Home › Guides › Center-shaft putters
Rankings【Oct 2026 Update】Center-shaft putters comparedPutters with the shaft in the middle of the head, lined up by build, length and weight. If you can't decide, take the PRGR SB Centered
Updated: Oct 30, 2026Contains affiliate links
I average a score of 72 and play 150 rounds a year. I picked these seriously.
A center-shaft putter has the shaft attached at the middle of the head. I compared the PRGR SB Centered (three models) and the PING PRIME TYNE C (JPY 44,000).
If you can't decide, take the SB Centered, which was designed specifically for a center shaft.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
If you are choosing a center shaft, go with the PRGR Silver Blade Centered (SB Centered). It adds about 4 mm of offset to an SB build made for a center shaft (a weight difference between blade and body that deepens the center of gravity and makes it forgiving).
It comes in three models: 01OS, 03OS and 05OS. The PING PRIME TYNE C has just one shape, so the SB Centered gives you more choice of setup.
Where to buy the PRGR SB Centered putter
PRGR Silver Blade Centered putter
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
- Rakuten IchibaRecommendedRakuten product page
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
Ad. Links go to each store's product page ("Search ..." links go to search results). Price, shipping, stock and specs such as loft, shaft and number of clubs differ by store. Check the product page before you buy.
In this article
- Bottom line
- What is a center-shaft putter?
- How is it different from a heel-shafted putter?
- The two center-shaft putters by weight and length
- How I picked: three yardsticks
- Why This Order
- What I like
- What to watch for
- What about Odyssey's center shaft?
- What are the pros and cons of a center shaft?
- Who it suits: if you're torn, choose by what you want
- Price and where to buy
- About the writer and sources
- FAQ
Bottom line
No. 1 is the PRGR SB Centered (three models, total weight 561 to 592 g, open price) and No. 2 is the PING PRIME TYNE C (360 g head, JPY 44,000).
The center shaft is a shape for people whose stroke is closer to straight than an arc to try. Decide first by how it looks at address.
What is a center-shaft putter?
A center-shaft putter has the shaft attached at the middle of the head. An ordinary putter has the shaft toward the heel.
Because the line of the shaft runs through the middle of the face, you can see where the sweet spot is when you set up. PING says the shape makes it easy to hit the middle of the face, and PRGR says it makes it easy to hit the center and to square up.
Whether the ball goes in depends on the person, so I compare by build, length and weight figures.
How is it different from a heel-shafted putter?
On an ordinary putter the shaft attaches toward the heel, so the face tends to open and close during the stroke. On a center shaft, the axis sits at the middle of the face, so the amount of opening and closing is smaller. That makes it a shape for people who take the putter straight back and straight through.
The other figure is face progression (the distance from the shaft axis to the face). The SB Centered is 3.0 to 3.5 mm, and the 05OS adds about 4 mm of offset (the face set back behind the shaft). It is built to make a setup with the hands ahead of the ball easier.
The two center-shaft putters by weight and length
| Model | Loft / lie | Weight | Length | Price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRGR SB Centered 01OS | 3° / 70° | Total weight 566 g | 34 in | Open pricing |
| PRGR SB Centered 03OS | 3° / 70° | Total weight 576 g | 34 in | Open pricing |
| PRGR SB Centered 05OS | 3° / 70° | Total weight 592 g | 34 in | Open pricing |
| PING PRIME TYNE C | 3° / 70° | Head 360 g | 34 in | ¥44,000 |
Working out the differences: the SB Centered's total weight is 26 g heavier for the 05OS than the 01OS (592 − 566). Going from 33 to 34 inches adds 5 g (566 − 561). Face progression (the distance from the shaft axis to the face) is 3.0 mm for the 01OS and 03OS and 3.5 mm for the 05OS.
PRGR is an open price, so each store sets its own. PING is JPY 44,000 (tax incl.).
How I picked: three yardsticks
I did not use sales or the number of reviews as a reason. I compared the two on three yardsticks.
- Designed specifically for a center shaft: whether the center of gravity and offset are made to suit a center shaft.
- Range of setups you can choose: whether models and lengths are offered.
- Ease of buying: whether the price is fixed and the length can be changed.
Why This Order
| Rank | Model | Yardstick figure | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | PRGR SB Centered | Three models, total weight 561 to 592 g | An SB build made for the center shaft, plus about 4 mm of offset (05OS). Models and lengths (33 / 34 inches) can be chosen. |
| No. 2 | PING PRIME TYNE C | 1 shape, 360 g head, JPY 44,000 | A horned shape with a center shaft attached. The price is fixed and PING's custom options (31 to 36 inches) are available. Only one shape. |
What I like
The SB Centered has an aluminum face (Al6063) and a stainless body (SUS431). The face is milled; the body is precision cast and then milled, made in Japan. Fine milling reduces the contact area with the ball, aiming for a soft feel.
The grip is a midsize 88 g. The concept color is blue, meant to suggest focus and calm.
The PRIME TYNE C has a 17-4 stainless head with a PEBAX insert. The horned shape serves as an alignment mark. It supports the same 31 to 36 inch lengths as PING's other putters.
What to watch for
Because the SB Centered face is aluminum, it can get scratched. Carrying it in a head cover is enough.
If your stroke follows an arc, a heel-shafted putter can feel more natural. Whether it suits you is decided by how it looks at address. Putters in other shapes are lined up in the putter ranking.
What about Odyssey's center shaft? The Ai-DUAL TRI-BEAM CS
Odyssey has one too. The Ai-DUAL TRI-BEAM, released Mar 20, 2026, has a center-shaft "CS" model. The price is JPY 55,000.
The TRI-BEAM joins shaft and head with a triangular "racket hosel." Odyssey says the head resists twisting on off-center hits. Next to the two above, it costs JPY 11,000 more than the PING PRIME TYNE C (JPY 44,000) (my calculation). It is a third candidate for people who like the feel of Odyssey's insert.
| Maker | Model | Price (incl. tax) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRGR | SB Centered (01OS, 03OS, 05OS) | Open pricing | An SB build made for the center shaft. Total weight 566 to 592 g |
| PING | PRIME TYNE C | ¥44,000 | Horned shape. 360 g head |
| Odyssey | Ai-DUAL TRI-BEAM CS | ¥55,000 | Triangular racket hosel. Released Mar 20, 2026 |
What are the pros and cons of a center shaft?
The advantage is that the sweet spot sits right below the shaft. It is easier to line up the direction of your hands with the direction of the face at address.
The disadvantage is that there are few to choose from. In new clubs, only a few models from these three makers appear on official Japanese sites. There is far less room to choose by shape preference than with heel-shafted putters. Note also that center shaft and zero torque are different things. Zero torque is about whether the center of gravity sits on the line of the shaft, and the attachment point is not always the middle. I wrote more in the zero-torque putter article.
Who it suits: if you're torn, choose by what you want
Great for you if you
- If you want the ease of setup that offset gives, or want to choose a model: PRGR SB Centered
- If you want PING's shape and a fixed price: PING PRIME TYNE C
For PING's putters overall, see the comparison of PING's three putter series; for new releases, see new putters 2026.
Price and where to buy
The PING price is JPY 44,000 (tax incl.), as in the table. PRGR is an open price, so check the current stores and prices in the buy box above.
When you buy, check the length. The SB Centered offers 33 and 34 inches, and PING lets you change the length from 31 to 36 inches.
How many inches is your putter?
Update history
About the writer and sources
Written by a gear nerd who studies golf equipment, averages a 72, and plays about 150 rounds a year.
I re-read the numbers against the sources below on Oct 30, 2026. Last updated Oct 30, 2026.
FAQ
What is a center-shaft putter?
A putter with the shaft attached at the middle of the head. The line of the shaft runs through the middle of the face, so you can see where the sweet spot is and the face opens and closes less.
What is different about PRGR's center-shaft putter?
The SB Centered comes in three models: 01OS, 03OS and 05OS. The 05OS has about 4 mm of offset, and face progression is 3.0 mm for the 01OS and 03OS and 3.5 mm for the 05OS. Loft is 3 degrees and lie is 70 degrees.
How much is PING's center-shaft putter?
The PRIME TYNE C from the SCOTTSDALE line is a center-shaft model, with a list price of JPY 44,000 (tax incl.). Head weight is 360 g (PING Golf Japan, checked Oct 29, 2026).
Ready to choose? Start here
Related reading
Comparing PING's three putter series
Sources for this article
- PRGR official: Silver-Blade Centered putter
- PING Golf Japan: SCOTTSDALE putter (PRIME TYNE C)
- PRGR official: putter list
Read next
- A popular read on the same kind of gear:Can an Iron Shaft Lower Launch and Add Spin?
- Another well-read article on the same kind of gear:Shaft Flex S vs R
- Next, a widely read piece on the same kind of gear:Best Driver Shafts 2026
Most read on this site
Voice Caddie Auto Pin (APL): Which Models and Which Courses It Works On
Garmin Approach S72: Release Date, Price and What Changed from the S70
PRGR R35 Wedge vs. R50 Wedge: Differences, Price and Release Date