The Teardrop TD-1, TD-5, and TD-7 Review

Don’t call it a comeback! Teardrop Golf are back on the market and ready to make a statement when it comes to putter design. Today’s Golfer explores the new line-up

The early 1990s were a great time for golfers in the equipment space. Easier-to-access manufacturing opened doors beyond the traditional brands in golf allowing smaller companies to expand and show off unique innovations.

Some of these companies you definitely still know, such as Ely Callaway’s namesake or Gary Adams’ Taylormade Golf Company, both of whom produce some of the best putters on the market. Some are maybe no longer as well-known as they once were, with brands like Seemore or Never Compromise failing to capitalize during the period despite offering excellent designs.

Teardrop, unfortunately, fell into the latter category. By the company’s own admission on its website, previous management of the business tried pushing too far and too fast, even with the success of their equipment on both the professional circuit and with amateurs, their putters seemed to be consigned to the history books.

Fast forward to 2024 and, with new owners backing them by way of Golf Brands Inc, Teardrop Golf have returned with an updated take on their distinctive Roll-Face technology.

The Technology

Like every other piece of equipment, finding your spec isn’t always easy with putters. The unique challenge with them is that the aim is no longer to find a way to elevate the ball but to create conditions that allow the ball to roll as smoothly across the green as quickly as it can after leaving the putter face.

The difficulty we have achieving this is that we all deliver the putter differently, so surely we can’t all use the same setup?

Roll-Face tech changes that. With a radial design from top to bottom, the curved face has as little as 0º loft on the leading edge that increases as you move up the face to nearly 5º at the highest point. This makes the one design work across many different putting stroke styles.

For those that have a stronger forward press (where your hands are ahead of the putter head at impact), the likelihood is that your strike will be both high on the face, due to the head leaning forwards, as well as de-lofting the putter, making the ball skid. With the Roll-Face, you’ll see more protection on this strike with the added loft, allowing for that smoother roll.

The opposite is also true. If you allow the head to get ahead of your hands during the stroke, you’d expect a low-face impact that adds loft and starts the ball bouncing before it rolls. The 0º loft at the base counteracts this delivery to promote the correct roll in the same way.

Aim, alignment, and head options

Teardrop haven’t just stopped at the face. To accompany the impressive radial design tech, the TD series also boasts a new alignment system across the front of the top line of every model to aid in setup. A strong white line across the leading edge offers more definition to help highlight where the face is pointing, with a perpendicular line down the center of each head.

For initial release, there are three models on offer – the TD-1, the TD-5, and the TD-7.

The TD-1: this is the head shape most will be familiar with. With an L-Neck/Crank-Neck hosel, this classic blade shape has a toe-hang design and will work better for golfers with more natural release in their stroke.
The TD-5: a face-balanced option made for those who are looking for more help than is found in the TD-1 blade but without the total size of a high-level MOI head.
The TD-7: the most forgiving option of the three, and once again face-balanced. This head has three parallel lines across the crown to provide even stronger alignment and stability than its sister models.

The verdict

With an RRP of £239.99/$299.99, there is an expectation of these putters to be more than just a piece of bag art, and while they still are great-looking clubs, I’m pleased to say that there are just as many positives from the performance as the looks.

Limited to three head options for now, I took each model out on the course for a week, swapping regularly between them to keep my response fresh. The initial impression of the matte black finish is great – I prefer to not have any reflections from my short game equipment and the TD series certainly guarantees that, although the white leading edge frames the ball well.

From a feel perspective, these putters offer a more muted sound which I wasn’t expecting at all. I’d be happy comparing this softer noise to some more expensive putters on the market, like the Odyssey Ai-One Milled, that put feel up there as a premium selling point.

I will say that I preferred looking down at the TD-1 blade over the two mallet heads, however, I would put that bias purely down to my being used to that shape. None of the heads are offensive to line up with.

Trying some different putting styles, I’ve found a consistent roll regardless of my hand position which only further backs up the claim from the company – the tech really does work. I do also like that you have a choice of three different grip sizes from the Superstroke Tour series, meaning you can order the right fit for your hands.

Overall, this putter series isn’t going to replace my current gamer but not through lack of quality. If I were on the lookout for a new putter with technology to help out my stronger hand position the Teardrops would certainly now have my attention.

About the author

Lewis Daff

Lewis Daff joined the Today’s Golfer digital team in 2024, having spent more than a decade in both big box golf retail and independent stores, working as a club fitter and builder.

Experienced with every level of golfer, from beginner to professional, he has achieved Master Fitter and Builder status with most major manufacturers, including Mizuno, Taylormade, and Callaway, helping him to cement both a wide and deep knowledge base. Lewis specializes in Clubs, Shafts, Training Aids, Launch Monitors and Grips.

In Lewis’ bag is Taylormade Qi10 Driver, Taylormade SIM Max Fairway Woods (3-15, 5-18), Wilson Staff D9 Forged 3-iron, Srixon ZX7 MKii Irons (4-PW), Titleist SM9 Wedges (52*, 60*), Toulon San Diego Putter, and Callaway Chrome Tour Ball.

Talk to Lewis about why steel shafts are now dead and graphite is the only way forward or any other equipment you’d like to debate via his email.