Introducing Rory’s new Nike putter

As you may have seen in recent months, Rory McIlroy has been using a brand new putter. Now, Nike are ready to reveal it to the world.

Aiming to minimise distractions on the clubhead, Nike has created the Nike Method Origin putter, which is a classic-looking blade putter filled with innovations, including integrated RZN, the same material Nike also uses in its golf balls. It works especially well on off-centre hits and helps the golf ball to keep its speed even if it is struck away from the centre of the face.

The putter has already enjoyed massive success in the hands of McIlroy and fellow Nike athlete Charl Schwartzel who have won four times with the Nike Method Origin in the bag. As a result of using it, South African Schwartzel is currently averaging 1.3 fewer putts per round this season on the European Tour compared to 2015.

“The response is incremental across the face. A hit on the centre of the face elicits a dampening effect.” explained David Franklin, Nike Golf Master Modelmaker. “The more off-centre the hit, the more the RZN compresses and the more energy is returned to the ball. The response is similar to our Compression Channel and improves consistency across the face.”

Insights from both Tiger Woods and McIlroy made Nike consider how it could make the putter roll more efficiently. It managed it by completely revamping its polymetal groove technology to offer full-length grooves that run from heel to toe. This change made for a more consistent and efficient roll.

The newly designed face features twice the number of polymetal grooves as previous Method putters, giving that earlier forward roll and smoother, softer feel at impact.

“When I first test it in Dubai in January 2015, I realised the long putts kept rolling just a little but more. It just kept rolling and rolling,” recalled McIlroy. “Then I tested it again at Sage Valley in April 2015 and loved it. From that point I kept asking, ‘When can I get this in the bag?’ I added it in September last year and it has been in the bag ever since.

“I love the new grooves. The roll was perfect and I felt like the contact was so much softer than my previous putter; it got the ball rolling so much quicker.”

Nike Method Origin – availability

Available in two models, the B1-01 and B2-01, the Method Origin putter is in the bag of McIlroy (B2-01), Schwartzel (B1-01), Russell Henley (B2-01), Scott Pinckney (B1-01), Ryan Ruffels (B1-01), Nick Watney (B2-01), Lucas Bjerregaard (B1-01) and Ross Fisher (B2-01).

In shops: April 15, 2016
More info: nike.com/golf