Never Compromise Sub 30 Putter Review

Never Compromise roared back to life last year with a new logo, a fresh attitude and a series of limited-edition putters that served notice in matters of style, quality and customization

Now, Never Compromise is bringing its new look into more affordable territory with its Sub 30 line of putters, which start at $139.

Is this a smart play or a step back for Never Compromise? Following is PutterZone.com’s Never Compromise Sub 30 putter review, specifically the Type 30 model.

The Storyline
With last year’s limited-edition Gambler, Dinero and Connoisseur putters, Never Compromise really came on strong. The quality of the putters was unquestionable, and best of all, they raised the bar in matters of personal putter fitting and design customization.

Nevertheless, very few brands can afford to rest on their laurels in the $299 price point, so it’s no surprise that Never Compromise’s latest release is more oriented toward value.

The Sub 30 putters feature a dual-material insert composed of copper-infused aluminum and copolymer. According to Adam Sheldon, master craftsman for Never Compromise, “The polymer face is joined with the copper-infused aluminum in a basket construction, creating a barrier between the polymer and the stainless steel body of the putter. This construction cushions the polymer at impact to promote a softer, more responsive feel.”

The face insert height of the Sub 30 is one of the tallest of any putter on the market. As such, it is designed to minimize distance loss and maximize accuracy on putts hit high on the face, which the company says is one of the most frequent miss-hits on the greens.

Says Sheldon, “The top of the insert is only one millimeter away from the topline, while the bottom of the insert is also only one millimeter from the sole. The intent was to have the maximum amount of insert coverage on the face so that any miss-hit putts would not impact the stainless steel body at all.”

The Sub 30 line consists of the Type 10, a traditional heel-toe weighted blade; the Type 20, a slant-neck blade; the Type 30, a mid-mallet with a plumber’s neck hosel; and the Type 40, a heel-shafted mid mallet.

The Type 30 model has a head weight of 340 grams, a loft of three degrees and a lie angle of 70 degrees. The balance is quarter toe hang, which will generally appeal to a slight arcing stroke.

The View from PutterZone.com
The first thing that stood out to me about the Type 30 model is the way it vividly frames the ball. The offset is just a hair beyond the width of the shaft, providing a clear view of the face at setup. Meanwhile, the dual white sightlines on the flange jump out at the eyes and visually lock onto the edges of the ball for directional confidence. For golfers who prefer a hands-forward setup, the Type 30 offers excellent alignment properties.

The feel of the Sub 30 insert is responsive as advertised, but I wouldn’t call it soft. I would describe it as thick in the hands, with an underlying firmness, which I find preferable in an insert. But if you’re looking for a super-soft insert, this isn’t it. I still prefer the pure milled metal feel of Never Compromise’s limited-edition putters, but for an insert at this price point, the Sub 30 acquits itself quite nicely.

I can’t testify to the precise effects of the taller face and its promise of added forgiveness on miss-hits. I wish I could say it’s because I don’t miss-hit the ball (hah!). But it’s really because when I miss-hit the Type 30 high on the face, I simply don’t have technological tools—such as a putting robot—to offer any meaningful measurements in comparison to a clean hit, and then in comparison to miss-hits and clean strikes with other putters.

I will say that the concept seems sound. If an insert features a material with a specific set of rebound characteristics, then it stands to reason that if you can raise the height of the insert, it will allow high miss-hits to still strike that same material and maintain a consistent rebound effect. It may not be the simplest or strongest message from a marketing perspective, but it makes sense to me.

Aesthetically, Never Compromise has really found its groove. Last year’s limited-edition putter designs were brilliant, with just the right touch of swanky coolness. The Sub30 putters may not be quite as striking, but the overall ambiance is similar, with dancing NC logos on the sole, colorful paintfills and different slogans attached to each model (the Type30 has “Never Settle” imprinted on the sole, while the other models feature similar pep talks). The look may not be for everyone, but there’s no denying it stands out from the straight-faced crowd.

Overall, the the Sub 30 putters deliver the goods, offering a unique point of view and a fine insert at a friendly price.

The Bottom Line
Never Compromise maintains its newfound momentum with the Sub 30 putters. Last year, Never Compromise launched some of the retail market’s best putters. Now, with the Sub 30 putters, they are making a case for the best buy of 2012.