
The face of the Axis 1 is milled like many putter faces these days. The milled grooves start the putt out on a great roll, rather than starting the ball out skidding. This makes the putts roll more true and straight.
For extra added feel (and beauty), there is a copper insert in the club face (pictured).
Shaft
The Axis doesn’t just have an every day shaft either. There are stiffening grooves and a vibration dampening core, making the putter feel very solid.
Winn AVS Grip
I’m a Winn grip fan and the Axis does include a Winn grip. No need to switch grips for me since the Winn AVS grip the Axis comes with is super soft and silky.
Pricing and Availability
There are two Axis putter models to date. The Axis 1 “Eagle” is the model I have and the one in my images here and in the Axis 1 Gallery. The Eagle retails for $325, with a street price around $299.
There’s a limited edition Axis 1 Putter called the Collector’s Series. 100 special putters from Axis are engraved and signed. Retail on the Collector’s Series is $400.
From what I’ve been able to gather, the Axis 1 series is currently available in right hand only. No lefties just yet.
Conclusion
I’ve enjoyed using the Axis on the course. Many of my opponents comment on how odd it looks. As soon as they see my putts dropping and they have to fish into their wallets to pay their losing bets at the end of the round, they’re much more interested in the Axis.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
Hey Tony,
Neat looking putter, but not the first to test this theory. The original Bulls Eye is also center balanced, as it the entire line of Puku putters, pukugolf.com. In a discussion with the CTO of Taylor Made Golf two (or maybe three years ago) at the PGA show he also indicated that they had experimented with center balancing.
The major benefit of center balancing is that the putter head has no biased, thus a putting stroke that arcs, will flow more freely, although there has been very little research to show that this is actually a benefit. It actually seems intuitive that if you were to miss hit a center balanced putter, it would be more likely to exaggerate any twist that may result. Will be interesting to see if this idea is given a rebirth in the mainstream.
Those Puka putters look cool.
I think I have one of the original ones I can send you if you want a closer look.
Hey Tony,
Now that you’ve been playing with the Axis1 for over a month, I was wondering if it’s still in the bag and your latest thoughts on it.
Thanks,
p
My opinions on this putter haven’t changed. It still feels great.
This unit isn’t currently in my bag however. I currently have FOUR putters in my putter review queue so I’m on to the next one! I like to play 5-10 rounds with a club and several practice sessions before I can review it.