2008 PGA Show: Hate your putter? Slew of new ones coming out

ORLANDO - Putters are always a big deal at the PGA Show and this one is no different. Most of the major makers and many of the off-brands are introducing new putters here. High MOI (moment of inertia) is the hot trend these days.

Wilson unveiled five, within two lines. The 8870 series is made of three, different-sized stainless steel mallets that have a urethane face insert and micro grooves.

Nike has its all-green, high MOI IC putter to help “visually blend with the putting green.” This eliminates “visual noise,” Nike officials said. Only Nike can say this sort of stuff.

Odyssey has three new putters. The strangest-looking one is the White Hot XG Sabretooth, with a radical head shape and two “fangs” to help alignment.

Ping has its i-series putters, Rifle unveiled its TwoBar Hybrid Mallet with twin, adjustable, back-weighted bars and Tour Edge launched its high-MOI Bazooka GeoMax in both classic and high-tech shapes. Like most modern putters, it promises to launch the ball with a slight forward rotation instead of backspin.

And then there’s my favorite, the Heavy Putter, which has actually been around for a while. The trick: It’s so heavy, you aren’t strong enough to swing it offline.