Cleveland Classic Collection HB 1
GolfMagic joins 10 testers at Horsley Lodge Golf Club in Derby to test some of the best new blades
Brand: Cleveland Golf
Putter: Classic Collection HB 1 Black Pearl
Design: Blade
RRP: £85
Loft: 3-degree Lie: 70-degree
Head Weight: 340g
Available lengths: 33-35"
Summary: Cleveland HB 1 Black Pearl has a plumber’s neck hosel, in contrast to the other cavity-back blades in the line, the slant-neck HB 4.5 model and flare-neck HB 7. Other models in the line include a half-mallet HB 2, the HB 6, which is a more traditional mallet with a double-bend shaft, an HB 3 and the HB 10, a mallet with a plumber’s neck.
Looks: The black finish appealed to the testers and has the added benefit of reduced glare when the sun's out. Apart from the finish, the putter has a classic appearance and the simple alignment aid proved popular with our testers. It's a design that has been popular for years and brands aren't going to dump it anytime soon. 4 (out of 5)
Feel: In the feel stakes, the Cleveland was Mr Consistency in terms of distance control with a soft feel off the face. Several testers thought there were better sounding putters in the test, however. 7.1 (out of 10)
Performance: Our testers really enjoyed the confidence they had standing over the ball from 6-feet and in, and were also pleased with the consistent role on offer, particularly from 15-feet. The offset face largely appealed and nine testers found that it helped them get a good roll on the ball, eliminating bounces and skids. 7.5 (out of 10)
Verdict: A solid putter that will appeal to the mass market. It looks great, has a decent feel and offers consistent performance across a range of short and long putts. Worth taking a look at. 18.6 (out of 25)
Results: 95 putts holed (out of 180)
| Tester | Name | Handicap | 3-feet | 6-feet | 15-feet |
| 1 | Andy | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Charlie | 14 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Tom | +3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Dean | Pro | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Sam | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Steve | 13 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | Jerry | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Damian | 17 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 9 | Gareth | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Andrew | 21 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | Dick | 23 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | Bob | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Next putter
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
