Full disclosure, I’ve always been a blade guy, and rationalized that once I go down the mallet road, there’s no coming back, “the toothpaste would be out of the tube”… the point of no return. The counter to that point of view is that 80% of tour players are now using mallets, so they likely figured out that day in and day out, more forgiveness = greater consistency. The guys that play for a living have deemed that they roll it better with a mallet, so if they’ve decided they should play a mallet loaded with technology, then you probably should too.
So when the opportunity came to review a putter for EVENROLL (I’ve always been a fan of Guerin Rife and his innovations), I thought, why not, picked the V5.2 model… which is the exact opposite of my Newport 2.6 gamer.
EVNROLL’s V5.2 mallet putter is loaded with technology . . .
Tech:
- Refined winged mallet with straight cavity sightlines
- 100% milled 303 stainless steel face with milled 6061 aluminum body
- Tungsten and steel weights for high MOI
Stainless steel face and front section of each putter provides the feel of a blade, the rear aluminum section and tungsten weights positioned deep and low offer the CG and MOI benefits of a mallet.
The addition of six weight ports provide precision weighting for targeted swing weighting as well as dynamic toe flow options and perimeter weighting MOI benefits
EVNROLL’s patented face groove technology delivers consistent ball speeds from center and off-center hits with virtually zero dispersion.
Six different hosel options to accommodate your desired stroke path (see below). You can purchase these separately and swap them out at any time.
- Long Slant
- Mid Slant
- Incline Slant
- Short Slant
- Long Plumber
- Short Plumber
Testing:
The first few rolls with the V5.2 brought a few immediate impressions, first and foremost being the incredible amount of stability at impact, zero torque. The putter face interaction with the ball feels really crisp and creates a pure end over end roll. It’s so stable, it almost is as if it swings itself, which does take a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re a lifelong blade user. When compared to my gamer, a 2013 Newport 2.6, the blade head felt like it was lagging way behind the handle. The blade also provides little in the way of forgiveness. The EVNROLL V5.2 evokes a confidence that you can make a less-than-perfect stroke and still have a legit chance to make some putts.
Aesthetics wise, I’ve always found mallets to be clumsy-looking, but the V5.2 was anything but that. The satin silver topline & black rear section of the head present an ideal contrast that frames the golf ball quite nicely. It looks like a blade with wings at the tail end. The white alignment lines frame your target line just right. Nothing loud or obnoxious here.
The black stepless shaft and finely milled face oozes of top shelf components and craftsmanship. Once I became used to the robotic way in which the putter acts as a pendulum, I was able to start having extremely impressive results, especially on short and intermediate length putts. After a few rounds with the V5.2 I can see why so many players have made the switch to this type of putter. If the V5.2 were a car, it would have to be classified as a top-end luxury and performance vehicle.
If you’re looking for more consistency and a fully customizable flatstick, EVNROLL and their V line of mallets are worth checking out.
EVENROLL V5.2 MSRP – $429. For more info: https://www.evnroll.com/products/v-series-v52-mallet-putter
