Kia Ma Maranello

[TaylorMadeGolfer21]

Hey guys, so I am passing the Scotty Cameron on to my dad, he wants a wack at it, and i am going to end up selling his current putter and try to make enough to buy a different putter, and if i don't have enough he volunteered to throw in a couple bucks at me for the Scotty 'cause he seems to put real well with it (obviously nothing ridiculous). So here is the deal, i think i putt better with a smaller mallet and i have been doing some research and really like the looks of the Kia Ma Maranello. However, whenever i have rolled any of the TM putters, i liked the softer feel rather than the clicky feel...i think i like the ASGI insert. All of the Maranello's i find have just the milling and no insert on them, do these still feel soft, or do the feel more clicky because of the lack of insert?

 

I am also aware that there are a couple tour versions of this putter that have the insert, i think they are the 8-01 and 8-02, or something like that? Are these the only version that have the softer feel of the ASGI insert? Are there any other versions of this putter that i haven't seen yet? I am also thinking that these tour putters are probably much more expensive then the standard KM maranello but i have yet to seen one priced so i can't say for sure? Any help would be much appreciated! Also, if anybody thinks i should be looking at other styles like the maranello (smaller mallet, heel shafted) please feel free to throw them out there along with a picture would help. Not really interested in the Scotty's (del mar, fast back, etc.) that ship has sailed for me and i would like to try something different, but i won't be breaking the bank on this new putter either so i probably won't be looking at getting anything custom (as much as i would like to).

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

[ksavy17]

The milled Kia Ma is a very soft putter to begin with but if you want the softest they have then you would want the maranello from Japan. It is there AGSI soft insert which to me feels really close to the white hot inserts from Odyssey

http://www.tourspecgolf.com/Taylormade-Japan-Classic-Maranello-with-ASGI

[howdyho]

gppgolf.com got the Kia Ma's with the insert but only the Fontana, Monaco, and Daytona.

[generalpatton]

GPP has the new release Kia Ma's which are stainless steel with an insert. The Japan release versions from last year were carbon steel with a steel insert.

[TaylorMadeGolfer21]

Thanks for all the feedback and information guys, i appreciate it! However, i was looking for something in the maranello style, so i don't think GPP is going to have what i am looking for. the tourspec isn't a bad idea though...not too bad of a price on that either. Anybody else have any info on these?

[generalpatton]

The Tourspec Maranello is the same Core Classics line that's out in here in the US (except the US lineup doesn't have the Maranello). I've played around with several of the models and they're nice sticks. Soft feel with a bit of a click sound. Put a nice tight roll on the ball.

[jlam1127]

I recently gamed the Classic Maranello from Tourspec and retired the Kia Ma Maranello for the time being. The JDM Maranello is definitely softer than the Kia Ma, however the head is also larger, so that might take some getting used to. I wouldnt get the steel AGSI as they pretty much feel the same as the milled face. But if you want a softer face, get the classic.

[TaylorMadeGolfer21]

really? so the tourspec is the softest feeling maranello, but the head is a little bigger? how would you say these would compare to like the odyssey black series 9, and the the white ice line? i know those have inserts too, so i am just curious how the feel compares. I have never rolled a #9 or a maranello, i just have to switch up something because my putting game is wack. Now i have rolled a itsy bitsy, and the black series 2-ball are the inserts in the mid-mallet for both lines the same for both companies? which would you say is a softer feel?

[Dan_Noonan]

I've got the Tourspec Maranello (with ASGI) (like the photo poste above) and an Odyssey 9 Black and an Odyssey 9 White Hot. Head size is about the same. The Maranello feels like most other putters with ASGI. It's not as mushy feeling as either of the Odyssey putters. I'm not currently using the TourSpec. If you want it, I'll let it go for $125. It's in great (practically new) condition, 34 inches with a Cameron Baby T grip. I got it from Tourspec this past summer and changed the grip.

[jlam1127]

The head on the tourspec Maranello is bigger than the Kia Ma Maranello. I also owned the Black #9 and let that one go. The #9 was just mushy feeling as the Op was saying above. The itsy bitsy has the same insert as the Maranello. If I could do it over, I would probably get the Kia Ma Maranello with the steel insert....

[TaylorMadeGolfer21]

the steel insert sounds nice, but aren't those few and far between? and my guess would be they get quite pricey? I wouldn't know where to start looking for one of those. I like a soft feel and all, but i don't want mush either you know, so maybe a steel insert would work? Just enough to have a nice touch of the face without feeling too clicky...i like to feel the putt off the face if that makes ANY sense at all... hahaha

[jlam1127]

Then you probably just would want the Classic Maranello with the AGSI from tourspec. The Kia Ma steel insert if a bit more clicky and would cost you about double at 400.00 a pop