TaylorMade Monza Spider Putter Review

So what was that exotic creature that J.B. Holmes used to sink the winning putt to beat Phil Mickelson at the FBR Open in Scottsdale earlier this month? The new Monza Spider putter by TaylorMade.

The Spider is the latest and edgiest member of TaylorMade’s diverse line of Rossa putters. Is the Spider destined to spin a large web across the putting universe? Following is PutterZone.com’s TaylorMade Monza Spider ($199) review.

The Storyline
The Monza Spider’s top selling point is its high “moment of inertia” (MOI), which is a measurement of a putter head’s weight properties, and specifically how that weight is distributed. A putter with high MOI is resistant to twisting and turning upon impact, resulting in more forgiveness for enhanced consistency and accuracy.

According to TaylorMade: “Even tour professionals frequently miss putts because they fail to hit the ball with the center of the clubface. With most putters, when impact is made toward the toe or heel, the head twists and the ball rolls off-line and finishes short of the target. Off-center hits also impart different types of spin compared to center-hits, contributing to inconsistent distance and direction.”

For this reason, TaylorMade engineered the Spider to “deliver a quantum leap in total performance” and to “give players better results on all types of impact locations, to promote super smooth and accurate roll.”

The Spider’s steel wire-frame head construction positions increased weight at the perimeter, adding stability on miss-hits. Additionally, a light aluminum core allows more weight to be positioned on the perimeter, further increasing the MOI.

The Spider also features Moveable Weight Technology (WMT), whereby you can change the weights in the outer rear ports with an optional weight kit that currently comes with TaylorMade drivers. The putter comes with two preinstalled four-gram weights. However, you can increase it by a total of 20 grams with the optional weight cartridges.

As with all Rossa putters, the Spider features TaylorMade's signature AGSI+ grooved insert technology, which is designed to impart truer, smoother roll.

The Spider will be officially released to the public on March 15, but it has already made a big splash on the PGA Tour this year. A total of 12 Spiders were put into play at Torrey Pines. Nine were in play at the aforementioned FBR Open, and 11 were put into play at Pebble Beach.

The View from PutterZone.com
The Spider could have easily been called the Tarantula, because it is truly a beast, measuring nearly four inches from face to rear, and slightly more than four inches at its widest point. Even the putter’s official name is brawny: TaylorMade Rossa Monza Spider.

A putter this radical looking will naturally have its naysayers. But remember the massive drivers that once looked absurd to our collective eyes, yet which are now the norm? The Spider just might be a similar glimpse into the future of high MOI putters.

Personally, I find the Spider to be a bit noisy in the visuals department. The outer harness is silver, the body is black and the alignment markings are white, and large patches of green grass are visible through the three open areas of the chassis. It’s a lot to tune out when the putter is in motion.

Behind this noise, however, is a putter that is generously calibrated to keep your stroke straight and focused. The high MOI works as advertised, making it difficult to hit a truly errant putt.

I’m not in possession of the optional weight cartridges, but the putter feels balanced enough with the preinstalled four-gram weights. The option to customize the weighting is a nice touch. The Spider is not light, but there’s a certain impression of lightness, because the mass of the putter would suggest something heavier.

The aggressive shape of the Spider is a confidence booster as well. This putter just looks like it means business, especially on close putts. It sort of begs the question: How could you possibly miss from three or four feet with this weapon in hand? Many golfers will find comfort and confidence in the shapely attitude of the Spider.

The AGSI+ insert has a nice, slightly soft feel with a pleasant grippy-chalky quality. And, as usual for TaylorMade, the presentation and finish work of the Spider are impeccable, from the paint fills to the stampings to the embroidery on the head cover. This is a company that doesn't take your dollar for granted.

The Bottom Line
The Monza Spider is not a putter that will, or wants, to please everyone. Rather, it very much intends to push the envelope, in terms of both physics and aesthetics. Hardcore traditionalists will probably choose to look the other way (TaylorMade's blade putters are an excellent alternative). However, those who are inclined toward something more unusual or edgy—a group that apparently includes a lot of PGA Tour pros—will enjoy the Spider's predisposition for stability and accuracy.

In Review: TaylorMade Rossa Siena Putter

For a golf company that’s most acclaimed for its drivers, TaylorMade is sure on a roll with its putters. While Sergio Garcia was making noise with his TaylorMade Rossa Corzina belly putter during last week’s British Open, Joe Ogilvie was concurrently wielding a Rossa LeMans putter for his first PGA Tour win at the U.S. Bank Championship.

TaylorMade’s Rossa putter line also underwent an extreme makeover earlier this year, with a striking new red-on-black color scheme and enhanced AGSI+ grooved insert technology. Is the result just another pretty face—or a putter to be reckoned with?

Following is PutterZone.com’s review of the Rossa Siena putter ($119), which belongs to the Rossa Classics family of traditionally shaped putters.

The Storyline
TaylorMade’s first Rossa putters were introduced in 2001, and the new generation of Rossa putters was released early this year. As one would expect with a name like “Rossa,” the line’s signature color is red, which is most recognizable in the red face inserts. Garcia’s putter literally screamed “Rossa” every time a television camera got near his putter during the British Open. From a branding standpoint, that’s quite an accomplishment.

The Rossa Siena model and other new Rossa putters feature AGSI+ technology, which stands for Anti-skid Groove System Insert. The “+” stands for improvements made to the original AGSI technology found on earlier Rossa putters.

PutterZone.com asked TaylorMade to explain the improvements, and here’s what they said: “What makes AGSI+ superior to the original is the addition of two grooves, which raises the total to 14 from 12, and which brings the grooves 22 percent closer together. That brings more grooves into contact with the ball more often, allowing AGSI+ to more efficiently negate backspin and promote forward spin at impact, generating smoother roll and helping the player make more putts.”

The insert’s grooves are also filled with a soft polymer material “that depresses at impact inside of the groove so that it exposes the edge of the groove, thus promoting forward spin.”

The Rossa Siena’s head is made from 304 stainless steel and the insert is made of Titallium, a lightweight composite alloy. The putter is heel-toe weighted for higher moment of inertia (MOI) and enhanced forgiveness.

The View from PutterZone.com
Like the previous generation of Rossa putters, the new generation is rather colorful—but now the effect is more sophisticated and integrated, resulting in a very stylish ensemble. The red insert is artfully harnessed in midnight black instead of hollering at us from a stainless steel finish, which was a jarring combination. A dash of yellow-gold flows through the face insert, cavity logo and grip, adding a sporty touch. This putter will get noticed—and for all the right reasons.

In functional terms, the Siena looks like a PING Anser that got a manicure in Milan. The edges are soft and elegant, flowing gracefully into a gooseneck hosel. The upper sole features two white sightlines that hug the core of the ball at address. These sightlines are quite assertive against the black of the putter head, providing strong visual synergy with the ball at address.

Another nice touch is the fact that the putter’s finish is glossy black on the face and sole for added aesthetic sizzle, but matte black on the crown and upper sole to minimize potential solar glare. Upon close inspection, the putter appears to be tightly constructed and precisely assembled.

In terms of truer roll, I can’t really testify to the efficacy of the AGSI+ groove technology, at least not without a robot and some slow-motion cameras. I can say that it doesn’t hurt, and that it likely helps, though in ways more subtle than startling. The feel and sound are surprisingly soft for a metallic insert (perhaps owing to the polymer groove filling), making the Siena a good choice for those who want added suppleness without the sponginess often associated with synthetic inserts.

Overall, the Rossa Siena putter performed quite well for me. No single thing blew my mind, but that’s really not the point of a sleek, classically shaped blade putter like the Siena. This is a putter that you play, not a putter that plays you. If you do your job, this putter will put the ball in the hole.

The Bottom Line
The Rossa Siena offers both brains and beauty, with nice playability and a stylish personality. The color scheme might not appeal to everyone, but it will attract many, especially those who prefer a traditional putter shape but have a yen for edgier aesthetics. TaylorMade went the extra mile with its new Rossa putters, offering considerable attention to detail at a relatively affordable price. If you want to look sharp and play well without breaking the bank, the Rossa Siena can't be ignored.