Which Spider Tour Putter is Best for Your Game?
The year of the Spider. That’s how we’re referring to 2024 at TaylorMade. Spider putters have 14 wins on the PGA TOUR this season, the most of any putter model. Scottie Scheffler amassed seven of those wins and a gold medal with the Spider Tour X L-neck, and Rory McIlroy won back-to-back titles at the Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship using Spider Tour X short slant.
If the best players in the world are finding so much success with Spider Tour Series putters, there’s a good chance they stand to benefit your game as well.
So, let’s get straight to it for a closer look at the performance features of Spider Tour Series putters, and help you decide which one is best for your game.
KEY SPIDER TECHNOLOGIES
Each Spider Tour putter is a little different in its design, but they share some key technologies and characteristics that set them apart from the competition.
- Thin wall undercut construction and a steel wireframe remove excess weight and allow it to be strategically placed elsewhere in the putter head.
- That weight is used more efficiently and results in maximum forgiveness and stability.
- CG is strategically placed at a specific place in each Spider Tour head to optimize performance.
- Forward CG (closer to clubface) increases toe-hang, which is ideal for golfers that push putts or have strokes where the face opens and closes.
- CG located farther back (away from clubface) increases MOI and stability which results in face balance for strokes that travel straight back and straight through.
- Heel and toe TSS weights are optimized in each putter based on its length and work to further maximize MOI and stability.
- True Path is a cornerstone TaylorMade technology that clearly defines putter face aim and provides vivid contrast with the golf ball at address.
- The white alignment system and black sightline act as an extension of the intended putting line allowing the golfer to easily center the ball on the club face.
“True Path Alignment makes alignment easy because it’s a continuation of the line from the ball to the hole and back again… If golfers can get aligned properly then all they have to focus on is how hard to hit the putt.”
- Made of 80% Surlyn and 20% aluminum for soft, responsive feel.
- Grooves are angled at 45° to promote forward roll.
- The small slant hosel, played by Rory McIlroy, promotes toe hang for golfers with strokes that have face rotation or that tend to push putts.
- Double bend hosel promotes face balance and is best for players with strokes that travel straight back and straight through.
- Scottie Scheffler’s L-Neck hosel is available in Spider Tour X.
WHICH SPIDER TOUR PUTTER IS BEST FOR YOU?
Now that we’ve discussed all the technology and design features that set Spider Tour putters apart, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the specific models so that you can decide which one is best for your game.
Spider Tour and Spider Tour X have CGs that are located farther back at 35mm than Spider Tour V and Spider Tour Z. As a result, they provide an added layer of MOI, forgiveness and stability. For golfers that prefer the look of a slightly larger head, and those that benefit from more forgiveness, Spider Tour and Spider Tour X are engineered to deliver consistent results, even on putts that are less than perfect.
The TPU Pure Roll insert in both the Spider Tour and Spider Tour X heads is 5mm thick. This was the thickness that produced the most desirable sound in the larger heads while also optimizing MOI.
In the small slant hosel, the Spider Tour head has 29° of toe hang and the Spider Tour X head has 30°. Again, more toe hang is meant for golfers that release the putter through impact, and those that tend to push putts. Both putters are also available in the double bend hosel for golfers with strokes that are straight back and straight through.
The Spider Tour X head is also available in an L-Neck hosel which is employed by World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler. In 2024, Scheffler used his Spider Tour L-Neck to capture seven PGA TOUR wins and a gold medal. The L-Neck has 21° of toe hang for golfers that are used to the offset of blade putters or like to feel the putter head release.
The overall profile of Spider Tour is significantly larger than those of Spider Tour V and Z. It has left and right rear wings that are pronounced and promote both high MOI and stability.
The Tour X head is slightly more compact with left and right rear wings that aren’t quite as prominent.
SPIDER TOUR V AND TOUR Z
Spider Tour V and Z have the most forward situated CGs of all putters in the Spider Tour family at 27mm and 29mm respectively. That means the face is going to have more of a propensity to rotate through impact. Again, this is beneficial for golfers with putting strokes that open and close on an arc, and those that have a tendency to leave the face open at impact and push putts.
Additionally, the TPU Pure Roll insert is 3mm thick in the Tour V and Z, compared to 5mm thick in all other Spider Tour models. Because the Tour V and Z heads are smaller, the thinner 3mm insert is employed to optimize sound.
In the small slant hosel, Spider Tour V has 32° of toe hang and Spider Tour Z 29° of toe hang. For golfers looking to fully release the clubhead through impact, Spider Tour V and Spider Tour Z with the short slant hosel are the best choices. Both heads are face balanced in the double bend hosel.
From a shaping perspective the profile of Spider Tour Z sits lowest to the ground. Refined wings on the back of the clubhead provide plenty of MOI and stability that Spider putters are known for.
The Spider Tour V takes on a modern mallet shape without the iconic wings found in other Spider Tour models and has a more rounded, traditional, half-crescent profile. This shape is perfect for players that are new to the mallet category, are switching from a blade-shaped head, are partial to a simpler overall look, or prefer a profile that’s more compact. With that said, Spider Tour V still retains high MOI and stability.
Counterbalance putters are becoming more and more popular for golfers of all abilities. That’s why we created the Spider Tour S Counterbalance putter.
The largest head in the Spider Tour family, this putter has added weight in the grip to counteract all the weight in the head. As a result, it delivers a staggering MOI of 6,063. We’re talking maximum forgiveness and stability.
The Spider Tour S Counterbalance is perfect for golfers that want to:
- Have a heavy putter
- Stand taller at address
- Use bigger muscles to make the stroke
- Take the hands and wrists out of the stroke for a more consistent motion
SPIDER TOUR SPECS
Spider Tour, Spider Tour X, Spider Tour V and Spider Tour Z are all available in lengths of 33”, 34” and 35” with a lie angle of 70°. Their lofts are 3°. All are available in right and left-handed, and each model is available in the small slant and double bend hosel. Spider Tour X is also available in the L-Neck hosel.
The stock shaft is the KBS CT Putter Black PVD Stepless and the stock grip is the Super Stroke Pistol GT 1.0 White.
The Spider Tour S Counterbalance is available in lengths of 35” and 38” with a lie angle of 70° and loft of 3°. It comes with a double bend hosel. It’s also available to both right and left-handed golfers.
The stock shaft is also the KBS CT Putter Black PVD Stepless. The stock grip is the Super Stroke Zynergy 3.0 17”.
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