Review: Diamond Tour Golf Inazone Belly Putter

Inazone Belly Putter

I have wanted to try a long putter for quite awhile, so, when Diamond Tour Golf  had a great deal on a belly-putter I jumped on it. Normally their Inazone Belly Putter usually goes for $49.99, but it was on sale for $19.99. 

Colin the representative called me back after I placed the original order because the grip I had was a normal grip and would be too short. He recommended a Wynn long grip. He even ran down to the club maker's room and measured it for me. Absolutely outstanding service! 

When the putter was delivered, right on schedule, I tried it out around the house.  It was a little longer than I thought it would be, about three inches past my belly-button. But, I just hold the grip thumb up, resting it on my belly and use my right hand to swing the putter like a pendulum. I don't have to bend over at all, and on a true belly putter I would. Since I hurt my lower back many moons ago, bending over to putt eventually is just painful. No more bending over to putt for me.

Since I don't think I'll be turning pro any time soon so I am not worried about the no anchoring rule. I just want to enjoy playing golf.

Fresh Out of the Box!

Now, back to reviewing the putter. I played a game and it played better than I had hoped. Very good feel, feedback and playability. On the long putts I was able to hit consistent and smooth puts. On short putts it performed awesome. Being able to stand in the same position consistently, pain free, made it easier to hit better shots. My buddy said, "You're deadly from two, three feet!" I think I three putted twice all day. I holed one long putt, about twelve feet for a birdie. The rest were a lot of long putts to get it close and then bury it! 

The only putt that it didn't perform well on was putt just off the green. I wasn't able to manufacture a chipping swing with it. I still could hit it and hit it hard, just not with a chipping motion. 

I will give the Inazone Belly Putter five stars for looks, playability and value. If you are tired of bending over and adjusting your stance to deal with your back, this may the club for you. 

Here's a link to Diamond Tour Golf http://www.diamondtour.com/golf-sale/clone-golf-club-sale/golf-club-putter-sale/inazone-belly-putter.html.

Sand and Skylinks, Better Than Work

It was a beautiful day and a great day for golf. I had a new putter and some new irons that we're itching to be played. I met up with a buddy of mine from work at Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach. We played the whites with another couple of fellas. 

Like the name of the blog implies, I am not a scratch golfer, so my goal was to break a hundred. I blew up the first hole with an seven on a par four so it didn't look good. The second hole, a par five got me for a triple bogie eight. I needed to calm down and just have some fun. I got into a rhythm and except for another triple on four  I shot a string of bogies, which is good for me, to end the front nine. 

I normally do ok getting out of the sand but that day I couldn't get out in less than four! So, four times in the bunker was a bit painful and tough on the old score card.

I am going to post reviews for my new putter and irons, so I will only say that I am very pleased with both. As my lovely wife likes to say,  I chose well.

Now let's get down to the Better Than Work score. http://notascratchgolfer.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html is the link to my original    Better Than Work post. It's short but explains the concept well. My partner was great even trying to steer me away from the bunkers I just couldn't seem to stay out of. And the twosome we played with took good natured ribbing and artful sarcasm to new levels. "Great shot! Nice par!" dripped with "sincerity". For partners I call it a three.

The weather was just shy of perfect, warm with a little breeze, I give it a three. For the course I'll throw down a three because it was well kept, challenging and not too crowded.

My total number of good shots was about 23, not bad. I think I need to do a better job of noting how many good shots I was able to pull off. So here goes...

Partners: 3
The Weather: 3
The Course: 3
Total number of good shots: 23
Total Better Than Work Score: 32

I can't wait to get out and play again, it's Better Than Work.

Farewell to the Shamrocks

It was about twenty years ago I decided it was time to move up from the entry level of clubs I had been using. I went to a place in Pasadena that I am not sure even still exists. I think it was called Shamrock golf. The staff was helpful and let me try several different iron sets.  I ended up with a set of their own set with graphite shafts. I used those "Shamrock cavity backed irons" up till today. I regripped them once with Ping whites.  They have served me well. But, it's time to pass them down to my son and buy some news ones for myself. 

My wife used to work at a medical equipment distributor in town and they had a little 3 par company tournament. I was paired with

the President of the company which made my wife nervous because she is never sure of what's going to come out of my mouth.  We ended up winning and I was closest to the hole on one of the prize holes and won a nice hat. It was a nine iron if my memory serves me right. 

After my youngest pair of kids were born I didn't get much golf in for a few years but every time I was able to get out the course those irons were there ready to take a shellacking as I hacked my way around the course. And as I have been able to get out on links and hook and slice my way around they just keep going. Now as my youngest son is able to go out with me on the smaller courses I think they will nurture him along.  

Sand, Geese and Still Better Than Work

My ability to turn a birdie into a bogie and a par into a double bogie       is nothing short of mediocre. I haven't been able to be out on the links for a few months, so I was happy to squeeze in a round. 

The weather was OK, in the high 60's, and a bit windy, and I was happy to take a whack at that little white dimpled ball. The greens were being aerated so there was a few alternate greens and sand all over the most of the others. It was a bit like putting on the beach with a few less dunes. I suppose I can use that as my excuse for turning so many opportunities for par putts into bogies and double bogies. 

The course is located next to a park that borders several holes on the back nine. Apparently a small flock of geese decided to make the park their home. I love nature and all, but, the sounds of geese honking while you are teeing off can be a bit annoying. Remarkably they seemed to honk just as I started on my back swing! I don't notice any rules prohibiting a gun in your bag...

I did decide to make a purchase after this little day on the beach. It wasn't a gun nor was it a shovel and I am happy with my current sand wedge. That will be another post.

Now for the Better Than Work Score ( http://notascratchgolfer.blogspot.com/2012/09/better-than-work-score.html ):

Partner(s): 3 ( Very nice gentlemen who played with a nice pace)

Course: 1

Weather: 2

Number of good shots: 12

Total = 18