See my other listings for other Brands, Models and Options.

History

Tear Drop Putter Corp. was founded in 1992 and, over the next several years, saw themselves from near bankruptcy, to an explosion of popularity and growth, to near bankruptcy again. In 1997, Tear Drop Putter Corp. saw company growth through acquisitions including the purchase of Tommy Armour Golf, Ram Golf and Pro Golf Promotions, LLC. Throughout the 1990s, Tear Drop Putters were among some of the best and most sought after putters around. It seems (the history and information just stop in 2000) the burden of these other companies was a huge strain on Tear Drop and in addition, they found themselves unable to comply with the NASDAQ standards as a publicly traded company (which they had become in 1996). Despite exhaustive research on Tear Drop Putter Corp., no meaningful information can be found after 1999.

Products

Tear Drop putters were offered in a number of models all designated by a “TD” followed by a two-digit model number (e.g., 00, 02, 17, etc.). It was rumored (though never confirmed) that Tear Drop putters were being forged by Bettinardi — one of the premier high-end putter makers in the world. The design, workmanship, and overall look of the Tear Drop putters were undeniably similar to the Bettinardi line — so perhaps the rumors are true.

Tear Drop putters were precision milled to very exacting standards and featured what they called “ROLL-FACE Technology”. This was a design element said to overcome the tendency for golfers to “skid” the ball in the first few inches after contact, rather than imparting a “roll” on the golf ball. Each Tear Drop putter was milled from 11L-17 cold roll stainless steel. There were quite a variety of putters available, including flanged blades, plumbers neck, no-hosel single bend shafted and more. Finishes were mostly a soft gold color (though the material was stainless steel), but some models were also available in a Black Oxide finish. Shafts were True Temper and grips were a Lamkin smooth wrap. Each model was available in, from 2 to 4 different lengths for the best possible fit.

Tear Drop Putters Today

Since it appears no new Tear Drop putters have been put into the marketplace for nearly a decade now, the best place to find a Tear Drop putter is through online auction sites like, and at discount/recycle retailers like Play It Again Sports. Prices range from as low as $10.00 to nearer $70.00, depending on model, condition, location, etc. There have even been a few come up that are still in the original wrapping and completely new.

Tear Drop putters are still sought after, and those who had one — and either lost or traded it away — often regret it.

These putters were made by the TearDrop Golf Company. In 1992, TearDrop Golf started designing and manufacturing golf clubs and other golf equipment, including putters, irons, fairway woods and wedges. It sponsored several professional golfers, including Fred Couples, and it owned the TearDrop Professional Golf Tour, a tour for aspiring professionals.

The putters all featured a patented technology which included a unique, “rolled” face instead of the more typical flat face. The company claimed its rolled-face putters were capable of preventing the type of skidding and bouncing rolls that flat-faced putters sometime produce. The purpose of the rolled-face design was to produce a much smoother roll and thereby enhance accuracy and distance control. Well, we all know how important those three characteristics are. But, did the design of their putters work as well as the company claimed?

Apparently so, because players on the PGA Tour, the PGA Senior Tour and the Nike Tour were using TearDrop putters by the mid-1990s, only a few years after the first one came out. In 1995, a TearDrop putter was ranked among the top ten putters (in terms of victories and top-ten finishes) on both the PGA and PGA Senior Tours.

The pros don’t play a club lightly. They can’t because their clubs are the tools they use to earn their living. Their clubs are their bread and butter. And apparently these putters were popular and successful on the big pro tours. So, there must be something to them.

Unfortunately, the company was continually in and out of financial trouble. I’m not even certain if TearDrop Golf still exists or is still making putters. I do know that these putters sometimes go up for sale , so if you’re interested you can still buy one even if the company has gone out of business.

So, the company may or may not still be making putters. I suspect not, because I can’t find anything that indicates it is. One thing is certain, though. For at least a while, their putters were extremely popular among many high-level golfers.

The company produced several models of putters, but they all featured the roll-face technology. The TearDrop TD-17, the TearDrop TD-21, the TearDrop TD-31, and the TearDrop Select 101 were four of the models, but there were others. They were said to have a solid feel and the perfect swing weight, and they put an immediate forward spin on the ball instead of causing the ball to hop, skip or bounce. As a result, the ball rolled true, along the target line. They were also said to be very forgiving on off-center strokes and have extremely good balance.

This all sounds so good that it would be a shame if the company has gone out of business. TearDrop putters, their precision milling and their roll-face technology truly were at the forefront of golf.

As it turns out, the reason I’d never heard of these putters was the fact that I didn’t start playing golf until well after their heyday in the late 1990s. I asked my husband if he’d heard of them – he’s been playing for more than 30 years. He told me one of his golf buddies used to own one sometime in the ‘90s. He even remembered his buddy telling him it was one of the best putters he’d ever owned.

Even though I’ve never tried one of these putter, I’ve heard and read too many good things about them to automatically discount them. Apparently they were “quite the thing” in the mid- and late-‘90s, when they reached the zenith of their popularity. They were developed to suit any golfer’s putting stroke and put an end to forcing a player to adapt his or her stroke to the putter. The rolled-face technology allowed a golfer to put a pure stroke on the ball whether the hands were positioned ahead, behind or directly over the ball. Putting consistency, accuracy and control were the primary goals of TearDrop putters, and apparently they succeeded."