Gear: TaylorMade Spider Tour Series Putters (2023). Price: $349.99 with KBS shafts and SuperStroke pistol 1.0 grip.
Specifications: Steel body mallet putting putters with grooved Surlyn Insert, internal polymer and weights in steel. Lengths: 33”-35”
Pre-orders are available now, but the product will be released on October 27.
Who it’s for: Golfers looking to improve their consistency and stability on putts that are mishit.
The Skinny : By combining traditional Spider shapes and multimaterial constructions with the updated Spider Tour Series, golfers can achieve better distance control, higher quality roll, and easier alignment.
The Deep Dive: When it comes to golf equipment, the phrase ‘golden handscuffs’ is used when players are so attached to a particular product that they do not want it to be changed or updated. It’s never used in relation to drivers, because everyone wants the ball to go farther. But elite golfers get upset when companies tweak muscleback blades. The term is also used in discussions about putters. TaylorMade’s Spider Tour putters are still the most popular Spider putters. TaylorMade has decided to embrace the shape and size that have brought them so much success, and inspired so many imitations, rather than try to change it.
The Spider Tour is a new family of clubs with five clubs having similar shapes, and sharing several technologies. The new Spider Tour family includes five clubs with similar shapes and technologies. For instance, the gunmetal-finished wireframe body helps reduce weight on areas of the clubhead that do not impact performance. Designers have also added a Hybrar echo damper behind the leading edge. This is an accordion-shaped piece of polymer that’s internal, just like the Hybrar echo damper found in Stealth HD and Stealth irons. The polymer absorbs excessive vibrations created by impact, just as it does in these clubs.
All TM Spider Tour Putter available for purchase
The Spider Tour’s True Path alignment system makes it easier to aim and start putts in your intended line (David Dusek/Golfweek)
TaylorMade has also added the True Path alignment system to the Spider Tour putters. This system consists of a white area with one black line running from the topline, and forks at the back. The white area is meant to draw your attention to the putt and help you focus.
TaylorMade also gave each Spider Tour putter a Pure Roll insert. Surlym’s insert has a series grooves that are angled at 45 degrees to encourage topspin and a forward roll off of the strike, rather than skidding or bouncing.
The Spider Tour is a popular, boxy design with a high MOI. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The Spider Tour standard has a boxy shape and a small slantneck. Its hosel is angled at about 30 degrees, making it ideal for golfers who have a slightly arched stroke. Weights are placed in the heel and toe areas of the Spider Tour to pull the center gravity to the perimeter of the head. The weight distribution increases the MOI, which allows the Spider Tour to resist twisting when hitting off-center and keeps putts in their intended line. TaylorMade claims that the MOI of the new Spider Tour is 5,700 g/cm2, which is 700 g/cm2 more than the original Spider Tour. This should make it more forgiving and stable.
Spider Tour X’s MOI is slightly lower (5,000 g/cm2) because the weights are positioned slightly more forward. The Spider Tour X’s MOI is slightly lower (5,000 g/cm2 ).) because the weights are slightly forward.
Spider Tour Z is one of the new shapes. The chassis is designed lower and the center, where the True PaAth system rests, slightly higher. Like the Spider Tour X it has small blocks at the back but the weights are located in the heel and toe area of the sole. The CG is moved forward to allow the Spider Tour Z face to rotate like a blade putter. The MOI of the Spider Tour Z is almost identical to that of the Spider X.
The Spider Tour V looks like a Spider Tour Z, but without the blocks at the heel and toe. The weight of the Spider Tour V is in front to encourage face rotation.
The Spider Tour S is the largest, heaviest Spider Tour putting putter. It will be released Spring 2024. The club will come in a 38-inch or 35-inch length and will be counterbalanced.
All TM Spider Tour Putter available for purchase
The Spider Tour Series putters are shown in close-up.
