The Spider GT putters from TaylorMade are instantly recognizable and have been used by many of the world’s best players en route to making millions on professional tours.
When we catch wind of the Spider universe expanding, we can’t help but feel a little giddy because Spider tends to feature next-gen aesthetics and performance that benefit every type of player.
There are four new models in the Spider GT family, leading with the titular model bearing the family name.
The Spider GT ($349) comes with a lightweight 145-gram top plate made of 6061 aluminum (comes in silver, black, red, and a white/blue women’s model) and two 90-gram steel side weights that push 82 percent of the putter’s weight towards the perimeter for more stability through the stroke and on off-center putts. The face is equipped with a Pure Roll2 insert made of aluminum and urethane that helps facilitate a better end-over-end roll and improved ball speed consistency.
Next is the Spider GT Notchback ($299) — a throwback mid-mallet shape with a forward-placed CG to make face rotation easier — a design trait favored by golfers who have arcing strokes. It comes with a lightweight 6061 aluminum body and carefully placed 86g dual-tungsten weights on the heel and toe for what TaylorMade claims is the highest MOI you’ll find in any mid-sized mallet Spider. Furthermore, the tri-sole design makes it easy to rest on the ground without tweaking the face angle.
Third is the Spider GT Rollback ($299) — a classic half-moon design with a lightweight aluminum anterior and a heavy tungsten rollbar that wraps around the back for added perimeter weighting and boosted stability. The tri-sole design makes it easy to set the putter down square on the ground, and it’s got the longest sightlines of the new Spider models. It comes in either the high-contrast black model with one alignment line or in silver with a triple-line for improved aim.
Batting cleaning up is the unique Spider GT Splitback ($299), featuring a split-winged design that distributes weight around the perimeter for a high MOI. There’s no aluminum in this model and because it’s made of heavier steel, designers pocketed out the wings and filled them with a urethane foam (ala the SpeedFoam used in TaylorMade’s P770 and P790 irons) to improve sound feel and also to reduce vibrations. The GT Splitback also features TruePath — TaylorMade’s ball alignment and stroke visualization aid. The black/white contrast and arrow-shaped back edge helps golfers visualize their stroke and the ball path before executing a putt.
All models in the new lineup come in either 34- or 35-inch TaylorMade Fluted Feel shafts, in either a single bend or short slant shaft hosel configurations with a Super Stroke 1.0 grip. Look for them in stores and online this March.
