Carbon Putters (Merged)

Matt J · November 13, 2018

I'm two weeks out from when I paid the invoice I'll keep posting with updates.

Matt J · December 18, 2018

So, I wanted to wait until I could take some time to post some details about my experience with ordering a Carbon. Originally I was going to wait until I had the putter in hand, but I decided today, after receiving two pictures of the finished putter (minus paint fill), that I would go ahead and post Part One as the experience up until the un-boxing. Part Two will come in a couple of weeks after I get a chance to adjust and put it in play.

My Carbon journey began with a phone call with Dan Kurtenbach. Probably in retrospect this was the most important step in the process, as I wanted an original head, and as the product designer his enthusiasm over the phone really inspired me to hammer out an order sheet, amend it, pay the invoice and get the putter going. My idea was formed around the fact that I had given a SC Mid-Slant to a good friend as a present. He was coming from a face-balanced mallet and I had simply watched him push way too many putts as a partner, fellow competitor, friend, and client I wanted to watch him putt better. 30 rounds later I kept watching him use this putter and felt a little jaded that as a lefty I had never even rolled a putt with a slant neck. Dan was, as I mentioned, enthusiastic about designing and milling a special head. After having reached out to a couple of other custom builders, he said the right things and the price was right. Game on.

There was only one or two blips on the radar where I got concerned, especially after reading some pretty negative feedback on WRX, about this project. So, here's the timeline...

October 12th, 2018 - phone conversation

October 14th, 2018 - I send an email to Carbon asking for a quote for the putter

October 30th, 2018 - after no reply for 16 days, I send another email asking if there's a problem. I can only assume the email of the 14th was lost in their spam. This is the first *blip* - not a huge concern for me, but probably should be for them as I was on the fence about whether or not to just let the whole idea go.

I got a quick definitive response with the quote. I created a final punch sheet with my exact order and paid the invoice on October 31st, 2018.

There was a little confusion here, and just in writing this post I think I've traced it back to the fact that there is what seems to be a *auto-response* on the invoice email that says 2-4 weeks of delivery time. I never thought that was realistic, but sought clarification a couple of times and rather than figuring out it was on the invoice, there were excuses made. This is probably one piece of feedback I will give them.

I will say that I made a point of basically following up with them if I didn't hear from them from 7 or 8 days. This is not my nature. I hate over-communication. I would have rather left them to their own time frame, but I didn't feel comfortable about that due to some past feedback I had read online. Generally my requests for updates were met with prompt communication and an update.

November 29th, 2018 - this is where it gets fun! I think my project is pretty unique as it's something they had done in a Right Handed head but never left. I also wanted a few things different than the Right Handed version. So, we had gone back and forth about a few of the dimensions of the neck and settled on something we were both satisfied with how it would work out. So, this was the first concept drawing I received. It was one of five and I was very impressed. Basically, Dan had gotten all the details perfect on the CAD images. So, I immediately gave them the go ahead. Honestly, I was stoked that the design work was done within a month. I thought that was impressive, it just felt less satisfying because of the communication, but that's just the way it goes sometimes.

At this point everything is a go and I'm super excited to see the progress.

December 10th, 2018 - anticipation builds! Carbon doesn't know how happy they make me sending me this photo on the mill!

December 18th, 2018 - today the putter was finished other than paint fill and installing the shaft. No mention of when it will ship, but clearly it will be soon!

So, that's pretty much my experience up until actually receiving the putter. Some of you may have noticed that I started a thread a few weeks back about what's actually fair to expect out of a custom build. I am in a customer service business and have been most of my life, so I understand you're never going to make everyone happy. I would say if I knew how happy I was going to be with the whole deal up until now I probably wouldn't have asked them for an update every week, but I was worried that if it got forgotten I'd end up highly dissatisfied which seemed to be a common story early in their history. Would it have worked out the same way without the constant emails? Who knows? I'd hope so, but won't know unless I order another one. Which is actually pretty likely. To all the lefty's... you might have noticed there were two heads on that billet? That could mean there's a lefty slant neck for sale at Carbon :) Conceptual spec's are 354 gram head weight, with 28 degrees of toe hang from horizontal, mine will be 2 upright with 4 degrees of loft although I'm sure they could bend it to something within reason. I will verify when I receive the putter as I have access to a good scale, vise, and protractor.

Etiger83 · December 18, 2018

Cool putter and that’s actually super quick turnaround for a true custom

Matt J · December 18, 2018

Cool putter and that's actually super quick turnaround for a true custom

Agreed. I think they did a fantastic job!

Past models of Carbons in heavier heads seemed to have been reviewed on occasion as having a sweet spot that wasn't true center on the cavity. That's one thing I plan on testing with this head.

Matt J · December 29, 2018

I had a difficult time understanding why I wasn't getting notified the putter had shipped. With the holidays coming I decided to let it go and see what happened. Got the notice yesterday that it will be here middle of next week. Review forthcoming.

Matt J · December 31, 2018

Putter got here today. Late Xmas and early B'day present to myself.

Everything looks great and it feels divine.

Head weight isn't probably 355 grams. I don't want to pull it at this moment because it all looks and feels so good, but I've had the head out of my Byron Morgan lately and the head is 345 grams and these two are pretty close. It might be 350 grams. I don't care that much as it feels awesome. Finish is better than expected, to be honest. It will probably give it a home bead blast just to take some of the shine out of their 3x but that's okay. I've got a couple of photos of toe hang and top line views I'll post later if anyone is interested.

I have to say, that in this type of deal, product in hand, I feel there was a ton of value. There's no "standard" lefty slant neck, so to have one in hand is pretty special. Maybe Bryon or LaMont would have welded me one, but to have a guy mill it straight out of a piece of steel is pretty awesome.

Edited to add some photos. After some carpet rolls, I think we're going to be fast friends. I'm loving a few things about this stick. The view on the slant neck from over the ball, the deep milled face, and the blank shiny sole are all punching all the buttons right now. I hate to say the only blah thing was that I'm not impressed with the centering of the "carbon" spelled out on the neck. I asked for this engraved in the request, then I decided against it after they didn't force any branding on me and it was an extra, then they asked me about the paint fill but didn't charge me to do it, so rather than say I didn't want it I just said "sure, paint it black." It's just a little off center horizontally which truly doesn't bother me, but I could see some other people being unimpressed. The custom engraving I asked for in the cavity is absolutely perfect.

Edited to add: I think I worked it out with the head weight. It's exactly the same Swing Weight as the DH89 that is 345 grams, same shaft and grip, BUT the Carbon came about a half inch shorter than the DH89. That would work out to 6 grams or so, which would put it at 351 grams only 4 grams short of the target weight. I kind of doubted they would hit the 355 after looking at the CAD file and knowing the engraving, face milling, and finish work would drop some weight.

Photos are Carbon and PING Anser DH toe hang, Carbon and Anser face on, Carbon and DH89 top line, Carbon cavity:

Leftymoose · January 1, 2019

Putter got here today. Late Xmas and early B'day present to myself.

Everything looks great and it feels divine.

Head weight isn't probably 355 grams. I don't want to pull it at this moment because it all looks and feels so good, but I've had the head out of my Byron Morgan lately and the head is 345 grams and these two are pretty close. It might be 350 grams. I don't care that much as it feels awesome. Finish is better than expected, to be honest. It will probably give it a home bead blast just to take some of the shine out of their 3x but that's okay. I've got a couple of photos of toe hang and top line views I'll post later if anyone is interested.

I have to say, that in this type of deal, product in hand, I feel there was a ton of value. There's no "standard" lefty slant neck, so to have one in hand is pretty special. Maybe Bryon or LaMont would have welded me one, but to have a guy mill it straight out of a piece of steel is pretty awesome.

Edited to add some photos. After some carpet rolls, I think we're going to be fast friends. I'm loving a few things about this stick. The view on the slant neck from over the ball, the deep milled face, and the blank shiny sole are all punching all the buttons right now. I hate to say the only blah thing was that I'm not impressed with the centering of the "carbon" spelled out on the neck. I asked for this engraved in the request, then I decided against it after they didn't force any branding on me and it was an extra, then they asked me about the paint fill but didn't charge me to do it, so rather than say I didn't want it I just said "sure, paint it black." It's just a little off center horizontally which truly doesn't bother me, but I could see some other people being unimpressed. The custom engraving I asked for in the cavity is absolutely perfect.

Photos are Carbon and PING Anser DH toe hang, Carbon and Anser face on, Carbon and DH89 top line, Carbon cavity:

Great looking stick

Leftymoose · January 1, 2019

I ordered a 2nd Ringo CS and received mine about a week or so ago. It has a matte finish and a black shaft. It's a very clean looking putter and feels nice to roll just like my first Ringo.

WhereIsDetroit · January 2, 2019

Nice Warren Zevon Edition.

Matt J · January 3, 2019

Nice Warren Zevon Edition.

Good eye. And, thanks!

Dreamer99 · January 3, 2019

I’m looking at ordering a Bandit mallet putter and wondering if the hidden sound slot is worth it. Can anyone make a comment on the difference?

Thanks in advance

Matt J · January 3, 2019

Search sound slots?

Or better yet order a cheap putter with a sound slot off of eBay.

A sound slot intensifies the noise that impact creates. Sound is 99% of feel, so some like the sound slot while others do not. Also, how the slot is created will effect the sound.

My suggestion would be to buy an old Anser or maybe a Ray Cook mallet.

The face milling is going to effect the sound, as will the material (SS vs. carbon).

All of these options are simply to create a preference none is better than the other although I have never used a putter with a sound slot and face milling as they would tend to cancel each other.

Dreamer99 · January 3, 2019

Thanks for the info Matt J. Interesting comment that face milling and a sound slot tend to cancel each other out.

Matt J · January 3, 2019

Deep milling has the least sound, shallow, no milling, then sound slot.

I have two putters with sound slots and would never add one to a custom personally.

I find that the sound is variable and doesn't always indicate distance i.e. sometimes you miss the sweet spot of the slot but still get the same distance of roll out.

arronpercoco · April 23, 2021

Received my prototype carbon ringo GSS today. Communication was great for me via telephone. I spoke with a lady that was super helpful and informative. i called a second time to finalize some details and a gentlemen was equally as helpful. Putter was finished and shipped in a timely manner and you can be the judge of the final product!