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Astral Putters Review

Appointment with @BC.Astral is set.

Thanks Blake for working with me on this.

I’ve been emailing back and forth with Blake since the initial message to all testers. I offered to do a virtual consultation while on vacation, but Blake’s response was enjoy the vacation, we can knock this out when you get back. I’m looking forward to that and can’t wait to talk about Astral putters.
 
Playing 18 on Saturday and Sunday so I’ll have 36 holes of golf to talk about. The plan is to play the red copper face for both rounds.
 
First round is in the books. Overall putted well for a putters first trip to a golf course. Longer putts my speed control could have been better which is to be expected when you have a new putter in the bag. After the round I hit the practice greens and hit some longer putts to work on dialing in the speed. I still made 3 birdies today with a new putter in the bag.

I did have a 3 putt but that is 100% user error. I got cute with a pitch shot and left myself in a place where I was literally considering chipping it on the green.
 
leftybob said:
First round is in the books. Overall putted well for a putters first trip to a golf course. Longer putts my speed control could have been better which is to be expected when you have a new putter in the bag. After the round I hit the practice greens and hit some longer putts to work on dialing in the speed. I still made 3 birdies today with a new putter in the bag.

I did have a 3 putt but that is 100% user error. I got cute with a pitch shot and left myself in a place where I was literally considering chipping it on the green.
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How is the sound (feel)?

How do you feel about the setup?

Balance?

Weight?
 
Jman said:
How is the sound (feel)?
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The sound is very clean when you hit the center of the face. Get towards the edges of the insert and it becomes a little more high pitched and you know you got off the sweet spot. I like the feedback.
Jman said:
How do you feel about the setup?
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Visually it is fantastic. Very clean and confidence inspiring.
Jman said:
Balance?
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Having gone through the fitting and getting things dialed in the balance feels amazing.
Jman said:
Weight?
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I’m a fan of the weight being on the heavier side. You feel the heft when you pick up the putter. When you’re actually putting the balance is so good I don’t really notice the extra grams.
 
Gonna scroll back through pics, but just in case... Anyone have a face down look at one with zero/minimal offset? I assume it would look almost like a center shafted head at that point?
 
PiratePenguin said:
Gonna scroll back through pics, but just in case... Anyone have a face down look at one with zero/minimal offset? I assume it would look almost like a center shafted head at that point?
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I’ll get you some pictures, but think @MtlJeff has posted a few of his, which is set up with no offset. They would likely be in the brand story thread.
 
BC.Astral said:
I’ll get you some pictures, but think @MtlJeff has posted a few of his, which is set up with no offset. They would likely be in the brand story thread.
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Thanks. I did find the pic he posted (and then put it in a pic editor to flip it to the correct side 😂)
 
PiratePenguin said:
Gonna scroll back through pics, but just in case... Anyone have a face down look at one with zero/minimal offset? I assume it would look almost like a center shafted head at that point?
Click to expand...
No pics of the no offset setup. The look will depend heavily on which of the 3 necks you have in the head. The more offset the in the hosel closer to the center shaft look you will get. In my fitting we had the red (smallest potential offset) and it looked like a heel shafted putter.
 
PiratePenguin said:
Thanks. I did find the pic he posted (and then put it in a pic editor to flip it to the correct side 😂)
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Glad you found it!!! I was frantically scrolling through my phone for a few secs lol
 
So, do we have any testers that will be putting a mallet in play, or are we still waiting on one fitting?
 
Hey @BC.Astral - not sure if it has been asked and answered, but is it possible to get more alignment lines on the back of the putter? Like two or three?
 
gkeller813 said:
So, do we have any testers that will be putting a mallet in play, or are we still waiting on one fitting?
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My consultation is tomorrow. I will share the result as soon as it’s over.
 
PiratePenguin said:
Hey @BC.Astral - not sure if it has been asked and answered, but is it possible to get more alignment lines on the back of the putter? Like two or three?
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For sure. The primary line is machined in, but we can cut additional by laser super easy. Same goes for face inserts for those that want/need a top line alignment.
 
Boosted said:
Putter will be here tomorrow! (was supposed to be here this past Saturday)
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Sadly the delivery got delayed but I just got notification that it will be delivered today. Cant wait to start reviewing this putter!
 
OK. Just dropped off the zoom call with @BC.Astral. Overall, a really great experience. Crazy that he is willing to spend 35 minutes talking face to face. Brad was super easy to talk to and his enthusiasm about Astral and getting golfers putting better was easy to see.

My current putter is a Cleveland HB Soft #8. A double wide blade with slight offset and toe hang, a 70 degree lie angle with a 35 inch shaft and the stock oversized Cleveland putter grip. I was not fit for this putter. My dad gave it to me as a gift. It worked well and has stayed in the bag for almost two years. We talked a lot about my putting history, how I approach putting and what my typical miss is. Prior to being selected for this testing I was fairly ignorant on putter concepts. I've never had a "bad" experience with a putter and never really paid much attention to any characteristics other than what the head looked like (my only requirement was can I scoop the ball up with the back of the putter :D). Heck, I didn't even know my current putter had a some offset until I read the Astral review by @Hawk and decided to check my own putter for offset and toe hang. So, needless to say, I told Brad I was open to any putter head, including a mallet, and would trust his suggestion blindly.

Since we were on a Zoom, Brad was able to watch my set up and how I address the ball. This helped him confirm his initial thoughts on what would be best for me and what his recommendations were.

His recommendations were to go with the Mid-mallet, a 34 inch shaft, a 72 degree lie angle, and the Super Stroke XL grip and to start out with the Brass insert. While watching me set up to the ball with my putter, he noticed I had the toe up a bit so he recommended changing the lie angle. He also recommended a shorter shaft based on wrist measurement from the ground, but wanted to go with the longer SS XL grip. I choke up on the current grip and Brad liked this because it adds some stability. He felt confident a shorter shaft, with a longer grip that allowed me to continue to choke up would be a good fit.

We then talked about the fitting process, and I will do the self-fit first and have a follow up fit with Brad. He is going to include some literature on their 7 step fitting process as well as the putting gate used during the fitting. His main point for me during self-fit or a fitting with him, is to let go of your ego. The misses are good. Consistent misses allow for a better fitting because adjustments can be made to fit the putter to your natural putting stroke and to keep you from making any compensations during the stroke.

I can't wait to get this in hand and show it off to the forum. I am really excited about the fitting process and will share a lot of detail on that. This is such a great concept. Being able to try out a bunch of different set ups without having to buy a new putter is really cool.

Thanks to @BC.Astral and to THP for this opportunity.
 
cringjr said:
OK. Just dropped off the zoom call with @BC.Astral. Overall, a really great experience. Crazy that he is willing to spend 35 minutes talking face to face. Brad was super easy to talk to and his enthusiasm about Astral and getting golfers putting better was easy to see.

My current putter is a Cleveland HB Soft #8. A double wide blade with slight offset and toe hang, a 70 degree lie angle with a 35 inch shaft and the stock oversized Cleveland putter grip. I was not fit for this putter. My dad gave it to me as a gift. It worked well and has stayed in the bag for almost two years. We talked a lot about my putting history, how I approach putting and what my typical miss is. Prior to being selected for this testing I was fairly ignorant on putter concepts. I've never had a "bad" experience with a putter and never really paid much attention to any characteristics other than what the head looked like (my only requirement was can I scoop the ball up with the back of the putter :D). Heck, I didn't even know my current putter had a some offset until I read the Astral review by @Hawk and decided to check my own putter for offset and toe hang. So, needless to say, I told Brad I was open to any putter head, including a mallet, and would trust his suggestion blindly.

Since we were on a Zoom, Brad was able to watch my set up and how I address the ball. This helped him confirm his initial thoughts on what would be best for me and what his recommendations were.

His recommendations were to go with the Mid-mallet, a 34 inch shaft, a 72 degree lie angle, and the Super Stroke XL grip and to start out with the Brass insert. While watching me set up to the ball with my putter, he noticed I had the toe up a bit so he recommended changing the lie angle. He also recommended a shorter shaft based on wrist measurement from the ground, but wanted to go with the longer SS XL grip. I choke up on the current grip and Brad liked this because it adds some stability. He felt confident a shorter shaft, with a longer grip that allowed me to continue to choke up would be a good fit.

We then talked about the fitting process, and I will do the self-fit first and have a follow up fit with Brad. He is going to include some literature on their 7 step fitting process as well as the putting gate used during the fitting. His main point for me during self-fit or a fitting with him, is to let go of your ego. The misses are good. Consistent misses allow for a better fitting because adjustments can be made to fit the putter to your natural putting stroke and to keep you from making any compensations during the stroke.

I can't wait to get this in hand and show it off to the forum. I am really excited about the fitting process and will share a lot of detail on that. This is such a great concept. Being able to try out a bunch of different set ups without having to buy a new putter is really cool.

Thanks to @BC.Astral and to THP for this opportunity.
Click to expand...
Fantastic. Cant wait to hear your thoughts
 
cringjr said:
OK. Just dropped off the zoom call with @BC.Astral. Overall, a really great experience. Crazy that he is willing to spend 35 minutes talking face to face. Brad was super easy to talk to and his enthusiasm about Astral and getting golfers putting better was easy to see.

My current putter is a Cleveland HB Soft #8. A double wide blade with slight offset and toe hang, a 70 degree lie angle with a 35 inch shaft and the stock oversized Cleveland putter grip. I was not fit for this putter. My dad gave it to me as a gift. It worked well and has stayed in the bag for almost two years. We talked a lot about my putting history, how I approach putting and what my typical miss is. Prior to being selected for this testing I was fairly ignorant on putter concepts. I've never had a "bad" experience with a putter and never really paid much attention to any characteristics other than what the head looked like (my only requirement was can I scoop the ball up with the back of the putter :D). Heck, I didn't even know my current putter had a some offset until I read the Astral review by @Hawk and decided to check my own putter for offset and toe hang. So, needless to say, I told Brad I was open to any putter head, including a mallet, and would trust his suggestion blindly.

Since we were on a Zoom, Brad was able to watch my set up and how I address the ball. This helped him confirm his initial thoughts on what would be best for me and what his recommendations were.

His recommendations were to go with the Mid-mallet, a 34 inch shaft, a 72 degree lie angle, and the Super Stroke XL grip and to start out with the Brass insert. While watching me set up to the ball with my putter, he noticed I had the toe up a bit so he recommended changing the lie angle. He also recommended a shorter shaft based on wrist measurement from the ground, but wanted to go with the longer SS XL grip. I choke up on the current grip and Brad liked this because it adds some stability. He felt confident a shorter shaft, with a longer grip that allowed me to continue to choke up would be a good fit.

We then talked about the fitting process, and I will do the self-fit first and have a follow up fit with Brad. He is going to include some literature on their 7 step fitting process as well as the putting gate used during the fitting. His main point for me during self-fit or a fitting with him, is to let go of your ego. The misses are good. Consistent misses allow for a better fitting because adjustments can be made to fit the putter to your natural putting stroke and to keep you from making any compensations during the stroke.

I can't wait to get this in hand and show it off to the forum. I am really excited about the fitting process and will share a lot of detail on that. This is such a great concept. Being able to try out a bunch of different set ups without having to buy a new putter is really cool.

Thanks to @BC.Astral and to THP for this opportunity.
Click to expand...
Looking forward to hearing more!
 
Looks like @leftybob is up for a mallet fitting too :p
 
leftybob said:
I’ll take one for the team
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I wanted to test the mallet but since I currently have both a mid mallet and a mallet, I thought it would be best to test the blade.
 
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