TaylorMade, Blast Motion team up for Spider Interactive putter
Equipment

TaylorMade, Blast Motion team up for Spider Interactive putter

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Golf is more broadly starting to feel comfortable with the intersection of equipment, technology and analytics.

Arccos, Game Golf and others have helped evolve game performance-tracking hardware and platforms, and major equipment makers have started collaborating with these brands on clubs and grips with their proprietary sensors already integrated to encourage golfers to go on board.

Now, TaylorMade has teamed up with Blast Motion to bring this kind of hardware integration to putters.

The companies announced Jan. 18 the creation of the Spider Interactive putter, which integrates the Blast Motion golf sensor into a special-made SuperStroke oversize putting grip so the golfer can seamlessly use the Blast platform to capture putting data in real-time. This data includes backstroke time, forward stroke time, tempo, impact stroke speed and face rotation at impact. This data is then sent to the special version of the Blast Motion app for this Spider Interactive (available first for Apple devices on March 1, then for Android on a TBD date in the second quarter of 2018) for display and analysis for the golfer. The app will not only show a golfer's trends toward a better stroke but offer drills and tips to help the golfer get there.

The Spider is the right line for TaylorMade to use for this product wading into new waters. It is TaylorMade's most popular, most recognizable model, and a slew of their staffers use the putter in competition. The Spider Tour construction is used for this putter, with the 304 stainless steel frame joining with a 6061 aluminum body for stability and high MOI, as well a Pure Roll milled aluminum insert to promote better and faster forward roll. The Blast Motion sensor is lightweight enough that it's nominal to the overall weight of the putter.

The Spider Interactive Powered by Blast, which is the official name, will be available March 23 for $400. It'll be available in an L-neck (21° toe hang) or double bend (face-balanced) hosel in 34” and 35”lengths in both right- and left-handed models. The package comes with a Blast charging pad for the sensor that pops in and out of the grip, a micro USB cable, a sensor installation key, a live sensor, a yellow filler plug (inserted for conforming use in tournament play) and storage pouch.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

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