My Counter balance double bend Cameron California Monterrey project

[bladehunter]

hey Guys and Gals....thought I would share my counter balance project.....I started with a stock 35 inch scotty Cameron California Monterrey 1.5..... It was always too heavy for my taste and I struggled with it distance control wise... Now before you call me nuts this was a trade of a trade of a trade so I have very little in it... I want/wanted a Newport 2 counter balance but im not paying the price so I built my version from what I had laying around......

 

 

I used the Monterrey of course.....took the head and chopped the neck off (all but last 1/4 inch or so) Took a used heavy double bend shaft and tig welded it to the head (of course a lot of looking and thinking went in before welding ...measure twice cut once) that gave me a 35 inch length.....then I took and welded a 5/16 nut to the end of the shaft and used a 2 1/2 inch ARP stainless 12 point bolt which I put a 60 gram lead sleeve onto and then screwed 1/2 inch into the nut on the end of the shaft...Bingo , shaft extension and weight.... then topped it off with a WInn 17 inch pistol grip which weighs 136 grams...... I took and ground the welds down and sanded and polished the welds smooth ....I just prefer the look to the "welded neck look" ....anyway I haven't been able to use it outside yet but I love...I mean LOVE the way it sets up and it feels so stable...the only thing I may play with is the weights in the head..i built it with the stock 10 gram weights...I may get some 15s and 20s and see what feels best.... Please be gentle...1st putter ive ever chopped up....

[bladehunter]

couple pics at address ....

[Blakester]

I think that looks pretty freakin' sweet. Been thinking about the Dual-Balance Newport, but you are right, way to pricey...

[bladehunter]

thanks... I really like the monterrey high toe head better anyway..never could understand why it wasn't offered with a double bend type shaft like the fastback or Newport 2.7.....

[Blakester]

[quote name='bladehunter' timestamp='1409018507' post='10007827']
thanks... I really like the monterrey high toe head better anyway..never could understand why it wasn't offered with a double bend type shaft like the fastback or Newport 2.7.....
[/quote]

I prefer the high toe as well. Would love a more face-balanced set-up. I've played a Coronado for years but have recently shelved it for the Nike Method 004 for that exact reason.

[bladehunter]

went to the putting green at the course early this am before work...and I am in love! once I got used to the weight ,distance control seems to be very good...everything repeatable!.... May have several putters on the BST this time next week..lol we will see how long the honeymoon lasts

[ProtoVS]

I hate to say this, but I would say not legal, did you measure from sole of putter to first bend, has to be 5" or not legal. Looks awesome though.

[bladehunter]

really?

[bladehunter]

just read up on it and if im reading it correctly it would be ok...It has a 1st bend just above the top of the putter head...Its slight ..maybe 1/4 shaft offset or less but it does bend.... I guess would depend on definition of "straight" leave it to me to build something illegal....wth....

[jdmorris1980]

http://www.usga.org/rule-books/rules-of-golf/appendix-ii/
From what I'm reading it is fine, the hosel can't be more than 5 inches. Lots of putters use a double bend shaft and are legal.

[bladehunter]

[quote name='ProtoVS' timestamp='1409069359' post='10011263']
I hate to say this, but I would say not legal, did you measure from sole of putter to first bend, has to be 5" or not legal. Looks awesome though.
[/quote]



I think its ok too...but I do appreciate it being mentioned...I had no idea of the rule and would never want to play with something illegal

[ProtoVS]

I hate to say this, but I would say not legal, did you measure from sole of putter to first bend, has to be 5" or not legal. Looks awesome though.

 

 

 

I think its ok too...but I do appreciate it being mentioned...I had no idea of the rule and would never want to play with something illegal

 

Actually its not, trust me, had a buddy who did EXACTLY this and got called out in an AM tournament. I think it is in the Decisions book. Ping (MANY moons ago) had a putter that bent just below the shaft, and it was illegal. Here is the picture explaining it. this applies to bends in a double bend shaft as well as a plumbers neck or slant neck.

Think of it this way, the shaft where it deviates from straight going from GRIP DOWN, cannot be 5 inches above the ground.

[ProtoVS]

Here is the image for the bent shaft, think its from one of the appendixes...

 

[ProtoVS]

Also the reason Tiger's first winning putter from the Disney in 1996 (first tour victory for Tiger) had such a short hosel, it needed to be less than 5" inches from the bottom of the sole.

[bladehunter]

so its 5 inches coming down from the grip? wow... lol as in the first bend coming down from the grip has to be 5 inches or less from the sole? if you knew me in real life youd understand why that's soo funny.... It absolutely makes sense that I would accidently build something out of spec...That's my luck! I built it to fit my eye and of course my eye wanted to be out of bounds....I don't know why this is...anyway I can change it easy enough...and I do appreciate the info... I play in county and state AM tournaments and it would be a nightmare to be called out on something stupid like this..

[ProtoVS]

Yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I bet you putted lights out with it too. with a bend like that in the shaft, the stroke would be really pendulum like. I have done a lot of putter mods for customers and have to be real careful to know the rules for them. Its an easy one to overlook.

[bladehunter]

you said it....its the best putter ive had my hands on bar none... I was pretty proud of myself lol... until I found out it was illegal... wth... I cant win... I traded for a new dual balance Newport yesterday and like it too...but not like the Monterrey......anyway ill probably cut the shaft off and try again...thanks for pointing it out even though im not happy about it...It would have been worse to get DQed for it and not know it was illegal