TaylorMade have had a busy start to 2019 with the new Spider X putter the latest item to roll off the production line.
While the new TaylorMade M5 and M6 drivers have been capturing all the headlines with the Injected Twist Face Technology introduced for the first time, the next generation of the manufacturer’s number one flat stick has also been having a significant makeover too.
TaylorMade Spider putters have been around for a decade or more—firstly as the Itsy Bitsy Spider, but they have really become one of the go to options since 2017 when the likes of Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia all used versions of it during winning spells while it is also in the bag of Rory McIlroy.
Last year, in 2018, the Spider Mini putter hit the market as an option for those seeking a much smaller and more easy-on-the-eye version of the putter as TaylorMade continued to make an impression on the putting market.
Now, the new Spider X has arrived to commemorate 10 years since the initial version was launched. It sits somewhere between the Spider Mini and the Itsy Bitsy Spider in terms of size but comes jam-packed with all of the latest technological advances aimed at bring the number of putts per round down.
“When we first introduced the original Spider putter in 2008, we never could have anticipated the global phenomenon it has become,” said Bill Price, Senior Director, Product Creation, Putters & Wedges.
“With widespread adoption on tours around the world, not only has it become one of the company’s top-selling putters of all time, it has truly shifted the paradigm of putter design toward high-MOI mallets. I’m proud to have played a role in the evolution of Spider and what it has become today.”
The changes made between the Spider and the Spider X putter sees a 5% smaller head (but one which is still larger than the mini) a thicker insert and a new Y-shaped sightline.
The core of the putter has been drastically reduced in weight with the new carbon design tipping the scales at just 15g compared to 79g in the Spider. As a result, it has been possible to increase the stability frame from 247g to 320g with TaylorMade targeting an improvement in putts holed from off-centre strikes.
The thicker Pure Roll insert is now made of a mix of surlyn and aluminium and has been made thicker to 5mm to help improve the feel of the putter. There are 12 grooves in the face to help generate forward roll.
The new Y-shaped sightline is one of the most noticeable changes in the Spider X with the decision to make the switch coming on the back of research provided by the Indiana University. The sightline is the width of half a ball at the club face and the width of a whole golf ball at the rear, with the contrast of the design predicted to help point the way to the hole much better than the straight lines traditionally used on putters.
The TaylorMade Spider X putters will be available to buy in two colors: copper and white and navy blue and white.
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