Slighter Golf :: Putter Creation Process

The process begins with a solid block of steel. We use mainly 1018 Carbon Steel or 303 surgical grade stainless steel for several reasons:

A) It provides a superior and softer feel.
B) It is extremely durable.
C) It has excellent milling properties that enable us to shape the material to exact tolerances.

During the early process of milling you can see that two putter heads are created from a single block of steel. The head and hosel are created as a single unit, unless custom hosels are necessary.

This approach allows us to create putters with cleaner, flowing designs. In addition, we believe it creates a more consistent feel in the performance of the putter.

As you can see, each stage of the milling process is slow in comparison to putters that are massed produced through the casting process. Like fine wine, our putters take time to develop, and the final results speak for itself.

Here I am shaping the putter's cavity to the desired look and specifications. This process is two fold: A) aesthetics. B) to acquire the desired weight for the putter. This process is done by hand on a vertical mill. Each putter is individually milled to the customer's specifications.

A "floating face" or "sound slot" is being added to this putter. This process is also done by hand on a vertical mill. The floating face must be precisely measured prior to cutting. Measuring blocks and a height gage are the tools of the trade for this job. Other custom work like sight lines, sight dots and weight dots are also done on this mill by hand.

The hand-stamping process is an art in itself. You really do not want to miss the "stamp" and "squash" the putter or your hand here. Be sure you have the correct stamp and in the right position. you may laugh, but I can attest to the importance of double checking from experience.

Here you can see me smoothing out the rough edges of the putter after it has been milled and cut to the customer's desired specifications. I use numerous grinders and polishing wheels to obtain the proper finish.

Here I am using our TIG welder and attaching a hosel to a putter as a special order for a customer .

The putter is shown here in the process of finishing. This involves spraying the putter with "glass beads" similar to sand-blasting. I offer several types of finishes on my putters:

A) High polished (Stainless Only)
B) Semi-high polished/satin (Stainless Only)
C) Total non-glare satin (this is a darker gray color mostly used on tour to eliminate any sun glare) (Stainless Only)
D) "Kuro Kaminari" (Black Thunder)
E) Seattle Mud (1018 Carbon Steel Only)
F) Seattle Mist
G) Irish Gold
H) Grava Pit (Stainless Only)

Here you can see the paint-fill is being applied all by hand. This is done to the customer's specifications.

The final touches involve adjusting the putters loft, lie and angle to your specifications using a top of the line tour Mitchell putter bending machine.

Here the putter is being cleaned with soap, water, and silver polish. This is done many times throughout the entire finishing process.