Rory McIlroy's Nike putter to hit the shelves

The Nike Method Origin putter used by Rory McIlroy since September 2015 is coming to the UK, featuring a RZN layer and polymetal grooves for feel and roll

Joining the Method Matter and Converge putters is the new Method Origin. It is designed to minimize distractions and improve the feel and roll of the ball on the greens for the best players in the world. Over a decade of research and insight from golfers including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy prompted Nike engineers to embark on a completely new putter construction.

The result is a classic-looking blade putter filled with performance-boosting innovations, including integrated RZN. RZN is a family of responsive materials also used in the Nike RZN golf balls and clubs. In this case, Nike say it makes the hole 10 per cent bigger by improving performance on mishit putts.

A unique construction comprising three pieces: the face, a secondary mass on the back and a RZN layer compressed in-between. Tungsten weights in the heel and toe also improve the putter's forgiveness.

Together, these pieces form the premium Nike Method Origin putter that has already recorded four global wins in the hands of McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel, who is currently averaging 1.3 fewer putts per round this season (28.9) compared to 2015 (30.2) on the European Tour. The compliant RZN layer is activated on off-centre hits, returning energy to the golf ball within the contact time.

“The response is incremental across the face. A hit on the centre of the face elicits a dampening effect,” Franklin says. “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 McIlroy, who put the putter into play at the 2015 Tour Championship, then pushed Franklin and team to make the putter roll more efficiently. So they completely reengineered the polymetal groove technology to offer full-length grooves that are linear from heel to toe. This orientation is designed to provide a more consistent, efficient and faster forward roll.

“When I first tested it in Dubai in January 2015, I realised the long putts kept rolling just a little bit more. It just kept rolling and rolling, which was awesome,” McIlroy recalled. “Then I tested 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 2015 and it has been in the bag ever since.”

The newly designed face features twice the number of polymetal grooves of previous Method putters. More grooves means increased coefficient of friction and traction on the golf ball, creating earlier forward roll and a smoother, softer feel at impact.

“I love the new grooves,” McIlroy said. “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.”

Available in two models, the B1-01 and B2-01 can be purchased from April 15th at nike.com and from selected retailers with an RRP of £229.99.

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