WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Wilson launches its next iteration of its affordable Infinite putter line with nine models that tout a three-line alignment feature on the flange. The theory is the thicker center line running the length of the flange framed by thinner lines the width of the ball provide a clearer sense of the target. The models encompass an array of hosel configurations to match up to a player’s particular stroke type.
PRICE: $130. Nine models include four blades: Windy City (plumber’s neck), Michigan Ave (flow neck), Grant Park (wide curve-flanged flow neck), West Loop (heel-shafted, widebody blade); and five mallets: South Side (center-shafted half mallet), The Bean (heel-shafted, traditional full mallet), The L (slant neck wide-frame mallet), Bucktown (heel-shafted, parallel fang mallet), Buckingham (slant neck, extreme stability, winged mallet). Available in shaft lengths of 33, 34, 35 inches.
3 COOL THINGS 1 Seeing the sights. As in the past, the lineup of Wilson Infinite putters are named for several distinctive locales in the Chicago area, home to Wilson’s world headquarters. But what’s visually distinctive about these relatively familiar blade and mallet shapes is the collection of three lines at the top of each putter. On each model a thicker center line is framed by two thinner, parallel lines. The idea is the thin lines enhance the focus on the bolder center line.
“The new Infinite range serves the needs of golfers who struggle with alignment,” comments Bob Thurman, global general manager of golf and vice President of research and development at Wilson. “We are confident that players will be drawn to the new look and feel, with multiple options to cater to varying preferences in putter shape and hosel style.”
2 Nine looks. It is not enough that there are nine different shapes in the Infinite line, but the shapes encompass an array of hosel types to better match individual stroke types. Among the four blades and five mallets are plumber’s necks, flow necks, slant necks and center- and heel-shafted orientations. Combined with different shapes which vary the depth of the center of gravity back from the face, each model likely will match up differently for each player’s particular natural degree of face rotation in their stroke. In general, the center shafted model and the plumber’s neck versions cater to strokes with less opening and closing of the face, while the heel-shafted, slant neck and flow neck models work best with strokes that feature more natural face rotation.
3 Finishing touch. The face on each model is double-milled to be precisely flat. It’s designed for consistent feel and roll. The two-tone PVD finish helps to reduce glare, further enhancing the focus on the alignment lines. A large, consistent diameter grip aims to stabilize excessive hand activity during the stroke. The clean look, combined with the full array of styles and hosel options, makes for a bargain at a selling price that’s less than half the national average for putters, according to Golf Datatech research.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
