Was the Ram Zebra ahead of its time?

[Yuck]

The are several reasons I think the Zebra was ahead of its time. Since they are a bargain bucket afterthought these days, you might not think so.

 

1) Premium Price: When the Ram Zebra came out in the 1970's it was one of the first mass market putters to be sold at a premium price, an unheard of $70! This was when the big sellers like the bulleye and ping were in the $30 to $35 range.

 

2) Adjustable weights. The originals had a removable sole which allowed the golfer to change the weight by adding or removing metal "washers".

 

3) Major Alignment feature. the stripes were well above and beyond the dot, line or nothing that was typical for alignment aids at that time.

4) Face Balanced. Not invented by Ram, but market as a perfomance feature, which was new at that time.

 

When you look around the putter market today, you can see all 4 of these "influences" and the Zebra was the first big seller to have all four of them. Note however that the Zebra never became a classic like the Anser, 8802, Bulleye or even the Two-Ball.

[mac94]

I hated that putter. I honestly would rank it among the worst putters ever. That's how bad I hate it.

[Ranman]

[quote name='yuck' date='22 July 2010 - 09:53 PM' timestamp='1279850004' post='2593734']
The are several reasons I think the Zebra was ahead of its time. Since they are a bargain bucket afterthought these days, you might not think so.

1) Premium Price: When the Ram Zebra came out in the 1970's it was one of the first mass market putters to be sold at a premium price, an unheard of $70! This was when the big sellers like the bulleye and ping were in the $30 to $35 range.

2) Adjustable weights. The originals had a removable sole which allowed the golfer to change the weight by adding or removing metal "washers".

3) Major Alignment feature. the stripes were well above and beyond the dot, line or nothing that was typical for alignment aids at that time.
4) Face Balanced. Not invented by Ram, but market as a perfomance feature, which was new at that time.

When you look around the putter market today, you can see all 4 of these "influences" and the Zebra was the first big seller to have all four of them. Note however that the Zebra never became a classic like the Anser, 8802, Bulleye or even the Two-Ball.
[/quote]
Great putter and it came in a grey, black and white version. The Ghost is not the first of its color but I can't wait for a center shaft.

[gboldman23]

There aren't many other putters that had the shape of the Zebra (the only recent one I can think of is the SC Red X series). I never thought about the alignment feature but that definitely makes sense too.

[BBeal20]

The old zebra, i owned 3 of them and maybe during my best putting days. I think they still might be in the parents basement. I'm going to look tomorrow.

[spock1130]

That was an awesome putter....maybe time to switch back to one??

['53 Precision]

The best feature in my mind was the knitted cover, I still use them as headcovers for small headed fairway woods!

[Santee]

I owned one back in the day. It was a great putter. The only current putter feature it was missing was some type of special milling, insert or grooves on the face.
Good job of bringing back some memories and of pointing out the features the Zebra had which, I agree, were a bit ahead of the times.
Good post, Yuck.

[Sloth1098]

I bought one in lefty for my Dad around 1990. It was the first gift of any substance I ever bought the old man with money I had earned. He STILL games it, has never even thought about buying another putter. Absolutely ahead of its time --- soooo many features copied by so many others over the years. It cracks me up when manufacturors recently have touted the "innovation" of adjustable weighting.After the Anser, absolutely the most significant putter of the last 40 years, if for no reason other than its influence -- of course, I've got a bit of sentimental bias!

[JTI]

[quote name='Santee' timestamp='1279851872' post='2593792']
I owned one back in the day. It was a great putter. The only current putter feature it was missing was some type of special milling, insert or grooves on the face.
Good job of bringing back some memories and of pointing out the features the Zebra had which, I agree, were a bit ahead of the times.
Good post, Yuck.
[/quote]

They actually have done an updated one with face milling and insert:

http://www.direct-golf.co.uk/golf_putters/ram/zebra_milled_insert_putter_golf_putters/p10777?s=&rCode=froogle&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_content=10777&utm_campaign=froogle

Ive got one of the old ones, saw this new and thought i would give it a try, adding yet another putter to my collection. I dont like the newer one as much as the old, it has a bit of a tinny feel at impact, though it retains all the great qualities of the old putter

[daydreamer]

A scratch player friend of mine is still gaming his Zebra. Absolutely loves his......

They also still sell them at Sports Authority. Easy to find and still very inexpensive.

[classick]

My dad has used that putter loyally since the early 80's. It will never leave the bag; trust me, I've tried to force it from his hands.

[TMBob]

Yea I had one......It was ahead of it's time I would agree looking back now. The weight system was worthless though, as all it did was ruin the sound and feel, other then that it did make the head heavier. Most Touring Pro's would fill the head with epoxy which later was done to the 2 balls to increase weight and mainly to make it feel more solid. Skinny little grip as were pretty much all the putter grips back then.

They better know as the ZeeBee, or ZeeBee toothed Putter around our way. Sold like hot cakes they did.

[scott_Donald]

i hated the look of it but kept it...

someone stole it along with my lynx parallax... i am still angry about it!!!

[farmer]

They were not, however, very good feeling putters. And ugly. But, the best putter I ever saw played with one for 25 years and was absolute money inside 10 feet.

[jeffblais09]

i actually have a gray one i think it was my grandpas. im 19 lol and i always liked it just never thought of putting it in the bag. maybe i will try it some time

[harold baines]

that putter had a pretty short shelf life if I remember correctly

it was pretty popular for a year or two and then it seemed to dissapear

if it was really ahead of it's time it probably wouldn't have fallen by the wayside for so long after it became popular

[jeffblais09]

i think its neat only thing is ill have to regrip it haha, it doesnt have a pistol grip, it actually just has like a rap grip on it, but i actually think it feels kinda nice, like a springy muted feel if that makes sense. ill have to try her out since everyone is saying how many great putters they know still use them. what can i say im a putter/driver ho haha.

[KevCarter]

[quote name='harold baines' timestamp='1279942854' post='2595776']
that putter had a pretty short shelf life if I remember correctly

it was pretty popular for a year or two and then it seemed to dissapear

if it was really ahead of it's time it probably wouldn't have fallen by the wayside for so long after it became popular
[/quote]

It actually had a very long run!

Kevin

[Colum]

I bought one of these Zebras must be over 10 years ago, started playing again recently and bought a scotty cameron, but after 2 rounds I took out the Zebra and am prefering it, will likely stay in the bag for the long term.

[Nollster]

I wish I could remember what I did with mine 'cause I want it back! That Zebra and a Cleveland VAS blade-type are two of the only putters that were perfect fits from day one! My brother has my VAS, but absolutely destroyed it -- has a bit of a temper . He also couldn't putt with a Zebra -- he's money from anywhere on the green with any other putter, but give him a 2 footer with a Zebra and you never knew where it was gonna go!!

[mk920]

I started playing golf in the late eighties or early ninties... But anyways the putter to have back then were Ping Anser, Bullseye, and the Ram.... Had them all...The Ram had it's run...

[golfbum9]

[quote name='yuck' timestamp='1279850004' post='2593734']
The are several reasons I think the Zebra was ahead of its time. Since they are a bargain bucket afterthought these days, you might not think so.

1) Premium Price: When the Ram Zebra came out in the 1970's it was one of the first mass market putters to be sold at a premium price, an unheard of $70! This was when the big sellers like the bulleye and ping were in the $30 to $35 range.

2) Adjustable weights. The originals had a removable sole which allowed the golfer to change the weight by adding or removing metal "washers".

3) Major Alignment feature. the stripes were well above and beyond the dot, line or nothing that was typical for alignment aids at that time.
4) Face Balanced. Not invented by Ram, but market as a perfomance feature, which was new at that time.

When you look around the putter market today, you can see all 4 of these "influences" and the Zebra was the first big seller to have all four of them. Note however that the Zebra never became a classic like the Anser, 8802, Bulleye or even the Two-Ball.
[/quote]
For what it's worth, RAM purchased the rights for the Zebra. It was originally by Taylor Craft out of Carmel Valley CA in the early 70's, and it had the ability to adjust the lie angle which also made it WAY before it's time.

[DNice26]

Best putter I've ever owned. I used to make everything with my Old Zebra..... boy, wish I could find a new one somewhere.

[Obsessotron]

The Zebra Teardrop was ahead of it's time if you ask me. I still have one/

[Colum]

3 birdies and an eagle with my zebra yesterday, its certainly staying in the bag for the forseeable

[Splitter]

Holy old threads Batman!

I learned that the Zebra is not steel during one of my first attempts at flaming a putter. Glad it was only $10

[TJCDAS]

I think Ray Cook putters were much better than the Zebra's.

[bamoore07]

When I was in my late teens, I was reasonably solid tee to green but my putting was terrible. I picked up a Zebra and my putting was transformed. Played it for 10 seasons and to this day will only game a face balanced mallet. I've tried many other styles, but this is the one which just works for my stroke. Zebra: money 10 feet and in, sketchy distant control on the long ones.

[Tim Schoch]

I just bought two Zebra Z2 putters, after trying one out in a used golf club shop. I love them. They are face balanced, the top of the face protrudes to encourage overspin, the original grips are awesome, plus they are heavy, which help us yippy putters.

If you have one, try it with the Snedeker pop stroke from various distances. I think you'll be surprised as I was. Totally eliminates long backstroke problems.

If anyone knows where I can get an original cover, please let me know. Thanks.