Meet T-Squared: Not Your Average Putter Company
Putters

Meet T-Squared: Not Your Average Putter Company

Meet T-Squared: Not Your Average Putter Company

What were you doing when you were 17? I was a junior in high school and spent a good deal of my time trying to burp the alphabet and wondering why girls wouldn’t go out with me. By senior year I figured out there was a connection.

What about today’s 17-year-olds? Yeah, I know, the get-off-my-grass crowd thinks kids these days don’t want to work, expect everything handed to them, blah blah blah. It’s a popular narrative but is no more or less true today than it was when Roger Daltrey first sang about My G-G-Generation. That’s the problem with narratives: they’re lazy and often false.

Which bring us to Tony Tuber, who most definitely is neither.

In many ways, Tony is your basic 17-year old kid trying to balance school work, hanging with buddies and figuring out what he wants to do with his life, all while keeping a part-time job. But it’s that part-time job that makes Tony unique.

Tony is the founder, owner, designer, assembler and chief cook and bottle washer of his own company: T-Squared Putters.

Beats delivering pizzas, doesn’t it?

Kids These Days

I stumbled across the T-Squared booth at last month’s PGA Show quite by accident. While heading to the food court, I saw these interesting looking putters and stopped to roll a few. That’s when I learned T-Squared was started, owned and operated by this 17-old kid, Tony Tuber. T-Squared. Get it?

“I’ve always been fascinated with golf clubs,” Tony says. “I’ve always wanted new clubs, the newest TaylorMade or Titleist driver. It didn’t happen, but you can want things.”

What Tony really wanted was a custom-made Scotty Cameron Circle T, and the one he really really wanted had a price tag of about 3 grand.

“I told him ‘we are NOT buying you a $3,000 putter,’” says Tony’s dad, Michael Tuber. “I told him it’s the operator, not the putter.”

This was two years ago, so Tony – then only 15 – started down a path that would eventually lead to T-Squared.

“I became fascinated with putters and putter design,” says Tony. “Mallets, blades, mid-mallets, you name it. I really wanted a Custom Scotty, but a family friend said why would you want to buy one when we can make one. And I was like, really?”

Here’s where Tony’s dad enters the picture. Michael Tuber owns a precision machine shop outside of Buffalo, New York called A.Titan Instruments, which makes surgical and dental equipment. “I was never really interested in my dad’s business,” Tony admits.

But after spending months scouring the internet for anything and everything on putter design and manufacturing, and a few more months sketching different putters, he suddenly became very interested in dad’s business.

“I showed my designs to my dad, and he was like ‘I don’t know what you’re showing me this for,’” says Tony. “He just completely dismissed it.”

“I told him we don’t have time for this monkey business,” says Michael. “We’re in the medical and dental business, our business is growing, and we don’t have time to take on any new projects, never mind make a putter.”

So, what did Tony do? What any teenager would do when the old man says no: he did it anyway.

Edge of Seventeen

That family friend who told Tony he could make a putter? He also happened to be a manager at A. Titan. Together, they kinda-sorta side-doored their way into the putter business without telling the old man.

“I told him ‘you gotta help me make these putters,’” says Tony. “He said he didn’t have time, but that he’d mess around and see what he could do.”

About a month later, Tony had two prototypes in his hands. And his dad’s attention.

“They sat down with our engineer and came up with some ideas,” says Michael. “He wanted a face-balanced blade, so he laid it out in SolidWorks and was able to see all the weight and balance. They could do it all on the computer screen without even milling one.”

Tony put his prototype together and played with it for the rest of the summer. He also made putters for some friends and family and, most wisely, his dad.

“I’m not a big golfer, but it rolled nice, I liked it,” says Michael. “So he tells me he’s interested in taking it to the next level, to make a business out of it. I tell him I don’t understand how people sell these things for $3,000, but the best place to go to find out is the PGA Show.”

So Tony and Michael took a father-son trip to the 2018 PGA Show and did their due diligence. What they found was an opportunity to carve out a little niche for Tony’s putters.

“That’s when the tires hit the road,” says Tony. “I made a business plan and started spending countless hours in the office with my dad learning about business and how things work. It’s knowing how many putters are sold, how many you want to sell, knowing the numbers, knowing the facts, and knowing what business you’re in.”

All The Young Dudes

Michael’s business acumen may be guiding Tony, but make no mistake: T-Squared is very much Tony’s baby. And his responsibility.

“There’s a lot more than just saying this is my company’s name,” says Tony. “You gotta know the business.”

If you look at Tony’s putters, the designs aren’t necessarily ground-breaking (although the face-balanced blade is interesting) but there is enough face technology to keep them from being wall-hangers. Ultimately, Tony’s unique selling proposition is a putter custom-built to your own specifications, personalized to your own tastes and shipped in a hand-made, engraved wooden box for around $600 (or a stock version for $400 to $480) – all made by a kid who, five years ago, was a Webelo.

“I believe in the modern sleekness of putters, I don’t like bulky head designs,” says Tony. “We have a face-balanced blade; we look at longer necks, different hosel designs, different materials like 6061 aircraft aluminum backed by Teflon. My dad manufactures surgical and dental instruments to very high tolerances, so when we say it has a 4-degree face, it has a 4-degree face. It’s dead nuts on every single time.”

Once the putter comes off the milling machine, Tony takes it from there. He does everything from sand-blasting, buffing and finishing to assembly, adjustment and custom paint-fills.

“My dad’s employees taught me how to grey-wheel and red-wheel, how to buff and how to get the finishes I want,” says Tony. “Other stuff, like the torch finishes, that was just me messing around. I figured out how to do it by watching YouTube videos.”

Tony will make 10 to 15 putters a week, but he says if the business continues to grow, he’s going to need some help.

“For sure,” he says. “Each one’s hand-crafted by me, and that’s some brutal man-hours. I love it, but it’s a lot of work.”

Does dad ever have to crack the whip?

“I do have to kick him in the pants, he’s still 17,” says Michael. “But he’s so self-motivated and self-driven, he just knows what needs to be done. Even with chores around the house, of my three sons, he’s the first to give a hand.”

Michael says Tony often works till 11 or 12 at night making putters. Doesn’t he have a bedtime?

“According to his mother, yes. According to me, no,” he says. “He knows he has customers who’ve paid for a putter, so he’s gotta get it done.”

The Kids Are Alright

Tony’s in his junior year of high school, so on top of everything else, he’s looking at colleges.

“I want to go south for college,” he says. “I think I can sell some putters down there.”

He’d like to study business and engineering, but Tony admits engineering wasn’t even on his radar until he started designing and making putters.

“I’ve realized I’m very hands-on,” he says. “I love making things. When I’m done, I feel a sense of accomplishment. On a Saturday, if I’m not doing anything, I feel like I need to go to the office and tinker with putters. I need to be doing something.”

Don’t think Tony’s some teenage workaholic, though. He does play XBOX (although not as much since starting T-Squared), he loves to ski and hang with his friends. One thing Tony doesn’t do, says Michael, is get into much trouble.

“He’s been pretty conservative and boring when it comes to that,” says Michael. “The biggest thing is we have some property in the woods, and we have a Polaris Ranger 4-wheeler. He tends to take it out and get it stuck. He jumps it, and it’s not made for jumping. He’s rolled it over, smashed into trees, driven into ponds. We bought it for $18,000, and it’s had $18,000 in repairs. He’s been working since he was 14, so he’s paid for all of it.”

“My family is a bunch of hard workers,” says Tony. “I’ve worked every summer and during school about 20 hours a week. You need to work hard to be successful.”

Work and fun most definitely go together in the Tuber family, and Michael’s rule is once you hit 14, you go to work.

“My 11-year-old, I asked him if he wanted to come work for the dental business,” says Michael. “He says ‘Dad, you can’t meet girls at a dental business, I’m gonna work at the grocery store, you can meet girls there.’”

“If they don’t want work in my business, they can work in my cousin’s brewery and restaurant,” he says. “When you reach a certain age, you have to work.”

Tony has another year and a half of high school and then four years of college. The plan is to keep T-Squared going while Tony’s studying and, presumably, selling putters. But Michael wants to make sure his oldest son gets the full college experience.

“My hope is he has fun,” he says. “I’m encouraging him to go away, leave the area, see the world and do something and have fun. As long as he’s having fun, it’s not a job. And after college, if the putters are still there and he wants to make a go of it, he’ll be a 21- or 22-year-old guy with his own business.”

For his part, Tony would love to emulate another father-son putter company.

“I’d love to be like Bettinardi,” he says. “That’s my vision. Ultimately, I think I want to be a putter-maker, but I look forward to being a businessman in general. Maybe I can start something else, maybe help my dad with his business. We’ll see what happens.”

“But I love talking to people and sharing what I’ve been able to do,” says Tony. “I’m very proud.”

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John Barba

John Barba

John Barba

John is an aging, yet avid golfer, writer, 6-point-something handicapper living back home in New England after a 22-year exile in Minnesota. He loves telling stories, writing about golf and golf travel, and enjoys classic golf equipment. “The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight.” - BenHogan

John Barba

John Barba

John Barba





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      Barry Jacobson

      5 years ago

      Looking for a putter similar to the Scotty Newport 2

      Reply

      McaseyM

      6 years ago

      Very cool stiff and awesome to see his drive!! I like the wide body blade/mid mallet on the far right photo. Are they expensive? Yes, but there’s a market as we’ve seen, and people will pay if they like them.

      Reply

      Bruce

      6 years ago

      Interesting story and I wish him a profitable business.
      However, my other takeaway is simply the demonstration of how little technology is applied in golf – startups like this AND the majors. A person with no technical education, sketches a putter, probably receives assistance e with the CAD work in Solid Works, used the family business for manufacturing and produces a putter competing with the majors. This reinforces my belief that golf equipment remains 99% marketing and hype. High equipment prices simply support overpaid management with minimal design technology.

      Reply

      mackdaddy

      6 years ago

      Very Sweet Looking!!! How do they putt?

      Reply

      Bob

      6 years ago

      Fantastic story! Wishing T Squared the best in their venture.

      Reply

      Plumbob

      6 years ago

      Yes, great inspiring story. To be able to find your passion so young is truly a gift and kudos to his father for helping him on his journey. I look forward to following his progress in the coming years.

      Reply

      Simms

      6 years ago

      Just waiting for the young guys (like the golf ball on line guys) start importing quality clubs from China and selling them on line for 75% less the the big OM’s. They have proven you can sell a quality ball for less then $25 dollars why not $100 putters as good as any?

      Reply

      Andrew Han

      6 years ago

      Because the putter isn’t a commodity, but rather an extension of the person’s personality. Plus, it didn’t workout with Cleveland or I think it didn’t. 100 bucks, ranked high, top 3 I think, in MGS, but still no effect or 100 dollar putters. TA and Cleveland may help push that later in the future.

      Reply

      Ric

      6 years ago

      Sure the $100 buck putter works and sales are up for Cleveland putters and others like them.There are more regular guys” Not the top 1%with 90% of the wealth” that are playing golf ! I have both ends of the putter line from the $100 – $300 models and there is no noticeable difference in performance!!

      Andrew Han

      6 years ago

      Ric,

      I don’t have supporting evidence that sales for the putter are up, but perhaps you do. Sporting section for SRI Sports Limited indicate a sales jump of 3% in sales from 2017 to 2018. That could mean golf balls, irons, and a slew of other things.
      http://www.srigroup.co.jp/data/open/cnt/3/6067/1/2018_end_financial_report.pdf

      With that said, yeah there are segments of the populace that views a putter as a utility rather than a status symbol. I just don’t see a push for more 100 and less putters out there. Also, there’s plenty of 100 and less putters in the market.

      In my opinion, people complaining about prices in golf is more about envy than anything else.

      Reply

      Ric

      6 years ago

      Andrew:
      It’s not envy, I have Scotty,Bettinardi ,Ping and many others. I have more success with the 8802 blade or the Vizor mallet ,there feel and performance is outstanding and isn’t defined that the more it cost the better it is … It’s all about showing off where MONEY declares QUALITY…. I play friends all the time that buy the latest highest priced Driver,Putter, etc. and I still take there cash so it the arrow or the Indian!

      Donald Koskey

      6 years ago

      I have a guerin rife 2 bar mallet. Works well for me. Do You have anything better?

      Reply

      John B.

      6 years ago

      This is a truly inspirational story. When I was 17 all I can remember thinking about was girls and cars. It’s amazing to see such a young man with the drive that he does. Keep it up!

      Reply

      Jack Hough

      6 years ago

      Would love to be able to try one of your putters out…. currently use a Rife island series that I got when playing some tour events… retired now and work at a upscale public course in Orlando. Thanks Jack

      Reply

      Milton Taylor

      6 years ago

      I think this is such a great story. I love the look of the putters, but the price is just off the charts out of my range. I have a Scotty, a few actually. However, I have long gone away from paying crazy prices for a putter. I do not for one second mean to diminish these putters, the company, or they’re means of making a living but even if I would still paying 400.00 for a putter, It’s hard to give that up to a new brand. Good luck (and I mean that with no sarcasm) T-squared

      Reply

      Sam

      6 years ago

      Keep it up Tony, believe in your dreams, listen to your Dad (sometimes), biggest congrats from across the Atlantic.

      Reply

      Don

      6 years ago

      That face milling looks awfully similar to Ping’s speed correcting off center hit face. There will be a lawsuit if they get any amount of press or traction in the market.

      Reply

      Martin Chuck

      6 years ago

      That’s just a common milling radius. Looks awesome and helps with dimple error, but nothing worthy of infringement.

      Reply

      Jeff

      6 years ago

      I don’t think Ping could patent a face milling pattern from something standard to the milling process?
      The Evenroll face design, sure that is quite unique and not just a swirl pattern made by running a facing mill at low rotation.

      Reply

      Funkaholic

      6 years ago

      I have a custom made and fitted putter from a friend who used to have his own brand. I like that it is unique, it doesn’t make me any better on the course. That is a tough market to get into.

      Reply

      T.Y.

      6 years ago

      Awesome story. It is great to see young people getting into the design and manufacture side of the biz. Hopefully new ideas will transition the industry after the Cameron’s and Bettinardi’s of the world retire.

      Reply

      Andrew Han

      6 years ago

      Cool story and putters. One word of advice if it means anything, change his logo to T^2 or something else. Looks very similar to Toulon. If this get on their radar, I can see trademark lawsuit.

      Reply

      Fred

      6 years ago

      Using the same letter in a logo will definitely not result in a lawsuit

      Reply

      Andrew Han

      6 years ago

      Not a letter but the design will. MckieD can sue a business for using red and yellow.

      D.A.

      6 years ago

      very much like the T Line putter that I played in the 70s put the Bullseye and Cash in putters in the closet good for the kid but I don’t consider this a new design

      Reply

      Dave

      6 years ago

      It doesn’t say anywhere that it’s a new design, what are you referring to???

      Reply

      Moe

      6 years ago

      First thing that I thought of was my T Line putter (which I still have).

      Reply

      George Stark

      6 years ago

      Very cool. I am in my late 50s and play golf with a lot of the High School kids in the area. They are a lot like this young man. Personable, hard workers with a passion for golf and golf clubs. The next generation is going to be great!

      Reply

      Brian

      6 years ago

      George I’m a little younger than you and I work with younger golfers. Thanks for giving some praise to these young golfers. Seems lately the world thinks these kids are lazy, i disagree

      Reply

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