Is the LA Golf Bel-Air X putter worth the money?
I’m always a great putter in a Golf Galaxy or PGA Superstore. After I find a favorite flat stick, I drop 10-footers like Zach Johnson (#1 on tour putting from 10 feet). The real test is when I back up. If the 20 footers start to drop, I start thinking I need a new putter. With the LA Golf Bel-Air X, I hit all but one of my 10-footers with the blade-style putter and went 3 for 4 when I backed up to 20 feet. I immediately thought that $599 just might equal fewer putts and a lower score. After continuing to hit 75% of my putts outside of 10 feet for more time than anyone should spend in a retail store, I had to have this putter.
The Tech Behind the LA Golf Bel-Air X
- Head forged from a single block of carbon. (As far as can be understood from the two product descriptions, this is the lone difference between the less expensive LA Golf Bel-Air at $499 and this LA Golf Bel-Air X model.)
- All-carbon construction, a material 5x less dense than steel.
- Patented Descending Loft Face technology.
- P-Series 135 shaft comes standard.
Since 30 Putts is not My Golf Spy, our equipment review budget is pretty non-existent so I traded in several random clubs – 11 to be exact – to equal the $599 plus tax at the PGA Superstore in Austin, TX. It’s a lot of money for a single golf club that’s not a driver, but you are hitting this club approximately two-and-a-half times as much as the Big Dog. An expensive putter with the latest tech does inspire confidence and as Gary Player said, “Putting is 50% technique and 50% confidence.” If nothing else, the placebo effect of a pricey putter will provide confidence standing over your putt and that might be worth parting with an extra few hundred bucks.
The Bel-Air X comes in lengths from 33″-36″ in Undersize, Standard, and Jumbo with the LA Golf Pistol Grip. It also comes with a somewhat anti-climactic LA Golf-branded black putter cover that fits the putter like a pair of pants after Thanksgiving dinner.
The $599 forged carbon LA Golf Bel-Air X putter.
1.
The Eye Test
The forged carbon CNC machined head coated with a nano ceramic matte clear makes this putter look better than a new G-Wagon in the matte charcoal paint job. Add in the 303 stainless steel putter face in black PVD coating and this thing is a stealth fighter. Stand over this putter and you feel like you’re definitely going to sink the putt, so yeah, it passes the eye test. There’s also a requisite back cavity site line, but kept black to keep from spoiling the Vader vibe.
2.
Descending Loft Face Technology
With the patented Descending Loft Face, the putter face has four different lofts, starting at the top with 4 degrees, then 3, 2, and 1. With this tech, you have more consistency and the ball starts rolling immediately wherever in the stroke it makes contact. Even a slight mishit rolls pure thanks to the larger-than-average sweet spot.
3.
Blade vs. Mallet Putter
I’m used to a mallet putter and haven’t swung a blade since my Ping O-Blade in the 90s, but with the oversized head, tungsten perimeter weighting, high MOI, and oversize sweetspot, the Bel-Air has the feel and control of a blade, but performs like a mallet.
4.
How Does the Putter Feel?
Either a putter feels good or it doesn’t and it 100% depends on the golfer. There are two parts to the feel of a putter – the face at contact and the balance in the stroke. Some putters have one or the other, but it’s hard to find both. For the face, I prefer a solid feel where the ball comes off quickly, but the face somehow still feels soft. For the stroke, I want the head heavy enough to keep its path and not be knocked offline when the ball is struck. It should feel balanced in every direction. This is probably why I prefer mallets and also why an oversized blade with tungsten perimeter weighting caught my attention.
5.
Anti-Vibration Tour-Quality Putter Shaft
The P-Series 135 shaft retails for $400 by itself and features a vibration-dampening material that contributes to the unique feel while also providing enhanced stability. It’s also in the bags of two of my favorite golfers – Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. The shaft connects to the head with a PVD-coated plumbers neck made from 303 Stainless Steel.
Putter Review Results
The LA Golf Bel-Air X Putter is staying in my bag. Is there a better equipment review conclusion than that? So yes, it’s worth the money. It’s forgiving and well balanced with a great look and feel but most importantly, I make more putts. I don’t know if that’s because I have more confidence with this putter or the technology behind the putter rolls the ball straighter, truer, and with more consistency than other putters. In the end, I don’t really care as long as it gets me fewer 3-putts and closer to 30 putts per round.
Other reviewers didn’t like the looks as much as me and while it worked well inside of 10 feet for them, there was some belief the performance waned on longer putts.
“Poor performance from 20 feet. Below average for looks, feel, and sound.” – My Golf Spy
“I found it to be one of the most balanced and forgiving putters I have tried.” – Golf Monthly (They also thought some players may not be into the carbon look, but it earned an Editor’s Choice award. )
For “Golfers who love technology and want extreme perimeter weighting and forgiveness in a traditional-sized putter.” – Golfweek
Have you tried out the Bel-Air or Malibu, LA Golf’s other putter model? Let us know your pros and cons in the comments.
