Counter-balanced putters have become increasingly popular since the anchoring ban was announced by governing bodies.
All major manufacturers now offer counter-balanced options with extra weight added to the top of the grip to allow players who prefer this method to achieve a smooth and repeatable stroke.
Nike's engineers, based at their research and design facility The Oven, have taken a sideways look at the problem after research highlighted that the position of the counterweight may actually be counter-productive for many players. The result? Nike's innovative CounterFlex technology.
CounterFlex is a 75-gram moveable weight system inside the grip of the putter that can be adjusted and positioned anywhere on a 15-inch slide. CounterFlex changes the putter's Moment of Inertia and overall swing weight to ensure anchor-like stability and is adjustable to any stroke.
The research highlighted that in fact only 30 percent of golfers achieved their best match of rhythm and tempo with the weight locked at the top of the putter. The remaining 70 percent achieving a better stroke when the 75 grams were located in the middle or bottom positions. Since golfers can position the weight anywhere on the slide they can now fine tune the putters balance to their individual stroke.
The CounterFlex technology has been applied to Nike's Method Converge range of putters, featuring Nike's Dual RZN insert, with both the B1-01 and the S1-12 models available with 35" and 38" shafts.