50 Words or Less
The TearDrop TD-1 putter is an Anser-style putter with a unique face. Produces more consistent roll for better distance control.
Introduction
Across popular culture, the 90’s are back, so it’s fitting that we see the same in golf. TearDrop putters were first introduced about 30 years ago, winning on Tours and grabbing up spots in the bags of regular players. The company has recently relaunched to bring their Roll-Face technology back to golfers seeking better results on the green.
Looks
The first thing that stood out to me about the address look of the TearDrop TD-1 putter was the heavily rolled top line. If you look at the picture above, you can see it on the toe side of the top line. This is a nice detail that subtly sets the TD-1 apart from the sea of Ansers.
Less subtle is the white line on the ball side of the top line, what TearDrop calls their Leading Edge Alignment System. Contrasted against the black finish, this can help to improve your aim. I liked the Leading Edge Alignment System because it enhanced the line I already use to aim my putter.
Aside from these two things, the TearDrop TD-1 is a fairly traditional Anser 2 with squared bumpers, a plumbers neck, and a sight line. The sizes of the top line, shoulders, and bumpers are all proportioned conventionally. It should be noted that the toe-side bumper is slightly larger and the sight line is placed on the sweet spot, which is about 1/16″ toward the heel.
In the bag, the TD-1 balances prominent branding with a clean black and white color scheme. There’s a large TearDrop logo on the heel of the face, and the cavity is filled with branding. “Roll-Face” and “TD-1” cover the sole from heel to toe, but the thin font keeps it from being overwhelming.
Sound & Feel
Rolling premium golf balls with the Teardrop TD-1 putter produces a quiet “knock.” The audio feedback is surprisingly clear, with the sound becoming raspy on mishits. What does not change is the volume – pure strikes and mishits are all quiet.
The TD-1 is very solid and responsive through the hands. The tactile feedback is not as stark as the audio, but it’s not difficult to determine the impact location.
Performance
The main performance feature in the TearDrop TD-1 putter is the Radial Face Design or Roll-Face. Where most putter faces are flat, the TD-1’s face has an 8-inch radius, giving it zero loft on the bottom of the face up to 4.6 degrees of loft near the top. Per TearDrop, this, along with the grooves on the face, product “ideal launch and spin rate” on every strike for a smoother, more consistent roll.
If you’re wondering why launch, spin, and roll matter on a putt, there are two reasons. First is distance control. If the ball is launching and spinning at different rates on every putt, controlling your distance becomes more difficult. The second reason has to do with green reading and picking the right line. Imagine a green that’s heavily tilted from right to left. If you rolled a ball ten feet on that green, it would break 6 inches to the left. However, if you threw the ball the first five feet then let it roll the last five, it would break less than 6 inches. Obviously, this example is extreme – no putt is flying or skidding five feet – but it illustrates the conceptual advantage of getting the ball rolling quickly.
My testing with the TearDrop TD-1 started on a practice green. I putted with one of my gamers for a while, then switched to the TD-1. What I noticed immediately was that the ball sounded different on the green. As soon as I struck the ball, I could hear it turning end over end on the green. There was no delay where the ball might skip or skid. I also noticed my putts breaking slightly more with the TD-1.
I felt like I was in a TearDrop commercial, so I went home to my launch monitor to see what the numbers said. In testing with my Foresight GCQuad [review HERE], the TearDrop TD-1 outperformed two flat-faced Anser-style putters. I was expecting that the TD-1 would produce dramatically more forward spin or a shorter skid distance, but that wasn’t the case – other putters were capable of matching the TD-1’s best numbers. Where the TD-1 shined was in consistency. Across a large sample of putts, the TD-1 never produced backspin, but the other putters did. Similarly, the TD-1’s range of skid distances was much smaller than those of the other putters.
The TearDrop TD-1 is one of three models available. It has a “crank hosel” and 25 degrees of toe hang, ideal for players with a moderate arc to their stroke. There are two modern mallets – TD-7 and TD-5 – which are face-balanced.
You can order the TearDrop TD-1 at any length from 31″ to 35″ in half inch increments. The head weight is 350 grams. TearDrop also has five grip options. There are two branded grips as well as the SuperStroke Traxion Tour in 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 sizes. The SuperStroke grips come with a $20 upcharge.
Conclusion
The TearDrop TD-1 putter delivers on its promise of a more consistent roll. Traditionalists will be happy find that TearDrop’s technology is packed in a classic head shape. TearDrop offers a 60-day free trial, so there’s no risk in seeing if this putter can help you find the bottom of the cup more often.
Visit TearDrop HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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One Comment
I loved (!) the original of this… should have kept it..