TP Mills - Post your Putter

[ngood]

[LionGolfer]

Anyone know the tip sizes for the plumber necks on the current generation Dale GSS putters?

[bennowick]

I acquired a TP Mills handmade - GSS with a welded neck. It was coated in a crappy black finish. Took it to a local machine and sheet metal shop. They stripped it and bead blasted. Love the end product. Reminds me a bit of a platinum finish. 

[ngood]

Sexy. Don’t do a thing to it

[jonradus]

3 hours ago, bennowick said:

I acquired a TP Mills handmade - GSS with a welded neck. It was coated in a crappy black finish. Took it to a local machine and sheet metal shop. They stripped it and bead blasted. Love the end product. Reminds me a bit of a platinum finish. 

That one isn’t carbon?

[sm_watts]

6 hours ago, bennowick said:

I acquired a TP Mills handmade - GSS with a welded neck. It was coated in a crappy black finish. Took it to a local machine and sheet metal shop. They stripped it and bead blasted. Love the end product. Reminds me a bit of a platinum finish. 

Let's throw a magnet on it and find out!  Sorry, living vicariously through your putter purchase.

[bennowick]

13 hours ago, jonradus said:

That one isn’t carbon?

Of course I got some epoxy smudge on the bottom….I emailed David Mills when I got this and he said it was an early version (because of the welded neck) completed by his father. David was also kind enough to send me some shaft bands.

Edited April 29, 2023 by bennowick

[DrJACOB]

I am surprise that you say it was Truett Mills that had completed this putter.   Considering he passed away in 2006 and the weld necks are not unique just to the father's work alone.  It just looks more modern with the GSS and milled face.  Cool Mills handmade at any rate!  Putter talk was really the best reference to T.P. Mills putter history and suck that it no longer available.

KJ 

[bennowick]

23 minutes ago, DrJACOB said:

I am surprise that you say it was Truett Mills that had completed this putter.   Considering he passed away in 2006 and the weld necks are not unique just to the father's work alone.  It just looks more modern with the GSS and milled face.  Cool Mills handmade at any rate!  Putter talk was really the best reference to T.P. Mills putter history and suck that it no longer available.

KJ 

Again. I am no expert, just relaying what David sent me. The neck is a longer and it is almost face balanced. Gonna roll it today. I remember Putter Talk, it was a great site.

[ngood]

Beautiful putter but nothing like his dad ever made. 100 percent David creation.  Roll it well. 

[bennowick]

30 minutes ago, ngood said:

Beautiful putter but nothing like his dad ever made. 100 percent David creation.  Roll it well. 

You guys are all probably correct. Maybe I just misinterpreted the “older” in the email. Either way, pretty good pickup (especially for price paid). Thanks for all your input, I appreciate it.

[ngood]

2 minutes ago, bennowick said:

You guys are all probably correct. Maybe I just misinterpreted the “older” in the email. Either way, pretty good pickup (especially for price paid). Thanks for all your input, I appreciate it.

For Sale?  Love the unfinished look and has me thinking of bead planting one of mine.  Not being a dick about it being a David creation.  Sample of the stuff his dad did.  

[bennowick]

4 minutes ago, ngood said:

For Sale?  Love the unfinished look and has me thinking of bead planting one of mine.  Not being a dick about it being a David creation.  Sample of the stuff his dad did.  

Never would have thought you were being that…I like being educated. I know a lot abiut Scotty’s and Byron’s and a decent amount of Tad. I am a TP amateur.

[rt301]

I’m using my own words here:

 

I remember reading that Truett’s putter faces were always finished  smooth (like a mirror). The reason was, he didn’t consider the job done until the putter was perfect.

 

mill marks weren’t considered cool back then I think 😂

[rt301]

Not sure if people are interested in this and please correct me if I’m wrong but…

 

the first time I saw the softail model was the first professional series line. I think this came out around 2006 ish. 
 

Every custom T.P. Mills putter was a welded neck two piece putter back then (excluding concept pieces and unusual prototypes). David can hide a weld like nobody else if he really wanted to.
 

David didn’t start doing one piece heads until the 1310 line which I believe came out around the end of 2009.

[ngood]

Correct. Truett no milling and David’s early stuff no milling like his dad. Pic a Truett pic b early David

[EVandy]

3 minutes ago, ngood said:

Correct. Truett no milling and David’s early stuff no milling like his dad. Pic a Truett pic b early David

So were those cast?

[ngood]

Good read on here

 

[PopeofTexas]

I’m talking with David about a Dale and still deciding details. What is Swiss German Stainless? I’ve heard of GSS but I’m confused. Switzerland and Germany are different countries. Lol. Is it Swiss sourced but with the makeup of GSS?

[MattM97]

17 minutes ago, PopeofTexas said:

I’m talking with David about a Dale and still deciding details. What is Swiss German Stainless? I’ve heard of GSS but I’m confused. Switzerland and Germany are different countries. Lol. Is it Swiss sourced but with the makeup of GSS?

 

Don't read too much or worry too much about it, pretty much just a stainless steel. Could be sourced from Switzerland but doubt that as cost would be insane. 

 

There is also the Swiss Steel Group in Toronto, Canada so could be from there. 

 

Bottom line just Stainless steel.

[oneaugusta]

I do not subscribe to all stainless being equal. Some are higher quality and some are not made to the same quality levels as others. I have done many custom finishes on SS putters and there are much different results while using the exact process. While I do not know exactly what Swiss German SS is I do know it is high quality, finishes beautifully and feels wonderful. And yes I-own 3 of them.  Here’s my favorite from David and have another on order. 

[MattM97]

As long as the steel is coming from a quality foundry or supplier there shouldn't be much of a worry. The differences will be noticeable in the machining process which we don't do and the finish if there are differences in the metal composition.

 

The sound and feel is all about the putter design and build so everything varies a ton. 

 

Regardless @PopeofTexas it will be a quality putter no matter the steel you pick. 

[PopeofTexas]

@MattM97@oneaugustaThank you gents. I’m going Stainless, don’t want to worry too much with upkeep as this one will be played. 

[MattM97]

17 minutes ago, PopeofTexas said:

@MattM97@oneaugustaThank you gents. I’m going Stainless, don’t want to worry too much with upkeep as this one will be played. 

 

Good choice mine is satin and it got pretty dull, a quick hand polish and buff and it's looking not quite new but nice since it's been played a lot.

[MattM97]

Ok I know it's not a TP Mills but I've always wanted a Fleetwood, probably never going to be made by David since he doesn't have much for LH that I know of so I just had something close to a Fleetwood made for me.

 

I also appreciate all the pics and measurements for me to get this built. I'll share pics here when it's done since it's a tribute to the TP Mills brand as well.

[rt301]

What kind of neck are you thinking ?

[MattM97]

7 hours ago, rt301 said:

What kind of neck are you thinking ?

 

Definitely doing a round flow neck. 

[PopeofTexas]

Picked this up from 2nd Swing. Wanted to try out the flow neck and it’s the first Mills I’ve ever even seen. Don’t know much about it but it sure looks cool!

 

[DrJACOB]

Nice Carbon steel Softail.  The Professional series were done in large batch but then made to be order custom I believe.  The "T" in the cavity mean TIG weld neck and not tour like one might conclude.  Not sure about the TS?  David Mills had his hands on this one.

KJ

P.S.  get some oil on it and maybe a grip 

Edited May 4, 2023 by DrJACOB

[ngood]

Gonna think I’m crazy but when you oil it use some very fine steel wool on the rust spots. Test it on the bottom but has done wonders on some of my old Mills after playing in FL.