There have been few golf clubs—let alone putters—that have proved as popular as the TaylorMade Tour Spider putter in 2017. But why is the unique design having such an impact?
Sergio Garcia used the TaylorMade Tour Spider as he won the 2017 Masters at Augusta National. World number one Dustin Johnson was taking all before him earlier this year with the putter also in his bag. Jason Day is another to use the TaylorMade Tour Spider, while new TaylorMade staffer Rory McIlroy has intimated he plans to switch over in the near future.
So what is it about the Tour Spider—particularly when you consider TaylorMade have never really been a major player when it comes to putters—that is attracting the world’s best golfers and helping them achieve success this year?
No ordinary putter
For starters, the TaylorMade Tour Spider is no ordinary putter in both in terms of the design and make up. It is a mallet and bears resemblance to that variety of putter, but the shape of the putter head isn’t exactly traditional. In fact, it looks quite futuristic. It is no surprise with the development that has gone into it.
The club actually has origins back to 2012 when Day was using the Ghost Spider. He wanted a smaller putter and used alternatives, all the time while helping to develop the Tour Spider. He had it created in an eye-catching red colour theme.
What he helped to come up with is a top-class putter that gives confidence over both long putts and those short knee tremblers that have the potential to wreck a round. Johnson clearly agreed and had a black version created for him—while a silver and red model is also available. Both players have enjoyed plenty of success on the putting greens with the Tour Spider, while Garcia’s story of major success early this year was in no small part down to improvements on the putting green.
A trailblazing design
The design might seem a little strange to some but the two weights either side of the mallet head are actually pretty crucial. They help to ensure even off-center strikes run true and straight.
The large head has been designed to produce a high moment of inertia (MOI), which to the ordinary golfer is resistance to turning and twisting on impact with the ball. The greater sweet spot essentially gives more forgiveness on putts, whether long or short.
The Pure Roll insert in the face of the putter—which is a contrasting colour to the head to help alignment—is where the key element occurs. Made from aluminium, the angle and grooves of the insert ensure that top spin is created to get the ball rolling and help keep it on a straight path. Short putts should be a thing of the past!
If you’ve been struggling on the greens with alignment, distance and sinking those crucial putts, give the TaylorMade Tour Spider a try. It won’t be for everyone with such a unique look, but it will be a game-changer for many.
See also: Cobra King F7 Driver Review