This Putter Is, Well, a Dandy
Every so often, while everyone else is messing around with details, somebody has
the courage to take a clean sheet of paper to putter design and introduce something that
is truly different. Such is the case for a Minnesotan, now based in California, named
Allan Strand and his Dandy Golf Company.
 "So,
what's the big deal with this putter?"
 Ham: First and foremost, there's the
innocence with which Strand undertook the task of designing this putter. He posited that
it was not just the putter that produced most of the problems on the green, but the puttee
as well. Specifically, the stroke the puttee manufactured in a tortured effort to get the
ball to the hole.
So, Strand set out to design a putter that would require the puttee to alter, and
improve, his or her putting stroke in order to use it properly.
Imagine that. Take a better stroke to get a better result. In a market thick with ads
for clubs that claim you can stay home, the clubs will do the work for you. How innocent,
how refreshing, how, how...
  Egg: Dandy?
Ham: Yes, I suppose so. Although, I have
to tell you that, where I grew up, we didn't use the word "Dandy" a whole lot.
In fact, I suspect that saying it on the playground would have gotten you beaten up.
Egg: Far better to talk about putting then.
"How's
it work?"
 Egg: To
induce a proper stroke, the Dandy has a forward pressing shaft and a pistol grip mounted
sideways, both of which aim to keep you from bending your wrist backwards, or
"breaking down" in mid-putt. The innovations continue with a shaft cleverly
mounted at the back rear of the putterhead so that you get an unobstructed view of the
entire top edge of the putter and the ball.
Ham: Makes alignment very easy.
Egg: The Dandy is also very carefully, and cleverly,
balanced in a way that, if you let it, will reduce tension in your arms and hands.
Ham: Once you get used to the odd set-up
the Dandy demands, all this balance makes it easier to putt with a nice, rhythmic stroke.
Must have something to do with Strand's background as a concert pianist. I found that the
Dandy worked VERY well for me after a very short introductory period. It imparts a very
true, hole-seeking roll, the likes of which I have never before produced.
"How's
it look?"
Ham: The look, particularly the
sideways-mounted grip, is very different from anything else you're likely to see on the
market. And the cleverly designed rear-entry head cover has
the word "Dandy", in script, boldly stitched on it, so there may be some kidding
around the clubhouse.
Egg: Just get those jokesters off their bar stools and out
onto the practice green. I guarantee those smug grins will soon be replaced by envious
eyes. Fifteen straight 8-footers (I did this in one session) is one marvelous attitude
adjuster.
"How's
it feel?"
 Ham: After a few
spins around the practice putting green, it felt great to me. Particularly the part about
watching my putts roll straighter and truer to the hole than I've seen in about 26 years
of previous playing experience.
Egg: All true, but it takes a bit of time and an open mind
to get there. Strand asks that you not merely commit to his putter, but also his method.
"Is
it legal?"
Ham 'n' Egg: Strand held
his breath the entire time he awaited his USGA ruling. The result was just Dandy.
"Is
it worth the dough?"
Ham: The price on the Dandy is a hefty
$150. Given the results I got, I could more than justify such an expenditure. It's worth
the dough in my book, but with this caveat: you have to be prepared to putt in a way, and
with a grip, you have not tried before.
Egg: We've got to stop agreeing like this. People will talk.
Ham: If they'd like to make more putts,
they should talk with Dandy by calling them direct and toll-free at 1-800-DANDY-19.
Or, for the cyber-savvy, just click on ORDER NOW
to order through their site.
Overall
Rating (from a menu of double bogey, bogey, par, birdie, eagle or ace)
Ham: Ace
Egg: Ace |
