Ryo Ishikawa (石川遼) and Min Woo Lee have already put the TRTL, due for release this autumn, into play. With a strong response from retailers, the TRTL is attracting attention as a leading candidate to become the star of the year.
In the putter category of the sales rankings, Phantom (Scotty Cameron) ranked first, followed by Spider Tour Torched (TaylorMade) in second. No Odyssey model made the top five, while interest in the new TRTL, due for release this autumn, continues to grow. Based on an interview with Naoki Yamamoto (山本直樹) of 二木ゴルフ's Mito store.
The TRTL's appeal lies in its moderate mid-mallet size, which combines ease of swinging with ease of alignment and delivers a stable feel at address that conventional mallets have lacked. It has also generated strong pre-release buzz, partly because Ryo Ishikawa (石川遼) has started using it.
Many believe it has a strong chance of becoming a hit, with tour professionals' use of the putter and their results stimulating buying interest. Some also say that its turtle-inspired name and shape help drive purchase interest.
Interviews with other stores found that many expect the TRTL to take center stage in the second half of the year, and that a TRTL wave is likely to spread ahead of its autumn launch.
(Putter ranking) 1st, Phantom; 2nd, Spider Tour Torched; 3rd, Ping Scottsdale. Data provided by the Yano Research Institute.