Introduction
RUNNER Golf was a surprise introduction to our Forum member testing platform this year. The French company has received awards for its innovative putters but was still relatively unknown among the community until the “Testers Wanted” opportunity came along. With three models and a host of different features and technology, including a sliding weight, there was ample intrigue among the community about how these putters could perform.
The Testing Opportunity
We selected four golfers to test, review and keep a RUNNER Golf putter. The putters each tester received were chosen through a two-part process. The first was going through the online fitting tool that RUNNER has created to help golfers get properly fitted. The second part was a phone call with founder Simon Linot who reviewed the virtual results and asked follow-up questions to make sure the testers were in the proper model and specs.
This is what our testers had to say about the fitting process.
Bobbers: “The fitting process was outstanding. The video analysis Simon did, the online video chat and discussion before the build specifications were more than I might have ever expected. It made me feel that the putter was being created for me. Honestly, I’ve never had that experience before. Hats off to Simon for his analysis of my putting stroke, sharing information, and answering questions throughout the process.”
Sdunne: “The AI online fitting tool helps you come up with the selection based on how your putting stroke flows, typical misses, your grip, and stance to determine how this would set up for myself. This was then backed up with a conversation with Simon, the founder, running through the tool and reviewing what that meant for the design. He also then explained a bit more about the weights and how to change them. This was great to help me feel confident in what we were selecting for me and how it would compare to current/previous putters.”
What Testers Said: First Impressions
The RUNNER Golf putters are certainly different from traditional putters. With a modular design and aesthetics that, while well received by our members, may not suit the eye for all.
For starters, they are on the bigger side and would not be considered slim. Additionally, they have a fair bit going on visually with a raised alignment piece and striped contrast between where the face piece, the shaft/connection section and the back piece, which will make the putter either a blade, original or mallet.
When the boxes arrived and our testers pulled out the putters for their first impressions, this is what they said.
RTH1: “The Runner putter presents itself very well. The red, black, and silver components flow together nicely. It doesn’t demand your attention, but I think most people, after a first glance, would certainly want a closer look.”
Northern Monkey: “My first impression having unboxed the putter was that it looked like a quality product. The extensive packaging and protection reinforced this, as well as the carabiner on the wrench. I love the contrasts between the silver, black, and red. To look at it, it truly is a thing of beauty, especially with the added bonus of the MGS logo.”
“The precision-milled 6061 aluminum face is very appealing, and having hit a couple of balls, I can say it gives good feedback. There is a distinct sound difference when you hit it on the sweet spot, with a nice reassuring ‘thunk.’ Hit it off the toe or heel, and it produces a higher-pitched ‘tink.’”
What Testers Said: Performance
Putters are often a club where golfers feel the need to have a connection to the looks, so it was good that our testers enjoyed the framing and aesthetics of these putters. However, do they help them make more putts? How does the weighting system impact performance and can they find the setting that would best lead to success?
SDunne: “The putter helped me reduce errors, with only one three-putt over two and a half rounds. It was going to be a point of focus if I could reduce some of my errors, and this has certainly done that. My game has definitely improved with the RUNNER in the bag—it’s giving me more consistency with knowing that when I stand over anything from about 6 feet and inside, I can hole it. That’s been something that has been lacking in my game, and it’s been great to find it with a club like this.”
RTH1: “Very good roll off the face. Regardless of the strike, the ball doesn’t like to hop or skip much. Adjustable weights are simple to adjust to different positions to fine-tune the performance. However, I think to take advantage of this feature, you would need access to a stroke analyzer. The putter felt a bit lighter than I am used to, and I wasn’t confident that I was able to make a smooth transition; the results showed that. Optional weight kits are available to make the putter heavier.”
Northern Monkey: “It performed well no matter where you were hitting the ball from. Whether that be up and down slopes, across slopes, or from the fringe. The ball comes off the face beautifully every time. It does come off the face quicker than I was used to. So I have found myself using less of a backswing, but I feel this has made my strike more consistent. As a result, I have now found myself using the putter much more from a distance off the green as a Texas wedge rather than a bump and run with an iron.”
Key Findings
Sound and feel will always be critical for putting as it relays feedback to the golfer. While the golf ball can have a big influence on this as well, the aluminum face on the RUNNER putters with the grooves was well received by our testers. All of them at some point during the test used the words “soft” and “responsive” when describing the feel of the putters.
The sliding track was a nice-to-have feature but not something they necessarily felt the need to change too much. Outside of one tester, they placed the two weights in the heel and toe for maximum forgiveness.
RUNNER Golf offers two different sets of weights (determined during the fitting) that significantly affect the head weight. These weights can also adjust the balance of the putter, making it have a toe hang, face balance, or even heel hang, depending on the setup.
One tester noted some markings on the face that led to durability concerns. Being a softer aluminum, it was pivotal to clean the golf ball and face before putts to prevent this from happening.
The added touches on the RUNNER putters were appreciated. These included a KBS shaft that matched aesthetically and two of the testers noted additional performance benefits versus a traditional steel shaft. The headcovers were of nice quality, even if some of the stitching did loosen over time for a single tester.
Price was noted by the testers as well. The common theme was that it is a significant amount to pay for a putter that doesn’t necessarily have a larger reputation but the quality and performance are there to back up the price.
Finally, the grips. Additional grips were offered to testers during the fitting process but that was not initially apparent during the online selection. The standard RUNNER golf grip was well received but three of the testers decided on Winn or Garsen grips instead.
Make The Bag?
As with all member reviews, we want to know how they score and if they will make the bag, replacing their old gamers. As a new brand and company, it can be hard to break through. These putters certainly performed well.
Even with final scores of 85, 95, 80 and 95 out of 100, they did not make the bags of all our testers, not necessarily because of the putter but because the user needed additional time or work to achieve increased confidence.
Two testers will be gaming them moving forward.
SDunne: “This putter is exceptionally well-crafted and has significantly improved my game. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking confidence on short putts and avoiding big misses. The feel, craftsmanship, and customizable options make it a standout choice. If you’re looking for a putter that boosts confidence and performance, this is a winner.”
Bobbers: “The Runner mallet putter is attractive, well thought out, and innovative. It’s got a lot of things going for it. It did make me go ‘wow.’ But in the final analysis, the Runner and I didn’t ‘click.’”
Northern Monkey: “This is a fantastic putter that can be customized to suit whatever style you prefer. It looks absolutely fantastic and is a quality piece of kit that is well-made. The putter sends the ball exactly where you aim, and it always leaves the face smoothly. It is forgiving, with mishits still staying online and only losing a little distance.”
Conclusion
As a first-time participant in member testing, RUNNER Golf obviously has a product that offers variety and quality. While the price may be on the high end, the craftsmanship, performance and quality are there to back it up.
To see our testers’ full reviews, data and photos, go here: MyGolfSpy Forum Member Review: Runner Golf Putters.
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