50 Word or Less
A hard-to-find design reborn after a 14 year hiatus. Impeccable craftsmanship. Superb feel.
Introduction
Everyone remembers their first. No, I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about the first time they held a high end putter. For me, it was a Bettinardi Millenium Series BB43 that I happened upon in the used section of a golf store. I didn’t really know what it was, but I knew it was unlike anything I had ever putted with to that point.
When I saw that Bettinardi was bringing the BB43 back for the 2014 BB Series, a nostalgic smile spread across my face. Here are my thoughts on the rebirth of one of my all-time favorites.
Looks
Stunning. That’s hardly unexpected from Bettinardi, but that doesn’t make it any less true. For 2014, the BB Series is milled from a mild carbon steel and topped off with a satin silver finish. This finish looks great and also has function: it eliminates glare.
The BB43 is an Anser-style head with a stout appearance. It’s a bit shorter from heel to toe than the BB1 and has a marginally thicker top line.
The 2014 BB Series features Bettinardi’s signature honeycomb face milling. Not only does this produce a perfectly flat surface for putting, it is also the putter’s greatest aesthetic weapon. Even though I’ve seen hundreds of Bettinardi putters in my life, I never get tired of staring at the precision and artistry of their face milling.
Sound & Feel
The combination of soft carbon steel and honeycomb milling always produces sensational results, and the BB43 is no exception. The feel on impact is crisp with a nice “click.” The pitch will depend on the type of ball you use, but any better-quality ball should produce a nice soft feel.
The feedback on mishits is subtle, but definitive: the impact sound is noticeably lower pitched when you miss the sweet spot.
Performance
While there are loads of face balanced putters and plenty of center shafted putters, finding a center shafted, face balanced blade like the BB43 is not easy. That’s a shame because, in my opinion, no putter is better suited for a player trying to use a straight-back-straight-through (SBST) stroke. This putter gives the player a real feeling of connection to and control over the face, which is, of course, the heart of putting.
Additionally, the BB43’s weight, balance, and feel make distance control a breeze. The head weight of the BB43 is 353 grams which gives the player a good feel for the head without making it uncomfortable to swing. The exceptional feedback also enhance your ability to control distance because you’re easily able to distinguish putts that weren’t hit hard enough from putts that were mishit.
Overall, for players with SBST strokes or those seeking a greater feeling of control over the putter face, the BB43 is a fantastic choice.
Conclusion
For players seeking a putter to complement their SBST stroke, the Bettinardi BB43 should be the first and last thing you look at. In addition to being a great performer, this putter delivers all of the beautiful craftsmanship that you’d expect from a Bettinardi and exceptional feel.
Price and Specs
The 2014 Bettinardi BB Series retails for $299. The CB (Counter Balanced) models retail for $349.
The available models are the BB1, BB1F, BB1 CB, BB32, BB32 CB, BB43, BB55, and BB55 CB.
Watch the Video
Bettinardi BB43 (1)
Bettinardi BB43 (2)
Bettinardi BB43 (3)
Bettinardi BB43 (4)
Bettinardi BB43 (5)
Bettinardi BB43 (6)
Bettinardi BB43 (7)
Bettinardi BB43 (8)
Bettinardi BB43 (10)
Bettinardi BB43 (11)
Bettinardi BB43 (12)
Bettinardi BB43 (13)
Bettinardi BB43 (14)
Bettinardi BB43 (16)
Bettinardi BB43 (22)
Bettinardi BB43 (24)
Bettinardi BB43 (25)
Bettinardi BB43 (27)
Bettinardi BB43 (28)
Bettinardi BB43 (29)
Bettinardi BB43 (30)
Matt Saternus
Latest posts by Matt Saternus (see all)
- The Lido Golf Course Review - September 25, 2023
- GOAT Grips Putter Grip Review - September 20, 2023
- Podcast Episode 198 – Dan Ridgway, GOAT Grips - September 20, 2023
I have 2 bhb12 but its getting time to replace them. How close is the weight
of the BB43 to mine that I have now?
yvon
Yvon,
I don’t know how heavy your current putter is, so I’m unable to answer your question.
Best,
Matt
Hey Matt,
Are the BB43 still available thru Bettinardi?
Thank you.
AL,
I’m not sure, you’d need to contact Bettinardi directly.
Best,
Matt
This isn’t exactly related to this review, but I just found an old Bettinardi BB43 Millennium Edition for a killer deal. It is pretty beaten up and needs some love, but I bought it to be a project putter that I can refinish and maybe turn into an heirloom. I’m just so excited about it, I needed to comment and have someone that would share my level of excitement, ha ha.
Thank you for your reviews. They’re always well written and contain useful attention to detail.
Blake,
The Millenium Series putters are awesome, great pick up!
-Matt