I recieved this putter last week and got a chance to play a few rounds with it. I have always been intrigued with these new high MOI putters but have struggled to find one that I felt comfortable with at address. The Eldik appealed to me when I first saw it because it is small and sets up very simular to my GAA8CS that I had been using. It is about the same size heel-toe but with the more T shape instead of the crescent shape of the GAA8 mallet. It even has the same 3 alignment lines. I have been trying to get a center shafted Eldik since I saw the first prototype but the center shafted putters are all prototypes and are very rare, the normal ones have a bent heel shaft. I asked Dave about it numerous times but nothing ever happened with it. Then I found out that the Eldik is a Gauge Japan model so I asked Chris about it and he found one for me quickly. (thanks Chris! :D )

The first thing I noticed about the Eldik when I got it is that it is HEAVY. It felt alot heavier than any putter I had used in the past. I compared it to my GAA8 and a couple other putters that I knew the headweight of and from my calcluations the headweight on this Eldik is about 420 grams. I dont know if that is normal of if this one is a super heavy prototype. I like heavier putters, my GAA8 is 370 grams but this thing is a tank. I think the design is excellent. The body is 303 stainless steel with a large tungsten weight chip in the back. This increases the MOI and moves the COG of the putter back towards the rear. The 3 long sightlines make this putter the best for alignment that I have ever used. The one other thing I noticed when I first got it was the lack of milling marks on the face and on the rest of the putter. Gauge Japan computer flat grinds the faces and other surfaces of the putters after they are milled. This makes the faces as flat as possible, flatter than any other traditional CNC milling. It makes for a different look than any other high end putter. The finish is a flat black color that looks great and does not shine in the sun. It is also 100% perfectly face balanced unlike most other center shafted putters which are almost face balanced but not really.

This is one great feeling putter. The feel and sound off the face are solid and crisp, very close to what I have come to be used to with my GAA8 and any other high end SS303 putter. The extreme headweight combined with the backweighting makes the putterhead really like to accelerate through the ball. Like all other high MOI designs it is amazing how steady the face stays on off center hits. It is very easy to roll the ball with this putter, it seems to take off end over end right off the face. Alignment is excellent. I have a hard time seeing the line with most putters but the 3 long lines really make it easy. I putted pretty well in the 3 rounds I have used it. Distance control is very good and I made alot of short putts. I had been using a Grace MOI 5K immediatly before I got the Eldik. In comparison, the Eldik sets up alot better. Alignment is much better, I find the MOI to be a little distracting looking and not so great for alignment. The MOI rolls the ball a little better I think although the Eldik is very close. The Eldik feels a little better to me, I like the more solid feel vs. the softer BeCu feel of the MOI although the BeCu face MOI feels great. Right now the Eldik is in the bag. I want to like it better than the MOI. It sets up alot better and is alot more pleasing to the eye. The MOI just rolls the ball a little better for me so far so I am not 100% convinced. Closer to 90% convinced. :lol: All in all I think anyone looking for a smaller more normal looking high MOI putter with great alignment features a look at the Eldik is a must. Everything about this putter say quality down to the headcover which even makes it look like a normal putter when in the bag.


Feel free to ask me any questions. :)

(IMG:http://www6.plala.or.jp/dream72/ELDIK_P_11.jpg)
(IMG:http://www6.plala.or.jp/dream72/ELDIK_P_15.jpg)
(IMG:http://www6.plala.or.jp/dream72/ELDIK_P_16.jpg)

Cheers, Ari! Great review. :D

Great review. First off, have you ever tested the J-Spec?
What do you think is the difference between the J-Spec1 and the ELDIK? They almost look the same, and I tried a J-Spec in a golf shop, and it felt light. Although it is also black, and looks almost exactly the same as the ELDIK, it just feels like a light putter.