Mike Lee walks onto the practice green at Seattle’s Jackson Park Golf Course, pulls out his putter, and immediately my mind starts racing.

What is this thing? How does it work? And perhaps the strongest and clearest thought of all, What on earth is that mirror for?

Lee can tell just from looking at me what I’m thinking. He smiles.

“What do you think? Pretty neat, eh?” says Lee, a local engineer and Kirkland resident.

I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

What “it” is, is a putter that just may be the most significant development in flatstick design since the last time a Seattle native with a knack for engineering emerged from his garage with a putter described as “ugly” and “unconventional” – but which made a beautiful little “ping” when it struck a ball.

It’s a USGA-conforming putter (we’ll get to that in a minute), a high-tech trainer using levels and mirrors, an alignment aid, a distance gauge – it even incorporates adjustable weights and interchangeable attachments, and can be custom-fit for each golfer.
And yet, it’s incredibly simple to use.

Golfers start with the trainer – that’s the one with the mirror. In a pro shop (or at home), golfers find a comfortable putting stance, then have the uniquely made shaft bent such that the level atop the training mirror is perfectly centered. It takes two minutes and the end result is a putter that is perfectly level and custom-fit, without the golfer having had to change a thing about their natural address position.

It’s the kind of custom-fitting that’s been done for years with irons and drivers, but for whatever reason, has yet to take hold in the flatstick market – until now.

Once on the green, the training mirror allow golfers to locate the proper line while keeping their head above the ball, then maintain that line throughout the stroke, while the level lets you know if you’re changing your hand position. After thorough practice with the trainer, you simply remove the mirror, attach the USGA-conforming mallet head, and you’re ready to play. Both heads are weighted identically for consistency of feel, while the mallet includes alignment and distance aids, as well as an orange indicator line that is only visible when your head is not directly above the ball, or your stroke is uneven.

In addition, seven removable weights in the head allow golfers to adjust the overall weight of the club for their preference from 370-440 grams, or to move weight between the toe and heel to match their comfort level.

“Just like with any club in your bag, the most important thing when putting is muscle memory, and being able to develop a consistent stroke that is repeatable and effective,” Lee says. “When people try the trainer, they can’t get enough of it – it’s so fun, they just want to keep practicing for hours. Then, when they transition to the mallet, they’re able to easily see and maintain the proper line all the way through the swing.”

The Prodigy is available directly from the manufacturer at prodigyputter.com (or by calling 206-219-5636), and is currently for sale in several pro shops in the Seattle area. Lee says that golfers who have begun using it have reported an average of up to five strokes saved per round. The Prodigy comes in two versions: The Prodigy Advanced Training System includes the trainer and mallet as two individually shafted putters, making it easy to swap between the two during practice. The Prodigy 2-in-1 is a streamlined, single-putter version, including one shaft, grip and the two interchangeable attachments (mirror and mallet).

As we’re nearing the end of the interview, a curious golfer wanders over and asks Lee if he can give it a try. Lee beams, and launches into a full demonstration, like a proud papa showing off his own young prodigy.

“That happens all the time,” he chuckles after the golfer leaves – but not before taking down Lee’s contact information and web address. “I guarantee you if I were to just stand here and putt for 30 minutes, I’d have a whole crowd around asking questions.”
The quickest route to success in the golf manufacturing world is to get your club in the hands of a few well-known pros. Karsten Solheim spent months following the PGA Tour on its West Coast swing, leaving his PING Ansers by the practice green and waiting – hoping – for pros’ curiosity to get the better of them.

In today’s manufacturer-driven (and hyper-secure) Tour world, Lee doesn’t have that luxury. What he does have, though, is a revolutionary idea, a dynamic product and a firm belief in its ability to change the world – if necessary, one blown-away golfer at a time.