"splay" is when the tension rods come down to the lugs at an angle. Generally any drum will have a bit of an angle there but it seems to be a much greater angle on some drums. This is a common thing on newer Ludwig metal shelled drums. Not really a mechanical issue since the swivel nuts in the lugs compensate but doesn't look as nice as straighter lugs and probably is not the optimal set-up. Some have said that the splay goes away (or lessens) if you use different hoops so it's not necessarily an insurmountable problem.These drums seem to sound fine with or without splay but it is bothersome to some and Ludwig would probably be smart to try to fix it (although the rubber gaskets under the lugs on their newest drums probably do help somewhat).

Although the inserts compensate for the threads to move, the splay itself, draws the hoop ears toward the shell. You cannot get an even pull all the way around. It pinches the head and scratches the shell. If you over tighten one lug, it pulls on the opposite lug. There`s no stretch in the metal so the hoop warps. Splay is no good for tuning. Does a drum no good.