Bettinardi’s Limited Edition Tiki Annual is always one of my favorites. Part of my adoration comes from the ever-creative visuals inspired by the island. Ultimately, I think I look forward to Tiki’s releases because they inspire island dreams.
When I open the box with the new Tiki camera, figurative Hawaiian sand and sunshine pour in, helping me get through this cold, wet January.
In some ways, releasing Bettinardi Tiki is like playing the lottery. With the lottery, we know that the odds of winning are infinitesimally small. However, we spend a couple of bucks anyway just for the moments we have to imagine what we would do if we hit the jackpot.
Buying a Bettinardi Tiki Limited Edition BB1W-LN doesn’t come with a trip to Hawaii, at least not a physical one.
Mentally, maybe yes. I see nothing wrong with subconsciously smelling the ocean and hearing honeybees chirping as you roll balls on the cold concrete in your garage.
The new Bettinardi Tiki features a tiki
It’s been a while since the Tiki insert actually had a tiki on it. In recent years, we have mostly seen animals like the orca, manta rays AND tree frogs.
For 2026, Bettinardi went back to basics and put a somewhat menacing tiki on the sole of the Tiki. For the record, his name is Tribal Tiki Man.
Of course, this little idol made me think of the damn tic that Bobby Brady found.
I shared that thought during one of our editorial meetings, and one of our younger staff members (let’s call him “Connor” because that’s his name) had no idea about the damn tiki and how it almost caused Greg to drown while surfing.
Not getting the “Connor” reference was a good reminder of how we all begin our journeys on the tide of life at different times.
Experiences that are canon to some are unknown to others. As such, I’m going to include some other amazingly clever tiki references today that might resonate with some of you more recent riders.
Are you going to talk about the current shooter?
Fair point, especially considering there’s a lot to talk about with the Bettinardi 2026 Tiki. Since I already mentioned tik to the bottom, let’s stick to the aesthetic elements.
One of the wildest elements of Tiki 2026 is its ending. From the top, it’s all business matte brown with a slight blue tint. The line of sight of the tee is a bit too conspicuous, but nothing distracts you once you’ve positioned the camera at address.
When the barrel rolls, it’s a whole different story.
On the face and sole, the barrel has a wooden TPT finish. You read it right. Bettinardi made this tiki putter look like carved wood. Bettinardi is known for their extensive catalog of custom clothing, but I think “wood” is new.
On the face, this finish makes the face mill look like it was carved from wood. I assume milling is a form of carving, but the look of this face makes me think “chisel” more than high-speed CNC blade.
Of course, face grinding is also functional by removing material to soften the impact feel.
The finish on the sole makes the iconic tiki look like it was carved from a log. I dig the teak but I’m careful with it. He is a handsome little boy, but his expression radiates just a little mischief.
If only there was a catchy ’90s alt-rock song warning us about the dangers of tiki.
(Yes, I know it’s still technically a Brady Bunch reference…)
Bettinardi Tiki BB1W-LN 2026 build plan
Although the finish and tiki are the first things that will jump out at you, there are a few things about the theme that are worth mentioning.
First of all, the BB1W-LN is a long neck blade. I like long neck blades. We don’t see them very often these days, but long necks have a rich history on the PGA Tour and special spots in many collectors’ hearts.
The fact that this gauge has a long neck likely caused a lot of “Buy Now” clicks without those buyers really caring about the rest of the tire’s features.
Of course, the long neck allowed Bettinard to put all 10 letters of his name on the neck.
Long neck putters are few and far between because many golfers are well versed in how lengthening the neck changes the theoretical point of insertion of that shaft into the head. Because of this characteristic, this 303 stainless steel blade has an almost balanced toe hang on the face.
It’s a lot of jargon, I know. I also know that most of you weirdos know what I’m saying. How many times in the past year or two have we discussed how zero-torque gauges are built with either the axle going directly into the CG or a new axle that aligns the axle with the center of gravity?
Long necks do the same thing, but with a different target.
For the long neck blade, the extra neck length moves the shaft entry line to the center of the impeller face. This makes the device face-balanced without the need for a much less attractive center pivot shaft or a pedestrian double-twist shaft.
Long necks look like traditional plumber’s necks at address, but have much less overhanging fingers. If you need a balanced face shooter but don’t like hammers, this is the blade for you.
The neck weighs 10 grams. This BB1W-LN has a head weight of 362 grams, while the stock BB1W weighs 352.
Something is going on with this catch
Grips are rarely the main story with shooting releases, but the Bettinardi Tiki 2026 grip caught my eye. When I unboxed, the wild finish and six-million-thread count (est.) headgear initially held my attention.
When I removed the shrink wrap from the bright orange glove and held it for the first time, I forgot about the rest of the cast.
First of all, the grip material is very unusual. In a way, it feels like an iomic squeeze. However, this grip is a bit sharper and the material is a bit more sheer.
The grip is also one of the stickiest grips I’ve come across. Not like the things that stick to your sticky hands, but more like a Velcro relationship between the grip and your hands.
When I zoomed in on the surface, I could see a chaotic web of tiny ridges. I believe this surface pattern is responsible for the smoothness and stickiness.
It works though, I’m a fan. If it only had a bigger cut, I’d whip this grip into a garage load of magazines.
As it turns out, this is an orange version of Bettinardi’s new standard glove. There are standard and medium versions and a bunch of other colors available on the Bettinardi site. Let the recharge begin!
Bettinardi Tiki BB1W-LN 2026 brings no danger, only dreams
Limited edition rigs are always cool, but rarely as cool as the Bettinardi BB1W-LN 2026. From a purely shooting-focused perspective, a long-neck version of the popular BB1W is a unique offering.
Once you add in the gorgeous finish and well-executed tiki elements, this barrel becomes outstanding. I appreciate that the rubber top has such a clean look. The bottom part is pure skill, but the top part is still about putting balls in the hole.
You could say it’s a combination of performance and aesthetics that tiki dreams are made of…
(He was for you, Connor.)
If you want one of these little idols, head to The Hive on January 13th at 10am EST. MSRP is $900. With only 350 available, I don’t see these lasting long, even at that price. Bettinardi will also be releasing other island-themed merchandise at The Hive that morning.
Learn more and grab your Tiki at Bettinardi.com.
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