The Rife Tropical Series Barbados is one of the classic Rife putters with a unique finish on it. The Barbados is one of their best mallet designs and has been used successfully on Tour by many players who are not paid to do so.
The Barbados is a face balanced putter with an adjustable hosel that is put in a special wrench by your pro so you can get the right lie angle. There is a little notch on the top of the putter that should line up with the middle white line so that you know if you then have your putter at the correct lie, which we think is a clever touch.
Rife were one of the first manufacturers to put grooves on the face of their putter and this not only improves the roll at impact, but also makes the putter feel much softer than normal steel putters as there is less of the face in contact with the ball.
The traditional Rife putters had a satin steel finish, but the Tropical line has a rainbow finish which gives it a very distinctive look as well as reducing glare a little. Amongst our reviewers, the Tropical finish got the Marmite decision - you either loved it or didn't. Some felt the site lines were not as clear as on the steel version but others liked the distinctive style and bronze top line. So it's really up to you on the finish, but the Rife Barbados putter is certainly one of the best around and good value for money.
Overall Rating - 4 stars: