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
Here are a few possibilities …..
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Interesting. I like the red.
Bright orange, please. That should surprise literally no one that knows me.
Let’s start with the packaging…The box was well packaged and protected inside, the putter came in a sealed plastic bag exactly like my much more expensive Scotty Cameron did. After removing the headcover, the head was wrapped in plastic AND the sole was also protected by another piece of thin plastic much like you would take off a new cell phone out of the box. All minor details but the attention to the small things for a putter in this price range is impressive.
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Looks… This is a sexy looking putter. From the oversized Lamkin grip to the black shaft and the single line black alignment aid. It all flows very well and for me I love the choice of going with a black line instead of traditional white. The head is a dark gray which looks perfect with this combination.
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Little sticker to tell you what kind of stroke this putter works best for
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The face milling is quite impressive for a putter of this price as well as you can see here.
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Sound/Feel, here is where the soft comes in. Its almost hard to explain how it can be firm but yet somehow soft. It doesn’t have a ting or thwack (yes technical terms haha) like other milled putters but more of a thud. The ball rolls quickly and on line. I will try to get some video of this soon.
Overall, I’m impressed so far. Hope to get on course very soon with it to see how it performs .
Interesting as far as the center shaft. Good luck with it.
I have gamed a couple center shaft putters in the past with some success. I had moved back to standard shapes but this one just set up so well I wanted to give it another shot and I love the shape
Here is mine
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Appreciate you doing that. I am not a fan, honestly. Looking forward to the club but might throw mine in my original HB cover.
Appreciate you doing that. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan. I might throw mine in the my original HB cover.
If anyone has pictures of the cover that comes with the #4, I’d be appreciative if you could also post.
I can get you one before the day is done. Out running errands now but will ASAP.
I actually like the looks and quality of the head cover, except for the velcro closure, which is something I just can’t stand. I’ve already thrown it on the shelf, with my other HB SOFT head cover, and put my Coeur d;Alene cover with magnetic closure on it.
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Thank you! Definitely like that one more.
I was just about to post it but you beat me to it! Thanks for the assist!
More gray. So blah. Nice stitching and details though, it appears.
I’m with @OldeDude on preferring magnetic closures. They last and are quick and easy.
If stats mean anything, the day went well for putting. As a hi-cap golfer, my average is just over 41 putts per round. I finished with 36 today!
Now, I think some of the credit went to my Sand wedge as I also had a better than average day chipping into the green, which probably translated into better putting position.
One example which normally would get into my head was hitting from the rough over a greenside bunker which had a wall! I hit it exactly as intended, dropping it just past the pin and then finished with a one putt.
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I have to say, I’m annoyed; I spent a small fortune on the Spider X and I think I’m liking the HB Soft Premier better! LOL.? Good problem to have…
The other thing I like about magnetic closures is that when I pull my putter out of my bag, I can just hang the cover on one of my irons via the magnet, so it’s hanging right there when I put my putter back. :thumb:
I am fine with it the way it is. Yes they could have made the line lighter for more contrast. But it’s not an issue.
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The 10.5 is definitely working better for me than my Tommy Armour Impact #3. I am not struggling with distance control any more.
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My mallets both have magnets and love to slap them on the irons, of course!! Five of my seven overall have magnet covers.
I’m seeing alignment line is dark comments for the premier and I agree on that, but figured presto-chango in their customizer.
If there is an alignment line, I like to utilize it to the fullest and with more contrast, personally. I kinda dig both finishes overall.
Kinda like I needed "tall" clothing a lot over the years and had to pay more for it.
Glad to see the 10.5c getting some love. Out of the Premier line this is the one that appeals to me the most.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Based solely on my indoor time, I’ll say the mallet feels well constructed at impact. I’ve felt plenty in the past that felt strange on off center contact but that isn’t the case here
I really, really struggled with speed today. I think part of it was the bigger, heavier head and the mallet and part of it was the greens were faster than they have been in at least a month (likely 2) due to a championship going on today. I have to admit that I was not prepared for the conditions encountered and it was a bit of a self induced three putt parade. But the promise is there – I burned some edges but didn’t have my bearings to leave easy two putts.
The SINKFIT grip is great – I’m thrilled with the stock choice and the finish looks really muted in bright light. The feel is a little bit less loud and lively then the blade I’m coming from. I have a lot of hope for the future and I think it’s going to be good for my game.
TL/DR: Aim great, speed bad; player brought C- game to the course but promise shown.
I agree that the #11 shape is a big help on alignment. I got the #10.5, and my only real issue so far is that I’m coming to it from a #11, so I’m adjusting to a shape that doesn’t give as much help. Going pretty well though, and I’m sure I’ll get used to the different shape quickly.
For first time on course I wasn’t displeased with performance, I didn’t make anything really though. I rolled a couple long ones pretty close so distance control was good but I missed quite a few inside 6ft. Today I’ll blame that on the punched greens. I still think its kind of baffling how this putter feels solid yet soft at impact. Its really unlike any other putters in my possession.
How is contact high on the face? I found that if I had too much forward lean, it felt funny but when I reduced it the feel was stellar.
I’m not a forward leaner so I couldn’t tell you. I could try if you like haha. If anything I hit it low on the face depending on ball placement. There is a definite different feeling when hitting the absolute center though, its even softer.
I am a fan of the 10.5 shape I can say that. Its small enough to not be a mallet but definitely bigger than a blade. Alignment is pretty good too and of course its easy to pick the ball up with the putter which happens to be a preference of mine.
Just tested this out just for you while doing some basement putting ? I agree with forward lean it’s a different feel, much more hard than soft and a different sound as well. Not sure if though if the center shaft version I have affects that at all compared to a regular model
Yeah, it was jarring this past weekend but now I know the error. Thanks
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Hey now. Old habits die hard and i found the top of the face. It happens (for me at least)
I will say though that when I put a good stroke on it the 10.5c feels great and rolls great. There is definitely a softer feeling when hitting the center too which I don’t always do and it puts a great roll on the ball. I also think its pretty easy to align and the center shaft doesn’t seem to hinder that at all like some others I’ve tried.
I’ve been rolling it about 50-100 putts a day recently and it feels more natural for my stroke but I’m still adjusting to it too
What do you have and what are you coming from?
I’m coming from a million putters but typically ones with a fair bit of toe hang. And I’m a #11 now.
Are you noticing any tendency to miss one way or the other. Which 11 the single bend face balanced or slant neck? Just curious. I always wanted to try that shape and would probably have leaned slant neck if I went that direction.
Looks wise, I think this finish is definitely an upgrade from the Frontline models. I’m a fan of the murdered out look so this entire setup is right up my alley. Knew I’d love the grip going in so no surprises there. The 8 is a wide-ish blade design. I wouldn’t say it’s as wide as the Odyssey double wide or say a Betti QB6, but more in line with the old Odyssey 1 wide designs. Happy to snap some pictures if anyone would like to see some comparisons. I do have a QB6 downstairs as well.
I need to find a way to meet up and play cap. I have the HB 11 slant neck and the Frontline Elevado slant neck you could try out.
I went face balance because I was having so much luck with a face balanced putter in the spring. Right now my miss is a pull because I’m focusing on the head of the putter and it feels open when it isn’t. When I relax and just stroke the putt the ball goes straight. It’s just an adjustment period but the putter does what it needs to when there isn’t user error
As a guy who likes a blank putter with no markings, I like that the 11 has no alignment aid on the face and the line on the back is dark.
I have rounds booked Friday and Saturday. I will probably do something on Sunday or Monday but am waiting for the weather forecast to firm up