Showcase: Milled Putters

TaylorMade Rossa TP

Milled To Perfection One of the most beautiful pieces of golf equipment is the putter. In fact, a finely crafted milled putter is often considered a work of art among golf club aficionados.

Why, you ask? Well, milled (meaning it's literally cut out of a chunk of metal) putters are generally praised for their uniformity, straightness and balance–three reasons why milled putters also tend to be on the higher side when it comes to price. But then again, if you take putting seriously and you want a beautiful putter made with impeccable attention to detail, a milled one might be right up your alley. Here's a look at five top-contending milled flatsticks available for you to buy right now.

Scotty Cameron Kombi

TaylorMade Rossa TP CNC-milled out of 1020 carbon steel to precise measurements, the Rossa TP putters by Kia Ma have become popular for their resilient feel and sound. The muted black finish is highlighted with strategically located tungsten weights for even greater balance. Six models are available.

Scotty Cameron Kombi We're not sure how to pronounce it either, but the Kombi is the latest nontraditional mallet milled from renowned puttermaker Scotty Cameron. It's actually made of aircraft-grade aluminum, making its chassis lighter and more receptive to the three tungsten weights located to the sides and in the back of the clubhead. Finish off with high-contrast red graphics and sightlines, and the Kombi is a sophisticated putter that's technologically advanced, too. Exotics David Glod Tour Proto

Exotics David Glod Tour Proto Company founder and master designer David Glod designed these putters to be milled from stainless steel for the utmost in feel and balance. The traditional shapes have been tweaked to reflect the Exotics line, most noticeably with the Multi-Level X-Grip face pattern that gently grips the ball to help promote a better, more immediate initial roll. Multiple styles available. Bettinardi/Mizuno Black Carbon Series

Bettinardi/Mizuno Black Carbon Series Master putter designer Bob Bettinardi designed the Black Carbon Series putters with a "Feel Impact Technology" face insert that lessens face contact with the ball at impact and gives off a responsive feel. The glare-resistant black finish and signature honeycomb face exude craftsmanship. Multiple head models and shaft options are available.

Odyssey Black Series i By combining a carbon-steel body with a heavier tungsten flange, the new Black Series i from Odyssey also has a multilayer face insert for better feel and a higher MOI. All this technology tends to get overwhelming on paper, but the putter actually represents a clean, classic appearance. The Black Series i proves you can have a high-tech putter that looks and feels like a classic milled one. A variety of styles are available, including the popular 2-Ball. Odyssey Black Series i

What does "CNC-milled" mean? The "CNC" in CNC-milled stands for Computer Numerical Control–a fancy way of saying the milling tool is done to exact specifications under the watchful control of a computer.

Carbon steel or stainless steel? The general consensus is that carbon steel is softer than stainless steel. So if you want more of a buttery feel, try carbon steel. For a firmer, more responsive touch, give a stainless-steel model a go.