Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 Putter
There may not be a more classic putter shape than the Anser putter. Scott Readman, being a sucker for nostalgia and good design, naturally knew he needed a strong #1 shape in his lineup. Enter the Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 putter. Milled out of a single piece of British 304 stainless steel and hand-finished in Bristol, England, the IKB1 is a classic looking putter with the feel and performance to match.
The Looks
Let’s start with the basics. The Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 putter has the standard rounded bumpers and heel you expect to see in a #1 shape. All the contouring is nice and smooth with a classic look behind the ball. Currently, all IKB1 putters come with a milled flange line as an alignment aid.
Now let’s talk about why this putter caught my eye. SRC is using a wide range cerakote finishes ranging from blue to a color-changing red/pink (that put my brain in a pretzel – it’s awesome) for those wanting different colored heads. The color pictured in this review is called “dark bronze.” Cerakote is a military-grade finish that is used on firearms due to its durability and strong resistance to stress. If cerakote can hold up on a machine gun, it’ll hold up fine on your putter. Also, just to note, my pictures don’t do this finish justice. The dark bronze really pops in the sun.
Additionally, there are a wide range of custom options for the IKB1. You can choose to add a pocket inlay if that’s your style. Anything you can dream of from stamping to paint is a possibility giving you the ability to create a truly original one-of-kind putter based on a classic shape. (Yes, I stole this verbiage from another SRC review here on the site.) In the putter pictured here, the hand stamping is very simply stated, but absolutely perfectly executed. It has character without going way over the top and screams “class.”
How Does it Feel?
As pretty as these putters look, the whole focus in getting the Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 right was its feel. The putter had to be perfectly balanced and have the right amount of response at impact. The first factor is the fly milling on the face. There’s enough milling there to reduce friction, but it’s mild enough that it doesn’t kill the feel of the ball. I might even consider it a perfect face milling.
Scott also knew they had to get the topline thickness just right. Think of the topline as an indicator of how thick the putter face is. Too thin and the IKB1 would be way too clicky. Too thick and the putter would be heavy and feel dead. The IKB1’s topline falls into that “just right” area. The feel is firm enough for good feedback, but soft enough to have a smooth, pure feel.
In terms of balance, the IKB1 swings very smooth. Readman’s target weight, unless requested otherwise, on a finished IKB1 is 360 grams. A lot of putters these days have a target weight of 350 grams. What this extra ten grams does for the IKB1 is give it a little more heft to smooth out the stroke, but the difference is small enough that it won’t impact the overall response of the putter.
How Does it Sound?
The Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 has a fairly neutral sound. I spent A LOT of extra time with this putter for this section alone. Honestly, the sound primarily depends on what ball you’re using. A firmer ball like the Bridgestone Tour B X has a “clock” sound to it. I don’t mean, “tick tock,” but rather if you say the word “clock” out loud (unless you have a harsh Chicago accent like I do – that doesn’t count). It’s firm enough for a response but soft enough you don’t get a sharp “click.” If you use a softer ball, you can almost hear a slight “squish” in an otherwise similar sound. The important takeaway here is that the IKB1 has a very responsive auditory feedback to help you get more in tune with your putter.
On-Course Performance
The design of a basic Anser-style head with a standard plumber’s neck is pretty straightforward. As long as they are well made with good balance and a feel that resonates with you, the performance will be there. As mentioned already, the Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 has a smooth stroke and great feel. This made distance/speed control come easily to me. Making good strokes resulted in a tight end-over-end roll that tracked confidently toward its target. The combination of all these factors made getting dialed in with the IKB1 go quickly and I saw quite consistent results on the green. By the end of a few putting sessions, I felt very comfortable and naturally connected with the IKB1. In short, it felt like we were old friends even though I only brought it home in February.
Final Thoughts
For you Anser fans, the Scott Readman Concepts IKB1 is just about perfect. With so many options for customization and such high quality, it’s hard to beat what Readman’s producing these days. If you’re into unique and interesting golf equipment, a British-made putter that’s completely hand finished by the man himself is as good as it gets. Not only is every putter sweet because it’s a true 1 of 1, but they’re legitimately good performers on the course too. I’ll just say that I’m glad this putter caught the corner of my eye on Instagram and managed to find its way into my suitcase back to America. I know it’s going to see plenty of rounds for years to come.
