| YAR
GX1 Putter Review January / 2009
GolfTest
USA was retained by the YAR Putter Company to develop the
testing protocol and methodology and then conduct a test
in two parts comparing the YAR GX1 Putter against four top
rated putters from our recent 2008 Special Putter test.
In that special test 30 putter companies submitted 47 putters
and golfers rated ten criteria to determine the levels of
performance achieved by each putter.
Shown below is
a copy of the evaluation form used to test the performance
of the YAR GX1 Putter directly against four of the other
top putters in our recent 2008 Special Putter Test. In Part
One of the test the participants were golf professionals,
golf instructors and single digit handicap skilled putters.
All 12 testers evaluated each of the 5 putters. The actual
model names of the other putters in the test have been given
letter designations.
YAR
GX1 Putter Test Part One
Test
Methodology: You will be making putts from 3 putting
stations. You will be asked to compare the YAR GX1 Putter
to several other top putters. During the test you should
be focusing on how each putter performs in each of the criteria
based on your unbiased opinion. Do your best to not let
any preconceived perceptions influence your ratings. After
you have putted with each putter you will rate several criteria
and then you will go on to the next putter. At the end of
the test you will be asked to stack rank the putters in
each of the criteria. Following are the criteria you will
be rating on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best.
Distance
Control: rate how much distance control you had
with each putter.
Alignment: rate the alignment characteristics
of the putter.
Accuracy: rate how accurate each putter
was.
Forgiveness: rate how forgiving the putter
was.
Sound: rate how you liked the sound of
each putter.
Appearance: rate the appearance of the
putter.
Feel: rate the feel of the putter during
the putting stroke.
Design: rate the design features of the
putter.
Recommend to others: rate how strongly
would recommend each putter to other golfers.
Overall Rating: rate each putter taking
into consideration what is important to you in a putter.
Questionnaire:
Please rate the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 10
with 10 being best:
Questionnaire:
Please rate
the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being
best:
1: Distance Control:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
2: Alignment: Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter
D____ YAR GX1:____
3: Accuracy:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
4: Forgiveness:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
5: Sound: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
6: Appearance:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
7: Feel: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
8: Design: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
9: Recommend:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
10: Overall Rating:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
Please stack
the putters with 5 being best down to 1 for the lowest rating.
1: Distance Control:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
2: Alignment: Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter
D____ YAR GX1:____
3: Accuracy:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
4: Forgiveness:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
5: Sound: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
6: Appearance:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
7: Feel: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
8: Design: Putter
A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
9: Recommend:
Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter D____ YAR GX1:____
10:
Overall Rating: Putter A____ Putter B_____Putter C____Putter
D____ YAR GX1:____
What did you like best about the YAR GX1
Putter?
Is there anything you didn’t like
about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Is there anything you would change about
the YAR GX1 Putter?
Please
rate how easy it was to use the ball pickup feature of the
YAR GX1 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best
Comments:
Results of YAR GX1 Putter Test Part One:
Participants were PGA members, golf instructors, single
digit handicap golfers and skilled putters.
Questionnaire:
Please rate the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 10
with 10 being best:
1: Distance Control: Putter A_6.3_Putter
B_6.9_Putter C_6.7_Putter D_7.2_YAR GX1:_7.8_
The YAR GX1 was clearly the best in Distance Control.
2: Alignment: Putter A_7.8_Putter B_7.4_Putter C_6.1_Putter
D_6.9_YAR GX1:_7.4_
Putter A rated best in Alignment with the YAR GX1 placing
2nd.
3: Accuracy: Putter A_6.5_Putter B_6.5_Putter
C_6.3_Putter D_6.9_YAR GX1:_7.4_
The YAR GX1 was easily the best in the Accuracy criterion.
4: Forgiveness: Putter A_5.8_Putter B_5.9_Putter
C_6.3_Putter D_6.7_YAR GX1:_7.6_
The YAR GX1 rated the best in Forgiveness by a wide margin
clearly dispelling any concerns about its narrow face.
5: Sound: Putter A_6.9_Putter B_6.8_Putter
C_6.7_Putter D_6.5_YAR GX1:_7.8_
The YAR GX1 rated tops in Sound which in part is attributable
to the solid feel the ball has coming off the face.
6: Appearance: Putter A_6.3_Putter B_5.3_Putter
C_5.1_Putter D_7.3_YAR GX1:_5.3_
As anticipated because of the different design the Appearance
rating was on the low side.
7: Feel: Putter A_6.2_ Putter B_5.8_Putter
C_5.8_Putter D_6.8_YAR GX1:_7.4_
The YAR GX1 rated very high in the important Feel criterion.
8: Design: Putter A_6.1_Putter B_5.8_Putter
C_5.3_Putter D_6.9_YAR GX1:_6.4_
The YAR GX1 got solid ratings for Design.
9: Recommend: Putter A_5.4_Putter B_5.5_Putter
C_5.0_Putter D_6.9_YAR GX1:_7.2_
The participants felt strongly that they would recommend
the YAR GX1 to other golfers.
10: Overall Rating: Putter A_5.6_Putter
B_5.8_Putter C_5.7_Putter D_6.9_YAR GX1:_7.3_
Clearly the YAR GX1 was the top rated putter in this test
group.
Please stack rank the putters with 5 being
best down to 1 for the lowest rating.
When the participants were forced to stack
rank each putter the YAR GX1 was chosen the best in each
criterion except for Appearance. The YAR GX1 putter was
the clear winner in this part of the test.
1: Distance Control: Putter A_3.0_Putter
B_2.6_Putter C_1.9_Putter D_3.1_YAR GX1:_4.4_
2: Alignment: Putter A_3.3_Putter B_3.0_Putter C_2.3_Putter
D_3.0_YAR GX1:_3.3_
3: Accuracy: Putter A_3.0_Putter B_2.7_Putter
C_2.3_Putter D_3.0_YAR GX1:_4.1_
4: Forgiveness: Putter A_2.3_Putter B_2.8_Putter
C_2.4_Putter D_3.1_YAR GX1:_4.4_
5: Sound: Putter A_3.0_Putter B_2.4_Putter
C_2.6_Putter D_3.0_YAR GX1:_4.1_
6: Appearance: Putter A_4.0_Putter B_2.7_Putter
C_2.2_Putter D_3.4_YAR GX1:_3.0_
7: Feel: Putter A_3.0_Putter B_2.4_Putter
C_2.4_Putter D_3.0_YAR GX1:_4.1_
8: Design: Putter A_3.1_Putter B_2.6_Putter
C_2.2_Putter D_3.6_YAR GX1:_3.6_
9: Recommend: Putter A_3.0_Putter B_2.8_Putter
C_2.1_Putter D_2.9_YAR GX1:_3.9_
10: Overall Rating: Putter A_3.0_Putter
B_2.8_Putter C_1.9_Putter D_3.0_YAR GX1:_4.3_
What did you like best about the YAR GX1 Putter?
The accuracy- even though I didn’t
make any-all 9 putts were extremely close!
The feel and alignment. (4)
The YAR GX1 was the best overall for me!
Ball pick up.
Great distance control
Accuracy and distance
All the extras-ball pickup/marker-very good for golfers
with special needs.
Good overall putter, I would definitely consider buying.
Forgiveness(2)
I felt the distance control was excellent.
Great feel.
Is
there anything you didn’t like about the YAR GX1 Putter?
The grip, I like a bigger grip like Putter
A
It is kinda ugly.
Appearance would take some getting used too!
Appearance,
Head too small(2)
Is
there anything you would change about the YAR GX1 Putter?
I would like to see a forward offset shaft.
A little more upright for cross handed putting.
Increase head size. (2)
All the testers really liked the ability
to pick the ball out of the hole and how easy it was to
perform that function.
Summary
of YAR GX 1 Putter Test Part One.
This portion of the test produced some interesting
results. The YAR GX1 putter rated the highest in all criteria
except for “Appearance”, “Alignment”
and “Design”.
We asked everyone to be fair and unbiased
in their evaluations so we have to conclude that the testers
felt that the YAR GX1 performed at a higher level than the
other putters.
A concern that most golfers have when they
look at the YAR GX1 is the narrowness of the head from heel
to toe which they initially feel will not be forgiving and
that concern is dispelled completely by the rating in the
“Forgiveness” criterion. Other important criteria
that showed superior performance were “Accuracy”,
“Feel”, “Distance Control” and “Overall
Rating”.
When the testers were asked to stack rank
the putters, the YAR GX1 was rated the highest in all criteria
except for “Appearance” which is understandable
because of its different design.
YAR GX1 Putter Test Part Two
In this
part of the test 20 golfers of different skill levels where
asked to rate and compare the YAR GX1 putter to one of several
other top putters selected from the Special Putter Test
conducted by GolfTest USA. The other putters in the test
were designated as Putter A, Putter B, Putter C and Putter
D. These putters were rotated so that five testers compared
each of the putters versus the YAR GX1 putter. For the purpose
of showing the overall results we have each model listed
in the test form with “XYZ” putter.
Test
Methodology: You will be making putts from 3 putting
stations. You will be asked to compare the YAR GX1 Putter
to another top putter. During the test you should be focusing
on how each putter performs in each of the criteria based
on your unbiased opinion. Do your best to not let any preconceived
perceptions influence your ratings. After you have putted
with each putter you will rate several criteria and then
you will go on to the next putter. At the end of the test
you will be asked pick which putter you liked the best in
each of the criteria. Following are the criteria you will
be rating on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best.
Distance
Control: rate how much distance control you had with each
putter.
Alignment: rate the alignment characteristics of the putter.
Accuracy: rate how accurate each putter was.
Forgiveness: rate how forgiving the putter was.
Sound: rate how you liked the sound of each putter.
Appearance: rate the appearance of the putter.
Feel: rate the feel of the putter during the putting stroke.
Design: rate the design features of the putter.
Recommend to others: rate how strongly would recommend each
putter to other golfers.
Overall Rating: rate each putter taking into consideration
what is important to you in a putter.
Putts Made: “XYZ”____ YAR GX1:____
Questionnaire:
Please rate the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 10
with 10 being best:
1: Distance
Control: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
2: Alignment: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
3: Accuracy:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
4: Forgiveness:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
5: Sound:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
6: Appearance:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
7: Feel:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
8: Design:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
9: Recommend
to other golfers: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ”
Putter_____
10:
Overall Rating: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
Please
answer the following questions based on which putter you
like the best between the YAR GX1 Putter and the “XYZ”
Putter by placing an X next to your choice. If you liked
them the same please chose “The Same”.
1: Distance
Control: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
The Same_____
2: Alignment: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
The Same_____
3: Accuracy:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
4: Forgiveness:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
5: Sound:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
6: Appearance:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
7: Feel:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
8: Design:
YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____ The Same_____
9: Recommend
to other golfers: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ”
Putter_____ The Same_____
10:
Overall Rating: YAR GX1 Putter:_____ “XYZ” Putter_____
The Same_____
What
did you like best about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Is there
anything you didn’t like about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Is there
anything you would change about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Comments:
Thank you for
taking part in this test.
Results of YAR
GX1 Putter Test Part Two
Putts Made: “XYZ”_23___ YAR GX1:_33___
Following
are the results compiled from the 20 testers.
Please rate the following criteria on a scale of 1 to 10
with 10 being best:
1: Distance Control:
YAR GX1 Putter:_7.1____ “XYZ” Putter__7.5___
2: Alignment: YAR GX1 Putter:__7.1___ “XYZ”
Putter__7.3___
3: Accuracy:
YAR GX1 Putter:__7.3___ “XYZ” Putter__7.0___
4: Forgiveness:
YAR GX1 Putter:__7.0___ “XYZ” Putter__7.0___
5: Sound: YAR
GX1 Putter:_8.0____ “XYZ” Putter__7.6___
6: Appearance:
YAR GX1 Putter:__6.7___ “XYZ” Putter__7.6___
7: Feel: YAR
GX1 Putter:__6.9___ “XYZ” Putter__7.1___
8: Design: YAR
GX1 Putter:__6.9___ “XYZ” Putter__7.3___
9: Recommend
to other golfers: YAR GX1 Putter:__7.2___ “XYZ”
Putter__6.7___
10: Overall Rating:
YAR GX1 Putter:__7.3___ “XYZ” Putter__7.1___
Our evaluation
in this part of the test indicates that because there were
only 5 testers who tested each of the other 4 putters compared
to the YAR GX1 the range of ratings is wider because of
the statistical variance of such a small test group per
putter. When the testers were forced to make a choice on
which putter they felt performed the best the results clearly
showed that the YAR GX1 performed higher than the combined
ratings of the other putters in the test.
Please answer
the following questions based on which putter you like the
best between the YAR GX1 Putter and the “XYZ”
Putter by placing an X next to your choice. If you liked
them the same please chose “The Same”.
1: Distance Control:
YAR GX1 Putter:__10___ “XYZ” Putter__6___ The
Same__4__
2: Alignment: YAR GX1 Putter:__10___ “XYZ” Putter__7___
The Same__3___
3: Accuracy:
YAR GX1 Putter:__13___ “XYZ” Putter__4___ The
Same___3__
4: Forgiveness:
YAR GX1 Putter:_10____ “XYZ” Putter__4___ The
Same__6___
5: Sound: YAR
GX1 Putter:__10___ “XYZ” Putter__5___ The Same__5___
6: Appearance:
YAR GX1 Putter:__4___ “XYZ” Putter__10___ The
Same__6___
7: Feel: YAR
GX1 Putter:_15____ “XYZ” Putter__5___ The Same_0____
8: Design: YAR
GX1 Putter:_9____ “XYZ” Putter_7____ The Same__4___
9: Recommend
to other golfers: YAR GX1 Putter:__10___ “XYZ”
Putter__4___ The Same__6___
10: Overall Rating:
YAR GX1 Putter:__13___ “XYZ” Putter__3___ The
Same__4___
The results in
this part of the test showed that the YAR GX1 putter was
picked more consistently in each criterion except for Appearance.
Our observations
during the test showed that most of the participants made
more putts with the YAR GX1 and missed putts were closer
on average than the other putters.
Comments made
by the testers:
What
did you like best about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Sound
Face feel
A good straight line putter
I like its use for a “pop” stroke as opposed
to a flowing stroke
Good feel and accuracy (2)
I liked the unusual design
Alignment (2)
Good feel and crisp stroke
Look and feel
The balance, sound of hit, feel of impact
Sound and simplicity
Is
there anything you didn’t like about the YAR GX1 Putter?
Unusual Appearance
The shaft and alignment
Too deep
Didn’t feel comfortable at address
Design takes a while to appreciate
Too light
A little trouble with look
Goofy look
Design, too narrow from face to back end
Is there anything you would change about the YAR
GX1 Putter?
Straight through
shaft
Ability to change the lie angle
Wider Face, less mass behind blade
Please rate how
easy it was to use the ball pickup feature of the YAR GX1
on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best: 9.7
All the testers
really liked the ability to pick the ball out of the hole
and how easy it was to perform that function.
Final
Summary
In
summary, the YAR GX1 Putter is a high quality putter that
the test results clearly shows that it offers superior performance.
Skilled golfers got excellent results using the YAR GX1
Putter. Where the YAR GX1 Putter really stood out was with
average to higher handicap golfers who had trouble with
their putting. The test results showed that these golfers
were able to make more putts from inside ten feet using
the YAR GX1 versus the other putters in the test. Also putts
made from longer range ended up closer to the hole resulting
in fewer three putt greens. Based on the results of the
test we can confidently report that most golfers will be
able to improve their putting and lower their scores by
switching to the YAR GX1 putter. GolfTest USA is usually
not enamored with the hype offered by company statements
regarding the performance of their products. Having said
that we especially enjoyed the following statement made
by the President of YAR Golf, Gerri Jordan…
Quote: “You are better off playing with it, then against
it!”
One
aspect of the YAR putter we found interesting was because
of its design and balance it was very easy to putt with
just one hand. Yar Golf claims the YAR GX1 has the highest
MOI of any putter and while we do not have the equipment
to test for MOI of putters our observations during the test
were that the ball appears to begin its forward roll more
quickly than many other putters making the same forward
roll claim.
The
overall design of the YAR putter can help any golfer who
has physical limitations such as bending over or who has
lower back pain. The YAR putter can easily mark the ball
and pick it up at the same time and pick the ball out of
the hole. It can also be used to pick up other clubs off
the ground. If it is lying on the ground it can be picked
by applying light pressure with the foot on the head and
it will right itself. This is the perfect putter for “Adaptive”
golf.
In
our special putter test last year the YAR GX1 was one of
8 putters out of 47 that was awarded a 5 star rating based
on the overall results it achieved in the test. That is
quite an accomplishment for a new putter company just entering
into a very competitive market.
 We
are pleased to award the YAR GX1 Putter our coveted GolfTest
USA “Seal of Excellence”.
For
more information on the YAR GX1 Putter go to www.yargolf.com
|
