Scottie Scheffler makes huge golf equipment switch at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Scottie Scheffler has decided enough is enough on the greens ahead of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, but will it make the big difference?
Scottie Scheffler has decided to change from a blade to a mallet putter at this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Scheffler's stats are once again impressive from tee to green on the PGA Tour this season, but it remains on the greens where his struggles continue.
Despite some relentless work on the practice green with expert Phil Kenyon following the 2023 Ryder Cup last September, the World No.1 finds himself down in 144th for Strokes-Gained Putting.
That equates to a season average of -0.407.
Scheffler is therefore losing nearly half a shot to the field every round on the greens.
He ranked 162nd (-0.301) on the PGA Tour in SG: Putting in 2023.
It is a different story just about everywhere else as Scheffler ranks first in SG: Approach to Green (1.308) and second in SG: Total (2.032).
But as a result of Scheffler's putting woes, he is still searching for his first win on the PGA Tour since the The Players Championship in March 2023.
He will defend that one next week.
Scottie Scheffler is using a TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter at the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
While some frustrated fans have urged Scheffler to change his putting grip, others have encouraged him to switch putter.
Scheffler has apparently sided with the latter and opted for a more forgiving mallet.
He started using a Logan Olson prototype blade putter at the end of the 2023 season.
Prior to that during his putting struggles in the middle of the year, Scheffler was seen switching between Scotty Cameron and TaylorMade models.
But Scheffler, who bids to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second time in three years, has this week decided to park his Logan Olson and replace it with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter, which is also the putter of choice for Rory McIlroy.
Both Scheffler and McIlroy are TaylorMade staff players.
According to Golf Channel's Todd Lewis, who was the first to reveal news of Scheffler using a mallet at Bay Hill this week, the World No.1 has also decided to add 1/2 inch to his putter that now measures 35.5 inches.
Scheffler has also decided to remove the line on his golf ball that he used to help him with his alignment on the greens.
This is because the Spider X already has a line on the putter, so Scheffler confirmed to Lewis he did not want to have two separate lines in play on the greens.
Check out this video below where Lewis provides more information about Scheffler's new putter choice:
Scottie Scheffler is switching up his putting setup @ToddLewisGC reports a new putter is in the bag for the world no. 1 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Could this revamp his game on the greens? @GeorgeSavaricas & @RyanLavnerGC discuss. pic.twitter.com/99lUXdWoD8
— Golf Today (@GCGolfToday) March 5, 2024
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