Putter Review & Comparison - Low Tide vs Byron vs Edel - Lots of Pics

[Hstead]

I recently purchased a new Low Tide Fin with some custom shaping and I thought I would post up some thoughts and pictures compared to my other putters. I am not one to go through many putters and I have sold most of the ones I used previously over the years. As of now, I basically use one of five putters. I have three Edel's, a Byron Morgan DH 89, and now a new Low Tide Fin. All of my putters are 35". The Edels and the Byron are all 68* lie and 2* of loft, and the Low Tide is 69.9* lie and 3* of loft.

 

I was fit for the first Edel way back in 97 or so I think when they were sold as Henry Griffitts putters. My teacher was a fitter and believed in the aiming and fitting system. This is the only putter I have had that has lasted and stayed with me for any period of time. It is the one with the three site lines on top. I liked this putter, but at one time I took it out of the bag and it was "in the corner" of the garage. I had some clubs stolen and thought the Edel Aioki was one of them. Luckily I found the putter when I was moving. But, after I found this putter, I had gone to see David Orr and was fit for an Edel, which is the Antique colored putter. I used this putter for a while but I found a member on this site selling a similar putter with the PIXL insert with my exact same specs so I bought it. It has stayed in the bag the longest due to the feel. I really like the PIXL feel. All of these putters are played from time to time as I like to switch up occasionally to change up the feel a little. I can aim all of them well so I have confidence in each.

 

After seeing a lot of Byrons on this site, I decided last year to order a DH89 and have it rounded some like my Edels. It came out pretty good and it has a great feel, but I wished it was a little wider. So that brought me to this year ordering the Low Tide.

 

So far the Low Tide has been my favorite for two reasons, feel and looks. I like the wider body and the milled face is really solid feeling. I have only had it for a couple of weeks, but so far I see it staying in the bag for a while. I had them take the Fin and shape the back edge and round it off more like my Edels since that seems to be the shape I aim best. I also went with the site dot on top. I like either a dot or nothing at all the best. The guys at Low Tide were a pleasure to work with. I had my putter within about 4 weeks from the time I started designing it.

 

Both the Low Tide and the Byron are a slight step above the Edels in quality I believe but the Edels are great putters for sure.

 

Here are some pictures of each:

 

[Hstead]

[Hstead]

[Hstead]

[Doc420]

I just sent back a demo that I got from them. I think they are a pretty good putter, although the putter I rolled probably didn't have enough loft for my stroke. I compared it against two Byrons and a nike method that I have laying around. At least to me the low tide felt harsh and maybe a little clicky when compared to the others. I just think that was a matter of loft. They do look like they are putting out a pretty good product, and I hope that they are able to take off.

[SatelliteGuy]

Beautiful!

Well done man.... Great reshape.... !!!

[shanestephenr]

Nice! That rounded dh89 looks pretty cool

[SatelliteGuy]

Hstead...

Which finish did you go with and what was the final headweight?

[Cherry Ghost]

Nice collection. I really like your idea of a more rounded shape on the LT. Enjoy it.

Thanks for the review!

[Cherry Ghost]

[quote name='Doc420' timestamp='1386816782' post='8286543']
I just sent back a demo that I got from them. I think they are a pretty good putter, although the putter I rolled probably didn't have enough loft for my stroke. I compared it against two Byrons and a nike method that I have laying around. At least to me the low tide felt harsh and maybe a little clicky when compared to the others. I just think that was a matter of loft. They do look like they are putting out a pretty good product, and I hope that they are able to take off.
[/quote]

Say what? Not enough loft = clicky? I'm new to this custom putter deal and just trying to wrap my head around that concept.

[Hstead]

The finish was something Zack just made up, I don't think it even has a name. I told him I was looking for something in dark gray, similar to a Ping Gorge wedge and this is what he came up with. I love the finish. I have no idea how he did it, but it is dark gray just like I asked for. The only thing I am not crazy about is the dot, I wish it was a little smaller, but I can live with it.

I just spent about 30 minutes in the basement hitting all five putters back to back with five ProVs'. All five of them have a distinct feel. They all sound different too. I have Super Stroke 3.0 grips on the Edel with PIXL, Edel with three lines, and the Low Tide. I have a SS 2.0 on the Byron and a round Iomic 2.3 on the antique Edel. They also have different shafts except the Antique and Pixl Edels have the same shaft.

I would rank them in this order of "clicky" from most to least :
Antique Edel
Three Line Edel
Byron DH89
Low Tide
PIXL Edel

Much of that is due to the sound each makes. I noticed there is quite a difference in heel or toe contact as well. I would rank the forgiveness from least to most forgiving in this order:
Antique Edel
Three Line Edel
PIXL
Byron
Low Tide

The Low Tide puts a great roll on the ball, very tight even when hit toward the toe a little. The Antique definitely has the smallest sweet spot.

[Doc420]

[quote name='Cherry Ghost' timestamp='1386819201' post='8286765']
[quote name='Doc420' timestamp='1386816782' post='8286543']
I just sent back a demo that I got from them. I think they are a pretty good putter, although the putter I rolled probably didn't have enough loft for my stroke. I compared it against two Byrons and a nike method that I have laying around. At least to me the low tide felt harsh and maybe a little clicky when compared to the others. I just think that was a matter of loft. They do look like they are putting out a pretty good product, and I hope that they are able to take off.
[/quote]

Say what? Not enough loft = clicky? I'm new to this custom putter deal and just trying to wrap my head around that concept.
[/quote]The demo putter I rolled only had 2.5 degrees of loft on it, and that doesn't happen to be enough for my stroke. It felt like I was hitting the ball high on the face, and with my stroke that would mean I am probably getting it rolling less than 2 degrees. That isn't enough for me. I guess that if I was making contact higher on the face, then that is where I was getting the more clicky feeling from the putter. I experimented by placing my hands back, Like Zach Johnson, to add some loft and the feel got a little better. But to me the other putters just felt better.

[Cherry Ghost]

[quote name='Doc420' timestamp='1386821752' post='8286983']
[quote name='Cherry Ghost' timestamp='1386819201' post='8286765']
[quote name='Doc420' timestamp='1386816782' post='8286543']
I just sent back a demo that I got from them. I think they are a pretty good putter, although the putter I rolled probably didn't have enough loft for my stroke. I compared it against two Byrons and a nike method that I have laying around. At least to me the low tide felt harsh and maybe a little clicky when compared to the others. I just think that was a matter of loft. They do look like they are putting out a pretty good product, and I hope that they are able to take off.
[/quote]

Say what? Not enough loft = clicky? I'm new to this custom putter deal and just trying to wrap my head around that concept.
[/quote]The demo putter I rolled only had 2.5 degrees of loft on it, and that doesn't happen to be enough for my stroke. It felt like I was hitting the ball high on the face, and with my stroke that would mean I am probably getting it rolling less than 2 degrees. That isn't enough for me. I guess that if I was making contact higher on the face, then that is where I was getting the more clicky feeling from the putter. I experimented by placing my hands back, Like Zach Johnson, to add some loft and the feel got a little better. But to me the other putters just felt better.
[/quote]

Gotcha. Thanks!

[Hstead]

DTV, I asked for 360 grams so I am assuming that is where it came out. It feels very similar to my other heads which are 350 for the most part, the Antique Edel is a little heavier.

[SatelliteGuy]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1386825546' post='8287247']
DTV, I asked for 360 grams so I am assuming that is where it came out. It feels very similar to my other heads which are 350 for the most part, the Antique Edel is a little heavier.
[/quote]

Nice man... Been able to play a round or just practice so far?

[Hstead]

I have played two rounds with it. The ball rolled very good on the greens, the distance control was good, no three putts. I was hitting the ball on the line I wanted and the speed was good but the ball wasn't going in. Just two of those days where I was mis-reading the putts slightly. Played one round on an old course I used to belong to for years but haven't played there for a year or so and I was over barrowing on every putt. The greens were a little slower than I am used to playing and they just did not break as much as I thought they were going to. I burnt the lip on the high side all day long.

[finalist]

[quote name='Cherry Ghost' timestamp='1386819201' post='8286765']
[quote name='Doc420' timestamp='1386816782' post='8286543']
I just sent back a demo that I got from them. I think they are a pretty good putter, although the putter I rolled probably didn't have enough loft for my stroke. I compared it against two Byrons and a nike method that I have laying around. At least to me the low tide felt harsh and maybe a little clicky when compared to the others. I just think that was a matter of loft. They do look like they are putting out a pretty good product, and I hope that they are able to take off.
[/quote]

Say what? Not enough loft = clicky? I'm new to this custom putter deal and just trying to wrap my head around that concept.
[/quote]

It could be that an incorrect loft creates higher impacts on the face and high impacts can feel clickier. The flange is a lot of material down low that can absorb vibrations, so maybe a lower impact on the face allows the flange to absorb more.

[SatelliteGuy]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1386827748' post='8287335']
I have played two rounds with it. The ball rolled very good on the greens, the distance control was good, no three putts. I was hitting the ball on the line I wanted and the speed was good but the ball wasn't going in. Just two of those days where I was mis-reading the putts slightly. Played one round on an old course I used to belong to for years but haven't played there for a year or so and I was over barrowing on every putt. The greens were a little slower than I am used to playing and they just did not break as much as I thought they were going to. I burnt the lip on the high side all day long.
[/quote]

I remember my first round with it... 24 putts... I couldn't miss... That may be why I have so much confidence in my LT than any other putter... I had a good day and it translated into ongoing confidence!

[Hstead]

[quote name='DirecTVTechGuy' timestamp='1386898823' post='8291951']
[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1386827748' post='8287335']
I have played two rounds with it. The ball rolled very good on the greens, the distance control was good, no three putts. I was hitting the ball on the line I wanted and the speed was good but the ball wasn't going in. Just two of those days where I was mis-reading the putts slightly. Played one round on an old course I used to belong to for years but haven't played there for a year or so and I was over barrowing on every putt. The greens were a little slower than I am used to playing and they just did not break as much as I thought they were going to. I burnt the lip on the high side all day long.
[/quote]

I remember my first round with it... 24 putts... I couldn't miss... That may be why I have so much confidence in my LT than any other putter... I had a good day and it translated into ongoing confidence!
[/quote]

I would take 24 putts every day of the week and twice on Sundays. That is definitely going to help in the confidence department. I have been solid with it in the basement so I am excited to get it on the course some more.

[SatelliteGuy]

Yeah...putting has always been my strength.... I'm under 30 a round.... Every round... Here's my game...

(1) Fairway
(3) GIR's
(28) putts

75 Total.... Everyone says I make a round of golf look HARD....