HOT LIST 2007: BLADE PUTTERS

GOLD
YES! CALLIE-F: STREET PRICE: $250; Specs: One model.; key technology: Yes! has made inroads on tour with its concentric half-circle grooves on the face, and the latest entry is a forged model made of manganese bronze. The milled grooves are designed to grip the ball to reduce skidding.; panelist comments: “Solid feel. Good putter. Instead of yanking ’em left, I put them all within kick-in range. . . . It looks like all the rest, but this face design really works for roll.”; Judge's verdict: The forged version hasn’t forgotten all the good things of its cast predecessor.; Hot: Available in lengths from 32 to 37 inches.; Not: Would like forged versions of the rest of the company’s impressive lineup.; Three wins on LPGA Tour in 2006.; yesgolf.com

SILVER
GUERIN RIFE AUSSIE: Street price: $180.; specs: One model.; key technology: The computer-milled head is made of 303 stainless steel and has Rife horizontal grooves that are four-hundredths of an inch wide to reduce the area of face contact by two-thirds, helping minimize sidespin on off-center hits.; panelist comments: "I like the look over the ball, and the grip fits snuggly in my hands."; judge's verdict: It lacks the geek factor of the popular 2-Bar putters, but not the groovy face technology.; hot: Plenty of tour success for a small company.; Not: Why not co-opt the weight adjustability from the mallet?; Each putter comes with its own lie angle bender.; guerinrife.com

silver
MIZUNO BETTINARDI C-SERIES: street price: $230.; specs: Four models (C-01, C-02, C-03, C-04).; key technology: Designer Bob Bettinardi mills the entire head and hosel from a single block of low-carbon steel. The four models differ slightly in hosel style, sharpness of edges and cavity design.; panelist comments: "I love the nice, long sight line. The feel, roll and look are all great. . . . Seemed light . . . . It's got solid punch at impact, and it feels like there's good flex to the shaft."; judge's verdict: Mizuno and Bettinardi have long epitomized quality craftsmanship, and nothing changes here.; hot: Bettinardi-milled honeycomb face just oozes special.; Not: Loud blue grip doesn't.; 11L17 carbon steel is unique to Bettinardi's putters.; mizunousa.com

silver
NEVER COMPROMISE GM2 EXCHANGE: STREET price: $230.; specs: Four models (Exchange 4, 5, 7, 8).; key technology: A system of interchangeable weights can be placed in the heel and toe of the putter to allow users to customize the weight (320 to 370 grams) and adjust the heel and toe balance.; panelist comments: "Easy to align. Not sure what changing the weights would do, but it's nice to know you can. . . . For a blade, the setup is as good as it gets."; judge's verdict: It deserves credit for creating a simple way of matching head weights to different strokes.; hot: Same milled-face style as putters used by Vijay Singh and David Toms.; Not: Would like to see more of the head shapes from the Milled Series.; Weights can be used to manipulate distance and direction.; nevercompromise.com

silver
PING REDWOOD: STREET price: $250.; specs: Three models (Anser, Piper, Zing).; key technology: Milled from 303 stainless steel, the Redwood is the first milled stainless-steel putter in Ping history. The slightly oversize traditional Ping styles receive the same Black-Nickel finish as the Ping Tour wedge.; panelist comments: "I love the darker finish. The putter produced a true roll. Really great balance, among the best I've hit. . . . Such a great look, a little light, but it certainly rolls them smoothly."; judge's verdict: Ping goes after the high-end milled stainless-steel market with this entry. It might not make a dent, but it won't be because of its looks.; hot: Ping's fitting commitment.; Not: Seems technology light for Ping and the price.; Two grips depending on whether putter is face- balanced.; pinggolf.com