Cleveland Golf adds mallets to the popular TFi 2135 putter line

Last year, Cleveland Golf introduced the TFi 2135 putter, and it quickly became one of the best-selling putters on the market. The putter line is named, rather cryptically, after its two main engineering innovations: True Feel Innovation and 2135 Raised Alignment.

True Feel Innovation (TFi) refers to the copper-infused aluminum face that is overlaid over a soft white polymer layer. This combination produces a smooth, clean strike on the ball with an exquisite soft feel and distance control.

The 2135 Raised Alignment system refers to the alignment aid behind the putter face, which is raised to 21.35 millimeters, equal to the center of mass of the golf ball. The idea is that raising the alignment aid to the point of contact to produce a clear signal when your eyes are directly over the ball.

This year, Cleveland Golf's TFi 2135 line has been expanded with three mallet models ($160), the Elevado, Mezzo, and Cero, for players who prefer the extreme perimeter weighting offered by larger putter heads.

Playing the Cleveland Golf TFi 2135 Elevado putter

Last year, I reviewed the original Anser-style TFi 2135 1.0 and was very impressed with the feel and the sharp, high-tech look of the coppery face. One of my golfing buddies, who'd been putting with the same Bulls-Eye blade for 45 years, was uncharacteristically struggling on the greens. I suggested he try the TFi 1.0, and, long story short, I never got it back. Instead, I watch him drain putts from all over, just like the old days.

So I was eager to take the TFi 2135 Elevado out to the course for a test, to see if it matched up with the excellence of the original model. I was not disappointed.

The Elevado delivers the same silky feel with a consistent "pop" through the ball when struck on the sweet spot. The weight of the mallet is obviously greater than the original Anser-style version (and my current putter), so I had some issues with distance control at first, often coming up short. Once I acclimated to the combined softness of the face and slightly heavier head, though, I calibrated the right level of "pop," and the results were uniformly within gimme range.

The stock Smooth Pistol grip by Lamkin is excellent, but for $10 extra, golfers who prefer oversized grips can get any of the mallets with a WinnPro X 1.32-inch grip. Finally, one excellent feature of the Elevado is the square-pronged back of the putter head, which works perfectly to scoop up and secure your ball without having to bend over.

Cleveland Golf TFi 2135 Elevado Mallet Putter: The verdict

Cleveland Golf's expansion of the TFi 2135 line into mallet models is spot-on. All the great engineering of the TFi 2135 has translated beautifully into the mallets. These putters are some of the most eye-catching on the market, yet won't break your budget. Given that premium putters these days can run up to $400, it is impressive -- and appreciated -- that Cleveland remains dedicated to delivering high quality at a reasonable price.

For more information, visit Clevelandgolf.com.

Kiel Christianson has lived, worked, traveled and golfed extensively on three continents. As senior writer and equipment editor for WorldGolf.com, he has reviewed courses, resorts, and golf academies from California to Ireland, including his home course, Lake of the Woods G.C. in Mahomet, Ill. Read his golf blog here and follow him on Twitter @GolfWriterKiel.
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Cleveland Golf adds mallets to the popular TFi 2135 putter line