EVNROLL V-SERIES KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Evnroll V-Series offers expanded fitting options
- V-Series includes 6 models and 4 unique hosel designs
- MSRP $389 – $419 – availability March 2021
The new Evnroll V-Series is all about versatility. Hence the “V” part of the V-Series moniker. The simplicity is refreshing.
Consider the often-dizzying array of golf equipment marketing terms. Does the average consumer have any idea of what the hell an inertia generator is? Or does the typical weekend warrior really care about some fancy titanium alloy that offers enhanced ductility? Uh, uh. No way.
A good bit of marketing mumbo jumbo is meant to sound pretty and convey quality or something desirable.And sometimes golf companies don’t even care if the consumer has any idea what’s, what.
Fortunately, with the Evnroll V-Series, it’s a full dose of “it does pretty much exactly what you think it does.” The versatility of the V-series is rooted in a system of interchangeable hosels. With six head shapes, four hosels and three head weights, it provides fitters with 72 possible configurations.
The two objective benefits to such a system are straightforward. First, with more choices, fitters should be better able to find an optimal head/hosel match for golfers. Secondly, the fitting process should be, if anything, more efficient.
EVNROLL V-SERIES BASICS
If you’re new to the world of Evnroll Putters, here’s perhaps the most important concept to understand. At his core, Guerin Rife (founder) is a problem-solver. Each example of keystone technology in an Evnroll putter is a proxy for his best answer to a common problem.
With the Evnroll V-Series, the problem it addressed is aim. As in, the vast majority of golfers have poor aim. Rife and his cronies studied the data from thousands of fittings performed with fancy machines like Quintic and what they found confirmed the obvious – It’s really hard for golfers to consistently make putts with poor aim.
With that, golfers respond differently to visual cues at address such as offset, lines, and shape. The absence of such features also can impact aim. Without getting too far into the weeds, everything from eye dominance to physical player characteristics can (and typically does) create aim bias. So what’s the solution?
FOUR EVNROLL V-SERIES HOSELS
As stated previously, the V-Series offers four interchangeable hosels and six putter heads.
The four hosels offered are: short slant, short plumber, long plumber and long slant. Each fits a different type of putting stroke and while creating various amounts of offset.
The short slant hosel generates more toe-hang for players with a stronger arcing stroke.
The short plumber neck produces less toe hang than the short slant and is likely best suited to players with a slight arc putting stroke.
The long plumber hosel has a full-shaft of offset at address. Quick reminder – offset is the distance between the face and the leading edge of the shaft. This hosel set up is less rotational than the short plumber neck and fits so-called straight-back-straight-through putting strokes. There really isn’t a true “straight” putting stroke, however those with the least amount of rotation typically fit into this category.
The most distinct-looking hosel is the long slant with a 2-shaft offset. Spoiler Alert! It’s designed to pair with Evnroll’s MidLock series and increases putter loft by 2°. Check back tomorrow for more details.
While we’re taking a brief brain break, a word on putting strokes and arc. Basically, the arc of the putting stroke is defined by how much the golfer opens/closes the putter relative to the target line throughout the stroke. Fitting systems such as Quintic and SAM PuttLab can measure precisely the amount of rotation in your stroke.
SIX EVNROLL V-SERIES MODELS
The V-Series is available on six Evnroll putter models. The ER1, ER2, ER5 and ER7 remain four of its best-selling options, so it makes sense to keep these as a core offering. The ER8 still qualifies as a mid-mallet design. However, the updated shaping features a square-back as opposed to the rounded back on the previous design.
The final model in the Evnroll V-Series is the ER11, a new addition to the Evnroll family. The footprint is a little reminiscent of the PING Ketsch. However, the ER11 actually takes more cues from arguably the most popular mallet putter of the last decade – the TaylorMade Spider. Instead of wings or protruding elements, the ER11 includes two interchangeable perimeter weights. Regarding mass properties, the intention is the same. Create a low/rear center-of-gravity to boost MOI (forgiveness). In this context, forgiveness often translates with golfers experiencing better stability throughout the putting stroke.
Certainly, Rife believes that the ER11’s adjustable rear weights and four V-series hosel options offer meaningful improvements on the original Spider design. Slight non sequitur, but that’s a reasonable summation of progress. Find a design with proven success and find a way to make it marginally better. Should that be the case with the ER11, it might be one to watch during our annual Most Wanted testing.
EVNROLL V-SERIES DEMO TIME
If Evnroll has a secret sauce, it’s the patented “Sweet Face” technology. When golfers ask “What makes Evnroll different?”, most will point to the parabolic grooves as the primary answer. And though some critics question the claim that the grooves “progressively redirect the ball down the target line” our testing would indicate the technology has merit. I only mention this because with a new release it’s easy to gloss over the foundation of what’s standard on every Evnroll putter.
For purposes of argument, let’s assume there are two basic consumer groups. Those who have been through a quality putter fitting and those who haven’t.
If you’re in the first category, the V-series may simply offer a more robust menu from which to order. In my case, I tend to produce more consistent results with putters that have little (or no) offset. And prior to the V-series, I vacillated between the ER5 CS and ER2. However, with the Envroll V-Series, I was able to pair the short-slant hosel (minimal offset and a good match for my slight-arc stroke) with either the ER2 or ER5 head shape.
My hunch is that the sharper, more squared-off profile of the ER2 will remain a better fit for me. However, that’s pending more extensive on-course testing.
But, what about the majority of golfers who haven’t been fit for a putter? We’ve hashed out and rehashed the challenges around getting fit for golf equipment. Typically, it’s a function of time, cost and perceived benefit. But, with better access (some of which is the result of COVID) and more efficient processes, it’s something any golfer who honestly wants to improve, should consider.
EVNROLL V-SERIES FINAL THOUGHTS
Moving forward, advancements in golf equipment are likely to come from one of three sources. Materials, manufacturing processes or customization. Implicit in this conversation is the ability to better individualize equipment and that is precisely where the Evnroll V-Series makes a compelling case that the V-Series is both new and improved. While Envroll putters are 100% milled and utilize materials on par with other category leaders, chiefly the V-Series presents golfers with a simple value proposition – some choice is good, but more choices are better.
Do you agree? Share your thoughts.
EVNROLL V-SERIES PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
All V-Series models will be available at retail beginning in March 2021.
V-Series blade putters (ER1V / ER2V) start at $389 (with TourTac grip) or $399 (with Gravity Grip)
V-Series mallet putters (ER5V/ ER7V/ ER8V/ ER11V) start at $409 (with TourTac grip) or $419 (with Gravity Grip)
I had a chance to sit down with Guerin Rife to chat all things V-Series and Midlock putters, check out what he had to say, here.
For more information, visit Evnroll.com.
Patrick Southward
4 years ago
trying to find an ER 11 V putter