While Spider-mania has taken over the PGA Tour in the past year, TaylorMade still hasn’t forgotten about blades.
With their new SYSTM2 putters launch, the company is not only introducing three new blade models, along with two mid-mallets, but these putters will feature a new MIM (Metal Injection Molding) construction, a first for the company’s putters. The putters still feature flymill faces, preserving a soft feel many players prefer.
“SYSTM2 represents our commitment to delivering putters that perform at the highest level while showcasing the craftsmanship and precision that define TaylorMade’s world-class performance equipment,” TaylorMade Director of Product Creation (Putters) Andrew Oldknow said in a release. “By crafting each head from soft 304 stainless steel with precision-milled faces and our signature two-tone finish, we’ve created a complete system for every golfer. Whether a player prefers a compact blade, needs the forgiveness of our wide-body Del Monte, or wants a traditional mid-mallet, SYSTM2 ensures that golfers can find the perfect putter to match their stroke.”
What might be most striking about the putters is the price point, coming in at just $250, well below the cost of the popular Spider mallet and many other premium putters on the market. Yet these putters feature one of TaylorMade’s most advanced constructions to date.
Keep reading below for more on the TaylorMade SYSTM2 putters, including my take on the release.
What’s actually new with TaylorMade SYSTM2 Putters — and why you should care
A new kind of mold
MIM constructions have been around the golf space for some time, but they’ve picked up steam over the last couple of years, thanks to both costs coming down and the unique control it offers designers. SYSTM2 is TaylorMade’s first use of the technology in their putters.
Through the use of MIMing, as opposed to traditional methods of casting or milling, TaylorMade was able to remove mass from behind the face and reallocate it toward the toe and heel, increasing stability.
The use of 304 stainless steel and a flymill face with saw-milled grooves creates a soft and premium feel. This is going to feel different than the Pure Roll insert on TaylorMade’s Spider putters, but still on the softer side.
Two-tone alignment features
One of the best arguments for switching to larger mallet putters after the forgiveness boost is the additional alignment features. All the SYSTM2 putters tackle that obstacle with a two-tone finish that includes a scratch silver front piece and black PVD back.
The two-tone perpendicular contrast creates a visual separation for the golfer, helping them set up square to the target and keep it that way through the stroke.
The TaylorMade SYSTM2 lineup
There are five different head shapes in SYSTM2 putter lineup with three blades and two mallets. The blades are only available with L-neck hosels, while the mallets will be offered with both L-necks and single-bend shaft options.
Soto 12
The Soto 12 from all angles.
TaylorMade
What is it: A classic Anser-style blade with rounded bumpers and an L-neck hosel.
Who it’s for: Players who prefer rounded visuals and softer edges while having moderate toe flow.
Juno 12
The Juno 12 from all angles.
TaylorMade
What is it: A classic Anser-style blade with squared bumpers and an L-neck hosel.
Who it’s for: Blade players who prefer more angular shapes and perpendicular aligment features.
Del Monte 12
The Del Monte 12 from all angles.
TaylorMade
What is it: A wide-body blade with squared bumpers.
Who it’s for: Blade players who don’t want to tranisition to a mallet, but want more stability.
Ardmore 12/72
The Ardmore 12 from all angles.
TaylorMade
What is it: A more modern mid-mallet shape that isn’t quite a half-moon shape with a couple of corners for added stability.
Who it’s for: Players who prefer the half-moon shape but with more stability.
Bandon 12/72
The [PRODUCT NAME] from all angles.
TaylorMade
What is it: A modern fang-style mid-mallet available in two different hosel options: L-Neck and single-bend.
Who it’s for: Players seeking max forgiveness from a mid-mallet with angular alignment lines.
My take: New tech, better price, more options
I’m not going to sit here and pretend SYSTM2 is cheaper than TaylorMade’s most recent blade/mid-mallet release. In fact, each putter is $50 more expensive.
However, what these new models have is the benefit of the MIM tech, allowing for greater stability and a different face technology with the sawmill grooves.
Are the grooves on a milled face better or worse than TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert? No, that’s not what this is about. The Pure Roll insert is one of the reasons the Spider has been so successful, but some people simply prefer a soft milled feel.
This gives players different options.
While a blade isn’t going to be quite as forgiving as a high-MOI mallet, the MIM technology helps level the playing field with more stability through the heel-toe weighting.
Overall, SYSTM2 isn’t going to be a release that jumps off the page immediately, but when you look closer, not only will these putters round out TaylorMade’s lineup, but they could also serve as a stepping stone for future putter releases.
Price, Specs and Availability
TaylorMade’s new SYSTM2 putters are available order starting March 26 and will arrive at retail locations at the same time.
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