Equipment
Bettinardi unveils all-new Hexperimental ‘Baby Ben’ prototype at this week’s BMW Championship
Bettinardi has unveiled its new Hexperimental high MOI putter based on the original ‘Baby Ben’.
The Bettinardi ‘Baby Ben’ mallet putter was a flat-stick played by Jim Furyk when he won the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields CC.
Furyk’s win at the 2003 U.S. Open was the first time he had the Bettinardi putter in the bag, and speaking following his victory that week where he excelled on the greens, Furyk told media members:
“I gave it a try and was in there working with Bob’s rep all week, just making little adjustments, making adjustments, getting the line and loft. And I felt like I was real comfortable with it and I putted very well with it this week. I made some key putts and some great putts.”
As the tour returns to the site of that victory, Bettinardi has re-engineered the putter from the ground up with this 2020 all-new, super high MOI prototype on show at this week’s BMW Championship.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Matt Aamold
Aug 26, 2020 at 9:33 pm
Great! Now bring back the heel shafted Country Club Putter please.
Osnola Kinnard
Aug 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm
I have an original Baby Ben, and my wife hijacked it from me. I have used the same putter for almost 15 years now, and this is the first thing I have seen that has me thinking my current putter could be replaced. What’s old is new again, and I can’t wait to try it!!!
Ryan K
Aug 26, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Can’t believe my eyes! After searching for a reasonably priced backup in good condition and 1 week after settling on a BB54 proto…THIS! Been using mine since 2004! Bettinardi please send me one, with the T alignment and honeycomb face.. or the headcover at least!
No one
Aug 25, 2020 at 6:08 pm
“Hey guys, how close can we get to a Directed Force Putter without getting sued?”
Steve
Aug 26, 2020 at 8:44 am
Just don’t say in your online ads that “It’s not your fault that you suck as a putter.”
Doug Ferreri
Aug 26, 2020 at 8:54 am
Actually tis is a remake of the Bettinardi Baby Ben introduced in 2003 for the Ben Hogan Company. Furyck used it to win the 2003 U S Open.
STEVE
Aug 26, 2020 at 9:10 am
You’re right, Doug — I forgot about that. That Baby Ben had a silver head with black alignment aids if I recall it correctly. I had forgotten that it was a Bnardi putter, however.