For putter enthusiasts, not just Bettinardi fans, the yearly release of Bettinardi putters is exciting, even if just to see just what Bettinardi came up with this time. This year is extra special, as the 2017 marks the first time Bettinardi will control almost the entire production process in its recently expanded headquarters.

“We wanted to own the process,” says Sam Bettinardi, head of sales and marketing and son of company founder Bob Bettinardi. “It also speeds up lead time and gives us more creative freedom.”

Its Tinley Park, Ill., HQ is also its manufacturing facility is, and where the milling, polishing, paint filling, and assembly (shafts and grips) of Bettinardi putters takes place. The only thing the company doesn’t do at HQ is apply PVD finishes to its putters (it trusts a U.S.-based partner for that).

Bettinardi releases its BB Series and Queen B/Studio Stock Series putters on alternating years. This year, it’s the Studio Stock and Queen B’s turn.

With the new Studio Stock Series, Bettinardi introduces a new Mercury Grey finish and a blue-and-black paint fill scheme on the familiar, Tour-proven head shapes. You will notice a new model, the Studio Stock #3, which was in high demand after multiple Tour wins in recent years. The Studio Stock 28, popularized by Matt Kuchar in an Arm-Lock option, also saw a few adjustments, including additional head options.

The Studio Stock Series faces use Bettinardi’s F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) Face Finish, which is “Fly-Milled,” and then milled again to remove 55 percent of the material from the putter face. According to Bettinardi, the lack of material on the face is why the Studio Stock Series putters are the “softest milled putters you can find.”

In the Queen B series, Bettinardi introduces a bumble bee black-and-yellow color scheme, and swarms of bees are engraved on the soles of two completely new head shapes.

Bettinardi says the Queen B series is where Bettinardi really expresses its creative freedom in shaping and style. Both putters come with the company’s Micro Honeycomb milled face, which offers a “crisper feel,” according to Bettinardi. Check out more info about each head model below, and join the discussion in our forums.

Studio Stock #3

• Head weight: 352 Grams
• Toe Hang: Slight
• Lie, Loft: 70 degrees/3 degrees
• Lengths: 33-35 inches
• Material: Carbon Steel

The #3 is a new model in the Studio Stock Series line, and a more compact, stout mallet option with a slight toe hang. It’s available in 33-35 inch lengths, in both left and right hand, with a counterbalance option, as well.

Studio Stock #3 Counterbalance

• Head weight: 400 grams
• Toe Hang: Slight
• Lengths: 36-40 inches
• Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The Studio Stock #3 CB has a head weight that is 42 grams heavier, making its total weight 400 grams. The putter is also 3 inches longer in length and equipped with a longer, heavier grip to produce more stability throughout the stroke.

Studio Stock #8

• Head Weight: 358 grams
• Toe Hang: Half
• Length: 33-35 inches
• Lie, Loft: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The #8, as you’ll notice, is the most classic-looking putter in the line, but differentiates itself from Anser-style putters with a raised toe, which Bettinardi says Tour players enjoy. It also has a plumbers neck.

Studio Stock #28 Arm-Lock

• Head weight: 400 grams
• Toe Hang: Quarter
• Lengths: 38-42 inches
• Loft, Lie: 71 degrees, 5 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The Studio Stock 28 head shape takes after Matt Kuchar’s famous Model 1 Armlock putter, and is designed to be used with the grip secured along a golfer’s forearm to create a more stable stroke. The model Kuchar used in previous year’s had 7 degrees of loft and 2.5 shafts worth of offset.

Recently, however, Kuchar has “toned back the armlock,” according to Bettinardi, and the Studio Stock 28 takes after Kuchar’s new putter specifications. It has only 5 degrees of loft and 1 shaft worth of offset. That means armlockers no longer need to forward press as far. The new armlock head style also has a lower face profile than its predecessor.

Studio Stock #28 CS

• Toe Hang: Quarter
• Head weight: 358 grams
• Lengths: 33-35 inches
• Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

Bettinardi is also releasing the Studio Stock #28 in standard-length models as both a heel-shafted and center-shafted putter due to high demand for the head shape. The center-shafted #28 head model has a slight toe hang.

Studio Stock #28 (Heel-Shafted)

Studio Stock Series Specs

Queen B #8

• Head Weight: 362 grams
• Toe Hang: Quarter
• Lengths: 33-35 inches
• Loft, Lie: 70 dgerees, 3 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

The all-new Queen B #8 model has a slotback with a milled pocket in the flange thats helps better frame the ball and encourage more consistent alignment. It also has a more squared off look than a classic mallet, and is designed with isolated rear bumpers that create a higher moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of forgiveness. The putter has a quarter-toe hang for a slight arcing stroke.

Queen B #9

• Head Weight: 362 grams
• Toe Hang: Half
• Lengths: 33-35 inches
• Loft, Lie: 70 degrees, 3 degrees
• Material: Mild Carbon Steel

“This model combines the best of the signature Bettinardi design principles with a gentle sweeping toe and crescent-milled neck to complement the compact and curved appearance,” Bettinardi says.

The Queen B #9 is also a new head design, which a crescent-milled neck that frames the ball slightly different at address than previous models. Like the Studio Stock Series #8, it also has a raised-toe design.