The new Golf Pride Reverse Taper putt grip 2024. (Photo: Golf Pride)
Golf Pride, a leader in the golf industry, has introduced its newest product, the Reverse Taper putter grip. This grip, which will be available in retail stores and on golf courses from March 4, uses Reverse Taper technology. According to the manufacturer, this technology is designed to optimally support both hands during putting in order to ideally align the club head at the moment of ball contact.
Golf Pride Reverse Taper: Innovative technology for optimized performance
With its 75-year history and based on extensive consumer testing, Golf Pride developed the Reverse Taper putter grip. According to the manufacturer, this grip is designed to be slimmer at the top and wider at the bottom, which should help stabilize the top hand and reduce tension in the bottom hand, which in turn could lead to smoother acceleration through the stroke.
The grip is made of polyurethane, which the manufacturer says provides the right softness, texture and weight to give golfers more consistency and confidence. The grip is said to be soft to the touch, yet responsive and offers unique traction elements to aid speed control for both hands. It also features a vibrant color palette and visual cues and textures designed to support correct finger placement, regardless of the player’s preferred grip style. Despite the different sizes, the weight of each model remains the same, which the manufacturer claims ensures a balanced feel in the “sweet spot” and allows players to feel the club head throughout the swing.
The Reverse Taper is available in two sizes and three unique shapes
Round – Universally popular for all grip techniques, with a traditionally round upper section that transitions into a wider lower section. Pistol – A classic pistol grip designed to help establish the top hand, especially popular with players using the left-hand-low technique (for right-handed golfers). Flat – With a slightly oval shaped upper section, often favored by golfers using a palm-to-palm putting style.
“Within the putter grip category, we observed a trend in which manufacturers were actively trying to design products that removed the hands from the putting process, whereas our research indicates that by optimising the connection between the hands and grip, players can improve their performance,” says James Ledford, President of Golf Pride. “Through hundreds of concept iterations, our innovation team created Reverse Taper, which has tested quite positively with players of all skill levels.”
The news Odyssey Callaway Ai-One Putters 2023. (Image: Callaway)
Today Odyssey Golf, an industry leader in putter innovation and the #1 Putter on Tour, announced its exceptional new lineup of Ai-ONE and Ai-ONE Milled Putters. Featuring revolutionary insert technologies for more consistent ball speeds, even on off-centre hits, these new offerings are designed to help you putt smarter.
The new Odyssey AI-One Putter 2023
In the new Ai-ONE, Odyssey has leveraged Callaway’s industry-leading Artificial Intelligence design and super-computing capabilities to create the most advanced insert in golf. A multi-material construction includes unique contours on the back of the face that minimise ball speed losses on off-centre hits, and greatly increase the sweet spot. Their revolutionary Ai-ONE urethane insert delivers more consistent ball speeds, even from off-centre hits, leaving putts up to 21% closer to the hole*.
To achieve this unmatched level of performance, the back of the insert is crafted out of aluminium and a White Hot Urethane is added to the grooved striking surface for the iconic White Hot feel that millions of golfers love. These enhancements provide incredible feel, speed control, and consistency in a design that’s changing the face of putting.
In a unique addition for Ai-ONE, Odyssey’s designers have developed a Panlite® window that makes the contours visible; it’s built from an automotive grade polymer that provides great clarity and scratch resistance. The window truly makes these putters unlike anything that’s come before and highlights this extraordinary technology.
A lightweight SL 90 steel shaft with 20-30 grams (depending on the grip) of counterbalance weight is placed in the butt end, an evolution of Odyssey’s Stroke Lab Weighting that will appeal to even more golfers. These putters all feature a beautiful navy blue PVD finish that really sets them apart and gives them a premium look.
Ai-ONE is already gaining attention on Tour and performing on golf’s biggest stages. Jon Rahm used an Ai-ONE model to go undefeated while earning 3 points for the victorious European Team in Rome, and Sam Burns gamed an Ai-ONE model for the U.S. Team. Plus, Women’s World #1 Ruoning Yin is already using an Ai-ONE in competition.
The milled Version of the AI-One
The new Ai-ONE Milled also leverages Callaway’s industry-leading Artificial Intelligence design and super-computing capabilities. These premium putters feature a 100% milled stainless steel body fit for the beauty and precision that the most discerning golfers appreciate, along with a 100% milled titanium insert.
This multi-material construction includes unique contours on the back of the face that minimise ball speed losses on off-centre hits, and greatly increase the sweet spot. With Ai-ONE Milled, putts finish closer to the hole on average than a traditional milled putter*.
The unique champagne finish complements the navy blue PVD of the head to give the putter a rich and striking look that sets it apart from other offerings. A lightweight SL 90 steel shaft with 20-30 grams (depending on the grip) of counterbalance weight is placed in the butt end, creating an evolution of Stroke Lab Weighting.
TaylorMade revitalises the essence of this iconic franchise with the release of the Spider Tour Series (Image: TaylorMade)
With unmatched stability and an unmistakable shape, for nearly two decades Spider putters have been claiming major championships and stacking victories across professional tours globally.
Introducing the Spider Tour Series: A New Era of Putter Excellence
Today, TaylorMade revitalises the essence of this iconic franchise with the release of the Spider Tour Series – a family of high MOI putters with five unique models featuring renowned technologies such as True Path™ Alignment, Pure Roll™ and TSS weighting.
Within a design that will always be synonymouswith stability, each Spider Tour Series putter is crafted using multi-material construction to push weight low and back in the head for high levels of inertia. Engineers created superstructuresthat maintain the shape of a classic Spider Tour, then utilised thin wall undercuts to remove excess weight.
Enhancing Stability and Performance: Spider Tour Series Innovations
With the Spider Tour Series, TaylorMade is utilising the same Pure Roll insert that rose to prominence with the original Spider X putter. Moulded from a Surlyn material, it delivers a soft yet responsive feel with grooves that are angled 45° downward to help impart better topspin and anend-over-end roll.
“Spider putters have long been synonymous with stability, which directly translates to high-MOI performance. The unconventional shape creates a more stable platform that protects ball speed on mishits and delivers a more consistent roll across the face. Our new Spider Tour Series maintains our iconic technological features, including True Path and Pure Roll, while also delivering a range of shapes and CG locations to match a variety of putting styles”, says Brian Bazzel, VP of Product Creation.
In this new series we have different weight options with different centreof gravity placements to help different golfers’ putt better.
Models and Prices
Spider Tour
Spider Tour is one of the most recognisable shapes in the putting world, accounting for dozens of victories on professional tours across the globe. TaylorMade is breathing new life into the company’s most popular creations with enhanced materials, a new colour and refined weight distribution. The Spider Tour model has a CG location of 35mmfrom the face, 5,700 MOI and 29° of toe hangon a small slant hosel. Spider Tour has over 700 MOI more than the previous model.
Spider Tour X
Made popular as the putter of choice for Rory McIlroy, the Spider X shape has been one of the most sought-after in the franchise. It was originally designed to convert players who loved blade putters into mallets, using acompact shape and modern look to deliver a more blade-like feel with the added benefits of alignment and forgiveness that are incumbent to Spider putters. TSS weights in Spider Tour X are placed farther forward, generating more face rotation and a CG placement that is 33mm from the face compared to 35mm of Spider Tour. This model has MOI of 5,000 and 30° of toe hang on the small slant hosel.
Spider Tour Z
Spider Tour Z is one of two new shapes in this line-up, paying homage to the Spider Tour with a wing shaped back. The perimeter of this putter sits low in the ground to provide a comfortable feeling at address and help frame the golf ball for easy alignment. TSS weights on this model are placed very far forward to encourage more face rotation and a blade-like feel. It has a CG location of 29mm from the face, 5,050 MOI and 29° of toe hang with a small slant hosel.
Spider Tour V
Spider Tour V eliminates the wing structure and creates a more modern streamlined look. It is the smallest putter in shape and size in the line-up, providing the most rotation of the bunch. Spider Tour V has a CG location of 27mm from the face, MOI of 4,900 and 32° of toe hang with a small slant hosel.
Spider Tour S
The Spider Tour S is a larger version of the original Spider. The putter head is 3 mm longer and 8 mm wider in comparison. Spider Tour S is constructed at a heavier head weight and only offered at 35” and 38” lengths, with both featuring counterbalance grips for maximum stability. Spider Tour S has a CG location of 38 mm from the face, 6,063 MOI and is face balanced. It will be available in Spring of 2024.
Prices, Availability & Specifications
Spider Tour series putters are available at retail on October 27with an RRP of £299/€399/4,299SEK/4,299NOK/2,999DKK/399CHF. All models come equipped with a white/yellow Super Stroke GT 1.0 Pistol grip and gloss black PVD KBS shaft.
Nelly Korda lines up a putt at Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club, 2022
Over the years, the types of putters have changed dramatically. Whether it is in terms of material, construction or sheer size. Nowadays, the three main putter categories are Blade, Mid-Mallet and Mallet. At first sight, every beginner would consider the different types of putter by putter head. The putter is always better to have it on our side, it can go from best friend to becoming our biggest fear real quick. For that reason, it is crucial to start off right, and choose the type of putter head that suits you best.
Mallet Putter – Larger shape
Mallet putters are the largest models available under the three categories. This also means that they offer a larger list of possibilities. Elaborate and sophisticated aiming aids are just one of the features used in various mallet putters. Furthermore, mallet putters are characterised by an extremely high inertia value. Due to the large head shape, the weight distributes better, more precisely and improving the targeting, which is why mallet putters provide greater forgiveness in the event of misses.
These models are particularly well suited for golfers who have little to no arc in their putts. Often mallet putters are even “face balanced”. This means that the face points straight up when the putter is at rest. A putter with more toe slope will fall towards the toe, so the face will point to the side when balanced. If you make a big arcing motion when putting, you should take a closer look at blade putters.
On the left is a putter with a lot of toe hang, the mid-mallet model in the middle has some toe hang and the mallet putter on the right is face balanced. (Photo: Golf Post)
The downside is the sheer bulk, which is certainly not to some people’s liking. The look of the mallet putter is too clunky, too big and too unfamiliar if you have been playing with a thin blade putter for years or decades. Furthermore, mallet putters tempt you to want to execute the stroke much too straight. A small bow movement does not spoil the result at all, which is why you should trust your swing.
In summary, mallet putters are particularly suitable for golfers who have problems aiming, who tend to have a straight putting motion, don’t want the putter to twist much during the swing, want more help with misses and prefer a larger head shape.
The TaylorMade Spider X is a mallet putter like no other. The large profile, aiming aid and weighting that is forgiving of mistakes are all characteristics of a mallet putter. (Photo: TaylorMade)
Blade Putter – Slim head design
Blade putters receive a much simpler design compared to the massive mallet putters. The DNA of the early days of golf is still clearly visible in blade putters. However, this does not mean lack of technological progress in modern blade putters. Inserts or milling improve the hitting surface, weights and hosel design influence the toe hang and materials and aiming aids optimise feel and alignment.
Due to the shape and the resulting weighting, blade putters turn to be the best for golfers who do not shy away from a strong arc movement when putting. Considering all types of putter by putter head, Blade putters are the most slim and simpler to the eye. They are easier to open and close, and therefore resulting the right choice for golfers with a larger arc swing movement.
Many professionals rely on blade types of putter. (Photo: Getty)
Off-centre hits show on these type, but they often miss the target. This is due to the smaller and more compact design. It cannot deliver extreme values in terms of forgiveness.
One advantage is the clear, thin and pure look that blade putters bring with them. Normally, these putters also provide a clearer and more precise feel and feedback during the stroke. Because of this, many professionals prefer blade putters. They expect feedback from the club.
This putter – Tiger Woods’ Scotty Cameron Newport 2 – has been used to win 15 majors. Probably the most valuable putter currently available. (Photo: Golf.com)
Mid-Mallet Putter – Half way through the Mallet Putter head
Mid-mallet putters are a mixture of both worlds. If we compare them to the blade models, they offer a little more space for aiming aids. Also, these have a less pronounced toe slope, a more forgiving shape and a larger footprint.
Due to the slight toe slope that mid-mallet putters usually have, this types of putter by putter head is ideal for golfers with a slight bow motion. Here, the mid-mallet putters rank exactly in the middle between mallet and blade putters.
Phil Mickelson loves his mid-mallet putter. (Photo: Getty)
In other respects, too, mid-mallet models are somewhere between the two extremes. They combine the advantages of blade or mallet putters in equal measure, but have to make sacrifices just the same. There is room for a smaller aiming aid, but again not as much as with a mallet putter. The profile is more compact, but less sleek as the blade putter. You recognise the pattern – it’s just a middle ground.
The #9 from Odyssey is Phil Mickelson’s favourite putter and is considered a prime example of mid-mallet head putters. (Photo: Odyssey)
It is best to look at and test different types of putter by putter head during a fitting. However, last but not least, the feeling, the look and individual preferences play an immensely important role, which should not be disregarded.
-Heavier than most putter shafts on the market for more flexibility and feel- (Picture: KBS)
Pioneering golf shaft brand KBS – the only complete brand to offer a high-performance shaft for every club in the bag – has introduced the revolutionary 1 One Step putter shaft for the coming season to help accomplished golfers hole more putts on the greens. Designed by Kim Braly, Master Shaft Engineer and Director of R&D for KBS Golf Shafts, the ground-breaking new shaft provides golfers with more flexibility in creating a pure amplified feel and reduced vibration at impact for more accurate and consistent putts. Weighing six grams more than conventional putters at 130g, the visually stunning 1 One Step Putter Shaft is a single bend, straight tip model .370 in diameter.
“On average, around 45% of strokes per round involve your putter, so we wanted to create a shaft with varying putter head weights per stroke that puts more confidence in the hands of those who currently aren’t that confident on the greens,” said Kim. “A lot of time and investment has gone into producing another putter shaft that can be played by a Tour pro or a higher handicapper. On the green it’s all about feel and the 1 One Step creates that pure feel, enabling a smooth stable stroke each and every time. The research we did saw many more putts holed, so I’m excited to see how golfers react to it,” he added. As the second putter shaft to be created by KBS, the 1 One Step shaft follows the popular CT Tour version launched in 2019 and comes in Chrome, Black Matte and Black Gloss finishes.
KBS now offers 30 different shafts through the golf bag, including 18 iron options featuring different weights and flexes. There are also four wedge shafts, a hybrid shaft and the new TG Graphite Wood shaft. All KBS shafts are designed to benefit the game of the broadest range of golfers – from global Tour stars to accomplished amateurs and juniors. The KBS 1 One Step putter shaft will be available from next month. Check with your local pro or clubmaker as fitting prices may vary. More details of KBS golf shafts can be found at www.kbsgolfshafts.com.
