Byron Morgan 615 Putter
Byron Morgan is one of the great modern putter makers that has been regarded as one of the elite boutique designers to pave the way for the likes of Scotty Cameron. I could really go on for days about his different designs and the expanse of his customization, but this post will focus specifically on the Byron Morgan 615 putter. This design is heavily based on the original Ping Anser 2 shape and evolved from similar beloved Byron models such as the 006 and the 612.
Full disclosure: I had this putter custom made by Byron in 2015 so that obviously plays a role in my thoughts. That said, I intend to share my experiences with the 615 as a general putting instrument.
The Looks
As I mentioned in the introduction, the Byron Morgan 615 is inspired by the classic Anser 2 shape. The topline, shoulders, and bumpers are straighter and give the putter a slightly “boxier” look, however, the putter still has a smooth and elegant flow to it. At least that’s my opinion. I can’t lie, the 615’s tri sole was a major attraction for me. For whatever reason, I’m sucker for a good tri sole on a #2-shaped putter.
In terms of “fit and finish”, if you’re custom ordering from Byron, there are endless options. You can choose from a multitude of finishes, face millings, stamps, paint, etc when you design your own putter. Byron has been at this game for awhile and his finishing work, often by hand, is tremendous. As a result, you’ll find a lot of interesting combinations of 615s on the used market. You are very unlikely to find any two that are the same.
How Does it Feel?
Much of how your Byron Morgan 615 feels is going to come down to overall head weight and face milling. If I’m not mistaken, you will likely find most of the 615s you encounter will fall between 340 and 365 grams. Most of this will come down to your stroke and subjective feel, but I find there’s a sweet spot between weight and control. At roughly 350 grams, I feel the 615 has a really nice balance for a smooth and controlled putting stroke. All of the weight is in just the “right” places. If you’ve ever had a putter where the weight wasn’t in the “right” places, you know exactly what I mean.
Face milling is going to play a huge role in the response you get from impact. Some players like a softer and more muted feel so they go with a deep face milling. This, in theory, reduces contact points on the face so the ball has less “click” in your hands. On the other hand, some players may want a firmer and more direct feedback so they may not want any face milling whatsoever. Or your like me and want something right in the happy middle. I like a good light face milling so my putter has just enough pop at impact, but still feels pleasant and clean. Whatever your preference, Byron offers it all.
One last thing I should point out is that Byron is one of the few makers out there still offering carbon steel. Whether you go with carbon or stainless, this will also play a role in the feel. Carbon tends to feel softer and more absorbent whereas stainless is a little firmer. Carbon versus stainless overall is another topic, which perhaps we’ll save for another day, but it’s worth being aware of when it comes to feel.
How Does it Sound?
Two things to remember from above is how the choice of steel and face milling will really impact your sound. In the case of this stainless Byron Morgan 615 putter, the sound is firm enough to have a distinct presence, but still soft. I would describe it as a textbook medium “click” at impact. Not soft and puffy, not a rocky “clack”. Just a nice pure click. Miss the sweet spot, and the sound firms up a bit, but that’s the nature of a blade putter. Get on the practice green and hit the center of the face!
On-Course Performance
Many of the attributes we’ve already covered describe the performance of the Byron Morgan 615 putter. It feels good, it sounds good, and I like the looks a lot. This 615 rolls the ball really nicely and gives me confidence when I use it. That’s really about all I can ask for in a putter. Like I mentioned in the section above, there are diminishing returns when you miss the sweet spot, but that’s on you. Chances are you won’t have an issue with that if you’re a blade-putter player.
If you’re looking for different toe hangs and balances, you can also choose from multiple neck combinations. While I went with a plumber’s neck on my 615, you can pick from something that better suits your stroke. You can even get crazy and throw on a twisted neck if you so choose!
Final Thoughts – Byron Morgan 615 Putter
Byron Morgan has been a tremendous putter maker for decades. His ability to take classic styles and update them with more contemporary stylings while retaining their heritage is paralleled by very few other designers. The 615 carries on the values of the #2 blade shape that traditionalists love, but with just enough adjustment to keep up with today’s game and the preferences of modern players. I’m a big fan of Byron Morgan’s complete body of work, but the 615 will always hold a soft spot for me as what I believe to be his best.
