Is my putter head bent?

[Stephen1125]

I've been wanting an 001 for a long time. I finally got one at a good price and now that I have it I think this one may be bent. Seems like it would be an easy fix, if it is bent. Or maybe it's not bent and its just the way its designed? Anyhow, I've attached some pictures, please let me know what you think.

 

I noticed the issue first because the putter won't rest square. On the greens I don't notice it much but on my putting mirror or any hard surface it won't sit square. The face sits slightly closed. If you rock the putter back and forth, from heel to toe, it is not a smooth transition either. Rocking the putter as I said causes it to "walk" forward toward the hole. If the putter is resting towards the heel, the face closes, rocking the putter towards the toe brings the heel square to the toe. So everytime you rock it, the toe closes and the heel follows suit. I hope that makes sense? If not, I can try to upload a video of it later.

 

Also, the shaft is tilted forward at address. Every putter I have has a slight rearward tilt to the shaft, then I do a slight forward press that brings the shaft straight up and down. On this putter it is already tilted forward without any kind of forward press.

 

Hope you all can shed some light on this for me. If it is bent, I assume I could just clamp it and bend it back?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TPDawnPatrol]

Put it on a loft/lie machine for starters.

 

The second pic looks odd, almost like the sole has been twisted. That would take a LOT of force if it is the case.

[c0nn0r6]

I agree it looks bent. That's gonna require a lot of heat and force to get back to normal

[mvhoffman]

That looks really abnormal... you may want to call nike and give them the serial number. I'm not going to be a whistle blower, but you may have encountered a fake 001, or a factory flawed one. Email/call, can't hurt

[TPDawnPatrol]

I wonder if it got run over by a golf cart or even a car tire. In any case, it sounds like you got it recently and are not the first owner. I would make arrangements to return it for a full refund. It would cost more to try and fix it than to buy a different used one.

[Stephen1125]

Put it on a loft/lie machine for starters.

 

The second pic looks odd, almost like the sole has been twisted. That would take a LOT of force if it is the case.

That's what I was thinking. I'll see if I can get access to a loft/lie machine. Maybe my local DSGs.

 

I don't understand how it could have gotten bent. Even being run over it seems like a very unlikely way to be bent.

[TPDawnPatrol]

They would also need to confirm flatness of the face. A metal straightedge would work for that. If it is bent as we suspect, it is ruined. Was this an eBay purchase?

[Stephen1125]

If it is bent as we suspect, it is ruined. Was this an eBay purchase?

No, it was purchased on the BST of this site. I'll contact the seller and see what we can work out.

[TPDawnPatrol]

Take a metal ruler or a known straight edge item and lay it across the face straight across heel to toe, top to bottom, and corner to corner. If there is any gap, the putter is toast.

[Stephen1125]

Take a metal ruler or a known straight edge item and lay it across the face straight across heel to toe, top to bottom, and corner to corner. If there is any gap, the putter is toast.

Thanks, I'll check those in the morning and post what I find.

[TPDawnPatrol]

Take a metal ruler or a known straight edge item and lay it across the face straight across heel to toe, top to bottom, and corner to corner. If there is any gap, the putter is toast.

Thanks, I'll check those in the morning and post what I find.

 

Also, I noticed the grip isn't original, what about the shaft?

[Stephen1125]

Take a metal ruler or a known straight edge item and lay it across the face straight across heel to toe, top to bottom, and corner to corner. If there is any gap, the putter is toast.

Thanks, I'll check those in the morning and post what I find.

 

Also, I noticed the grip isn't original, what about the shaft?

It came with a pingman grip when I purchased it. I cut that one off and applied the new grip with my air compressor. There was a Nike sticker on the shaft under the grip when I removed it so I assume the shaft is stock.

[TPDawnPatrol]

Ok that's good

[eddiea54]

I think it got ran over by the UPS truck! Dang, I don't think a golf cart would be heavy enough to cause that...

[mvhoffman]

You know what, I guess the question would be, what has to be done to it to be usable for you if you don't get a refund? That is the real question. So the putter has character, that's a start... where do you go from there?

[Pigems]

You know what, I guess the question would be, what has to be done to it to be usable for you if you don't get a refund? That is the real question. So the putter has character, that's a start... where do you go from there?

 

It didn't come as advertised obviously, I'm sure he didn't knowingly buy a bent up putter.

[Hot Rod 71]

The sole looks twisted in the second photo. I would contact the seller.

 

Its likely the seller didn't realize the putter was bent/damaged, just that he couldn't sink a putt with it.

 

Also, as mentioned....call Nike. Although not likely, it could have come from the factory that way.

 

Op, when you sole the putter does it naturally want to sit open or closed, or does it seem to sit neutral?

[eddiea54]

Just take your grinder and Shave it down till it looks normal again. :)

 

I kid

[Stephen1125]

The sole looks twisted in the second photo. I would contact the seller.

 

Its likely the seller didn't realize the putter was bent/damaged, just that he couldn't sink a putt with it.

 

Also, as mentioned....call Nike. Although not likely, it could have come from the factory that way.

 

Op, when you sole the putter does it naturally want to sit open or closed, or does it seem to sit neutral?

When I sole the putter naturally it sits closed. I can hold it square and lower the head until it touches the ground. As soon the head touches the ground the toe turns in, closing the face. The sole of the putter is definitely not flat.

[TPDawnPatrol]

Did you have a chance to check the flatness of the face? Based on the pics you've provided, I would expect the edge of a ruler from high toe corner to low heel corner might reveal a gap in the middle of the face, and a ruler from low toe corner to high heel corner might be high centering on the middle of the face.

 

Regardless of whether the face is flat or not, if there is some tweak to the head geometry, that is NOT an easy fix, and I doubt anyone would even try to fix it, because the cost would certainly exceed what you might have paid for the putter.

[Stephen1125]

Did you have a chance to check the flatness of the face? Based on the pics you've provided, I would expect the edge of a ruler from high toe corner to low heel corner might reveal a gap in the middle of the face, and a ruler from low toe corner to high heel corner might be high centering on the middle of the face.

 

Regardless of whether the face is flat or not, if there is some tweak to the head geometry, that is NOT an easy fix, and I doubt anyone would even try to fix it, because the cost would certainly exceed what you might have paid for the putter.

The only thing I had around the house was a wooden yard stick. I checked the face using the side of the wooden yard stick. I couldn't see any gaps at all. I can't guarantee how straight the edge of the yard stick are but they appeared to be straight.

I wasn't able to go by DSGs yesterday. I plan to do that this morning to try and get the loft/lie checked.

I'm also going to call Nike today to see if they can do anything.

[mvhoffman]

you know, depending on what happens with nike and at DSG, it would be an uptaking, but I bet Slighter would have an idea on repair/fix. I would recommend contacting him and see what he thinks.

[Stephen1125]

https://vimeo.com/158479874

[Stephen1125]

Just left Dick's. Putter measured 68.5* lie and 3.5* Loft. I found the stock numbers online. It's said to be 2* Loft and 71* lie. I had the Dick's guy adjust it back to 2* Loft and 70* Lie (what I needed)

 

At address the shaft angle looks much better now. The head still appears twisted at the toe and the Dick's guy agreed something is not right. I plan to call Nike this afternoon. I'll let you know what they say.

[TPDawnPatrol]

Just left Dick's. Putter measured 68.5* lie and 3.5* Loft. I found the stock numbers online. It's said to be 2* Loft and 71* lie. I had the Dick's guy adjust it back to 2* Loft and 70* Lie (what I needed)

 

At address the shaft angle looks much better now. The head still appears twisted at the toe and the Dick's guy agreed something is not right. I plan to call Nike this afternoon. I'll let you know what they say.

 

Good luck with Nike, I cannot imagine this is a manufacturing defect, which is the only condition under which they might do something for you. And since the loft and lie have been modified, likely aftermarket, I doubt any warranty would still apply anyway.

 

Has the seller offered any info? Did you have a chance to check the flatness of the face?

[Stephen1125]

Just left Dick's. Putter measured 68.5* lie and 3.5* Loft. I found the stock numbers online. It's said to be 2* Loft and 71* lie. I had the Dick's guy adjust it back to 2* Loft and 70* Lie (what I needed)

 

At address the shaft angle looks much better now. The head still appears twisted at the toe and the Dick's guy agreed something is not right. I plan to call Nike this afternoon. I'll let you know what they say.

 

Good luck with Nike, I cannot imagine this is a manufacturing defect, which is the only condition under which they might do something for you. And since the loft and lie have been modified, likely aftermarket, I doubt any warranty would still apply anyway.

 

Has the seller offered any info? Did you have a chance to check the flatness of the face?

Yes, it's a few post up. But I couldn't see any issues with the face. I only had a wooden yard stick to check with but couldn't see any gaps or anything. I checked at almost every angle i could. Bought a metal straight edge a few minutes ago. When I get home I'll check again.

[c5bubblechaser]

Umm yeah that's def bent

[TPDawnPatrol]

Just left Dick's. Putter measured 68.5* lie and 3.5* Loft. I found the stock numbers online. It's said to be 2* Loft and 71* lie. I had the Dick's guy adjust it back to 2* Loft and 70* Lie (what I needed)

 

At address the shaft angle looks much better now. The head still appears twisted at the toe and the Dick's guy agreed something is not right. I plan to call Nike this afternoon. I'll let you know what they say.

 

Good luck with Nike, I cannot imagine this is a manufacturing defect, which is the only condition under which they might do something for you. And since the loft and lie have been modified, likely aftermarket, I doubt any warranty would still apply anyway.

 

Has the seller offered any info? Did you have a chance to check the flatness of the face?

 

Sorry, missed that, so it appears just the toe end of the sole is tweaked without affecting the face.

 

Let us know how things go with Nike. It's hard for me to believe they will do anything, at least not without seeing it which would mean you need to pay to send it in or take it to a dealer who will do it for you.

[Stephen1125]

Spoke with nike tonight. They have been extremely helpful so far.

They requested pictures and I sent them in. They're going to contact me tomorrow once one of their managers looks at it"

[TPDawnPatrol]

That's good, let's hope for the best!