WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Newton Gravity
Newton Gravity, the putter brand formerly known as Sacks Parente, introduces a revamped line of five milled putters made of carbon steel and aircraft-grade aluminum. All models feature the original company’s idea of an ultralight graphite shaft (around 40 grams) that creates a balance point distinctly close to the clubhead. The technology is designed to create a more natural pendulum effect to build more consistency in the putting stroke.
Price:
$450. Available for pre-order on Oct. 1. Five models include the Classic and the Deuce in blades, the half-mallet Duke, and the Drac and Prism in mallets.
3 COOL THINGS
1. The Lowdown
The original idea behind these putters was the company’s “ultra-low balance point” (ULBP) approach to its superlight putter shaft. These lightweight shafts, made in the U.S., have also gained popularity on the PGA Tour Champions. The main intent was to let the putter head move more like the end of a pendulum.
These latest putters continue that idea but with a slightly heavier head and shaft, resulting in a slightly heavier overall weight. The head weights on the five Newton Gravity models are above the standard, checking in at 380 grams. “The balance point is the same if not lower than on the original models,” said Aki Yorihiro, Newton’s chief technology officer. More players wanted to feel more absolute weight, which is why the shaft is called Tempo.
Another key change involved raising the center of gravity of the head, making it both slightly forward and slightly higher than in the original versions. “It's kind of OK to get away with a thin hit, but it's kind of a different, bad feel to hit it high in the grooves, particularly on putters.”
2. Tour Size
While the original putters featured unique shapes, these five models are relatively traditional, a result of input from players on the PGA Tour Champions, especially Ken Duke, who won with a version of the Duke last year. The notable differences include cleaner lines, an angled three-level sole, and a tour-quality dark-ceramic finish by Labworx.
Yorihiro said this change better aligns with how today’s putter strokes are tending to feature less arc.
“We’re seeing so much more of the straight back and straight through concept,” he said. “So because of this observation, we believe that our heel-shafted putters, to match more of the contemporary stroke, the shallower stroke, we felt like we needed to move the shaft closer to the toe by shortening that distance. I think that reduces the hand action during the stroke.”
3. Five Styles
The Newton Gravity lineup includes two blades. The Classic is an Anser-style, heel-toe weighted cavity back, while the Deuce is a widebody blade that comes in both heel-shafted and center-shafted options. The mid-mallet Duke is a refined version of the Series 91 that won on the PGA Tour Champions last year and also is offered in heel- and center-shafted versions. The Classic, Deuce and Duke are milled from 1018 carbon steel. The Drac is a parallel-pronged mallet revised from the original that was introduced over a year ago, and it too is offered in heel- and center-shafted options. Finally, the Prism (see above) is an oversized clamshell mallet, and like the Drac is milled from 6061 aluminum with tungsten heel and toe weights.