REVIEW: Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT Premier Putters
The new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters by Cleveland Golf.
Cleveland Golf has announced two new upgrades to their budget-friendly Huntington Beach putter lines: the SOFT and SOFT Premier series. I’ve had the chance to play with the Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putter for about a month, and am very impressed with its build, look and performance.
Cleveland huntington Beach putters Background and Tech
When Cleveland Golf introduced their Huntington Beach putter series a few years ago, the concept was simple: make the highest performing putter possible without having consumers break the bank. The result was a fantastic putter series that felt and performed like a premium product while remaining under $150.
Fast-forward to this new release, Cleveland has done it again with their new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters. This time, the main focus in the design was the unique putter strokes of consumers.
“The Huntington Beach SOFT Premier builds upon the success of our current putter lineup,” said Brian Schielke, Marketing Director at Cleveland Golf. “With new head shapes, sleek designs, and a fitting system for every stroke type, we have a putter that will help any golfer improve their performance on the greens.”
Cleveland understands that players with a slight arc in their putting stroke differ from those who prefer straight back-and-through. Struck putts will behave differently in terms of aim and roll, negating any belief that one-size-fits-all in terms of putter type.
The grip is also a critical aspect of any putter, and can be a very personal thing for the player. The sheer number of different hand positions players trust to while putting can be staggering, making the foundation of the grip extremely important. The inclusion of two Lamkin grip types — the SINKFIT Skinny Pistol and larger SINKFIT Pistol — to match a specific putter stroke tendency addresses this dynamic head on. For example, players with a slight arc in their stroke will prefer the Skinny Pistol, whereas straight-back-and-through strokes will benefit more from the thicker Pistol model.
Additional highlights in the new putter series include:
Gray Satin Finish: Sleek, Gray Satin PVD finish delivers a premium appearance and instills a sense of confidence.
Speed Optimized Face Technology: Ensuring consistent speed control and distance performance, Cleveland’s proprietary Speed Optimized Face Technology normalizes ball speed across the entire face of the putter, even on off-center putts.
Putting Fit System: With two different grip options, the new Huntington Beach SOFT Premier offers a precise fit depending on your stroke type and model preference.
Precision Milled Face: A unique diamond CNC milling pattern increases friction for a pure roll and softer feel at impact.
Performance and First Impressions
At first look, the new Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach SOFT putters are attractive in their muted grey color and minimalist, modern graphics. There’s nothing distracting or overly “busy” in their design, which is preferred by many players. Available in eight new tour-proven shapes, you are sure to find a model that suits your eye.
Of the entire line, my preferred model is the SOFT Premier 10.5; a hybrid mallet head that’s a bit heavier than my current gamer but feels great throughout the putting stroke. The heavier, thicker Lamkin SKINFIT Pistol grip offers the perfect amount of counterbalance, especially since I normally grip down on most standard length putters. (For context, my gamer putter is 31” due to my normal putting stance and arm length.)
At impact, the SOFT Premier provides muted feedback that feels solid and quiet. While previous Huntington Beach models felt “softer” at impact, the SOFT Premier cannot be classified as being “hard” or loud in any way. Some players may prefer a ping-like sound when a putt is struck, and if you do, this might not be the putter for you.
Despite not being fit to the putter I reviewed, the feel and performance was nonetheless impressive. Putts rolled true with what appeared to be minimal skid thanks to the CNC milling face pattern, and distance control was a breeze thanks to the counterbalanced weight in the putter. An afternoon on the practice green helped me adapt to the putter’s weight and fit, which I was able to carry over to the course with no problem.
Having played 36 holes with the SOFT Premier in my bag, I can honestly say I am seriously considering making it my permanent putter. It feels great, and the number of mid-length putts I made was significant. It will be interesting to see if early success with this putter is sustained, but first impressions with the SOFT Premier have been extremely positive.
Price and Availability
Perhaps the biggest differentiator for most players will be price, which the Huntington Beach putters continue to impress.
The Huntington Beach SOFT Premier putters are available for $159.99 MAP, while the new models of Huntington Beach SOFT putters are available for $129.99 MAP. Personalization is available for both models featuring 16 unique color selections and four different color fill areas for an additional $10.
Official launch date of all new models is Friday, August 21, 2020.
