The new line of MacGregor MT Milled Putters is the latest entry in a putter category that’s easy to overlook, basically because it’s so small: High-quality 100-percent milled putters for less than $200.
You have Cleveland’s HB SOFT Milled line starting at $199.99 which, technically, is under $200. Costco’s Anser-style Kirkland Signature KS-1 is $149.99 (when you can find it) and there’s maybe a handful of others.
That’s about it. And the fact is that most of them are actually cast into a rough putter shape and then CNC milled into their final shape. When you start whittling the list down to putters that are 100-percent milled from a single billet of carbon steel for under $200, the list gets even shorter.
There’s Maltby, Hogan and MacGregor. I know you’ll let us know if we’re missing any but the point remains that it’s a really short list.
The question as to whether a putter that’s 100-percent milled from a single piece of carbon is any better than one that’s cast and then milled is unanswerable. More precisely, it’s one that we can’t answer. Only you can, based on what performs better for you. But on the grand scorecard of whether a putter has to be $400 to get the ball in the damned hole, the new MacGregor MT Milled line goes on the “Hell no, it doesn’t” side of the ledger.
Let’s take a look.
MacGregor MT Milled Putters: Milled Value
Based on this year’s MyGolfspy Most Wanted blade and mallet putter testing, the new MacGregor MT Milled putters won’t overwhelm you. The center-shafted MT-002 finished next to last in mallet testing, while the Anser-style MT-004 was 37th out of 39 putters in blade testing. The MacGregor MT-001, a double-wide Anser-style blade, did finish 20th overall, beating out higher-priced heavyweights from Odyssey, Bettinardi, Scotty Cameron and PING.
As we’ve discussed, putters are personal things and our Most Wanted testing is an excellent starting point when looking for one. Demo sessions are great for determining what lengths, lies, head shapes and weighting might suit you. And, of course, there’s no substitute for a good putter fitting.
Why, then, would you even consider a direct-to-consumer putter that was a meh performer that you can’t demo?
The answer comes down to two simple questions you should ask yourself.
First: Do you know the length, head shape and alignment options that suit you?
Second: If you do know those things, does a single-block, 100-percent milled carbon steel putter for $159.99 make you want to do a little dance, make a little love and get down tonight?
“They’re beautiful putters,” says MacGregor owner Simon Millington. “They’ve got a lot going for them and it’s an incredible price.”
The MT Milled Blades
The MacGregor MT Milled 001 and 004 putters are Anser-style blades with one significant difference: the MacGregor MT 001 is what you might call a “double-wide.” It’s wide-bodied so, depending on your preference, you can call it a maxi-blade or a mini-mallet. We tested it in the blade category but, ultimately, you can call it what you want.
Wide-bodied blades such as the MT 001 tend to have higher MOI than what we’ve come to call blade-style putters (if you’re a purist, anything outside of a Bulls Eye or an 8802/Napa stall isn’t a “true” blade). And the wide-bodies have mid-mallet level stability. The MT 001 (along with the rest of the line) features 10-gram weights in the heel and toe to provide extra perimeter weighting to prevent twisting on the occasional (or maybe more than occasional) off-center strike.
The MacGregor MT 004 is a traditional Anser-style, plumber’s neck blade. The Anser-style design dates back to 1966 thanks to Karsten Solheim and the original PING Anser. It’s milled with a cavity in the middle with extra mass low and on the perimeter. Karsten’s original idea was to create a more stable and forgiving putter than the most popular putter of the day, the Wilson 8802. PING let its design patent expire in 1980 and the Anser has since become the most emulated putter design in golf history.
Like its stablemate, the MacGregor MT 004 includes 10-gram weights in the heel and toe for greater stability. But with its smaller profile it, by nature, has a lower MOI. Both putters feature a single centered alignment line in the cavity to finish off a clean, simple look.
The MT Milled Mallets
The new MacGregor MT Milled mallets are where things start to get interesting. There is a putting sub-culture dedicated to the preservation of center-shafted putters. If you’re a member of that secret society, MacGregor milled the MT 002 just for you. It’s a center-shafted mallet in a shape MacGregor calls “Wing Back.” It’s a rounded, abbreviated fang-tooth affair that’s face-balanced for golfers with a straight-back/straight-through stroke.
The MacGregor MT 003 features a similar footprint as the 002 but it’s a fully rounded mallet. The additional mass in the back helps boost MOI. The MT 003 is heel-shafted but is still face-balanced for a straight-back/straight-through stroke.
As with its blade brothers, both MacGregor mallets feature 10-gram weights on the heel and toe. In the overall scheme of things, those weights are considerably more forward in the putter than backward, which moves the CG closer to the face than the back. Putters, particularly mallets, try to balance CG and MOI. When the CG is back, MOI goes up but, ironically, a slight mishit could cause the ball to start slightly left or right of the target, even if you’re square at impact. Moving the CG closer to the face can mitigate that, particularly on longer putts.
It’s not a technology that MacGregor is promoting or perhaps even intending. However, the placement of the weights indicates a slightly forward CG. It’s not in the same league as Cleveland’s Frontline series but the concept is similar.
Face Milling
Face milling on putters can be merely aesthetic. But we are seeing more putters in all price ranges with more faces that are, shall we say, purpose-milled. Like Cleveland has done with its HB SOFT putters since 2018, the new MacGregors are face-milled to normalize ball speed on off-center strikes.
This isn’t anything new or groundbreaking but it is effective. Without face milling, off-center strikes tend to fall short of the cup because they miss the sweet spot. Face milling, on the other hand, has more groove area and less face material in the center of the face, and less groove area and more face material on either side.
When you impact the center of the face, there’s less material to impact the ball. But if you miss just a smidge, there’s more material (and less groove area) to impact the ball. The area with more material and less groove impacts more force on the ball, which results in enough ball speed to make up for missing the sweet spot.
That means if the stroke is the same, off-center strikes will roll as far as on-center strikes.
In the putter biz, they call that “distance control.”
The overall concept is similar to Guerin Rife’s design with Evnroll but is achieved with aggressive rotary milling patterns across the face. Cleveland’s SOFT (Speed Optimized Face Technology) is a more vertical-looking pattern while the pattern MacGregor uses is more horizontal in appearance.
MacGregor MT Milled Putters: Final Thoughts
MacGregor continues to carve a nice little niche for itself in 2024 as a high-value direct-to-consumer brand. It’s easy for the cynical among us to dismiss MacGregor’s products as “open-model” stuff from Chinese factories. But that mindset qualifies as willful ignorance. Yes, there are products still available from MacGregor that are just that, open-model stuff from Chinese factories. However, Millington is committed to introducing original designs. Austie Rollinson, who is now Senior Director of Putter R&D for Titleist, has designed several MacGregor and Zebra clubs. The MacGregor MT Milled putters are designed by Larry Tang, who worked with Rollinson at Odyssey and Callaway. His designs include the legendary Two-Ball putter and various Callaway irons and drivers.
“We’ve worked with great designers to make great products,” says Millington. “You keep putting that together and people will take notice.”
As of late last year, Millington hired former Adams and Hogan designer Gavin Wallin as his in-house designer. He’ll be in charge of all new designs for MacGregor, as well as Millington’s other brands, including Ram, TearDrop, Zebra and Ben Hogan.
“The stuff we’re doing with him now across all our brands is going to be really interesting.”
MacGregor’s results in Most Wanted putter testing were, to be kind, middle of the road. We did, however, see good to outstanding performance from models from Zebra and TearDrop. “We know we’re going to get tested and it’s going to get reported,” says Millington. “That just drives us to get better.”
Specs, Price and Availability
The MacGregor MT Milled putters are priced to move at $159.99. Each of the four models can be ordered in 33-, 34- or 35-inch lengths, in left-handed or right-handed. An oversized, MacGregor branded grip is standard. MacGregor is not offering loft or lie adjustments for the MT Milled series.
Each putter comes with a magnetic headcover, something you usually don’t expect to see in a $160 putter.
All four putters are available to order now on the MacGregor website. The expected release date is May 20.
For more information, visit www.macgregorgolf.com.
This article was written in partnership with MacGregor
Hollywoooood
1 week ago
I like that it’s SHINY