Kirkland Signature KS1 Putter Review

If you’ve seen the recent internet hype about the Kirkland Signature KS1 putter, you may be curious to know whether it’s any good or not. Its low price, perceived premium quality, and its intrigue caused a lot of internet buzz. 

The resale market began selling these putters, and Costco became the center of this. When the Kirkland Signature KS1 putter first arrived online, they sold out immediately. In addition, the prices of the KS1 soared on eBay. This article will provide a complete Kirkland Signature KS1 putter review and tell you if it’s worth buying. 

What has caused the hype?

There are many reasons that cause the hype. Firstly, Costco had plenty of success with the #KSIG golf balls, so many customers were curious about the new putter that Costco was releasing. Furthermore, many people couldn’t believe that the putter was 100% milled and only cost $149. 

There were a few other reasons for the massive hype:

• These same KSI putters ran for about $230 on eBay
• Costco immediately sold out only within a few hours
• Rick Shiels posted a video reviewing the putter, which went viral 
• GolfWRX also wrote and published a story about the KS1 putter. 

Kirkland Putter vs. Scotty Cameron

The most noticeable difference between the two putters is the price. Scotty Cameron is typically sold for around $450, while the Kirkland Putter is only $149. One thing that draws the comparison is the looks. The Kirkland Putter and Scotty Cameron look very similar to one another. Both are an Anser style blade, have a plumbers neck, and are silver. For reference, we believe that the Kirkland Putter KS1 most closely resembled the Special Select Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5. 

They both use a CNC milled 303 stainless head material, which is incredibly durable and weather resistant. In addition, each club has very similar specifications in terms of length, loft, and lie angles. The clubs both have heel-to-toe weighting and adjustable heels, which help to ensure proper weight distribution and superior balance. 

One of the downsides of the Kirkland Putter compared to the Scotty Cameron is that you can’t try the club before you purchase it. However, luckily Costco does have a buyer-friendly return policy. That means if you’re not satisfied with the putter, you can easily return it after the first use. 

The main advantage that the Scotty Cameron club may have is that it has an extremely soft weel with positive player feedback. In fact, the material has 30% more vibration dampening, allowing you to gauge the distance and have better accuracy on your shots. 

Some of the materials can look a little cheap compared to the Scotty Cameron. For example, the Kirkland badge in the cavity looks low-quality, and the milled stainless steel isn’t as aesthetic as a single piece. With that being said, the putter isn’t meant to win a beauty contest. 

Although the Scotty Cameron may have a slight edge in terms of feel, it’s not worth the cost of may a few hundred dollars more. For most players, we recommend saving the money and getting the Kirkland KS1 putter instead. 

Kirkland KS1 Putter Review 

While the Kirkland KS1 putter certainly could be improved, it does offer exceptional value, good feel and is made with premium components. 

Looks

Most beginner golfers won’t be able to tell the difference between the Kirkland KS1 putter and a Scotty Cameron putter. That’s because the KS1 is the same Anser-style putter. It also features adjustable heel technology and a boxy blade with 10-gram weights. The putter features a milled face with variable bumps for a clean and handsome look. You can find the Kirkland Signature logo on the back and underside of the putter. 

Feel 

The club comes with a surprisingly high-quality SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0 CounterCore grip that is of tremendous value to the club. The grip gives your hand extra traction, comfort, and security so that you can deliver a power swing. 

Sound

KS1 delivered a good sound but still has room for improvement. When hitting the golf ball with the KS1, you immediately hear a high-pitched sound followed by a more dull sound as it trails off. That’s because the KS1 doesn’t use a single-piece head but rather an insert for the face instead. It doesn’t quite have the prominent click sound that you’d want from a putter, but considering the price, it still works very well. With the thinner insert and two pockets that have been milled out in the heel and toe portions, you’ll immediately know when you’ve mishit the sweet spot, as it’ll sound noticeably flatter. 

Performance 

Kirkland KS1 does feel a little thinner; however, it still gets the job done. The putter can sink in putts. One downside is that you may feel that the KS1 has a speed control issue where you feel as if you may be hitting it longer or shorter than expected. That may be due to the extremely light-weighting of the club. However, the putter does ensure a nice smooth roll to the ball when hitting the center of the face. 

Moreover, the putter incorporates a Truline technology, a blackline located on the rear of the hosel to aid in putting straight. There’s also a thin black line located on the flange for additional alignment help. 

Who Manufactures Kirkland KS1 Putter? 

Kirkland is a new brand that is primarily being sold at Costco. However, since Costco is only the retailer. The question begs, who manufactures the Kirkland KS1 putter. 

Costco primarily distributed products from brands via their warehouse. Typically, they sell products from third parties brands; therefore, it’s unlikely that they manufactured these golf putters. In June of 2020, Costco released the Kirkland KS1, which caused quite a controversy among golf enthusiasts. The KS1 was nearly identical in looks to the Scotty Cameron Newport, except at a much lower cost, which caused a big uproar. So that begs the question, who manufactures the Kirkland KS1 putter?

These putters are made by a manufacturer in China, who also manufactures many of the popular OEM’s. They initially tested many prototypes and various designs. However, the KS1 design that ultimately won was the wide-body plumber neck due to its popularity. 

The KS1 features a SuperStroke Countercore Mid-Slim 2.0 grip, a milled 303 grip, and the head weighs 345 grams. And it’s the shaft. It is measured at 34.5 inches, which is a good length for putters. 

According to Tim Farmer, who is the VP and GMM of Merchandising at Costco, their goal was to maximize the opportunity where they could capitalize on the price difference. This is why they took the lead on sourcing and developing the product with Kirkland Signature. 

When Will Costco Putter Be Back in Stock? 

These putters have been flying off the shelves faster than these items can be restocked. Thus, many customers were left waiting until new shipments came to their warehouse. 

Luckily, these putters are now back in stock, and customers can order the Costco KS1 putter online. If you’re looking to purchase them in-store, the availability will depend on your location. The product page lets you check whether it’s in-stock or out-of-stock based on your zip code. In addition, Costco even sells weight kits, allowing users to adjust the weighting of the putter. 

Conclusion 

We believe that the KS1 putter certainly lives up to the hype. Costco was able to deliver a 100% milled putter at only a fraction of the cost as the Scotty Cameron. Sure, there may be a few details that you could nitpick, but overall these are good quality putters at a crazy affordable cost. These are excellent putters to use if you’re a relatively new golfer and don’t want to spend a fortune on a new putter.