NCX-Ray Sigma, Rossa Spider Balero and Itsy Bitsy… Japan Models

It seems many US golf brands enjoy releasing certain clubs just for the Japanese market. Clubs like Taylormade Japan’s R9 Max, TP Forged and Burner Forged irons, Callaway’s Hyper ERC and Legacy lines, and Titleist’s retail TVD Japan wedge, have all made it big in Japan’s high end premium market.

These brands have also been quick to take advantage of the lack of a stand out Japanese mainstream putter brand by releasing Japan only models that dominate the market (Gold’s Factory is a stand out putter maker but not mainstream). Odyssey has long been the number one putter in Japan followed closely by Taylormade and Scotty Cameron.

Taylormade also releases many Japan only putters including the Japan only soft RSI insert a few years ago and a new Maranello putter every year it seems.  When the Itsy Bitsy Spider was released in the US, there was no center shaft model available but TM decided that there would be one in Japan and now the same thing has happened for the Spider Balero. A center shaft model has so far only appeared in Japan.

The other day I was lucky enough to have the new Never Compromise NCX-Ray Sigma, Spider Balero Center Shaft and Itsy Bitsy Spider Center Shaft in my backyard. The NCX-Ray Sigma is a Japanese market release that includes a weight kit with wrench and 6 total weights included. With the 2 x 5g,  2 x 10g and 2 x 15g weights, a player can mix and match different weights to change the path of the putter as well as affect swing weight and distance control. This is like MWT from Taylormade except Never Compromise decides to include extra weights as well.  (Just a note to those who don’t know that Never Compromise is now Japanese owned by Sri Sports after they purchased Cleveland Golf.)

In recent years, Neo Mallet style putters like the three above have become all the rage in golf with both pros and recreational players alike. We all want instant roll with minimal skidding and the ability to hit a pure putt even if we miss the putter’s sweet spot. These Neo Mallets achieve these points by boasting high moment of inertia with their large designs and weight placed far back.

I have long been a blade or anser style putter user but recently I just saw my putting game go down the tubes so I made the change to the Itsy Bitsy Spider which helped me get my putting on track. Neo Mallets sometimes take some getting used to at address as it usually appears as if you are putting with the U.S.S. Enterprise from Star Trek. But they do get the job done for many.

All three of these Neo Mallets feature inserts. The NCX-Ray Sigma uses a dual-density insert that uses isolated ribs embedded in a softer composite which is supposed to provide soft touch but good feedback. Both Taylormade’s feature AGSI with the Balero Center Shaft sporting a new AGSI S soft polymer insert. This insert reminded me of the old RSI with a focus on being soft but no frills. (as a matter of a fact I am guessing that it is the Japanese Really Soft Insert).  It does not have the same detail and aggressive look as the AGSI + on the Itsy Bitsy. I found the feel on the Balero to be a little too soft. While the Itsy Bitsy was a tad firmer but still very soft.

There are some opposite trends that always develop in golf, and I always hear everyone say they want the softest feeling putter they can find, but the softest feeling putter does not always give the best feedback as to where you struck the ball and where it is going. We have seen an opposite trend this year with firmer inserts and traditionally milled faces rather than soft inserts demanded by golfers so that they can get more feedback and ultimately control. The Sigma is probably the firmest of the three putters I had on hand and also the easiest on the eyes at address. It was also the heaviest feeling though I did not check actual swing weight.

Odyssey decided to release the iX line this year with a firmer Tour Prototype insert and they have not been able to keep up with demand in Japan as it sells like hotcakes. Taylormade Japan also decided to release the KiaMa TP putters with a standard milled face after the AGSI models did not fly off the shelves like they had hoped for.

Feel can be very subjective and is a big factor in choosing the right putter.  Soft for one person may not be soft for another. How a putter sets up visually is also a big point in finding the right putter but looks and feel aside, sometimes you just have to settle for the putter that performs and simply works for you regardless of looks and feel.

When I first saw the Itsy Bitsy Spider I hated the look and vowed to never ever own one though may golfers live and die by its hand. Early this spring I ended up on a test green with a Itsy Bitsy CS and proceeded to make my first 5 putts in a row from 10 feet away.  I went home with the Itsy Bitsy that day and it became my gamer for this season and is still in the bag.

But recently I have also craved for more feedback as sometimes I lose feeling with the Itsy Bitsy when I’m not putting well and I can’t figure out where the ball is going.  I found myself on the test green again today but with 6 anser/blade style putters. A Bettinardi SB-10+ with MR2 Face, PRGR’s Silver Blade 01, Ping Redwood Anser, Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport, Odyssey Black Series Tour iX #1 and Odyssey White Hot Tour iX Blade. At the end of the test one putter did do 5 in a row, and I went home with it.  Which putter it was, that’s for another post so for now I’ll keep you in suspense…

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