It’s time to raise the curtain on Cleveland Golf’s new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters and its expansion of the successful Huntington Beach SOFT line. Cleveland Golf has consistently proven that you can make high-quality milled putters with absolute attention to detail and face technology at a really competitive price point. If you haven’t been paying attention to Cleveland putters, it may be time you perked up because you may just be surprised with what you learn.
Milling technology is the big story with both lines, as the new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier and the Huntington Beach SOFT putters are built on the same underlying technology, SOFT. SOFT, or Speed Optimized Face Technology, is face milling technology that is designed to help golfers with one of the biggest problems plaguing amateurs: speed and distance control. Cleveland Golf’s proprietary Speed Optimized Face Technology is designed to normalize ball speed across a larger portion of the face, including impacts that stray from the center.
According to Cleveland, SOFT works by creating a non-uniform milling pattern on the face. Specifically, SOFT putters feature a condensed and concentrated milling pattern in the center of the face, which effectively decreases the amount of direct contact between the face and the ball at impact, and a more spaced out milling pattern as you get further away from the center that increases direct contact with the ball. As a result, center strikes have less direct contact with the ball, and off center strikes have more direct contact with the ball, but with SOFT the inherent lower speeds caused by off-center strikes is effectively normalized with a center strike. All told, you get better, more consistent speed control regardless of impact location. If you are anything like me, having more consistent speed control will directly translate to more confidence on the greens, more aggressive strokes, and shorter second putts.
Another thing to love about SOFT is that it is technology you can see. And if you take a look at multiple different models, you will clearly see that Cleveland’s SOFT design is not once size fits all. Indeed, Cleveland has carefully optimized a SOFT milling design for each putter, so you will have an optimized milling regardless of which shape you use.
Huntington Beach SOFT Premier
The new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters are designed with a premium, sleek appearance as compared to the successful Huntington Beach SOFT line. Each putter in the Premier line features a Grey Satin finish that limits glare and adds a quality finish and high-end look. The dark Grey Satin finish is paired with a black shaft and an all-black grip, which gives the putter an aggressive and modern look. Although the darker finish won’t technically make you a better putter, there is something to the idea of “look good, feel good; feel good, putt good.”
As the photos above show, the face of the Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters has a uniquely crafted, deep diamond-shaped CNC milled pattern in the 340 Stainless Steel head. This type of milling design produces a soft sound and feel at impact that Cleveland putters are known for.
Not only is the SOFT milling design unique to each head shape, the stock putter grip is also optimized depending on the shape of the putter. Face balanced Premier putters, which favor a straight back-straight through stroke, come standard with an all-black Lamkin SINKFIT Pistol grip. Toe Hang Premier putters, which favor a slight to strong arc, come stock with an all-black Lamkin SINKFIT Skinny Pistol. Matching your grip type to your stroke is a fantastic thing because a better fit means better performance.
The Huntington Beach SOFT Premier will be offered in lengths of 33, 34, and 35 inches and in the following eight shapes at launch:
Huntington Beach SOFT
In addition to the Premier line, Cleveland Golf is expanding its successful Huntington Beach SOFT line of putters to include the same shapes as the Premier line.
The new Huntington Beach SOFT putters feature the same SOFT technology described above with the same deep CNC milled diamond pattern in the same soft 304 Stainless Steel. As a result, the technology that is packed into the Premier line is also available in a Satin finish. The Huntington Beach SOFT putters that are face balanced come stock with the Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT Oversized Grip, whereas putters with a slight to strong arc come stock with a Huntington Beach SOFT Pistol Grip.
As was the case with the original Huntington Beach SOFT putters, Cleveland offers customization and paintfill for a very small fee on both lines of putters directly through its website. Plenty of golfers have already discovered the quality of Cleveland’s putters, and these new lines continue to show that just because it is one of the best deals on the market doesn’t mean it can’t dominate and stand out from the crowd, too.
You can learn more about these new putters and other club offerings by visiting their webstie at www.clevelandgolf.com.
The Details:
Huntington Beach SOFT Premier
Available: August 21, 2020
Price: $159.99
Heads: # 3, 4, 8, 10.5, 10.5C, 11, 11S, 14
Grips: SINKFIT Skinny Pistol or SINKFIT Pistol
Huntington Beach SOFT
Available: August 21, 2020
Price: $129.99
Heads: # 3, 4, 8, 10.5, 10.5C, 11, 11S, 14
Grip: Huntington Beach SOFT Oversized Grip or Huntington Beach SOFT Pistol Grip
What about counterbalancing with more weight in the grip?
I don’t like adding more weight to a putter when the head is too heavy to change swing weight.
I rolled these again on Monday… Odd sound off the face that is very firm feeling/sounding compared to other milled putter like the Toulons on EVNROLL. It reminds me of a cinder block. Seems like the SOFT milling is much more effective on heel misses versus toe misses when intentionally hitting off center. I briefly owned a #6 but couldn’t aim a putter with only a sight dot.
I will co-sign anything orange ALL day! Hopefully the speed issues will revolve themselves with that confidence!
I’m thinking of finishing my black Ballistics Golf 54° with orange. I’ve already done a little bit of orange and green. Thinking of doing the rest in orange.
Thanks man!!I am hoping to resolve the speed issue this winter. Need to get a mat to go with my puttout.
Thanks again THP and Cleveland Golf!
Can you compare the width to a Scotty Squareback? Have you seen them side by side per chance? Thanks
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Sorry I don’t have one on hand. I can tell you that it’s slimmer than my Bettinardi Queen Bee 6. I’ll get some comparison pics later when I have a chance.
I bought the HB Premier 8 today. I compared it to the Scotty Squareback and preferred over the more expensive putter. The grip is amazing too.
Comparison pic as promised. Left to right: Bettinardi QB6, HB SOFT Premier #8, Bettinardi SS9. As you can see the shape is much more in line with the SS9 than the QB6. Almost reminds me of my Odyssey Tour Black 1W, though don’t remember if it was as long heel to toe.
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That specific putter feels as soft as any milled putter I have ever rolled.
That’s a great shape. One of my favorite in this line.
I thought the exact same thing. It’s bordering on insert feel to me, which is actually very pleasing. Even off center hits you still get a somewhat plush feel compared to other milling options.
That #8 looks really freaking good sandwiched between those Bettis. I mean, real good. I should probably stop talking about it and just purchase an 11S already.
Proceeded to absolutely destroy the stock grip that I had wanted to save…… amateur hour here apparently when you haven’t touched a club in like 6 months.
Probably going to have to hold off until after Christmas, so I can clear come space out and set up the putting mat again.
Looking forward to putting the work in with this one.
I’m also worried about whether the Mizuno IV will woo me with its siren song when it’s released.
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Man, there’s something SO right about this shape.
I totally agree. I was actually doing a little searching on eBay last night trying to find a deal on one. I didn’t find anything yet but I have a feeling I’ll be trying one sometime.
I’m much the same. It’s just a shape that I dig, and if I’m really going mallet this year I need to kid of like it….maybe?
The shape is great and with the center shaft setup it makes it feel somewhat short or compact heel to toe which is a look I love.
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My putting area is currently covered with a blanket fort that never gets used, but I am not allowed to take it down lol.
Need to get my gear out and get some putts rolling. Wanted this putter for too long to not be giving it any love.
I went back and forth on the grip for about a week. Eventually swapped it out.
I’ll give it a few rounds and see how it performs, what did you swap it out for?
One of the best deals in golf
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And it picks up the ball very well.
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Winn Midsize.
Well, changing it up. That Premier version is too heavy due to that 120g grip (total putter just over 600g). I got the "regular" HB SOFT 8 and took it outside to the putting green yesterday. I actually prefer the silver a little more I suppose, but still may swap out the oversized grip. Weight is fine, but I like more of a pistol style.
And FYI, the 8 models are not face-balaced at 0* toe-hang. The Premier had 12* and the Regular had 10*. Not much, but still not zero.
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I never really tried Cleveland putters before. Ended up being fit for 32" and the fitter said I needed a straight back straight through no toe hang putter.. go figure I have always played heavy toe hang putters before.
I think Cleveland must have run out of the Lamkin grips cause they are using a blue AVS Winn midsized grip. Its nice and soft but just not too fond of a blue grip.
So its getting swapped out. If anyone has a 75cc SNSR Tour Firm let me know. That is what I want to put on it but GP is sold out currently.