Method (001, 002, 003, 004, 005)

The 2010 Method release brought five head shapes to market at once, numbered 001 through 005, each varying in toe-hang and head size and shape. Our review of the putter singled out the 001 as the most common of the line, a classic Anser-2 style head, and noted the speculation at the time about whether Tiger Woods might eventually make the switch to one.

What set the whole Method release apart, per our review, was the Polymetal Groove Technology built into the face, described as a hybrid between an insert, a sound slot, and a deep-groove milling pattern. Our test putter measured 3.5 degrees of loft, and we noted the ball came off the face with almost no skip, just a single click before it was rolling. The heads were milled from 303 stainless steel with a bead-blasted finish to cut glare, and a single sight dot for alignment. Our review also placed the release in context: it followed the Unitized series Nike put out in 2006, and by our account this Method line shared nothing with that earlier effort beyond the swoosh on the heel.

The release arrived on the heels of real tour results. Our review notes that in 2009, prototypes of the Method were used to win two majors, by Stewart Cink at the British Open and Lucas Glover at the US Open, and that this helped land the Method on the 2010 Golf Digest Hotlist. Golflink.com lists the release year as 2010, consistent with our own review's timing. At the price our review recorded, $249.99, we characterized it as a serious putter for serious golfers that still landed short of the high end of the premium market.