50 Words or Less
The Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 putter is a solid, simple mid-mallet design. Soft feel. Counter balanced option.
Introduction
Joining the Studio Stock #8 in Bettinardi’s 2017 line up is the Studio Stock #3. This putter is a clean mid-mallet designed for the player who wants a slightly more forgiving flat stick.
Looks
The Studio Stock #3 is a prototypical mid-mallet. It’s symmetrical, rounded shape has shoulders and bumpers reminiscent of an Anser. A single, long alignment line provides help with aiming.
Like the other Studio Stock putters, the #3 has a workmanlike appearance. The finish is a durable Mercury Gray. There’s little in the way of graphics or branding, and the paintfill is a classic black and blue.
Sound & Feel
Despite the different head shape., the Bettinardi Studio Stock #3 feels nearly identical to the #8. Both are milled from solid blocks of carbon steel and feature Bettinardi’s F.I.T. Face.
The sound is very soft, and the feel is a gentle “thud.” Using a firmer ball will raise the pitch of the impact sound slightly. One other interesting thing about the F.I.T. Face is that it makes the sweet spot feel larger than does Bettinardi’s honeycomb milling.
Performance
One of the interesting aspects of the Studio Stock #3 is the toe hang. Where most mid-mallets are face-balanced, this putter has toe hang around 30 degrees. This will allow players with more face rotation in their stroke to take advantage of this more forgiving head.
Additionally, Bettinardi is offering the Studio Stock #3 in two configurations. The standard model, available from 33″ to 35″, is 358 grams. This is just slightly on the heavy side of standard. You can also opt for the counterbalanced model which weighs in at 400 grams and measures 38″. Some players will find the CB model to be more stable during the stroke, and the heavier head is certainly more forgiving on mishits.
Conclusion
Bettinardi has taken a putter that every company does – the traditional mid-mallet – and added some performance tweaks to make it interesting. The addition of toe hang opens up the design to a different group of players, and the counter balanced option provides added forgiveness and a unique feel.
Buy the Bettinardi Studio Stock #3 HERE
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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I just added the Bettinardi Studio Stock #3 mid-mallet to my arsenal/inventory. Game changer ?