HERBIE’S ONE PUTT WEDGE – A Q&A with Designer Kit Mungo

The One Putt Wedge Sole (Photo Courtesy of The Putting Wedge Co.)

The Fourth Tee is excited have this Q&A with Kit Mungo, designer of Herbie’s One Putt Wedge.

THE FOURTH TEE: Kit, thank you for sharing your story with us.  Well, the first question is quite obvious:  Who is Herbie and why is the one putt wedge named after him?

One Putt Wedge's designer Kit Mungo (left) with inventor Herb Hyman (right). (Photo Courtesy of The Putting Wedge Co.)

KIT MUNGO: Herb Hyman is one of the United States’ captains of industry and founder of the very successful Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf enterprise.  Herb’s inventor roots led him to create The Putting Wedge Company and the One Putt Wedge.  All of the profits from the sale of the One Putt Wedge are earmarked for Community, National and International causes.  It is Herb’s desire to help the golfer enjoy the game a little more while benefiting charities.  Herbie’s One Putt Wedge (“OPW”) is born of this man.

TFT: What was the “aha” moment that was the catalyst to the decision to design Herbie’s One Putt Wedge?

KM: When Herb first came to me to design a “wedge that he could putt with” I countered with the traditional chipper.  Herb insisted that the club be used for all of the short game shots – i.e., the fairway, rough and sand bunkers.  He also said the club must be patentable and USGA approved.  “aha” a 21^st Century golf club.

TFT: How long have you been designing golf clubs?

KM: In 1990 I began working with Phil Skovronski, a master mold maker and a pioneer of investment casting.  The first club that I designed and hand shaped was a persimmon driver.  My skills have since allowed me to design golf clubs for the best players in the world.

TFT: Some pretty amazing things have been said in the press about the one putt wedge.  Having not had the opportunity to test it for myself, tell us a little about the following testimonials – i.e., why you think they were said based on the club’s design and intended purpose.

First, Arizona Golf Central calls it one of the golf essentials for 2011 and states:  “The One Putt Wedge is a hybrid design wedge, which allows you to hit a variety of shots; from the fairway, the fringe, the deep rough, the not-so deep rough and the sand.”  I have used my regular wedges to hit shots from each of these places.  What makes the one putt wedge superior to my sand and pitching wedges under these circumstances?

KM: The operative word here is wedges (plural), the OPW is designed to perform like an 8 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge.  Ball placement dictates trajectory, and length of stroke determines distance.  We, as amateurs, carry too many wedges and not enough experience to determine which wedge is best for the shot at hand.  The indecisive choice usually ends in a poor shot and that particular wedge being placed back in the bag for the rest of the day.

One Putt Wedge Clubface (Photo Courtesy of The Putting Co.)

TFT: Orlando’s Best Golf provides the following product review:   “Our team of experts was intrigued by this club. What the manufacturer said is true. It is pretty hard to Skull or Blade chips with this club.  It works quite nicely on any shot of less than 100 yards. It might even allow you to get rid of a wedge or two.”  What is it about your design that makes it hard to skull or blade chips – something my golf game is quite full of around the greens?

KM: The patented shaft and sole design will not allow a shot to be hit fat, it will slide underneath the ball even when you hit behind the ball.  The act of hitting behind the ball will prevent a skulled or thinly hit shot.

One Putt Wedge profile (Photo Courtesy of The Putting Co.)

TFT: Dan Reardon, KMOX radio host, St. Louis , states:  “It (the One Putt Wedge) is the truest club around the green that I have ever played. No matter how poorly I execute the swing, the ball goes where I want it to go. It’s a remarkably true club.”  Okay.  Really?  Does the one putt wedge cure all bad shots?

KM: We can never eliminate the bad shot in golf, but it is how we can make the bad shots turn out better.  The design of the one putt wedge places you in the position to execute a simple pendulum or a putting stroke, all the while keeping the wedge aimed directly at your target, never opened or closed.

One Putt Wedge Clubhead (Photo Courtesy of The Putting Co.)

TFT: Where can my readers find the one putt wedge if they want to see, touch, test or buy it?  Can it be found in major golf stores like Golfsmith?

KM: The One Putt Wedge is a new product available only via on-line shopping.  We are attending golf shows and introducing to golf shops around the world.  You can follow us on the website, facebook and twitter.

TFT: Well, since seeing is believing, I will share with my readers your instructional YouTube video on how Herbie’s One Putt Wedge works.  Thank you for sharing your story with The Fourth Tee!

KM: I want to thank you for the opportunity to share this innovative short game golf club with your readers.  Good Luck and see you on the greens.

TFT: Thank you!

To learn more about Kit Mungo and Herbie’s One Putt Wedge, visit www.oneputtwedge.com.