First Impressions of My Spanking New ZEN ZAM (Mid Slant Neck Anser Style)

I just gamed my fresh-from-BFG-last-nite ZAM today and amazed myself with the first putt, a long curling 10 metere putt that lipped the hole. And I don't normally expect that from my first putt. It just felt so right. The way it tracked to the hole, it was as if it were a racecar going round the bend. The roll was pure and the ball never left the ground as if velcro-ed to it.

Sank everything from 4 feet in with no fear. If I missed, I had every confidence knowing it was because I misread the line and not the fault of my ZAM.

Balance is great and it feels so stable when I set up right. I felt no urge to manipulate the putter with my hands, which is a fault of mine. I've always felt my putter de-stabilize some going through on the really long putts, especially uphill when I have to add some muscle to the putt. The first long one I had to muscle de-stablized some, but the putt still tracked reasonably well, I expected worse. The second one I had to muscle, the ZEN just felt rock solidly balanced. This putter certainly helps you to settle in to your stroke quickly the first few holes on the course, it's usually taken me about 3 holes before I settle in to my putting stroke. The ZEN ZAM makes it no struggle at all.

I've always felt most comfortable with a short plumber's neck, but it still had to be the right plumber's neck since to me, some feel and look just downright weird at setup. Never ever considered a mid-slant neck, couldn't quite get comfortable over it. I don't know the what and the how, but the mid-slant on the ZEN is just somehow as close to perfect as it can get for me. I was hesitant when DGman recommended it, saying it was better than the plumber's, now I'm sold. No issues visually from the top either, it just looks so clean, and so easy to set up right. I forget my preference for a plumber's.

I will admit I was a bit of the skeptic about how good the ZEN is as described by other brothers here, But I have to confirm that this putter is all it's made out to be.

My one initial criticism is that I would like more impact feel out of the putter. It just seems to feel the same no matter how I strike it for long or short putts (was wondering if the flow motion shaft had something to do with it as well). It's a personal issue since I've always played with no insert putters and preferred more click at impact, the ZAM feels a little too soft for me. But to my surprise, that has absolutely no bearing on my distance control, I still managed to get within one putt range.

And yes, the ZEN does allow me to be agressive, or it will fall short of the hole as it did a couple of times when I forgot about it. I had to re-calibrate my feel to add another 5% more to get to the hole. But it is great for lag putting. Had a fast putt downhill and to the side. How fast? Let's just say I had my back to the hole when I was putting. Amazingly, the lag putt was short! I fully expected the ball to roll past the hole.

I'll post a further field report once I've really settled in to this baby.

DGman, thanks for a great product. And for the commemorative Open edition. I love my number too, didn't expect that, a very nice surprise.

Birdman... What's your number?

Haha... that's all you want to know? Not sure if I should announce it publicly or not.

What's yours?

Both mine are 01/99

Same!

So what does it mean if not the serial number then? I guess I assumed, it would be for sure if there was an 'of' between the 1 and 99.

Hmmm... Could mean... January 1999!!!
Or it was just too expensive to etch running numbers

I was just thinking that! Date of manufacture!

Just don't play in the same flight lor, or it will be like two women wearing the same evening dress to a ball.

Birdman wrote:

I was just thinking that! Date of manufacture!

Just don't play in the same flight lor, or it will be like two women wearing the same evening dress to a ball.

Hard for that to happen when all your buddies happen to also go to the Den often....

happen to me plenty of times!!!

you should also see starter's face when everyone shows up at the tee box with the same iron and driver covers....

Birdman wrote:

I will admit I was a bit of the skeptic about how good the ZEN is as described by other brothers here, But I have to confirm that this putter is all it's made out to be.

:

I too felt it that way....but was amazed how it felt when I hit a few balls with Ejii's ZIM putter.

Hubert..

there is one thing that you nearly got it 100%...

What you have just described is simply known as Flow Motion. One of the reason why i recommended the Midslant is because of your natural stroke path.

I think there are lots of things that we are discovering with the Zen, like a toe and heel hit will not result in too much off line and distance loss. Like the loft is dynamic from 2 to 4 degrees, etc.

you will be happy to know that even MM wants one in his arsenal now.

i am glad you guys like your putters so go out and score more birdies.

DGman

MM = Minister mentor?

Nope. The golfer.

This tread is dam poisonous.

I will ban myself from reading anything abt ZEN again lest I fall into temptation.

I just met my scotty a few months back and now I am thinking of having an affair with another putter.

Looks and skillfulness in bed ooops I meant in green are not everything. Loyalty is also an important part of the relationship.

Tried out my ZAM late last night at laguna practice green.
With this baby, no more lag putts for me with the same strokes for my previous putter. The RDE technology on ZAM allows the ball to roll forward more rather than with a slight hint of backspin for my previous putter. Now, this is good news for me who tends to hit lag putts.

Will know more of it's full potential once I tried it out on course this weekend. Can hardly wait.

seebayho wrote:

Birdman wrote:

I will admit I was a bit of the skeptic about how good the ZEN is as described by other brothers here, But I have to confirm that this putter is all it's made out to be.

:

I too felt it that way....but was amazed how it felt when I hit a few balls with Ejii's ZIM putter.

Mine's a ZAC not ZIM, if DGMan gave me a ZIM ahead of the many pple on his camping list, i will be slaughtered

WAH !!!!!

congrats Bro - Birdman on yor new gem find and success on green..........believed you are among the first to share your fieldreport with the rest of the golfing community here.

Yea.......I will make a turtle soup out of you. Haha

got peekture boh... cannot visualise leh...

mysticsea wrote:

got peekture boh... cannot visualise leh...

sorry couldn't help it.

Bro mystic, check out other thread, Awesome Piece of Putter for pics of ZAM.

The above pic is eiji if he really gets the ZIM. Hahaha

eiji. Good One.

DGman wrote:

Hubert..

there is one thing that you nearly got it 100%...

What you have just described is simply known as Flow Motion. One of the reason why i recommended the Midslant is because of your natural stroke path.

I think there are lots of things that we are discovering with the Zen, like a toe and heel hit will not result in too much off line and distance loss. Like the loft is dynamic from 2 to 4 degrees, etc.

Which is the one thing I mentioned? Is it about the great balance and stability of the ZAM?

You also mentioned in the ZAC thread about changing the softer feel to a click-ier feel just thru the shaft.

360 Flow Motion shaft = softer insert feel?

Bespoke steel = click-ier feel?

seebayho wrote:

Birdman wrote:

I will admit I was a bit of the skeptic about how good the ZEN is as described by other brothers here, But I have to confirm that this putter is all it's made out to be.

:

I too felt it that way....but was amazed how it felt when I hit a few balls with Ejii's ZIM putter.

Time for you to get one, then can add to your nick. SeebaySeebayHO!

Gray wrote:

This tread is dam poisonous.

I will ban myself from reading anything abt ZEN again lest I fall into temptation.

I just met my scotty a few months back and now I am thinking of having an affair with another putter.

Looks and skillfulness in bed ooops I meant in green are not everything. Loyalty is also an important part of the relationship.

Haha Gray, you read only, still can resist. Then you better not try, or you sure die and won't be able to sleep, seeing the ZEN in your head everytime you close your eyes.

For sure you will give in to temptation and cross over to the dark side.

asahi wrote:

Tried out my ZAM late last night at laguna practice green.
With this baby, no more lag putts for me with the same strokes for my previous putter. The RDE technology on ZAM allows the ball to roll forward more rather than with a slight hint of backspin for my previous putter. Now, this is good news for me who tends to hit lag putts.

Will know more of it's full potential once I tried it out on course this weekend. Can hardly wait.

Bro, I practised on my putting mat first, alternating between my usual putter and the ZEN to get a good gauge of the difference in strength needed with the ZEN to roll the ball the same distance. Easier to get used to the ZEN that way.

I did that cos I suspected if I did not, I would be constantly short on the course. Which I still was a couple of times when I did forget I needed just that little bit more oomph to get the ball to the hole.