Yes!, GEL both get in the grooves with new putter lines

Yes! Golf and GEL are two groovy companies, that's for sure. Both are independent putter makers with some common, yet distinct, technological and visual features.

We're not sure if either outfit appreciates the comparisons, but they can't be denied.

Sandy model putter by Yes! Golf

Both believe in making putters with grooved face technology. Both have unique color schemes that are easily spotted.

For Yes!, it's a black, white and yellow tri-color grip, an array of colorful head covers and its signature "Yes!" in a circle stamped on its putter heads.

For GEL, which stands for the company's full name -- Groove Equipment Ltd -- it's a bright yellow and sky blue wide-striped grip and a distinctively shaped blue face insert (pink for ladies models).

On the personnel side, in an interesting twist, GEL CEO Alec Pettigrew is the former CEO of Yes! Golf Asia. Further, two of the putters in the Yes! lineup, Callie and Natalie, are named for his daughters.

In practice green testing and on-course playing sessions, a consensus of golfers assembled by CBSSports.com rated the putters from the companies "very satisfactory" and "should consider," although it must be noted the putters are premium priced. The putters from both Yes! and GEL are finely crafted from high-grade materials; they set up and align easily; and they provide a solid, stable, consistent roll.

Overall there are 26 models of Yes! putters featuring C-Groove technology, including six new styles for 2008.

GEL offers 12 putters in its current arsenal, including an alliance with noted putting instructor Paul Hurrion that produced four signature models introduced for this season.

As smaller companies, neither has a budget for star player endorsement, but each is represented on the pro tours around the world. Yes!, in fact, touts its putters as playing a part in 28 worldwide wins in 2007, including victories on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA Tour, along with various developmental and overseas tours.

Here's a closer look at the latest from Yes! and GEL.

Yes! Golf

The company traces its roots to 1995, when European putting coach Harold Swash developed his concentric groove theory that led to the creation of the C-Groove putter. Founded in Houston as Pro Gear, making Swash designed putters, the company changed its name in 2001 to Yes! Golf and is now headquartered in Denver.