Gear: PXG Blackjack putter
Price: $395
Specs: Milled aluminum body with tungsten weights
When it comes to putting, the name of the game is to have good aim, a repeatable stroke and solid distance control. With the release of the new Blackjack mallet, PXG believes it can help golfers improve in all three of those areas.
Looking down at the Blackjack at address, golfers will see a long white alignment line set against a matte black body, making it easier to square the face to the player’s intended path.
By designing the head using a frame made from aerospace-grade aluminum, PXG engineers saved a significant amount of weight. That allowed them to reposition and concentrate more weight in the back heel and toe areas in the form of tungsten bars and in a back section. As a result, the center of gravity is pulled back away from the hitting area, the moment of inertia increases and the Blackjack resists twisting on off-center hits more effectively. That means even a putt struck outside the center of the face has a better chance to roll along the intended target line.
The hitting area is covered with a variable-depth groove pattern that is packed more tightly in the center. According to PXG, packing more shallow grooves in the center and deeper grooves toward the heel and toe normalizes speed off the face to produce better distance control.
Each Blackjack putter has four weight ports in the sole that allow fitters to increase or decrease the swing weight of the club based on its length and a golfer’s preferences. The Blackjack is also available with three hosel configurations (heel-shafted, plumber’s neck, double bend), and an arm-lock version of the putter also is available.