Bionik putters

If you wander around a few discount golf stores, you’ll notice the name Bionik cropping up regularly in the putter section. The name’s been around since 1998, with the latest product — the Bionik 307 — appearing in late November, 2006.

The people behind Bionik are Hireko Golf, who also make some of the better known clone golf brands like Acer and Power Play.

So what models are available as of early 2007?

The Bionik 101 and 105 are your relatively-basic zinc insert putters, featuring milled blue and red inserts respectively (though the 105 has a deeper part-mallet clubhead.)

The Bionik 201 is a mallet putter, with a ballbearing alignment system. Its sister — the 207 — is a fuller-bodied mallet, with a dot alignment system. The 209 looks like a sleeker, sportier hybrid of the two, combining an open frame like the 201 with a dot alignment system like the 207.

The HP425 is a smooth-looking minimalistic mallet, with a simple white line alignment and a lovely black finish. And the new Bionik 307 is a stainless steel model with dual struts to the rear which support a red dot alignment system.

Typical retail prices for the putters are between $20 and $40. You’ll find them at most of the main clone golf retailers and sold direct as clubheads or fully-assembled putters at Hireko’s site, where you’ll also catch technical specifications and photos.