Gear: Bettinardi BB Series (2022)
Price: $430 each
Specs: Milled 303 stainless steel with PVD finish
Available: March, 2022
Over time, some brands become synonymous with certain types of products. For example, if someone says, “Ferrari,” your mind immediately envisions a cherry red Italian sport can that is not only beautiful to look at but also mind-scramblingly fast.
Say the word “Bettinardi” to golf and images of high-quality milled putters appear. Yes, Bettinradi does high-MOI mallets and multi-material putters, but the company made its mark will milled offers that magnify feel and touch on the greens. They are not only coveted by recreational players, but that also win at the highest level. Jason Kokrak has used a Bettinardi to win three PGA Tour events times over the last year, most recently at the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open in early November.
Now for 2022, Bettinardi is releasing an updated version of one of its most popular putter families, the BB Series.
If you are looking for space-age designs and innovative shapes, you will not find them here. The BB Series is about timeless putter designs that instill confidence to help golfers produce a better roll on the greens.
At the same time, there are three notable changes in the new BB Series. First, Bettinardi has historically made BB Series putters using carbon steel, but this time the four models are milled from a block of 303 stainless steel.
Second, Bettinardi aficionados will notice is that instead of chrome or a silver-toned finish, the 2022 BB Series has been given a dark physical vapor deposition (PVD) finish. The advantage it offers is that it reduces glare and does not corrode after being exposed to water and the elements. According to Bettinardi, it should last for the life of the putter.
Finally, the milling pattern on the face of each BB Series putter has been modified to enhance sound and the feel at impact.
Each of the four BB Series putters comes standard with 3 degrees of loft, a 70-degree lie able and can be purchased in lengths from 32 inches to 36 inches. Each also weighs 350 grams.
The BB-1 is a classic heel-toe weighted blade with a plumber’s neck and a single white alignment line. It has some toe hang, so it should perform well for players who have an arched putting stroke. The BB1 F has the same head shape, but it has been designed with a flow neck that gently curves into the head. The BB-1F has more toe hang, so golfers who make a pronounced arc in their putting stroke may prefer it over the BB-1.
The BB-8W is very similar in shape to the BB-1 putters, but its bumpers are more angular, it has a slightly-shorter blade length and the back flange is wider, so from face to back the putter is larger.
Finally, the BB-46 is a semi-circular compact mallet. It has a single white alignment line, a slightly thicker topline and is face balanced, so it should be ideally suited for golfers who have a straight backswing and through swing.