Rossa Corza Ghost putter makes lining-up super-natural
May 12, 2010

Designed with major input from one of the most popular putting instructors in the world, twice USPGA Champion Dave Stockton, the Rossa Corza Ghost from TaylorMade Golf is a new mallet putter designed to be exceptionally easy to aim and roll the ball down your intended line.

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

"Corza Ghost's white putter head stands out so clearly against its background - the putting surface - because of the high contrast between white and green," said Dr. Hitzeman, who is also a past president of the Indiana Optometric Association and a past chairman of the American Optometric Association's Sports Vision Section. "That high contrast maximises stimulation to the retina and highlights the head's shape and features. The contrast would be lower if the putter was black or gray because these colours are closer in luminance to the colour of the putting green than white. White creates the biggest difference in luminance, hence maximising contrast and promoting focus.

"Many golfers use the leading edge of the putter as part of their alignment strategy (by positioning the edge perpendicular to the imagined target line). So, this high contrast for the leading edge gives the golfer the best chance of squaring up the putter face 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 give the golfer the best possible chance of accurately aiming the putter."

"You can focus on the topline to aim Ghost," said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development, "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."

One key design input from 1970 and 1976 USPGA Champion Stockton was the elimination of "Hot Spots" - reflections of direct sunlight from the top of the putter into the golfer’s eye, which distract the player's attention from the task at hand of focussing on the putter head, the alignment system and aiming the putter squarely down the target-line. (Watch Stockton explaining the Corza Ghost's features here.)

"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. Because 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."

The Corza Ghost's white finish helps keep hot spots from standing out, allowing you to focus your attention on seeing the whole form of the putterhead and the alignment system so you can aim without distraction.

Being a mallet, Corza Ghost's high-MOI head is extremely stable on off-centre hits and feels extremely solid at impact. Its three alignment lines on the crown function not only to help aim the face accurately, but also to frame the ball in the middle of the face, which promotes solid, centre-face contact on every stroke.

Corza Ghost also has the advantage of Rossa's renowned and tour-proven AGSI+ (Anti-skid Groove System Insert) Technology. AGSI+ features 14 polymer-filled grooves in the face that "hold" the ball briefly at impact to promote forward spin for a smoother roll and more accurate results. The AGSI+ Titallium insert, in concert with the putterhead's extremely high MOI, also delivers superior consistency in forward roll on off-centre hits, something not shown in tests of other popular putters.

The Corza Ghost is face-balanced and has 4° of loft, with a head weight of 345g. Three length options are available and a left-handed model, and it comes with a Winn grip.

The Corza Ghost will be available at retail from the end of June, at a recommended retail price of £129/€159. More Ghost models also with a white finish and black alignment lines are scheduled to become available later.

For further information visit www.taylormadegolf.com