After one round with the Performance Golf RS1, it's staying in my bag, even though my first nine holes were rough. The ball started where I aimed nearly every time. The adjustment was all about speed: I had five three-putts on the front nine and only one on the back.
I've written a lot about the RS1 on this site, but this is the first time I've written about playing it myself. I took it straight out of the box and onto the course, and this is how that went.
What Putter Did I Switch From?
I switched from an Odyssey White Hot Pro blade that I'd used for at least ten years. It was comfortable and familiar, and I knew how hard to hit it without thinking.
That matters because many golfers looking at the RS1 are in the same spot: they have a putter they trust and they're wondering whether a very different design is worth the switch. Going from a traditional blade to the RS1 is about as big a change as you can make in a putter.
My RS1 is the steel-shaft version in standard length, and I putt with a regular grip, not cross-handed or claw.
What Was the RS1 Like Out of the Box?
It arrived in excellent condition. Nothing was damaged, the grip sat straight, and it came with a headcover. I didn't have to adjust anything.
The first thing I noticed was that the grip was bigger than I expected. It fills your hands more than a standard putter grip does. It took me a little while to get comfortable with it, but once I did, I loved it.
The second thing surprised me more: my stroke felt smooth right away. The putter is easy to swing back and through, and it felt stable even before I'd figured out my speed.
Did I Practice Before Playing It?
No, and I wish I had. I took the RS1 straight to Petrifying Springs in Kenosha, Wisconsin, without hitting a single practice putt.
The greens that day were average speed and in clean condition. That's a fair test, since nothing about the surface made putting unusually hard or easy. If you want to know how the RS1 performs on day one with no warm-up, my round is a realistic answer.
Why Did I Three-Putt So Much on the Front Nine?
My three-putts came from speed, not direction. On my first few long putts, I ran the ball at least three feet past the hole.
The ball comes off the RS1 face with more pace than I was used to from my blade. With my normal stroke, putts that would have finished near the hole with the Odyssey rolled well by. I had to consciously shorten my stroke and stop putting the way I had for a decade.
That took about nine holes. The scorecard shows it:
| Stretch | Three-putts |
|---|---|
| Front nine | 5 |
| Back nine | 1 |
Five three-putts in nine holes is frustrating. But going from five to one within the same round shows how quickly the adjustment happened once I caught on to the speed difference.
Before you buy the RS1
I went through Performance Golf's BBB record complaint by complaint. The full review covers what the putter does well, what it actually costs, and the trial that gets added at checkout if you're not watching.
Did the RS1 Start the Ball on My Line?
Yes. The ball went where I aimed on short putts and long putts alike, and that's where most of my confidence came from.
The putts I missed came from misreading the greens, not from pushing or pulling them. When a putt starts exactly on your line and still misses, you know the problem was the read. With my old putter, I couldn't always tell whether I'd misread the break or opened the face.
Knowing your stroke isn't the problem makes it easier to stand over a putt. You can commit to the line and focus on speed.
How Does the RS1 Feel and Sound?
It feels smooth and it's quiet; I barely heard anything at contact. It also felt easy to control on every green I putted on that day.
If you're coming from a White Hot insert like I was, you won't miss the feel. The RS1 has its own feel, but it didn't take any getting used to.
What Did My Playing Partners Think?
Everyone in my group tried it, and they all said the same thing I did: it's smooth. When golfers who didn't buy it themselves notice the same thing, I take that as a good sign.
Is the RS1 Staying in My Bag?
Yes. After ten years with the same putter, I didn't expect to switch after one round, but the RS1 did the most important thing a putter can do: it started the ball where I aimed.
The speed adjustment is real, but it's short-lived and easy to fix, especially if you practice before your first round, which I didn't.
Who Should Consider the RS1 Putter?
I'd recommend the RS1 to any golfer whose putts don't start where they're aiming. If you often can't tell whether you missed because of your read or your stroke, this putter can help you figure out which it is.
Some golfers may want to wait. If you already start the ball on line consistently and your main problem is reading greens, a new putter won't fix that. And if you have a big tournament or an important round coming up soon, give yourself time to adjust before bringing it.
If you're weighing the RS1 against other options, our complete RS1 review and buying guide covers the configurations, pricing, and how to buy without subscription surprises. I haven't played a LAB or other zero-torque putter, so for that comparison, see our RS1 vs LAB Golf DF3 breakdown.
What's My Advice Before Your First Round With the RS1?
Take a bucket of balls to the practice green and putt all of them before you play. That's the most important thing I learned.
Use the session to learn two things:
- How far the ball rolls with your normal stroke. Expect it to go farther than with a traditional blade. Hit long putts until you know how much to shorten your backstroke.
- How the bigger grip feels. Settle into it in practice so you're comfortable with it before your first round.
If I'd done that, I think most of my five front-nine three-putts wouldn't have happened. For more on the adjustment period, see our RS1 putter adjustment guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get used to the RS1 putter?
It took me about nine holes to adjust my speed, and I went in with no practice at all. Golfers who spend a session on the practice green first will likely adjust faster.
Does the RS1 putter roll the ball farther than a blade putter?
In my experience, yes. With the same stroke I used on my Odyssey White Hot Pro blade, putts rolled at least three feet past the hole until I shortened my stroke.
Is the RS1 grip bigger than a normal putter grip?
It felt bigger than I expected. It took some getting used to, but once I was comfortable I loved it.
Is the RS1 putter loud at impact?
No. It's very quiet, and I barely heard anything when I hit the ball.
Should I practice with the RS1 before taking it on the course?
Yes. Putt a bucket of balls on the practice green so you learn how the feel and your distances change compared with your old putter.
Did the RS1 come with a headcover?
Mine did. It arrived in excellent condition with a headcover included.
Join the Conversation
Have you switched putters after years with the same one? How many holes did it take you to get your speed right? If you've played the RS1, I'd especially like to hear whether your first round went like mine. Leave a comment below.