REVIEW: Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT Premier Putters
Read our review of the new Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters.
The new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters by Cleveland Golf.
Cleveland Golf has announced two new upgrades to their budget-friendly Huntington Beach putter lines: the SOFT and SOFT Premier series. I’ve had the chance to play with the Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putter for about a month, and am very impressed with its build, look and performance.
Cleveland huntington Beach putters Background and Tech
When Cleveland Golf introduced their Huntington Beach putter series a few years ago, the concept was simple: make the highest performing putter possible without having consumers break the bank. The result was a fantastic putter series that felt and performed like a premium product while remaining under $150.
Fast-forward to this new release, Cleveland has done it again with their new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters. This time, the main focus in the design was the unique putter strokes of consumers.
“The Huntington Beach SOFT Premier builds upon the success of our current putter lineup,” said Brian Schielke, Marketing Director at Cleveland Golf. “With new head shapes, sleek designs, and a fitting system for every stroke type, we have a putter that will help any golfer improve their performance on the greens.”
Cleveland understands that players with a slight arc in their putting stroke differ from those who prefer straight back-and-through. Struck putts will behave differently in terms of aim and roll, negating any belief that one-size-fits-all in terms of putter type.
The grip is also a critical aspect of any putter, and can be a very personal thing for the player. The sheer number of different hand positions players trust to while putting can be staggering, making the foundation of the grip extremely important. The inclusion of two Lamkin grip types — the SINKFIT Skinny Pistol and larger SINKFIT Pistol — to match a specific putter stroke tendency addresses this dynamic head on. For example, players with a slight arc in their stroke will prefer the Skinny Pistol, whereas straight-back-and-through strokes will benefit more from the thicker Pistol model.
Additional highlights in the new putter series include:
Gray Satin Finish: Sleek, Gray Satin PVD finish delivers a premium appearance and instills a sense of confidence.
Speed Optimized Face Technology: Ensuring consistent speed control and distance performance, Cleveland’s proprietary Speed Optimized Face Technology normalizes ball speed across the entire face of the putter, even on off-center putts.
Putting Fit System: With two different grip options, the new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier offers a precise fit depending on your stroke type and model preference.
Precision Milled Face: A unique diamond CNC milling pattern increases friction for a pure roll and softer feel at impact.
Performance and First Impressions
At first look, the new Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT putters are attractive in their muted grey color and minimalist, modern graphics. There’s nothing distracting or overly “busy” in their design, which is preferred by many players. Available in eight new tour-proven shapes, you are sure to find a model that suits your eye.
Of the entire line, my preferred model is the SOFT Premier 10.5; a hybrid mallet head that’s a bit heavier than my current gamer but feels great throughout the putting stroke. The heavier, thicker Lamkin SKINFIT Pistol grip offers the perfect amount of counterbalance, especially since I normally grip down on most standard length putters. (For context, my gamer putter is 31” due to my normal putting stance and arm length.)
At impact, the SOFT Premier provides muted feedback that feels solid and quiet. While previous Huntington Beach models felt “softer” at impact, the SOFT Premier cannot be classified as being “hard” or loud in any way. Some players may prefer a ping-like sound when a putt is struck, and if you do, this might not be the putter for you.
Despite not being fit to the putter I reviewed, the feel and performance was nonetheless impressive. Putts rolled true with what appeared to be minimal skid thanks to the CNC milling face pattern, and distance control was a breeze thanks to the counterbalanced weight in the putter. An afternoon on the practice green helped me adapt to the putter’s weight and fit, which I was able to carry over to the course with no problem.
Having played 36 holes with the SOFT Premier in my bag, I can honestly say I am seriously considering making it my permanent putter. It feels great, and the number of mid-length putts I made was significant. It will be interesting to see if early success with this putter is sustained, but first impressions with the SOFT Premier have been extremely positive.
Price and Availability
Perhaps the biggest differentiator for most players will be price, which the Huntington Beach putters continue to impress.
The Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters are available for $159.99 MAP, while the new models of Huntington Beach SOFT putters are available for $129.99 MAP. Personalization is available for both models featuring 16 unique color selections and four different color fill areas for an additional $10.
Official launch date of all new models is Friday, August 21, 2020.
Cleveland Golf Announces Frontline Putters
The new Cleveland Golf Frontline putter series offers a different take on weighting and forgiveness in an area of your game where you need it most.
Cleveland Golf is well known for being industry leaders in short game tech, and their newly announced Frontline putter series fits that billing. Featuring new takes on MOI weighting in familiar mallet and blade designs — along with a $199.99 price tag — the Cleveland Frontline putters hope to make a big splash in a saturated putter market.
There is no shortage of putter options in the market today. Most golfers will immediately think of “well known” brand names when researching new putter options for their game, often overlooking a brand like Cleveland in this space. The new Frontline putter series will force golfers to adjust this perception thanks to a different spin on forgiveness.
“We are very excited about Frontline because it is a completely new approach to putter design,” said Jacob Lambeth, Research and Development Engineer at Cleveland Golf. “By pairing an extreme center of gravity with an improved speed optimized face, we’ve designed a putter that uniquely maximizes directional and speed consistency. Combined with slick black cosmetics, great shapes and hosel options for different stroke types, Frontline really is the whole package.”
No matter how pure your stroke is, chances are you will miss the center of the putter face from time to time. Amateurs do it, pros do it, and to think differently would be a mistake. We could all use help in this arena, and Cleveland addresses this need head-on with Frontline.
Key Innovations Inside Frontline, direct from Cleveland Golf:
Forward Weights: With Tungsten Forward Weighting and the center of gravity positioned closer to the face, Frontline provides better stability through impact for straighter, more accurate putts.
Speed Optimized Face Technology: Cleveland’s proprietary Speed Optimized Face Technology normalizes ball speed across the face, ensuring consistent distance performance on all your putts.
2135 Technology: Featured on the Elevado, Cero and Iso models, achieve perfect alignment on every putt, regardless of where your eyes are at address.
Additional Hosel Configurations: Find a superior fit with two different hosel configurations to suit every player’s stroke types.
The Frontline putter series will be available in three stock lengths (33”, 34”, 35”) and in four different head shapes, including one blade and three mallet varieties. All models launch on September 13, 2019.
REVIEW: Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach 2 Putter
Cleveland Golf has released three new models for their popular Huntington Beach Collection, my favorite of which being the Huntington Beach 2. Read my review here.
Earlier this year Cleveland Golf announced they would be adding three additional putter models to their super-popular Huntington Beach Collection, bringing the total to nine. My personal favorite of the new group -- the Huntington Beach 2 -- is a sleek, classic half-mallet design that is an absolute joy to use.
Background
Originally launched in September 2016, the Huntington Beach collection included three putter styles: the 1, 4 and 6 models. I bagged the Huntington Beach 6 for a good portion of 2017 thanks to its comfortable feel, confidence-inducing weight and overall performance on the green. I was also astounded that so much performance could be found in a putter that retailed under $100.
In April 2017, three additional models were released in the collection: the 3, 6c, and the 10. Each featured Cleveland's take on tour-favorite styles played be the best in the world and was warmly welcomed by players everywhere.
This latest release -- the 2, 8 and 11 -- focus on head styles that specialize in stroke stability and alignment improvements.
Tech and Feel
Each putter in the series features a precision milled face that has a deep, coarse, diamond-shaped pattern. This promotes an exceptionally soft feel at impact that I absolutely love. I found that this soft feel remained on any putt regardless of golf ball make or model, which is fantastic.
The clubhead in each putter is forged from 304 stainless steel -- a softer metal that is easier to bend for customization. In addition to promoting soft feel, this allows the putter to be fit to a wider range of putting preferences and lie angles.
Performance
I absolutely loved the performance of the Huntington Beach 2 putter I tested.
Featuring a toe-down classic half-mallet blade design, the HB 2 features a single alignment dot and clean look at address. I usually prefer little to no alignment aides as I find them distracting. For whatever reason I have a tendency to doubt my read when standing over the putt and attempt to "line up" the aim point. Conversely, the HB 2 style was incredibly comfortable at address and instilled a sense of confidence.
While wider in comparison to another favorite putter -- the Wilson 8802 -- the HB 2 is still more slender in comparison to other popular putter styles. I never want to feel like I'm putting with a shovel or hubcap, and this putter is definitely not in that realm.
Putts rolled true and seemed to have limited skid after impact. This allowed me to get immediate feedback on whether or not I had struck a good putt, thanks to the line I normally draw on my golf balls. In a part of the game that can be impacted by even the slightest blemish on the putting surface, it is empowering to know the HB 2 will induce a true roll every single time.
Overall Impression
You guys know I love me some Cleveland Golf. I'm not shying away from that anytime soon. The Huntington Beach 2 putter is another example of a product that is simply better than others I've tested.
There are tons of putter options available on the market, many of which that will undoubtedly feel and perform like the HB 2. However, when considering overall performance, feel, build customization, head styles and price, the Huntington Beach Collection is extremely hard to beat.
REVIEW: Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach Collection Putters
The new Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach putter collection are an amazing option for less than $100. Read our review of these fantastic putters here.
The new budget-friendly and incredibly high performing Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach Collection putters are the latest and greatest from a company known for their attention to detail in the short game. I got a firsthand look at these exciting new putters and immediately put one in my golf bag. Not joking, folks. These putters are the real deal.
The putter model I tried -- the Huntington Beach 6 -- is a classic mid-mallet design that features a compact putter head, hefty weight (360 grams) and attractive topline at address. According to Cleveland's description of the collection, these putters are "[i]nspired by the beautiful setting of Cleveland Golf's North America headquarters, these putters feature the classic designs that have been revered for generations with modern innovations that can help any golfer improve their scoring."
After rolling a few putts with this beauty, I can say I am convinced my scores will benefit from the tech in this flatstick.
Each Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach Collection putter features a Precision Milled Face that has a coarse, diamond-shaped milling pattern four times deeper than the previous-generation Classic Collection HB putters. The deeper milling pattern feel at impact while increasing friction for a truer, more consistent roll.
The soft, 304 Stainless Steel delivers a softer feel and is easier to bend for customization. Cleveland Golf's tensile strength testing confirms the 304 Stainless Steel is 51 percent softer than 17-4 Stainless Steel. In addition to enhanced feel, the Huntington Beach Collection can be customized to fit your stroke with an 8º range (+/- 4º) of lie angle bending.
When struck, every putt exudes a muted, soft feel that I adore and look for in any putter I buy. You can barely hear a sound when the ball impacts the putter's face, and the resulting roll is true and pure. You cannot help but have confidence when standing over the ball with these new Huntington Beach putters. They are fantastic.
The best part about these gorgeous putters? They retail for less than $100.
Yep. You read that right. You can bring one of these suckers home for a fraction of the cost of most any other club in your bag.
To learn more about the Huntington Beach putter collection from Cleveland Golf, visit www.clevelandgolf.com.
PREVIEW: Cleveland Golf TFi 2135 Mallet Putters
Check out this preview of the new TFi Mallet putters by Cleveland Golf, set to hit store shelves on September 16, 2016.
CLEVELAND GOLF® is proud to introduce their new TFi® 2135™ Mallet Styles putters. These stylish new flatsticks launch on Friday, September 16, 2016. Four new Cleveland Golf TFi 2135 putter models incorporate 2135 Raised Alignment and the True Feel Innovation (TFi) insert in modern mallet shapes. With 2135 putter technology, the sightline is positioned at the exact center axis of the golf ball – 21.35 millimeters from the ground – to help achieve perfect putting alignment regardless of address position. If your eyes aren’t directly over the golf ball at address, a sightline on the bottom flange can cause misalignment.
The TFi insert features a milled, copper-infused aluminum face over a soft polymer layer to enhance feel. This technology also helps redistribute approximately 90 grams of mass to the perimeter of the putter body, which raises MOI for increased forgiveness and more distance on off-center putter impacts.
Each TFi 2135 mallet putter has a clean design with few distractions to emphasize the raised sightline and focus the golfer’s eyes on alignment.
Three different models – Elevado, Mezzo and Cero – are available in 33”, 34” and 35” length options with a Lamkin® Smooth Pistol grip at a Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) of $159.99. The Elevado is also offered in a Counter Balanced model, which features a heavier putter head (+35 grams) and Lamkin Smooth Pistol Counter Balanced grip (+70 grams) for additional putting stroke stability. The Elevado CB is available in 35” and 38” length options at $199.99 MAP (TFi 2135 Mallet Styles are available in right-hand only).
For golfers who prefer an oversized, paddle-shaped grip with minimal tapering, Cleveland Golf is featuring the WinnPro X 1.32” grip as a standard custom option. This comfortable shape is made with Winn’s tacky Excel polymer material and is designed to reduce wrist movement during the stroke. The WinnPro X 1.32” grip is available at a $10.00 MAP upcharge in TFi 2135 Mallet Styles.
