by Stuart Goldstein - AmateurGolf.com Equipment
Panelist
Probably the first thing you think of when
someone mentions Cleveland Golf is wedges. You
might want to change that to include another
important short game piece of equipment:
putters. With the introduction of the new TFi 2135
putter line, Cleveland has now cemented itself as a
bona fide manufacturer of innovative, stylish and
functional putters that are a perfect complement to
their wedges and short game prowess.
The Huntington Beach, California company is
serious about the new hashtag #own125.
So what exactly is 2135 and, more importantly,
what does it have to do with putters? In simple
terms, the exact center of the golf ball is 21.35mm
above the ground. What Cleveland has done is raise
the sight line on the back of the flange to a point
where it lines up to the center of the golf ball:
21.35mm high.
Golfers have different putting strokes, address
positions, and club preferences. Setting up over a
putt perfectly every time is nearly impossible,
leading to misalignment, off-center hits and poor
strokes. The TFi235 alignment aid allows one to
correctly align their putter no matter your set up.
With all the different variables one has to overcome
to make more putts the raised alignment aid
eliminates possibly the biggest one-poor alignment.
The TFi 1.0 is an offset heal and toe weighted
putter based on one of the most popular styles on
Tour, but with modern technologies. The raised
alignment sight line jumps out at you first but in a
very subtle yet positive way. But more than that it
works. Really works. The raised sight line, based on
science and not art, makes it very easy to line up a
putt every time. It gives you that extra sense of
confidence, which is key to becoming a good putter.
I have a tendency to line up my putts to the left,
but with the TFi my ball starts right on my line:
straight putts, left to right breaking putts, right to
left breaking putts-it really is a fantastic alignment
aid. Putting is a lot easier when you don’t
have to worry about alignment and the TFi 2135
easily gets you on line.
Alignment isn’t the only great feature of
this putter. The feel is fabulous. Now feel is very
subjective-some like a soft feel others a firmer,
harder feel. The TFI (True Feel Innovation) face
“combines a Milled Copper Infused Face Cap
over a Copolymer Insert for the ultimate in feel and
consistency across the face.” What this means
is the TFi produces a great feel on every roll. Soft,
but not too mushy, making it easy to judge speed
on any putt. Additionally, the copper and copolymer
is also visible on the corners of the putter providing,
what I think, is even more of an alignment aid.
OEM’s spend a lot of time trying to
create just the right sound of a club whether it be a
driver, irons or most importantly a putter. The TFi
copper insert produces a very pleasing sound-not too
muted and not too loud-just the right sound.
Between the great feel and the ideal sound the
TFi creates fantastic feedback, particularly on off
center hits. Of course, despite the innovative
alignment aid, those of us who don’t play for
pay do have mishits. The TFi 2135 1.0 tested comes
in a plumbers’ neck hosel and weighs a
standard like 345 grams. The lie angle is also
standard at 70 degrees and the loft is a little
stronger coming in at 3 degrees. A soft Lamkin
pistol style grip, weighing 65 grams, is a nice touch.
It is the little things that count, and the TFi 2135
comes in a beautiful box with a well-designed and
attractive headcover.
The bottom line is the bottom line, and the TFi
2135 putter will help YOUR bottom line by helping
you make more putts. The technology is real, it
works. For a price of $129 you will be hard pressed
to find a better putter value.
www.clevelandgolf.com