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Steve Strano, Otey Crisman Putters | Episode No. 489

·1 hr 14 min·1 clip
Odie Crispin invented MOI in putter heads back in 1940s, transforming struggling golfer into US Open qualifier.
Golf equipment historian Steve Strano discusses the forgotten legacy of Odie Crispin putters, a brand that won five Masters tournaments between 1947-1957 but disappeared from popular memory. Through manual historical research, Strano pieced together how founder Odie Crispin pioneered MOI (moment of inertia) in putter heads, enabling dramatic improvement in professional golfers' performance. The episode details the company's peak in the 1970s (26,000 putters annually) and current revival focusing on hand-built craftmanship and hickory shafts rather than modern technological trends.

As heard by us

A steady look at putter history, branding, and the details collectors care about.

This episode keeps its footing when it stays with the putters themselves: the stamping, the older heads, and the small marks that matter to collectors trying to tell a real piece from a copy.

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Why you'd press play

Listen if you want the story behind Odie Chrisman putters and why a small stamp can matter to collectors.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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