TaylorMade Launch New Counterbalanced Putters

TaylorMade Golf has unveiled two new ‘counterbalanced putters – the Daddy Long Legs and Spider Blade – engineered with heavier weight at the grip-end to increase the MOI and provide the benefits of a anchored putter in a shorter model.

The Daddy Long Legs (video reviewed below by our Equipment Editor) is the newest member of TaylorMade’s Spider putters. A ‘performance mallet’, its 8500+ MOI head is the highest ever for a TaylorMade putter and is exceptionally stable and resistant to twisting on off-centre hits.

The Spider Blade, available in June, is a heel-toe weighted blade that provides a similar leap in stability and forgiveness with an astounding 5200 MOI – the most in any blade ever created by TaylorMade.

“The higher the head’s MOI, the more resistant it is to twisting on off-centre hits, helping you roll the ball your desired distance, and on your desired line, on mis-hits,” said Brian Bazzel, Product Category Director for putters and wedges. “The exceptionally high MOI of the Daddy Long Legs and Spider Blade heads makes them a great choice for golfers seeking forgiveness in a putter.”

To counterbalance the putters, TaylorMade have added weight to the grip-end to counter the weight of the clubhead. This changes how the putter behaves when the golfer swings it. 

While the typical putter has one light end (grip) and one heavy end (head), putting more weight in the grip to counterbalance the weight of the head increases the MOI of the entire club, from top to bottom, which makes it way easier to keep the head on path during the swing.

Counterbalancing increases the MOI of the entire club, making it 50% more stable than a traditional putter. The result is a putter that is easier to swing the head back and through the intended path – something TaylorMade calls “Stroke Stability”.

“In addition to increasing the MOI of our putter heads, we started researching ways to keep the head from wavering from the intended swing path during the stroke – a primary cause of missed putts,” said Bazzel. “We recognised that if we could make it easier to swing the putter head on-path, we could help players roll the ball down their intended line. Counterbalance helps solve that problem.”

To get the most out of counterbalancing, about three inches of the top end of the grip should extend above your top hand when you assume your normal stance, posture and grip. To make that possible, DLL and Spider Blade are offered in two lengths: 38”, for players who favour a 35” length, and 35” for players who favour a 33” length. Players who favour a 34” length can choose between either 35” or 38”.

The Daddy Long Legs’ head MOI measures higher than 8500. In comparison, MOI measurements for previous Spider putters are Spider/Ghost Spider 6800, Ghost Spider S 6038, Itsy Bitsy Spider 5375.

To elevate the MOI beyond 8500, the head consists of 16 pieces made of eight different materials – stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, titanium, tungsten, polycarbonate, Surlyn and TPU. The result is an exceptionally twist-resistant putter head that promotes a smooth roll on the desired distance on the desired line – even on mis-hits.  

The Spider Blade’s head construction consists of 11 parts made of eight materials – 304 stainless steel, 17-4 stainless steel, aluminum, 3M Foam, tungsten, polycarbonate, Surlyn and TPU. This combination allows TaylorMade engineers to shift significant weight from the centre of the head into the heel and toe, raising the MOI to 5200.

RRP: £159 (both)
Length: 35” or 38” length shaft
Available: Daddy Long Legs (now) and the Spider Blade (1st June).

Website: www.taylormadegolf.com