Tommy Fleetwood hails amazing new TaylorMade putter
11/09/2024 10:00 AM
While Rory McIlroy has been working away on his swing in the recent off weeks, his Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood has been testing a new putter – and its first excursion couldn’t have gone much better.
The Englishman opened with a 10-under 62 at Yas Links in the Abu Dhabi Championship and he would roll in no fewer than eight birdies and an eagle.
After his round he was surprised to learn that he hadn’t set a new course record – Sami Valimaki shot the same score last year – but there was plenty to like about the 26 putts and 17 greens in regulation.
“It is a new TaylorMade putter that I’ve been working with at home.The guys at TaylorMade have done an amazing job, designing something a little bit different. It’s felt really, really good,” Fleetwood explained.
“It’s sort of difficult these days, I love testing my equipment and testing things that are new and different but it’s so difficult with the way the schedule is.
“The tournaments are packed in so close to each other, and there’s never not a big event or not an important event it seems.
“To have that time at home to work on something that I’ve put a lot of effort into and something I’m really interested in; and like I said, TaylorMade have done an amazing job with it, and it’s felt good.”
Fleetwood’s putting on the PGA Tour has left him in 87th spot on this year’s Strokes Gained stats, the previous year he was up in 14th, and he’s generally associated with an Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 blade.
Pure Roll insert technology
But this prototype uses TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert technology where angled grooves are set at 45˚ to promote forward roll at impact, rather than backspin or sidespin.
More striking is the look. Back in 2020 TaylorMade brought out the Truss range which featured a hosel that resembled a triangular bridge, which created additional points of contact where the shaft meets the putter head.
The purpose was to improve stability and minimise face twisting on off-centre hits.
After adding a TaylorMade prototype putter to the bag, Tommy Fleetwood shoots a bogey-free 62 in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Despite also hitting 17 greens, Fleetwood led the field with just 26 putts with the new wand https://t.co/Koy5p3FxYhpic.twitter.com/eyqJBqm8th
— Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 7, 2024
The other key ingredient is having the likes of Ken Brown and David Howell, two of Europe’s best ever putters, take an interest in Fleetwood’s stroke.
“I always talk to the guys, especially Ken,” said Fleetwood.
“We have had some great conversations about putting over the years and I just always like seeing the guys and talking about the game. It’s just nice being around people that are so passionate about the game still. It’s just great.
“I love that those guys sort of want the best for me, and are always there to help and have conversations. I love that about golf.
“I’ve worked with Phil Kenyon for a long time. He’s an unbelievably putting coach. I always feel like I’m a good putter but it doesn’t always show.
“The second half of this year, like through the summer I haven’t putted as well or converted as many putts as we’d have liked.
“We’ve been working on that and I happened to bump into Ken and Howeller on the course and we were talking about a couple of things, working on how I move my head in my stroke in a couple of practice drills and what happens there.
“They are two of the best putters I’ve ever met and any time you’re talking to those guys, you’re always going to pick something up.”
READ MORE:Rory McIlroy and why he plays the TaylorMade Qi10 driver
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