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TaylorMade MySpider Tour Custom Putter Designer Review
There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
What We Tried
TaylorMade MySpider Tour Custom putter interface – The online design interface that allows golfers to create customized versions of TaylorMade’s new Spider Tour and Spider Tour X putters.
Your Custom Builder
Dave Wolfe – MyGolfSpy writer and putter fanatic. I’ve tested hundreds (maybe thousands) of flatsticks.
TaylorMade MySpider Tour Custom Putter Designer
When TaylorMade releases a new line of Spider putters, like the new Spider Tour line last fall, it’s a safe bet they will also launch a new MySpider program. For the uninitiated, TaylorMade’s MySpider program allows golfers to build their own custom versions of the current Spider mallet putter.
What can you customize? Users can configure a myriad of design elements to create the putter that best suits their needs. Pick the neck, the alignment scheme, the physical specs like length, loft, and lie, and then paint it in whatever way that makes you happy. This is not HisSpider, HerSpider or TheirSpider. It’s YourSpider.
Actually, it will be MySpider today. I will be exploring how the MySpider program integrates with the new TaylorMade Spider Tour line. I’ll be building both a MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X, ultimately comparing what we see on the computer screen to what shows up in the shipping box.
Let’s get to it and see what build parameters TaylorMade has given us this time around.
Build Options: TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X Custom Designer
Head shapes: Spider Tour and Spider Tour X Dexterity: Right and left Head finish: Four paint options Hosel: Double-bend (LH), center-shaft, short-slant (LH), L-neck (plumber’s) True Path Alignment: Optional with Tour, included in Tour X Alignment scheme: Five alignment options: None, sight dot,T-sight line, short sight line or long sight line Face Insert: Surlyn or Aluminum PureRoll Face insert Color: 10 paint options for the aluminum insert, 3 for the Surlyn True Path color options: 15 including golf ball yellow Rear weight colors: Silver or black Rear badge colors: 10 color options Sight Line Colors: 15 color options Shaft: Black or chrome Shaft band color: 11 options Length: 32-37 inches Lie: +/- 3° Loft: +/- 2° Grip: Various SuperStroke, Golf Pride and Lamkin models. Most color options in SuperStroke 1.0 GTR and 1.0 Pistol. Some models and colors have upcharge Headcover: Black Prism MySpider or White MySpiderBest New Feature: 3D Viewing Interface
I’m going to get right to my new favorite thing about the MySpider Tour interface. The new image rotation system is fantastic. I am assuming the same wizards that built the MyStealth 2+ graphic interface built this one.
No longer are you limited to a couple of angles. Now you can watch your build progress in full 3D rotation. With this new technology, you can see exactly what your putter will look like. Just click on your putter and drag the cursor to rotate the head. I recommend all of you play around with this even if you are not in the market for a putter. It’s that much fun.
It does add a bit to the build time as you will likely be prone to peruse the angles for a minute or two. It’s not like you are trying to build a putter as fast as you can and if you are, knock that off. Relax into the process. Enjoy the rotation.
Left-Handed Love
Once again TaylorMade brings the love to the lefty. Let the southpaw celebrations begin. Build your putter left-handed and even spin the rendering around left-handed. You are ignored no longer.
Unfortunately, lefties still get shafted a bit when it comes to hosel options. Lefties get just two: double-bend or short slant. My guess is that these were the most popular or most requested so that is what they provided to the lefties.
Options Gained and Options Lost
TaylorMade switches up the options with every MySpider release and the MySpider Tour release is no exception. The first change you will likely notice is that there are only four body color options. For perspective, last year’s MySpider GTX designer had 13.
Why the decrease? Perhaps it was an efficiency and/or cost-cutting measure. Limiting the number of head color options means TaylorMade can save the time needed to paint the heads. Starting from only four head options should improve build efficiency since they can begin the process by taking a head out of one of four color bins.
Or maybe reducing the number of colors happened because nobody bought most of those other colors.
On the plus side, the MySpider Tour program is the first where you are given an option for face insert material. This is a great addition to the program, allowing users to customize their MySpider for feel. Want a softer, muted feel at impact? Go with the Surlyn insert. If you need a bit firmer feel, aluminum is your answer.
Dave’s MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X Putters: The Build
MySpider Tour Renderings
So what did I decide to build? More importantly, how much purple could I cram into the design? Let’s first look at my plan for the Spider Tour.
The Spider Tour has long been my Spider of choice. I love my purple Spider Tour so much I actually bought a backup version of it when they had them on sale. When I heard that TaylorMade had decided to build their 2023-2024 Spider line around the Spider Tour, I was excited to see how they would update the classic.
Once I saw they all had the True Path
Alignment System, I was less enthusiastic. True Path is not bad. It just doesn’t work well for me. I feel like it draws my eye to the rear of the putter instead of the front where the ball lives. The white Y shape at the back entrances me for some reason.
That was the first thing I checked with the new MySpider Tour. Could I build the Spider Tour without the True Path? Thankfully the answer was yes.
Some of you will be the exact opposite. You will be excited you can get True Path on a Spider Tour. That’s why MySpider is such a good program. It gives you options.
I went with the plumber’s neck option for both of the putters for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted to see what the non-stock neck configurations would look like. I suppose I could have made one center-shafted but that brings me to the second reason I went with the plumber’s neck. I know that the plumber’s neck is a better choice for my stroke.
Beyond that, curiosity drove me to the Rose Gold finish and, once a spattering of purple was added (Go Kings!), the design was finished.
MySpider Tour X Renderings
My initial question for the Spider Tour X was the same. Would it be possible to build one without the True Path? This time the answer was no. As such, I set the color of the True Path to match the black body color. I knew the grooves from the True Path would still be there at address but perhaps the lack of white would allow my eyes to stay on the ball.
I’ll say it again. True Path is not a bad alignment system. It just doesn’t work for me. Therein lies the beauty of the MySpider Tour program. I can make this putter work for me, adding or subtracting features as I see fit.
Yes, I’m being a bit redundant with this train of thought but the ability to customize is key. If you are sitting there feeling ill about how I put the putters together, that makes me feel sad and dejected. Regardless, you don’t have to build like I built. You build how you want to build.
Anyway, I’ve always liked the Spider X shape but retail versions have always had True Path. Because of this, I’ll never game one. Now I couldn’t wait to see how this Dark Path Spider Tour X would perform.
Dave’s MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X Putters: The Result
MySpider Tour Results
One of the recurring elements of my previous MySpider projects is how the in-hand putter blows away the putter rendering. What comes out of the box is always so much better than what was on the computer.
My feelings about this are not quite as strong this time but that is not a bad thing.
The new rendering software is so good that what you see on the computer is very close to what your putter will actually look like in person. Of course, opening the box and seeing the putter for the first time is exciting. That feeling of anticipation and excitement was still there for me. This time, the payoff seemed a bit anticlimactic when I realized the MySpider really looked just like the computer said it would.
That’s not a knock on the MySpider Tour putter builders. It’s a high-five to the people who built the interface. What you see now is really close to what you get.
I was surprised a bit by the finish. The “rose gold” finish is more gold than rose, almost bronze. Perhaps I was expecting more of Apple’s pinkish rose gold color. Looking back, I shouldn’t have since the putter color looks just like it did on the computer.
MySpider Tour X Results
I love how this one turned out. This time, the computer didn’t quite capture the look of the finished putter. On the computer, the black True Path blends in quite well with the black body. On the real putter, the integration is not so complete. This means the True Path line is still visible at address. At least I still see it.
As it turns out, this is a good thing. When I address the ball with the black-on-black MySpider Tour X, my eyes stay on the front third of the putter. The edges of the putter, the True Path and the orange sight line all form a stack of vertical lines for me. All of these lines point forward. Targeting with this thing is amazing. Not once did my eyes wander to the rear of the putter.
Perhaps I need to revise my True Path relationship. Matching the True Path to the body color changed the game. Maybe that makes it technically no longer True Path but this is definitely an example of how aesthetics can influence performance.
It also explains why TaylorMade offers five alignment line options. Different people will see them differently and aim differently with them as well.
MySpider Tour vs. Stock Spider Tour
Once again, it still only costs $70 more to upgrade from a stock Spider Tour to a custom MySpider Tour or Tour X. Unless the stock Spider Tour putter checks all of your boxes, I’d say spend the extra and go with the MySpider. That extra $70 buys you the chance to control nearly every relevant aspect of your putter design.
With MySpider, you get what you want. Color is part of the customization story but color choices are just part of the process. The significant non-stock options the MySpider Tour program offers are the necks. If you need a plumber’s neck or a center-shafted hosel, the only way you can get either is through the MySpider Tour program.
Admittedly, there is one other option for buying a Spider Tour with a plumber’s neck. You could be fortunate enough to find one of the Spider Tour Proto putters. That milled-faced Spider was fetching nearly twice its $500 retail price on eBay. MySpider actually saves you money in this case.
Final Thoughts: The TaylorMade MySpider Tour Custom Putter Designer
Were I to get a job in the marketing department at TaylorMade, my first task would be to add the following tagline to the MySpider Tour marketing material.
“The best $70 you can spend on golf.”
Yes, $420 is a lot to spend on a MySpider putter but so is $349.99 for a stock Spider Tour model. I know I am repeating myself but if you are going to buy a Spider Tour and are on the fence about going custom, spend the extra $70 to get what you really want.
Pick your colors and the build options you need to fit your stroke. You use the putter more than any other club. It is critical that you have one that you like—and that works.
MySpider gives you millions of possible build options. While it is a little disappointing that there are only four body color options this time around, you still have enough paints on your putter palette to create a masterpiece (or abomination).
Look at it this way. If you finally get a putter just the way you want it, you’ll likely not need another putter any time soon. Think of all the money that extra $70 will save you in the long run.
Design your own MySpider Tour or Tour X at TaylorMadeGolf.com.
FAQ: TaylorMade Golf MySpider Tour Putter Designer
Can you still custom order older versions of the MySpider program?
You are out of luck. This is the only current MySpider that TaylorMade is offering. MyTP is still running if you want a custom blade putter. Maybe the other programs are being retooled with the new interface and we will see them again in 2024.
I expected there to be more purple. Are you feeling OK?
If purple was a body color option, I would have made these putters into a pair of grapes. Since it was not, I had to explore some of the other options. But, yes, über purple is always Plan One.
How long does the MySpider process take?
Typically, around four to six weeks from computer to doorstep. Right now, the availability date is about a month out. I’m not sure if that is a delivery date or a start-of-build date.
This fall, the build times were slower but it looks like TaylorMade has fixed that issue if that above date is for delivery. I’d say it is a safe bet that you should have your putter in hand before the snow melts. If it doesn’t snow where you live, then move to someplace where it snows. When that snow melts, your putter will be there.
Do other companies offer similar custom putter interfaces?
There are some others. Toulon Garage is a good one as is the Evnroll Custom interface. The new image rotation feature puts TaylorMade’s MySpider Tour program out in front in terms of interactivity. Hopefully, this will cause other companies to up their games.
The post TaylorMade MySpider Tour Custom Putter Designer Review appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
