Hole Cutter Hoedown
Overview
From tried and true, to ultra premium and everything in-between. We have tested these hole cutters to help find the right hole cutter for you. All models were certainly effective. Let's find the best hole cutter for you.
Par Aide HiO™ Hole Cutter
A true modern classic.
Chances are, if you are a golf course superintendent, you have used a variation of this hole cutter at some point. The update on the original design includes a hammer action and lever action to make hole cutting easier and more precise. Blade options are available in all Par Aide Hole cutters to accommodate all types of greens including push up greens. If you are looking for a simple solution, look no further.
Popular add ons include: Bubble level, levelling plate
Weight: 10.8kg
Retail $: ★★★☆☆
Pros:
- We like a simple and classic hole cutter
- The durable design
- Hammer and lever action makes the job easy
- Options to add bubble level and base plate
Cons:
- Nothing to complain about here
Foot Extraction Hole Cutter
The original hole cutter
No fancy tricks up the sleeve on this one. Just a good old fashioned foot action cutter that is light weight and won't break. If you have fresh hands, with no calluses, you might get a few blisters your first time using this one. While there are much better options, it is never a bad idea to have one of these kicking around. The Foot Extraction Hole Cutter is something every new superintendent should try it at least once. It's a right of passage, really.
Weight: 4.5 kg
Retail $: ★☆☆☆☆
Pros:
- The lightest hole cutter available
- You won't find a lower price
- Options to add bubble level and base plate
Cons:
- Wooden handles
- Harder to use, especially for less experienced workers
- Higher risk for poor cut hole or damaged turf (foot marks) around the hole
- Not ideal for firmer greens
This hole cutter with the Par Aide base plate could be a surprisingly underrated and effective solution for a young and strong superintendent. And it comes at an unbeatable price.
Shole Tacit Hole Cutter
The Creme de la Creme
If you despise the word "compromise" this may be the hole cutter for you.
You get everything you need and more in one, clean and easy to use bundle. The Shole Tacit Hole Cutter includes hammer action, crank action, the bullseye level system, hole cutting board and multiple depth rings. The Tacit hole cutter also includes a base plate allowing the hole cutter to stand in your shop or on the green independently and upright; a nice feature that you will love when using the hole cutting board.
The crank action stood out to us as one of the best features. It is much smoother and requires less strength than the traditional lever action. The Tacit is something you could give to a newbie, and have them cutting like a pro in 10 minutes or less. It is safe to say that you should get a perfect cut every time with this system.
While this system provides all the bells and whistles, using the baseplate is certainly not required. Some may feel this setup is overkill, and carrying around all of the add ons (base plate, hole cutting board etc.) could be cumbersome for some people. In that case, you can simply carry the hole cutter on it's own and use it in a more traditional fashion.
The Shole Tacit hole cutter does it all... and it's light!
Verdict: We believe everyone will love this hole cutter; veterans and beginners alike.
Weight: 10kg
Retail $: ★★★★★
Pros:
- Lighter than the Par Aide HiO with more functionality
- Crank action
- Base plate and hole cutting board included
- Bullseye level system
- comfortable handles
- Adjustable and precise depths
Cons:
- Price
Make sure to see more of this product at the end of the article. There are some considerations you may find useful.
eCutter 2.0
The Electric Hole Cutter
The traditionalists will be yelling "what do you need that for?".
And to those people we say "you're right".
You don't need this hole cutter, but it sure is nice! We will admit, it's not for everybody.
So who is it for?
Anyone looking to make life a little easier. With a built in base plate and level, it truly is the easiest to use hole cutter we have tried. Simply place it on the green and press a button. Not every crew member is comfortable or physically able to operate the more traditional hole cutters, and so for those looking for a solution that takes the sweat out of this job, the eCutter could be the solution.
While hammer action cutters are easy enough for some, they still require a considerable amount of strength. They also create a jolting shock that rings through your arms. If you are looking for a smooth ride, the eCutter 2.0 does this better than anyone.
Sceptics take note: this hole cutter is incredibly lightweight. While some may find the sound slightly annoying (think of your electric drill), it is relatively quiet and chances are that you use many other tools with the same sound and rarely notice. The battery also lasts 27 holes, and you could easily bring a spare.
Verdict: This hole cutter is extremely easy to use.
Weight: 9.5kg
Retail $: ★★★★★
Pros:
- Easiest to use
- Lighter than hammer action cutters
- Adjustable hole depth
- Built in levelling plate
- Bubble level
Cons:
- Most expensive
- Battery noise
- Unnecessary for many
HiO XACT Hole Cutter
The Premium Offering from Par Aide
The newest offering from Par Aide looks to improve on their tried and true design. We can't help but see this as a response to products like Shole Tacit Hole Cutter as a premium product on the market. While the XACT comes in at a much lower price point than the Shole, it does not come with all the bells and whistles.
What did we notice? A sturdier design with a built in level and 3 way locking pin. Par Aide emphasizes the "Three linear guide rails" and the improved stability that they bring. We will leave it up to you to decide if that makes a noticeable difference or not. The new ratchet lever system is probably the biggest improvement and brings a level of sophistication to this design that is appreciable. Let's not forget to mention the ratchet lever system makes this product a lot easier to use.
Overall this is a slightly nicer version of the HiO. A tasteful improvement without reinventing the wheel.
Weight: 10.8kg
Retail $: ★★★★☆
Pros:
- Nicer handles than the HiO
- Same weight as HiO with better tech
- 3 way locking pin
- Built in level
- Improved ratchet lever system
- Cheaper than other premium offerings
Cons:
- No base plate or cutting board
- Depth gauges need to be purchased separately
This could be a great option for those who like the Shole Tacit, but wouldn't use the base plate or cutting board.
Our Choices
What do we honestly think?
There is truly something here for every golf course superintendent. That being said, if we had to pick our favourite, what would it be?
In the modern era, it's safe to count out the foot extraction tool. This job doesn't need to be any harder than it already is. On the other end of the spectrum, the eCutter is extremely easy to use, but seems very specific in it's use; particularly for less experienced or less physically abled persons (a great choice in both of these cases). For the average superintendent or experienced crew worker however, we have to choose the winner from the other three options.
If budget was the concern, we would obviously go with the HiO, however we are choosing our favourite hole cutter, not the cheapest hole cutter.
That leaves us with 2 hole cutters left. Sounds like we need a head to head showdown...
The Shole Tacit Hole Cutter vs. the Par Aide HiO XACT Hole Cutter
The HiO XACT features a familiar lever action, and we love the ratchet lever improvement as well. The 3 way locking pin is positioned comfortably near the top of the hole cutter and is arguably more accessible than the pin on the Tacit. Chances are you will feel extremely comfortable on this cutter.
That being said...
The Tacit feels refreshing with its sleek design and the crank action feels smooth and innovative. Honestly, the Crank vs. Ratchet Lever debate is entirely preference, and we would have a tough time choosing between the two. What really makes the difference for us are the little details that initially feel like you could easily go without. The hole cutting board seems unnecessary at first, but once you start using it it is hard to go back. It ensures a clean cut with no pulling on the edges of the cup when you go to remove soil material. While this option for a cutting board is available as an add on with Par Aide, we prefer the design of the Shole cutting board with it's extending hole fitting.
The real difference maker however is something that we initially thought could be a gimmick, or at least unnecessary. While it is not essential, the base plate stand is actually an exquisite touch. Albeit unnecessary without the cutting board, it's hard to imagine not having it when you use the cutting board. Want to see what we mean? Click here.
The base plate gives a premium and luxury feel on the course, and nice to have the hole cutter stand on it's own in the shop at the end of the day.
Is it worth the price? We think you owe it to yourself and your crew to at least give it a try. Considering these tools should last a decade or more, it could be one of the best returns on investments a golf course superintendent could make. If someone else on your crew is using it, you can relax knowing that they will be out there cutting perfect holes with ease.