Equipment
TaylorMade Arc1 Putters spotted at Colonial
TaylorMade always releases several prototype putter models throughout the year to gather feedback on their looks, feel and performance from its staff members. Its new Arc1 prototype putters, which we spotted on the practice green at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, are some of the most outrageously shaped putters we’ve seen from the company since its release of the original Spider putters in 2008.
According to a TaylorMade spokesperson, there are no current plans to release the Arc1, but I wouldn’t put it past the company to be seriously considering a launch of a similar looking putter in the near future.
TaylorMade prides itself on product innovation, and the shape of the Arc1 likely gives it an extremely high moment of inertia (MOI), the focus of its recent line of Daddy Long Legs, Spider Mallet, Spider Blade and Ghost Spider Si putters.
This is one that is sure to standout if it is used to win a PGA Tour event on Sunday. And you know what they say in the golf industry: What wins on Sunday sells on Monday.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Arc1 putters in our forum.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Arc1 putters in our forum.
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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Pingback: TaylorMade Japan 2015 ARC1 Putter
Brian S
May 27, 2014 at 9:27 am
Hideous!!!
J. T. Rathman
May 22, 2014 at 8:05 pm
Nothing but flat fugly!!!
renoaz
May 22, 2014 at 11:58 am
TM you got some tweaking to do. Don’t apply for the patent just yet.
Jeff
May 22, 2014 at 1:49 am
If these were made by Scotty Cameron, would we be drooling vs. hating?
Visually, to me, these are less ugly than the Futura X. But both are bad. I think one of the first keys to being a good putter is liking the look at address. For me, it’s about clean, simple lines and a feeling of confidence over the ball. These just don’t work for me at that level.
I’ll stick to my Miura KM-350.
bradford
May 22, 2014 at 2:29 pm
KM-007 here, and I agree. But it’s all about loving your putter, so whatever floats your boat.
timbleking
May 27, 2014 at 3:54 am
“I think one of the first keys to being a good putter is liking the look at address…a feeling of confidence over the ball.”
Amen!
Charlie
May 21, 2014 at 11:39 pm
I hope the all black finish makes it to retail. It’s the only hope for these. Golfsmith will put them by the 50 daddy long legs they cannot sell for 149.99.
Joe Loukota
May 21, 2014 at 11:27 pm
First glace screamed “Backstryke”. Not a TM hater but the latest putter offerings recall the Sabertooth & this???
Scooter McGavin
May 21, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Bobby Grace Triumph, anyone?
Jgpl001
May 21, 2014 at 3:16 pm
More TM nonsense
I suppose you can change the loft, open/close the face and spin around in circles chasing your tail…
I will keep my simple Scotty Cameron Newport thank you
I just wish TM would go away and die peacefully
Mark M
May 21, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for the constructive comment. Sure the look of this putter might not suit your eye but to automatically dismiss it because it’s “more TM nonsense” is just as asinine if not more than automatically assuming every new taylormade release is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
So sick of these comments. If you don’t like the putter, give actual reasons as to why you don’t like it. Please stop jumping on the anti taylormade bandwagon to try and impress strangers on the internet. And believe me I am not a “fanboy” for any brand. I’d play with a dog turd on a stick if it worked for me.
W
May 22, 2014 at 2:30 am
Yeah, at least TM isn’t over-priced and over-rated like Camerons
Freddy v
May 25, 2014 at 9:17 am
Hey I love my 349.99$ ping rip off… 😉
Joe Gilbert
May 21, 2014 at 12:34 pm
I need a putter that allows me to use it’s head to pick up the ball after putting. With the raised circles on the back, I don’t see these ARC putters going in my bag.
Joe
Perry
May 21, 2014 at 8:16 am
Bloody ugly. But if it’s taylormade it will get loads of space on this site.
michelle obama
May 20, 2014 at 11:45 pm
i buy everything from tm they are the worlds no1 they must be the best must be *opens wallet*
Mark M
May 21, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Do you play pro v1s? I’m willing to bet that you do or know someone that does. In fact the vast majority of those that frequent this site seem to game a pro v1. Why play pro v1s? Oh, number one ball on tour? So must be the best right? Worth the $5-6 per ball price, when most that play them couldn’t tell the difference in a blind test between a pro v1 and a ‘tour’ level ball from any other manufacturer that retails for $2 less a ball?
Point I’m trying to make is that all companies hype their products and taylormade is by no means the only company to pay players to use their best selling product (like titleist does with their balls). If you’re going to comment on a product, comment on the product itself not on the brand based on ridiculous generalizations.
You listenin', TM?
May 20, 2014 at 9:46 pm
TM needs to come out with these putters with no inserts, they’d win more tournaments with milled faces, they haven’t realized that yet may be they can hear me
Travel RN
May 20, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Kind of shaped like the Pinfire Eagle…
http://www.freegolfinfo.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=2804943&mpage=1&key=�
PORORO
May 20, 2014 at 4:59 pm
i kind of like it, i’d almost be tempted to buy it.
Hey Golf WRX, maybe you should have a poll. How many putters do you have? or club you upgrade the most.
It’s by far the club I tend to buy the most. In the last 10 years, I’ve probably bought 5 putters, that’s not including the numerous grip changes, from stock, to iomic, to super stroke.
Jive
May 20, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Odyssey two ball and Ping Craz-E sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G…
Golfraven
May 22, 2014 at 9:33 am
I can actually invision it.
TM may sell a few and why not. I you build it they will come.
Golfraven
May 22, 2014 at 9:44 am
Go and see the Scotty Futura X7. that one is taken from a Star Wars movie. Looks more like a Spaceship. the ARC has a modest style in comparison.