TaylorMade sees another Ghost

• By Global Golf Post
• Apr 11, 2012 1:15 PM ET

TaylorMade turned once again to putting guru Dave Stockton when it came time to develop a new model in the Ghost series line, and the result is the Manta, a one-piece neo-mallet.

Alignment is a big part of the Ghost Manta story, beginning with its flat matte white head, which is designed not only to eliminate the distractions of glare and “hot spots” caused by reflective sunlight but also to help golfers line up their putts better due to the contrast of that color to the green of the turf. Another factor is the use of two black rails on top of the putter head, so players may frame their golf balls with greater ease.

TaylorMade engineers say that another performance attribute is the Manta’s high moment of inertia (MOI), which they say is enhanced through the employment of two, 50-gram weights on the heel and toe of the putter sole. Those are intended to stabilize the head and produce more consistent speed on off-center hits. There is also a third, user-adjustable weight in the back-center of the sole.

Then, there is the Pure Roll Surlyn insert, which has been used in other Ghost products and is designed to promote forward spin and encourage a smooth, accurate roll as well as precise speed control.

“The Manta takes a very clean and classic tour-proven look, along with an advanced and modern technology that often comes in a quirky head shape, and combines them into one comprehensive putter,” says Michael Fox, global product manager for putters and wedges at TaylorMade Golf. “The result is a putter that is powerful for players of all levels, while also providing confidence on the green.”

In addition to standard size, TaylorMade also offers the Ghost Manta in belly and long models.