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Turf Point Lab Yakima, Washington

Putter

If the head bottoms behind the ball, the first hop is a lie

We run a firmer indoor strip than a carpeted lounge. Skid length after contact tells us whether loft at impact was real or borrowed from a scoop. Low-point still applies — a putter is a very short iron that never gets to blame bounce.

What we mark

Contact on the face (heel, center, toe) and whether the sole kissed the strip behind, under, or after the ball. A rear kiss usually means the handle leaked backward through impact. A clean strip with a high first hop usually means loft was added by the hands.

Length and lie move both marks. Face insert stories do not. We will let you try a mallet if the blade’s low-point cannot be tamed, not because mallet is this year’s shape.

Dust Read is enough for most putters. Orchard Bag includes the strip at the end, when your hands are honest.

Hold a putter plate