Wirtten by..Moecat

     Acknowledgement and Important Note
First of all, I would like to thank Todd Schumaker (owner of TKS Putters) and Scott Penrod (President and Co-Founder of Sizemore Golf) for their time to speak with me over the phone. I must admit that I was intrigued with the Sizemore XB-1 Prototype after having read Mr. Doug's PutterTalk review.  After some quick research, I found out that Bruce Sizemore, Jr. had earlier produced two lines of putters under the original Copper Stix logo: the CU and CS series. One particular model caught my eye, the CS-1, because of its at-first-glance similarities with the Bettinardi MC-9 I already own.

Specifically:
(1) both have longer necks for increased face balance
(2) both have copper inserts to create a softer feel upon ball contact
(3) both are one-piece CNC milled putters that happen to have remarkably uniform, geometrical face milling patterns that result in extremely flat face surfaces

My typical, overly analytical first instinct made me wonder if there was some secret controversy behind the scenes. There is none. After talking with Scott and Todd separately, and comparing information from the Bettinardi and Sizemore websites (http://bettinardigolf.com/bgolf/index.php and http://luxputters.com/factsheet.asp, respectively), one can conclude that any similarities between the two putters are mainly superficial.

In fact:
(1) Mr. Bettinardi claims that he does not heat any metal during the milling process, while Mr. Sizemore's inserts are annealed (i.e., heated then cooled) to strengthen the naturally soft properties of the copper metal.
(2) A jeweler's tool is used to create the signature Bettinardi honeycomb face while a propietary cross-sectional milling technique is used to create the Sizemore face.

Finally, I would like to emphasize that the purpose of the following comparitive review of the two putters is not to declare a winner or loser, but rather to celebrate their unique qualities. The designers and representatives of these brands are proud of their products and feel justified that their products' merits should speak for themselves. As both golf enthusiasts and consumers, it may very well be a good idea for us to respect this.

Looks
The Bettinardi MC-9 is a variant of the origiinal BB-1 and was initially released in Japan only.  The MC-9 features a classic Anser-style head milled from carbon steel and finished in "silver pearl."  The color of the plating, copper insert, and stampings all complement each other very nicely, while the yellow "1 Piece Technology" grip and headcover serve to give the putter an overall bright yet classy accent.  The grip is a Winn AVS model with embossed hexagons that cleverly simulates the putter's honeycomb face.  Not only can it serve as a conversation piece on its own, but it actually has a textured smoothness without being overly spongy.  The MC-9's long-slant neck does provide a good amount of face balance (the toe hang is at about 3:30), and along with the hint of an elbow at the hosel, there is about a full shaft offset.  At address, the putter has a very clean look: there is a single black sight line on the flange that provides good contrast against the ball; and the outlines of the cavity expertly walk the fine line between sharpness and softness so as to sufficiently aid in alignment without being distracting.  One could argue that the space in the cavity outlined by the shoulders could be narrowed a bit to better frame the ball, but this is not a major hindrance to the golfer.

The Sizemore CS-1 would best be classified as a flange-blade with a very shallow pocket, and it is a shade longer heel to toe than the Bettinardi.  It has a durable "tri-nickel" finish that is similar to that of the MC-9 but features a slightly wider copper insert that covers a greater portion of the face compared to the MC-9.  Also, the Sizemore's face milling pattern has more of a "tiled waffle" effect that actually appears more intricate than that seen in its counterpart (to the touch, the CS-1's face is also surprisingly smooth).  While its long neck gives the head slight toe hang, there is no slant, and the hosel position gives the putter about one-half shaft offset.  The copper and green color of the stampings, along with the flamingo logo and lettering style, emit quite the Florida atmosphere (interestingly, Mr. Sizemore's design studio is in Palm Harbor, Florida).  The mill chatter in the pocket and radial milling patterns along the rear bumpers, back wall and back of the neck further add to the artistic qualities of the putter.  At address, the CS-1 provides the golfer the optical illusion of being akin to the Anser.  In fact, one is simply looking at the outlines of the flange's rather subtle tiers.  The cavity's oulines clearly frame the ball at address, although purists may protest the shape not being a true rectangle.  The only real negative aspect of the entire CS-1 is the grip's color: the dull grey is a sullen contrast to the overall warmth of the rest of the putter.
EDGE: MC-9

Feel (sound and vibration)
Both the MC-9 and CS-1 have approximately 340 gram heads, Royal Precision shafts and Winn grips.  However, the overall weight of the CS-1 is noticeably greater because its shaft and grip are slightly thicker and heavier than those of the MC-9.  This accounts for two major differences in feel between the two putters, neither of which are necessarily more or less desirable than the other: (1) The MC-9 emits a slightly louder, higher pitched click upon ball contact compared to the CS-1's more muted tone; (2) The MC-9 has a bit more responsive and lively feel compared to the more dampened vibrations of the CS-1.  For both putters, there are no surprises during off-center strokes: some more vibration and a more wooden click, but nothing unseemly.  It is truly a subjective toss-up between the CS-1 and MC-9 as to which has a more preferable feel.
EDGE: EVEN

Performance
While there is no substitute for a good putting stroke, the Bettinardi and Sizemore heads do balance the traits of forgiveness and versatility very nicely.  Center ball strokes are rewarded with smooth rolls along the intended path.  Neither gives too much or too little in the areas of short distance and lag putting, and the golfer is not overly punished because of heel or toe side misses.  From the fringe and light rough, the CS-1's additional weight gives it a slight edge as a chipper, while the MC-9 provides the golfer with perhaps a little more confidence in pulling off the delicate inner and outer edge drops due to its more surgical feel.  Finding fault with either putter is an almost impossible task, as is determining which has a clear advantage over the other with regard to performance.
EDGE: EVEN

Conclusion
It would be a shame to declare the MC-9 as a better putter than the CS-1 over such a nit-picky thing as a grip.  Both demonstrate very high standards of craftsmanship and artistic uniqueness, qualities which one would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.  Because the grip is realistically the easiest thing to change and improve in a putter, I declare this "contest" a draw.
OVERALL PREFERENCE: EVEN