Review: Guerin Rife Aussie GR6 Putter - “Have a g’day on the greens, mate!”
Michael White
When you think of Guerin Rife putters, their unique “2-Bar” putter design probably comes to mind. They’re hard to miss on the greens, and can be seen in some professionals’ hands, especially on the Champions Tour. While the two bars sticking out the back are easy to identify, perhaps the Rife’s biggest asset is its “roll groove” technology. With a more traditional looking line of putters, called their “GR6” line, Guerin Rife has created a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Two models are available in the GR6 line: A blade style, with heel and toe weighting, called the “Aussie,” and a mallet style called the “Mr. Beasley.” I reviewed the Aussie. Both are 100% CNC milled from a soft 303 stainless steel. The Aussie has an Australian flag inset into the sole of the putter, which is fairly unique. While not described as such, it has a satinized finish, which did not produce excessive glare under bright sun.
Unique to the Guerin Rife putter line is their alignment slot. The single sight line on the flange of the Aussie lines up with a notch cut into the topline when viewing the putter from above. This is said to help facilitate setting up the same way to the ball each time. It’s nothing new. If you remember the old “Slotline” putters from the 80’s, the concept will be very familiar. It does the trick simply and effectively. Line up the sight line with the “notch” and you will achieve the same setup repeatedly.
The feel of the GR6 Aussie was soft without being overly soft. The 303 stainless material conveys a sense of feel nicely, with a slight metallic “plink” at impact. The roll grooves really stand out with this material, even more so than with the aluminum-headed 2-Bar putters. The roll grooves really “gripped” onto the cover of my ball and started its roll immediately. Running your fingertips over the roll grooves on the GR6 putters, they feel like small “teeth” almost. In this sense, the 303 stainless material seems to be a fine choice, as it heightens the grip of the roll grooves nicely. The roll of my putts was smooth and tracked well toward the hole, and distance control was easily attained.
I liked the weighting of the Rife Aussie. At 345 grams, it is just slightly heavier than other putters on the market. It has a good sense of balance, and the extra weight helps to get the ball rolling without being noticeably “heavy” in any way. I’ve always found that heavier head weights lead to a smoother stroke for me, and the Aussie proved to be a smooth operator on the dance floor.
The Aussie is finished with a stepless Rifle putter shaft for a clean look. It also features a custom black and silver Rife-branded Winn V17 style grip. While it feels good overall, it does not exhibit the “tack” of other V17 grips. There is also a “Roll Groove” symbol right where my thumb rested on my lower hand that I found distracting. A new grip might be in order for some, but that is something that is easily changed. The headcover is a compact “boot” style that is functional in protecting the head, and easy to get on and off. With some inset elastic, it stretches to go on and off without the need for Velcro.
The Guerin Rife Aussie performed exceptionally well overall. The addition of the classically styled designs of the “Aussie” and “Mr. Beasley” will do well to satisfy those looking to benefit from Rife’s roll groove technology, while maintaining a more low-key, traditional apprearance. I certainly had a “G’day” on the greens with my Aussie. Check it out for yourself, and see if your scores can go “Down Under” par!
Michael White
Independent Equipment Consultant/Forums Moderator
Golf-Gear-Review.com
