CASE STUDY
Revolutionary technology in a familiar head shape
Bloodline’s R1-J Blade features the potent performance benefit of being able to stand on its own behind the ball on the putting green.
This functionality allows a player to stand on the target line and more accurately line up the face behind the ball. Better alignment combined with improved confidence can free up players to make a more committed and constant stroke.
As you might expect, the blade is not quite as stable as the Bloodline’s RG-1 mallet in its ability to stand alone in windy or uneven lie conditions. However, the R1-J Blade is surprising in how stable and solid it feels at impact as well as how it stands on its own. Despite a relatively compact footprint, the patent protected ultra-low balance point helps the putter balance and encourages the club head to release during the swing.
The technology in Bloodline putters makes it possible for a player to clearly see where the putter is aligned because they can walk behind it while it stands alone. Bloodline is not the first stand-up putter but it is the first stand-up putter that can meet the many demands of a PGA TOUR player.
The proven recipe of removing mass from a specific part of a golf club in combination with utilizing more advanced materials is at the foundation of many of the improvements in driver technology. We applied this technique to putters and started by removing as much weight as possible from the shaft and grip. With our ultralight shaft/grip, a putter will stand on its own with a head that is of conventional size and shape.
However, we have also incorporated an innovative sole design that features touch points in the heel to stabilize the putter at the proper lie, loft, and face angle.
When it comes to putter shafts, length seems to be the only spec that most other companies mention. It is just assumed that all putters are built with a standard steel shaft.
In the Bloodline putter, designing a putter shaft that is unlike anything that has been played before makes the difference. We have created an ultralight shaft that does not compromise on feel or flex characteristics. We have also integrated an oversized gripping section directly into the shaft.
Compared to the traditional 100 gram steel putter shaft and 50 gram rubber grip, we’ve removed over 2/3rds (or ~100 grams) from this part of the club. This pioneering construction enables Bloodline putters to have an extremely low balance point that helps give more feel and release during the stroke.
The first objective was to design a head that players would choose to play regardless of whether it stands up on its own or not. We chose a construction that features a machined aluminum face, body, and hosel that are bonded to a stainless steel sole plate. We needed the feel at impact, roll off the face, and mass properties to work for the best players in the world.
Additionally, we developed a unique sole design that helps the putter stand alone without interfering with the ground during the swing. We went through numerous iterations and have a proprietary combination of touch points that are critical to Bloodline’s breakthrough technology.