TaylorMade Spider Balero Putter Review

TaylorMade continues to spin its web of Spider putters with the addition of the new Rossa Monza Spider Balero putter, the third putter in the Spider line.

But don't expect more of the same, because this Spider comes with a whole new set of features, as well as a new price tag ($159) that beats its two predecessors by $40.

Is the Balero a worthy successor to the Spider throne? Following is PutterZone.com's TaylorMade Spider Balero putter review. This review also inaugurates the new PutterZone.com video review series, as shown below.

The Storyline

The original Spider made quite a splash on the PGA Tour as well the recreational circuits when it was unveiled in early 2008. Later that year, TaylorMade introduced the Itsy Bitsy Spider, a diminutive offspring of the original. Aside from its smaller size and a few tweaks on the alignment front, the Itsy Bitsy Spider was a virtual replica of its predecessor.

Now comes the Balero, which is clearly more of a cousin than a sibling to the original Spider putters. This is a sleeker Spider with a new alignment feature as well as a new face insert.

The new alignment feature is called “ball in cup,” and it consists of a ball-shaped cutout in the sole that is enclosed in a semicircle that visually mimics the cup. A white sightline traverses the crown from the center of the “cup” to the center of the face.

According to TaylorMade, this feature “provides a visual cue that makes it incredibly simple to line up the clubface with the intended line…At address, the image of the ball resting in front of the clubface works in conjunction with the white line on the Balero’s crown and the round hole through the back to help simplify the act of starting the ball rolling on the exact line you’ve chosen.”

Another major distinction between the Balero and earlier Spider models is the new polymer AGSI-s grooved face insert (the “s” stands for soft).

Oddly, as of the writing of this review, the Balero page on the TaylorMade web site still erroneously references the AGSI+ insert found on earlier Spider models. The Balero’s new AGSI-s insert is made entirely of polymer, in contrast to the Titallium-polymer multimaterial composition of the AGSI+ insert, resulting in an entirely different feel.

The loft of the Balero is 2.5 degrees and the lie angle is 70 degrees. It comes in both right and left-handed models at lengths of 34 and 35 inches.

The View from PutterZone.com

I never thought I’d say this about a Spider putter, but I love the look of the Balero at address.

Simply put, the Balero boasts a visual harmony that the earlier Spider models lacked. It’s not visually “quiet” by any stretch of the imagination, but the presentation is nevertheless seamless and graceful.

The “ball in cup” alignment feature brilliantly mirrors the intended target, especially on shorter putts with minimal break, where you can easily envision a line running from the cup-sized semicircle to the center of the cup itself.

However, the “ball in cup” feature is ultimately more suggestive than overt, so it doesn’t crowd the eyes or cause overthinking at address. The overall effect is a subliminal sense of visual purpose.

The Balero is also a low rider, as its face is a full eighth of an inch shorter than the earlier Spiders (and most other putters, for that matter) from sole to topline. This gives the putter a lean, mean profile that I personally find appealing.

In terms of feel, the super-soft AGSI-s insert is radical departure from the AGSI+ insert found on the earlier Spider putters. This new insert is what I might call a “poker face,” as it doesn’t have much to say about miss-hits. Some golfers will love the reassuring consistency of the Balero’s feel, while others might find it to be a bit lacking in the feedback department.

The Balero could be viewed as a downscaled iteration of the earlier Spider putters. The new AGSI-s insert lacks the sophistication of the AGSI+ insert, and the detail work (ie: paintfill) lacks the sharpness found on the pricier TaylorMade models.

However, the Balero boasts its own unique advantages, particularly in matters of alignment. And at $159, the Balero hits an economic sweet spot and ultimately offers considerable bang for the buck. As an added bonus, the included head cover outclasses the putter’s price point with high-quality construction and a magnetic closure.

The Bottom Line

The TaylorMade Spider Balero Putter hits a home run in the alignment department, artfully integrating a complex design into a seamless presentation and a strong sense of purpose. The new AGSI-sinsert will appeal to golfers who prefer a soft, supple feel off the face. Rather than rest on the laurels of its predecessors, this Spider putter offers a fresh new look at a favorable price.

P.S. Check out PutterZone.com's Facebook page for a photo gallery comparing the original Spider putters to the Balero. Also, you can subscribe to PutterZone.com's new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/PutterZoneDotCom.

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The Fringe: Antigua Desert Dry Review

The notion of placing the word “technology” in the same sentence as “shirt” seems patently absurd, doesn’t it?

But then again, there was a time when “putter technology” or “shoe technology” would have seemed equally laughable. And now look at you, Mr. Interchangeable Tungsten Weight Putter Guy and Mrs. Shock-Absorbing Waterproof Golf Shoe Gal. The times, they are a changin’, indeed.

Which brings us to the Desert Dry line of golf apparel by Antigua. The Desert Dry polos claim to reside at the cutting edge of—you guessed it—“shirt technology.” Ha, ha, ha, you say? Well, Antigua gets the last laugh with these high-tech garments.

Under The Hood

Antigua describes Desert Dry as a “moisture wicking technology designed to absorb and wick moisture quickly and evenly to achieve the most efficient evaporation possible.” The fabric’s “air flow system” enhances breathability, reducing body temperature during exertion. The underarms also feature “antibacterial” fabric inserts.

-Available at golf pro shops across the country as well as online

-Often feature custom embroidery for golf courses and golf events

-Desert Dry apparel comes in a variety of styles and sizes for men and women

-100-percent polyester construction

-Do not wash with fabric softeners—they clog the pores of the material

-No batteries or assembly required (just kidding)

-Shirt price averages $65

Why It Rocks

We put Antigua’s Desert Dry technology to the test near PutterZone.com’s headquarters in the “coastal desert” of California, where the sun was sizzling by late morning. Yet by the end of the round, we were still feeling relatively cool—and looking cool, too (if we do say so ourselves).

Indeed, the proof of the shirt’s promise wasn’t in some magical and unrealistic sensation of personal air conditioning, but in the fact that the fabric wasn’t clinging and grabbing, which are the telltale signs of sweat retention. At the end of the round, we felt fresh and snappy.

The added fabric panels sewn into the interior underarms were the clincher. We’re not sure just how “antibacterial” they really are, but they do a great job of fending off those pesky deodorant stains that can afflict, ahem, certain golfers.

The Final Word

Antigua’s Desert Dry apparel delivers a comfortable solution to the sweaty, grabby behavior of lesser shirts. If you want to stay dry while still looking cool as you head toward the 19th hole, this is the fabric for you.

About The Fringe

The Fringe is where PutterZone.com roams "beyond the green" in search of golf's hottest new gear. This bi-weekly series is reserved for products that truly earn the spotlight by demonstrating superior quality and ingenuity.

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The Back Nine Movie Debuts on Thursday

You know you are taking golf seriously when you're reading Stan Utley's The Art of Putting while playing ball with your dog. Such is one of the scenes in the trailer for the new movie The Back Nine, which stages its one-day nationwide theatrical release on June 25.

The movie follows filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald in his quest to become a professional golfer...at age 40.

A self-described "above-average" golfer, Fitzgerald was still light years from professional status when he embarked on his journey. He hired a team of experts, including a swing coach, a yoga instructor and a sports psychologist. He pounded balls. He strapped himself to swing aids. And all the while, he maintained his day job to help pay the bills for his young family, including a daughter in elementary school and a son on the way.

Some of the scenes in the trailer are uncomfortable, suggesting that Fitzgerald's quest caused strain on his family. In his narrative, he says that he is at his happiest when on the golf course. The film also features two father figures in Fitzgerald's life, who are described as "polar opposites," and who no doubt have their own divergent perspectives on what Fitzgerald is attempting.

PutterZone.com has not seen the film, but the trailer looks compelling. After it's short theatrical release this weekend, it will no doubt be available on DVD. Click here to view the trailer and theater locations.

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SeeMore's Hat Full of Rabbits

The SeeMore Putter Company is already enjoying a successful U.S. Open—and the tournament hasn’t even started yet.

Indeed, three out of the 30 players who qualified for this week’s U.S. Open at the local and sectional levels did it with SeeMore putters in their hands.

Josh Brock of University of North Carolina Wilmington qualified as an amateur. Charlie Beljan of the Gateway Tour sank a putt in sudden death at the Colorado sectional qualifier to earn his ticket.

And Matt Nagy, who is ranked just 773rd in the college circuit, got a last-second call as a qualifier alternate and promptly shot a course record of 63 to pave his way to Bethpage Black. One newspaper account accurately called it a "major miracle."

SeeMore just keeps delivering Cinderella stories. Two years ago, it was Zach Johnson winning the Masters with a SeeMore FGP model. Ten years ago, it was Payne Stewart winning the U.S. Open at Pinehurst with his own FGP.

So don’t be surprised if you see another rabbit come out of SeeMore's hat in the near future.

P.S. Click here for more about the story of Payne Stewart and his SeeMore putter.

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Remembering Payne Stewart 10 Years Later

Ten years ago this week, the late Payne Stewart staged an epic putting performance to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, generating highlights that will remain in our golfing memories forever.

Sadly, Stewart passed away later that year in a tragic airplane accident. This month, the Payne Stewart Golf Club opened in Branson, Missouri, paying tribute to the man, the golfer and the father.

The most enduring memories from Stewart's U.S. Open victory in 1999 are his lengthy putt to win the tournament (video below) and his ensuing celebration, but he also sank dramatic one-putts on holes 16 and 17 to set up his storybook finish. He needed just 24 putts to finish on that Sunday.

That year, Stewart ascended from 40th to second in putting on the PGA Tour, so his putting game was razor sharp. Nevertheless, to sink such putts amid major tournament pressure remains a remarkable feat.

The magic in Stewarts hands was his new SeeMore FGP putter, which literally put his putting game into overdrive. SeeMore's signature RifleScope alignment system, which consists of a red dot that is visually hidden by a blackened lower shaft, proved to be an empowering piece of technology for Stewart. In the accompanying video, you can see how he sets up the putter and uses the black shaft to communicate proper setup and alignment prior to stroking the putt.

The SeeMore Putter Company later fell on hard times, but has staged its own remarkable comeback in recent years under new ownership, proving that the RifleScope system is as timeless as Stewart's victory. When Zach Johnson used the original SeeMore FGP to win the 2007 Masters, it only added to the company's renewed momentum.

This week, on the eve of the U.S. Open, we remember Payne Stewart, and we salute the SeeMore Putter Company.

P.S. To learn more about the SeeMore story and the people behind it, read PutterZone.com's interview with SeeMore consultant Pat O'Brien. O'Brien was not only a friend of Payne Stewart, but is also the putting instructor to Zach Johnson.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Free U.S. Open iPhone App Sets The Standard

When the Masters iPhone application debuted earlier this year, it set a new standard for mobile enjoyment of a major tournament. But now the Masters app has been one-upped by the free U.S. Open iPhone app, which not only features flyover videos of each hole of Bethpage Black, but also walk-through videos of each hole as well.

For example, you can get a ground-level view of the par-five fifth hole with accompanying video of USGA Director of Rules Mike Davis explaining what's different about the course this time around. He even tosses a ball on the ground near the green to demonstrate how the ball will no longer maddeningly roll off the hill at the slightest nudge. It's not all lollipops to the pros, however, as Davis also explains how the removal of pine trees behind the green has made approach shots more difficult by eliminating a reference of depth perception.

There is also a browser version of the app that can be viewed on most mobile internet devices at m.usopen.com.

One area where the U.S. Open iPhone app falls short of its Masters companion is in live tournament coverage. The U.S. Open app will feature only one hole of live coverage on Saturday and Sunday. However, it will also feature live "marquee" group coverage on Thursday and Friday, but it remains to be seen what that will include.

Still, like never before, the walk-through videos put the nitty-gritty details of a major tournament course in the palm of your hand. And, of course, you can't beat the price of admission.

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Bettinardi Putter Wins Again

Brian Gay is suddenly one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour, winning his second tournament yesterday by a convincing margin. And it's his putter and putting game that are enabling him to trounce the field.

Brian Gay's putter is a custom Mizuno Bettinardi D.A.S.S. (for Double Aged Stainless Steel) C-03 model putter.

Designer Robert Bettinardi tells PutterZone.com that he worked closely with Gay over several months to craft and fine tune the putter. Their efforts are clearly paying off. In winning the St. Jude Classic over the weekend by five strokes, Gay needed just 100 putts over four rounds. No wonder he went wire to wire as the tournament leader and eventual victor. Earlier this year, Gay won the Verizon Heritage Classic by 10 strokes.

Gay's flatstick has the F.I.T. face (for Feel Impact Technology) found on the Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putter line, making it a cross between the Black Carbon line and the earlier Mizuno Bettinardi C-Series putters.

Word is that Gay employs a very light grip pressure with his putter. Light grip pressure can help a player cultivate touch and feel on the green, which is obviously the case with Gay.

P.S. The Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putters earned high marks from PutterZone.com in earlier reviews. Click here and here to read the Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon putter reviews.

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The Fringe: Cleveland Niblick Review

So-called “rescue” or "utility" clubs are all the rage these days, enabling you to play it safe from the fairway or disentangle yourself from an errant drive. But what happens when even that safety net fails? What happens when things still go bad near the green? Who’s going to rescue you now?

Enter the Niblick by Cleveland Golf. This ain’t no stinkin’ rescue club. It’s a survival club.

Are you on the collar or first cut, stalked by the twin tyrants known as Skulling and Chunking? Are you ensnared in the strangling rough? Are you tormented by low-hanging branches? Have no fear, because the Niblick is your Swiss Army knife. You will survive, and you will score.

Under The Hood

Cleveland Golf calls the Niblick a “short iron hybrid,” billing it as a multidimensional replacement for the common pitching wedge or nine iron. It is designed for chipping and pitching, as well as approach and recovery shots. The name comes from the original Scottish “niblicks,” which were a staple of ancient golf.

-Available lofts of 37 degrees (nine iron) and 42 degrees (pitching wedge)

-Wedge-style sole with eight degrees of bounce for minimizing fat shots

-Large Zip grooves for added spin

-Iron-style hosel offset for natural address position

-Gelback cavity insert for vibration dampening

-Retail price is $109

Why It Rocks

Chipping is a breeze with the Niblick. It offers a soft, easy touch for bump-and-run shots, and the plumpness of the club is a reassuring sight for those who tend to blade the ball. You can even employ a putting-style stroke from the short fringe.

The Niblick also performs well on pitches and approach shots as long as you trust the natural loft of the club. It may look similar to your standard long-iron hybrid, but you need to overcome that mental image and swing it like a short iron on approach shots. The Niblick can feel a bit hefty at first compared a short iron, so be prepared for an acclimation period. Once you get the hang of it, however, the Niblick flies 'em high. The stopping power of the Zip grooves is frosting on the cake.

Best of all, the Niblick shines in matters of recovery, and it’s particularly effective on lower shots off troublesome lies in the proverbial jungle—such as when you are off in the rubble about 40 yards from the green with tree branches crowding your view. In such situations, the Niblick packs the best of both worlds into a single club with its wedge-style sole and short-iron loft, enabling you to get the ball off the ground without flying it too high.

The 37-degree model is probably best for punching out of trouble, but you can de-loft the 42-degree model for similar results.

The Final Word

Now this is a utility club. Sure, you might have to mothball your nine iron or pitching wedge to fit the Niblick in your bag, but you’ll get a box of tricks in return. For mid to high handicappers in particular, the Niblick is a smart choice for shaving strokes.

About The Fringe

The Fringe is where PutterZone.com roams "beyond the green" in search of golf's hottest new gear. This bi-weekly series is reserved for products that truly earn the spotlight by demonstrating superior quality and ingenuity.

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Slotline SS-384 Mallet Putter Review

Slotline Golf is proving to be a real blast from the past, with its putters ranking sixth out of 17 brands in play at the recent Champions Tour’s Principal Charity Classic, just a few putters shy of PING.

Considering that the Slotline brand was on mothballs for the preceding seven years, that’s quite an achievement. 

One of the more popular Slotline models on tour is the SS-384 mallet, at least one of which has been in play for the past seven weeks. 

At just $99, the SS-384 sounds like a steal. But is it the real deal when put to the test? Following is PutterZone.com's Slotline SS-384 mallet putter review. 

The Storyline

Slotline was a pioneer in the concept of high “moment of inertia,” or MOI, which is today one of the hottest concepts in putter design. High MOI enhances forgiveness by reducing twisting and turning on miss-hits. Slotline’s signature “slot” and “line” alignment system also proved to be ahead of its time, as it continues to be emulated today. 

Slotline was a giant in the putter industry in the 1980s, but subsequently fell on hard times. By 2001, its product offerings were nonexistent. 

However, under new ownership, Slotline has made a swift and strong comeback this year, with the older tour professionals being particularly receptive to embracing this once-familiar brand. For more on the Slotline story, ready PutterZone.com’s earlier Slotline Raider putter review.

The Slotline 384 features a hollow-body stainless steel construction with an embedded 30 grams of tungsten for extreme backweighting and ultra-high MOI. 

As with all new Slotline putters, the SS-384 features a matte black finish and a “tri-milled” pattern, which reduces the contact surface area while ensuring perfect flatness and true loft. It also features “radiused” edges that “reduce snagging during the stroke and provide soft flowing lines at address.”

The SS-384 is face balanced and comes in lengths of 33 to 35 inches. The loft is three degrees, the lie angle is 71 degrees and the head weight is 340 grams. The 300 series putters are the most affordable of the three new Slotline putter families.

The View from PutterZone.com

The Slotline SS-384 sets up beautifully with a crisp, clean profile. In a putter world increasingly filled with loud UFO-style mallets, the SS-384 stands in stark contrast with its graceful ambiance. 

The hollow-body construction is the SS-384’s primary performance asset, creating extreme tungsten backweighting for ultra-high MOI. On that front, the SS-384 works as advertised, offering substantial forgiveness on miss-hits, and swinging with a vivid sense of poise and balance. 

A collateral effect of this design is a rather unusual acoustic personality, as the hollow chassis of the SS-384 rings like a bell when striking the ball. This resonant sound is reminiscent of an empty Coke bottle being tapped from the bottom. 

Such unique feedback was startling at first, as I didn’t see—or hear—it coming. But it grew on me. Different doesn’t mean wrong, it just means different. PutterZone.com HQ is overflowing with putters, but only one putter sounds like this. If you like your putter to sing a bit of a song, you’ll love it. If you like your putter to keep quiet, then it’s probably not the putter for you.

The “slot” and “line” alignment system is perennially effective, as long as the lie angle of 71 degrees is in your mechanical ballpark. With this system, a gold sightline visually intersects a notch on the rear topline of the putter, enabling you to achieve a consistent setup. 

A second gold sightline runs along the crown parallel to the face to assist in squaring the putter. Personally, I could do without this secondary visual aid, as it verges on informational overload when combined with the slot and line system. My take is that the leading edge of the putter itself is sufficient for gauging squareness. Still, it's nothing a black Sharpie pen or black model paint can't easily remedy.  

Lastly, you can’t ask for more than the grip and head cover that come with the Slotline SS-384 mallet, which both outperform the putter's $99 price point.

The Bottom Line

The SS-384 should be on the short list of any golfer looking for an affordable mallet with classic looks and rock-solid performance. The SS-384’s unique audio feedback will appeal to those who like their putter to play a little music, and the high-MOI design delivers the goods on accuracy and forgiveness.

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Quick Hit: Heavy Putter MID-WEIGHT K4

John Daly’s brash trousers and persistent Twittering are generating headlines these days, but so are his resurgent game and imminent return to the PGA Tour. Daly’s new performance weapon is the Heavy Putter MID-WEIGHT K4 by Boccieri Golf, which he says has helped shorten and sweeten his stroke. After switching to the K4, Daly promptly finished second at the Italian Open. The secret to the Heavy Putter isn’t just its heavy head, but also a counterweight in the shaft that raises the balance point of the putter. The new MID-WEIGHT putters shave 150 grams off the total weight of the original Heavy Putters for a slightly lighter touch.

Sweet

The Heavy Putter MID-WEIGHT K4 packs a lot—dare we say a ton?—of innovation into a sleek visual package. By courting the average golfer with a little less weight and little more tradition in the aesthetics department, Boccieri Golf has taken the Heavy Putter to the next level with the MID-WEIGHT series. The heavy head still offers ample stability, while the counterweight in the shaft brings it all into balance, promoting a smooth, steady stroke.

Bittersweet

Even the MID-WEIGHT series is going to be too heavy for some golfers. To say that the Heavy Putter is for everyone would probably be a stretch. Of course, saying any putter or club is for everyone would be a stretch.

Who’s It For?

Golfers who seek added stability in their stroke, and especially golfers who were on the fence about earlier Heavy Putter models.

Final Word

Boccieri Golf has a hit on its hands with the MID-WEIGHT series, proving the old adage that less is often more.

Lowdown

Street Price: $169

Head Weight: 400 grams (shaft counterweight brings total weight to 750 grams)

Lie Angle: 70 degrees

Loft: 3 degrees

Length: 32 to 36 inches

Toe Hang: Half past 4 o’clock

Material: Cast stainless steel with milled face

Included Accessories: Head Cover

Ready for a deeper look? Ready PutterZone.com's Heavy Putter K4 review.

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Putter Buzz: TaylorMade Red Stripe Putters

TaylorMade's ascent, MacGregor's descent and Heavy Putter's new marketing icon. Here's the latest putter buzz on the PGA Tour and beyond:

1. TaylorMade is red hot on the putter front right now. Just a week ago, its Spider and Kia Ma putters simultaneously won tournaments on the PGA, LPGA and Champions tours. Also, the company is rolling out its new Spider Balero, the latest addition to the Spider family. Now TaylorMade is generating tour buzz with its prototype TaylorMade RS putters (for Red Stripe, pictured here), as reported in GolfWorld. The TaylorMade Red Stripe putters are already available in Japan. No word on U.S. retail availabilty at this moment, but you can find a Japanese issue Red Stripe putter at TourSpecGolf, a U.S.-based retailer of Japanese golf gear. 

2. PutterZone.com was the first to report that John Daly had switched to the Heavy Putter MID-WEIGHT K4 model a few weeks ago. Now he has apparently struck a promotional deal with Heavy Putter, as he now appears on the Heavy Putter home page. Heavy Putter's familiar new rallying cry of "7 out of 10 golfers chose the new MID-WEIGHT" is now accompanied by the following tagline: "So did John Daly."

3. Zach Johnson recently switched from a SeeMore putter...to a SeeMore putter. Truly, it wasn't much of a switch. Johnson traded his original SeeMore FGP (the one that helped him win the Masters) for the similar FGP Stainless with a black finish. That's quite an endorsement for SeeMore's new Stainless line of putters as a replacement for the original aluminum bronze SeeMore putters. Johnson promptly won the Valero Texas Open after the switch. 

4. Just a little more than a year ago, MacGregor Golf seemed to be on a roll. Not only had Greg Norman taken over as the company's chairman, but famed putter designer Bobby Grace had introduced the second iteration of his MacGregor DCT putters. Alas, the venerable MacGregor brand has taken a quick tumble. It cut ties with Grace last June, and now the Shark is out of the picture as the MacGregor Golf brand has been sold to the retailer Golfsmith.  

5. Steve Stricker wielded an Odyssey White Hot Tour #2 Putter on the march to victory yesterday.

6. PutterZone.com is now on Facebook. Click here to check it out. 

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