• Bettinardi Golf continues their Twenty fifth-anniversary celebration with their eleventh limited-edition putter.
• The BB2 design infuses the traditional form with iconic Bettinardi components.
• Solely 250 produced.
• Accessible Nov. 30 with a MSRP of $900.

The turkeys have come out of hiding and the awkward conversations with kinfolk are on pause till the subsequent spherical of holidays. Neighbors are arguing in regards to the appropriate variety of yard inflatables and how one can gentle their houses brighter than the solar.

Welcome, everybody, to the top of November.

Because the eleventh month leaves the calendar, it’s time for the penultimate Bettinardi XXV Anniversary putter launch. This 12 months, Bettinardi is celebrating their Twenty fifth anniversary within the putter enterprise with month-to-month limited-edition putter releases, every reflecting a second in Bettinardi’s historical past.

This month, the putter speaks to a putter historical past nicely past that of Bettinardi’s tenure. We’re heading again to the times of Jack and Arnie. It is a putter that our mother and father, and even grandparents, performed.

Perhaps a few of you “seasoned” folks even performed one.  

Bettinardi’s eleventh XXV Anniversary mannequin is their BB2, a spin on the extra classic-than-classic Wilson 8802 design. Few different putters evoke the sentiments of nostalgia (and frustration) just like the 8802. Its place within the historical past of golf gear is nicely established.

The Bettinardi XXV Anniversary BB2 shares many features with the unique design but additionally consists of components which are pure Bettinardi.

The Bettinardi BB2: A True Blade Putter

The Bettinardi BB2 is as a blade putter as a blade putter might be. Greater than as soon as, I’ve learn the “that’s not a blade putter” remark once we submit our annual Most Wished Blade outcomes.

In precept, I don’t disagree. Lots of the putters we name “blades” lately are extra of a homage to the blade putter than blade-like in any respect. Instances change, although. The PING Anser now’s the blade baseline. Some will disagree with that however some disagree with every part. I can see somebody arguing that the 8802 just isn’t a blade because it has a rear flange.

At that time, we’re left with solely the Bullseye as the appropriate blade.

Regardless, the Bettinardi BB2 is a blade putter. It has an virtually knife-like form and not one of the subsequent structural silliness design components like a cavity, alignment strains or perimeter weighting. If you’re searching for computer-assisted moment-of-inertia boosts and center-of-gravity positioning, this isn’t the putter for you.

The Bettinardi Spin Within the BB2 Blade

How did Bettinardi spin the design to make this blade uniquely their very own? Fortunately, they didn’t mess with the general form. The BB2 retains the general geometry of its iconic ancestor.

The general aesthetic is minimalistic. All of the engraving is restricted to the only real, save a nod to the 303 chrome steel development on the toe.

The primary Bettinardi “signature” you seemingly will discover is the Micro Honeycomb copper face. I suppose that’s two issues. First, you could have the addition of a copper insert within the face. Copper putters had been a factor just a few a long time in the past however ultimately the price of supplies and environmental points eliminated copper from {the marketplace}.

For this reason we noticed putter corporations change from strong copper development to a copper insert across the flip of the millennium. This transfer retained the texture of copper at impression and lowered a few of its manufacturing drawbacks. Today, copper has virtually disappeared from the putterverse. The one time we see copper development is in restricted runs like this one.

The Micro Honeycomb milling sample is the actual Bettinardi signature on the BB2. No different putter function says ‘Bettinardi” like that face milling. In an business the place good concepts are incessantly “borrowed”, the Micro Honeycomb milling is one side by no means copied. The origins of different face-milling patterns is much murkier. Nobody firm actually will get credit score for originating these patterns so putter corporations can use them with little concern of client backlash.

If another firm launched a honeycomb face, there could be points.

The ultimate piece of Bettinardi discovered on this 8802 design is one that may most likely be missed: the precision milling. The strains on this putter are elegant. A lot so that you just don’t even discover them. Each edge flows because it ought to with milling tolerances all the way down to the micron.

Specs: Bettinardi XXV Restricted-Version BB2 Restricted-Version Putter

• Materials: 303 chrome steel and copper
• Development: CNC-milled
• End: Tour Blast with polished face and sole
• Face: Micro Honeycomb with copper insert
• Neck: Slant
• Toe Cling: 1/2 (5:30-6:00)
• Weight: 357 grams
• Shaft: Stepless metal
• Grip: Brown leather-based perforated Gripmaster
• Manufacturing run: 250 
• MSRP: $900

The BB2’s Wee Tiny Head Cowl

It’s not usually {that a} putter’s head cowl warrants some dialogue. Nevertheless, I’d be remiss if I didn’t spend a little bit of time on this one. The Bettinardi XXV Anniversary BB2’s head cowl made me chuckle once I noticed it.

Why? As a result of it’s a wee tiny head cowl! 

The pinnacle cowl on the BB2 is the Mini Me of head covers. It’s identical to a standard Bettinardi headcover besides one-eighth its dimension. No, it’s not actually that small nevertheless it’s smaller than standard. It wanted to be smaller for the reason that BB2 could be as cosy as a bumblebee in a barn residing in a normal head cowl.

Whether or not its dimension is sensible or not, its barely smaller stature introduced me pleasure. 

Rolling Balls with Bettinardi Anniversary XXV BB2

So how does the BB2 really feel on the course? Splendidly terrible, identical to most of us would count on. This model of putter just isn’t a simple one to make use of for plenty of causes. First, the identical features that preserve it clean-looking are counterproductive with regards to placing.

The whole lack of alignment strains makes it troublesome to goal the putter and even discover the candy spot. In case you occur to overlook the candy spot, which is towards the heel by the way in which, the dearth of cavity and trendy weight distribution means there isn’t any corrective assist coming.

The toe hold is extreme. If the BB2 had any extra toe hold it could be working its approach again up the opposite aspect of the clock face. Toe weight is all you will discover right here.

All that negativity apart, this putter is a blast to roll. The texture and suggestions are elegant. The copper face is mushy and, once you strike the ball nicely, no putter will really feel higher. Once you don’t hit it nicely, that’s a smack with a ruler throughout your fingers. There is no such thing as a in between with this one.

I might roll 20-foot putts with the Bettinardi XXV BB2 all day. Not roll them in, thoughts you, however I might simply have the benefit of kicking the balls on their approach. From 5 ft, no thanks. At that distance, I spray extra balls than the bull washers after a muddy rodeo.

Closing Ideas on the Bettinardi XXV Restricted-Version BB2 Putter

Bettinardi might have completed their XXV Anniversary run with this BB2. I’d have provided no protest and sure have been glad with the closure of the sequence. This form represents an inflection level in putter historical past. I can’t think about a Prime 5 listing of all-time putter designs that doesn’t embody the 8802.

Bettinardi deftly walked the road between respecting the traditional design and placing their very own spin on it. The BB2 maintains the form and heritage of the unique but additionally advantages from Bettinardi’s addition of a copper face insert and precision milling.

I absolutely count on this launch to promote out shortly. Individuals have emotional attachments to this putter form. Bettinardi collectors know the BB2 just isn’t a mannequin that’s launched fairly often. Bettinardi’s first BB2 launch was in 1999. Just a few years later, there was the BC2 from Bettinardi’s partnership with Mizuno. Since then, we have now had solely a few Studio Shares and Signature mannequin with this form. That’s it. 

As I mentioned, I might have been glad with this BB2 being the final within the XXV Anniversary sequence. It could be a strong nearer however it’s not the nearer. We now have yet another to go. If Bettinardi goes to high this one, that final putter ought to show to be epic. See you in a month.

Discover out extra in regards to the Bettinardi XXV limited-edition BB2 and the remainder of the XXV Anniversary sequence at Bettinardi.com

FAQ: Bettinardi Twenty fifth Anniversary Putter Line.

The place can I study extra about Bettinardi Golf?

Our personal John Barba penned a tremendous article in regards to the historical past of Bettinardi proper right here.

What would you say is the one key attribute of Bettinardi putters?

Precision milling. Once you have a look at the strains in a Bettinardi putter, you see their consideration to element. If a putter is lower than their quality-control requirements, it should by no means depart the manufacturing unit flooring.

What is going to we see with the final Anniversary XXV mannequin?

After seeing this BB2, I don’t know what Bettinardi has saved for final. All I do know is that it’s going to seemingly be superb. If it’s a BB0 with copper plugs, I’ll want some alone time.

How do limited-edition putters differ from inventory fashions?

Restricted-edition putters often differ from inventory choices in a few methods. First, the restricted editions are sometimes head shapes that aren’t a part of the inventory line. Even when the top is one which can also be within the inventory retail line, the restricted version will usually function a distinct end, a distinct neck or another change that differentiates it from the inventory putter.