Dave Stockton Sees A Ghost

Easy aim is the objective of the new Corza Ghost mallet putter from TaylorMade, maker of Rossa putters.

Designed with input from Rossa tour staff professional Dave Stockton, the Ghost is also made for ease of use in rolling the ball down the intended line.

“We started with the intention of designing a putter that’s easier to aim than any other,” said Rossa senior director Bill Price.

“That led us to experiment with a white finish. We consulted Dr. Steven A. Hitzeman,, a professor at the Indiana School of Optometry and he felt we were onto something,” he added.

Hitzeman says the Ghost offers a contrast that suits the eye.

Coza Ghost’s white putterhead stands out so clearly against its background, the putting surface, because of the high contrast between white and green,” said Hitzeman, a past president of the Indiana Optometric Association’s Sports Vision Section.

“That high contrast maximizes stimulation to the retina and highlights the head’s shape and features. The contrast would be lower if the putter were black or gray because these colours are closer in luminance to the colour of the putting green than white,” he said.

“White creates the biggest difference in luminance, hence maximizing contrast and promoting focus. Many golfers use the leading edge of the putter as part of their alignment strategy, so this high contrast for the leading edge gives the golfer the best chance of squaring up the putterface at address.

“Also, the lines on the top of the putter are painted black to achieve maximum contrast against the white surface of the putter. All of these high contrast alignment elements gie the golfer the best possible chance of accurately aiming the putter,” he explained.

Three black alignment lines are on the crown with a circular hole in the back of the putterhead to offer various options on which to focus.

“You can focus on the topline to aim Ghost or you can focus on the alignment lines to visually connect the circular hole and your ball to lock in your aim. The point is that you’ve got options, each one highly effective,” said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development.

With the focus on aim, a move was made to eliminate hot spots, the reflection of direct sunlight from the top of the putter into the golfer’s eye that can distract the player.

“When I started playing on tour in the 1960s, I used a silver mallet,” said Stockton.

“Nicks and marks would form on the crown from normal use. They lit up when sunlight hit them at address, which I found extremely distracting, so much that I would have the crown sandblasted frequently to erase the hot spots,” he added.

“When you look down at the putter you don’t want anything disturbing your focus, which should be on the putterhead and the features of it that you use to align the putterface squarely down the target-line,” said Stockton.

The Corza Ghost’s white finish helps keep hot spots from standing out, allowing the user to focus attention on seeing the whole form of the putterhead and the alignment system.

The high MOI mallet also features AGSI (Anti-skid Groove System Insert), with 14 polymer-filled grooves in the face to hold the ball briefly at impact to promote forward spin.

A blade and mid-mallet are expected to follow in July.

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