Understanding Bulls Eye Putters

[Mulliganizer]

My friend had a custom bullseye putter and thought it would be fun to have one for around the house/office, but when I went online to look at the prices, the bullseye putter world is ... a confusing one. You have Acushnet, Titleist, Scotty Cameron, LaFemme, all the different stamps on the putters, etc... The exact same putter can go for $10 or $100+ (example: Expensive vs. Cheap ) I've passed up these every time I see them at garage sales/auctions/thrift stores, so I was wondering if there's a way to make sense of it all?

 

[Fellaheen51]

@Mulliganizer. Post #3 in the following offers decoding. Additional general information.Went to an estate sale today, they had 20 Bullsyes if they had one. Bought a couple that I didn't have. A Reuter Pat. Pend. that's pretty nice for its age, and a Mallet I that I've never seen before. Find Bullseye with regularity, the Acushnet ones are usually pretty cheap ($5.00 or less). The $100 ones you're seeing are likely the Titleist Scotty Cameron (SC) varieties. LaFemme was a 33" ladies model.

[golfunderpar18]

Some Info I saved on my iPad as I never remember either . Here you go:

Bulls Eye putters with the John Reuter stamping are the most valuable of all the Bulls Eye putters. Hang on to it. I have a Bulls Eye that I bought in the late 80's and they no longer carried the John Reuter stamping. The John Reuter Bulls Eye is from the original run.

 

Bullseye putters with the "Acushnet" stamps were Titleist putters, just before the Titleist name took over the use of Acushnet. The Pat Pend Bullseye putters are more rare and are pre-Acushnet. The company was sold to Acushnet when it was still manufacturing putters in South Phoenix and it remained there for a time, after the purchase. 

 

STD - Standard 

OS - Old Standard 

O-Set - Offset 

OR - Original 

LB - Light Blade 

HB - Heavy Blade 

LAF - LaFemme 

JR - Junior 

FL - Flange 

LHFL - Left Handed Flange 

LFL - Heel Shafted Flange 

WFL - Wide Flange 

WFL-O - Wide Flange Offset 

HSF - Heel Shafted Flange 

HSF-II - Heel Shafted Flange II 

ML - Mallet 

MLO - Mallet Offset 

MLI - Mallet I 

 

Length:

 

4 - 34" 

5 - 35" 

6 - 36" 

"LaFemme" - 34" 

 

Lie:

 

M - Medium 

U - Upright 

F - Flat 

 

Grip:

 

P - Paddle 

S - Standard 

C - Cord 

#4 curryj 

Here is a listing of the original designs.

Original: Medium weight, rounded toe, flat top. For right or left handers.

Old Standard: Medium weight with square toe and top blade. Sight line

Standard: Medium weight with rounded toe and top.

Light Blade: Like Old Standard but lighter, narrower.

Heavy Blade: Like Old Standard but with heavier, wider blade.

Bulls Eye Junior: Standard blade. 30" shaft. Scaled-down grip dimensions.

Heel Shafted Flange: Medium-heavy weight. Offset hosel. Sweet spot slot for improved feel and alignment.

Heel Shaft Flange II: Like the Heel Shafted Flange but without the Offset.

Wide Flange: Heavy, wide flange for low concentration of weight. Sweet spot slot. Idea. for large or slower greens.

Wide Flange Offset: Same as Wide Flange but offset.

Flange: Medium weight, slightly offset. Single sweet spot sight line.

LaFemme: Light weight for the woman golfer. Rounded toe, top and flange.

Left Handed Flange: Like the Flange but for the one out of every dozen golfers who plays left-handed.

 

[JahSteve]

Amazing info golfunderpar!

 

i was looking for the models and what each's characteristics were... 

[cah588]

The reference chart is fantastic.  Have my grandfather's Bullseye collection and was always curious what the sole stampings meant - a little bit like cereal box decoding.

[topoftheline89]

             I was lucky enough to find a Scotty Cameron bullseye at the goodwill a few months back. It is larger in nature and heavier. It is a great putter. Made my first eagle on a par 5 with it last season. I see the acushnet std and flange models all the time. I do have one heel shafted one which I have seen very few of at goodwill. Yesterday there was a Scotty again but an old man who hoards clubs got to it before me. lol.

Edited March 15, 2021 by topoftheline89

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I love that code chart!!

 

In a set of clubs I found a few weeks ago was a  OS 5 M P.  My first Bullseye and I'm shocked how much I'm liking it.  The Palmers, Old Master, and Iron Masters all stayed home on opening day.

 

 

[dukebasketball717]

My neighbor has been refinishing these for a couple of years.  He has been purchasing them off of Ebay, cleaning them up which he has gotten very good and reselling them.  The brass looks fantastic but can be a little blinding in the sun.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I got this one locally the shaft is in worse shaft than the one I’ve been gaming but the paddle and face are nicer.  
 

This putter has changed my basement putting life.   I wonder if I’d like the other iterations as much as OSM5P.

[Brewski_golfs]

I have no idea if this is accurate information, but I came across these details a while back and saved them.   

 

Description Of Club	Approximate Year
Putter has the ‘John Reuter Jr Design’ and Bullseye engraved.	1957 – 1960
Putter has “Designed by John Reuter Jr” or “John Reuter Jr. Made in the USA engraved.	1960 – 1974
Flange Bullseye Model.	1967
L-shaped Bullseye with the flange herd.	1969
Putter has “S” and “C” inside the Bullseye engraving.	1969
Putter does not have John Reuter Jr’s name.	1975
Clubhead has ‘Titleist’ and does not have “Acushnet’ engraved.	1978

Edited March 17, 2021 by Brewski_golfs

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Do you guys use covers for your Bullseyes or just let them get the bag chatter?

[dlygrisse]

I putter for years with a Scotty Flanged model.  Definitely heavier than most of the Rueter designs.  I actually have two, one was my gamer that is pretty beat up, the other is a 9/10 that I have in my basement.   

[farmer]

OT, but as an old guy, I can tell you that a solidly struck old brass Bullseye with a balata ball was the best feeling (golf-wise) ever.

[rufus mangler]

It doesn't suck with a Pro V1 either.

Edited March 22, 2021 by rufus mangler

[rufus mangler]

IDK if this is cool but here's a link to some John Reuter Jr. history.

 

http://www.bcgolfhouse.com/john-reuter-jr

[Swingingk]

3 hours ago, rufus mangler said:

IDK if this is cool but here's a link to some John Reuter Jr. history.

 

http://www.bcgolfhouse.com/john-reuter-jr

Very cool actually...  thanks!

[BIG STU]

On 3/19/2021 at 11:34 AM, coldwareragolfer said:

Do you guys use covers for your Bullseyes or just let them get the bag chatter?

All of mine already had bag chatter--- IMHO Bag chatter and patina add character to one--- I flat out refuse to game a putter I have to use a cover on just one of my anal things

[BIG STU]

3 hours ago, rufus mangler said:

It doesn't suck with a Pro V1 either.

I have a flanged offset hosel like yours but without the slot that is my favorite Bulls Eye. I am also such a big fan of the fluted shafts I have one in my Santa Fe. Disclaimer--- A pristine Bulls Eye was not sacrificed for that project the putter it came out of looked like it had been used for a plow point plus it had been hit by the claw on the machine. A minor miracle the shaft was not bent

[miamistomp]

 I still bring the Bullseyes out

  Have several- a black Acushnet flange and an Otey Crisman SilverTouch are 2 of my favorites

   Also have a Titleist SC flange, a John Letters Golden Goose and a Scotty Cameron bullseye flange

 

Practice with a bullseye or an 8802 and you will really sharpen your putting skills

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 I still bring the Bullseyes out

  Have several- a black Acushnet flange and an Otey Crisman SilverTouch are 2 of my favorites

   Also have a Titleist SC flange, a John Letters Golden Goose and a Scotty Cameron bullseye flange

 

Practice with a bullseye or an 8802 and you will really sharpen your putting skills

Absolutely--- I practice with my flanged one or one of my numerous Ironmasters-- If you can roll it good hitting the dime sized sweet spot on either one then you can darn near putt with anything. But I also practice with them because I use one or the other in my vintage golf.  Lately I have been practicing with my Ca;amity Jane style hickory shafted Otey Chrisman because I plan to play in a Hickory shaft par 3 event in June

[Tupperwolf]

My Titleist "SC" bullseye is back in the bag.  This one has a matte silver fluted shaft and I put a thin Golf Pride grip on it.  When I putt with this thing I try to do it completely by feel.  I set up with an open stance and use a wristy swing back and hold the angle coming through - just like the "hinge and hold" method I've been playing for years for my chipping and pitching short game.  Hitting the sweet spot is bliss.  My distance control is coming back quickly.  It's a great tool!

[Bigarch]

Anybody else catch the kid at Augusta today in the Drive, Chip & Putt finals with the bullseye putter?  Loved seeing it.  A future WRX Classics poster for sure!

[wristyaction]

I tried 100 putters at a second hand golf shop only to select the bulls eye as the one with the best feel with a pro v1 ball to put with. with an open stance and a pop putting action

[deepred]

Bought this new in the late 70’s I believe 

[rkillian]

Does anyone here know what the Flat lie angle measurement is on a bullseye?

 

I have what I've determined is a very early 60's model (it was my grandfathers, my grandmother bought it new for him while he was in college). I practice with it regularly. Its a 36" Off set model with paddle grip and has the Flat lie designation. It is so comfortable at set up. I was wondering if anyone knew what the lie angle would be? I suppose I can have it checked somewhere to find out too.

[Joe Duffer]

On 10/26/2021 at 5:20 AM, rkillian said:

Does anyone here know what the Flat lie angle measurement is on a bullseye?

 

I have what I've determined is a very early 60's model (it was my grandfathers, my grandmother bought it new for him while he was in college). I practice with it regularly. Its a 36" Off set model with paddle grip and has the Flat lie designation. It is so comfortable at set up. I was wondering if anyone knew what the lie angle would be? I suppose I can have it checked somewhere to find out too.

Probably about 68°

[Robert L.]

I've been playing the Bulls Eye putter I got off eBay since last September, and my putting has really improved. The ball comes off the sweet spot so pure, and it's a very easy putter to aim. Frankly I don't see myself using another putter ever again!

[woodriff]

I’ve got several bullseye putters, and always wondered if you could bend them manually. I think the brass would move pretty good under heat.

Any ideas? 

[GREY GH0ST]

Some great and helpful info here!

I recently acquired a few new Bullseye putters and one of them is stamped “Nathaniel Crosby” on the back above the flange. I initially thought this was a unique model they made (unaware of who Nathaniel Crosby is until I did some research) but I cannot find any info on this and am now wondering if this putter might actually have belonged to Mr Crosby at some point. It’s a very cool putter with a flange, offset and a nice Toney Penna round leather grip. Anyone have any info or thoughts?

[GREY GH0ST]