AusGolf - LiquidMetal LS-1 Putter

Liquidmetal LS-1 Putter

When LiquidMetal burst onto the golf scene a few years back the companies founders were trumpeting the concept as the greatest breakthrough in modern golf - quite a claim. Unfortunately the company that promised so much found delivering difficult and folded.

The employees of Liquidmetal Golf however, did not want their product to disappear and formed their own company LMG Sports Inc, and continued the development of new golfing products using the LM technology.

Their latest product is the new Liquidmetal LS-1 Putter, a beautifully balanced blade with a Liquidmetal insert in the face that actually provides a surprisingly soft feel.

What is LiquidMetal?

Liquidmetal is basically a blend of metals that produces an alloy harder and more consistent than other metals, including titanium and stainless steel. According to LMG Sports, the atomic structure of Liquidmetal absorbs less energy at impact, which in turn transfers more energy to the ball.

Liquidmetal LS-1 Putter

The Blurb - Designed for balance, the tiered heel-toe weighed stainless steel head delivers superior distance control, accuracy, and forgiveness. The low frequency of the Liquidmetal insert provides you with the softest feel in golf today. Due to the unique characteristics of Liquidmetal alloy, the insert provides a "pure energy transfer" of the lower weighting, to reduce skidding for a much more consistent and true roll. The precision milled Liquidmetal face produces much straighter putts, even on miss-hits.

The style is plumber neck hosel, rear mounted on a stainless steel head. It comes with an ion plated matte finish to mute any reflection or glare. The Putter comes with a newly designed soft, paddle front grip. The loft is 4º, lie 70º and lengths of either 33", 34", 35" and 36".

The Verdict - Looks can be deceiving, at first glance this putter looks like a throw back to an earlier era with no sign of the soft feel sought in today's short sticks. The face looks like hard metal but in fact plays as soft as any insert putter face, with a true roll and a genuinely soft touch. Though nothing can save my putting, the Liquidmetal LS-1 Putter was actually effective at masking most of my deficiencies. Surprisingly good.

LMG Sports also have a range of other products including drivers, fairway woods, irons and balls.

LIQUIDMETAL® II IRONS
LMG Sports has also built a line of cavity-backed irons that feature perimeter-weighted steel heads with a Liquidmetal faceplate. According to the manufacturer this faceplate absorbs less energy at impact, which in turn transfers more energy to the ball with the result being a solid strike, without any vibration, while generating maximum power to the ball.

Though only testing one iron I found the club to be extremely forgiving and provided a powerful feel at impact. I prefer blades to cavity-back irons but enjoyed hitting the Liquidmetal irons, good players will perhaps prefer a little less offset and a slightly smaller face but for the average golfer these irons are definately worth a try.

FAIRWAY WOODS - 5 Wood
The surprise packet for me was the Liquidmetal fairway wood which I must admit I did not fall in love with right away but it certainly grew on me. With a much wider sweet spot than my previous fairway wood the club is more forgiving than it appears at address and therefore confidence in the club can take a few rounds. Once gained though it proved a terrific utility wood and an effective recovery club. The liquidmetal alloy insert provides a strong feel with ball trajectory high and strong. The soleplate features a tear-drop shape which apparently yields a lower and forward center of gravity to assist with control.

Accessories - Liquidmetal golf balls

These three-piece golf balls have a center made out of the Liquidmetal alloy. The core of these 85 compression balls is designed to transfer maximum kinetic energy for greater distance. Not designed for touring professionals or leading amateurs the ball nonetheless comes with a soft zirconium cover to provide a soft feel and help give you more control on the green.