TaylorMade Spider Tour X Proto Putter Review

When TaylorMade released their new Spider Tour line of putters in September, many of you asked if one of those putters was the putter that Scottie Scheffler used during the FedEx Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, the answer was no. That version of the Spider Tour putter was only for Tour players.

That changes today.

Fast Facts

TaylorMade is releasing the previously Tour-only Spider Tour X Proto putter. The Spider Tour X Proto mallet features a milled face and blade-like feel. Limited quantities produced. Available Nov. 7 with a MSRP of $500.

TaylorMade just announced that the Spider Tour X Proto mallet putter is available to the public as a limited-edition offering. It’s not exactly the Scottie Spider but it’s close. 

This Spider Tour X features the same core design changes as the one that Scheffler used. Specifically, it has a milled face.

How does the Spider Tour X Proto differ from the current Spider Tour X?

Before we look at the Spider Tour X Proto, let’s recap the key elements of the 2023 TaylorMade Spider Tour line. 

The big story of this year’s Spider Tour release was the return of the fan-favorite Spider Tour and Spider Tour X models. TaylorMade did add two new models to the group as well: the Spider Tour Z and Spider Tour V.

All of the new Spider Tour models feature the original PureRoll Surlyn face insert found in the original Spider Tour model. Not everything is the same this time around, though.

The new Spider Tour putters’ weight distribution was changed.. With the exception of the Spider Tour T, the new models feature a more weight-forward design. This change puts the center of gravity closer to the face and should make the putter feel more like a blade than a rear-weighted mallet.

All of the new Spider Tour models also feature TaylorMade’s patented True Path alignment system. Those are the big white alignment lines down the center of the putter.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the distinct design deviations found in the Spider Tour X Proto.

The Milled Face of the Spider Tour X Proto

The first thing we noticed about the Spider Tour that Scheffler was playing was the milled face. As far as what we expect to see in Spider putters, the lack of the PureRoll insert in the face was the greatest departure from the norm.

You are more likely to find Bigfoot riding a unicorn than a Spider putter without an insert in its face.

Scheffler’s attraction to the milled version of the Spider Tour speaks to one of the key tenets of the current Spider Tour putters: make mallets that play more like blades. This goal is not a new one for TaylorMade. Making a mallet more blade-like was why the Spider Tour was offered with an optional slant neck when it was originally released.

Scheffler was a blade putter player. Prior to playing the Spider Tour X Proto, he said he liked the look of the Spider but not the feel. One of the key “feel” components is the feel off the face at impact. Swapping out the polymer insert for a milled metal face is definitely one way to make a Spider mallet feel more like a blade.

Specifications: TaylorMade Spider Tour X Proto Putter

Hosel: L-Neck (plumber’s neck) Hand: RH Toe Hang: 28.1° Length: 34’’ Loft: 3° Lie: 70° CG Location: 20.3mm (Spider Tour X 33mm+) Production run: “Limited” but actual production numbers not released  MSRP: $500

The Spider Tour X Proto’s Weight Scheme

The weights in the Spider Tour X Proto are positioned closer to the face than the retail Spider Tour X. Remember that the weighting on the retail Spider Tour X was changed this year with the old rear corner weights moving to the sole and closer to the front as well.

The weight shift in the Spider Tour X Proto moves the center of gravity about 10 millimeters closer to the face. (One millimeter is about .04 of an inch.) At 20.3 millimeters from the face, the Spider Tour X Proto now has the most forward CG in the Spider Tour line. By quite a bit, actually. The closest CG for any other model is the Spider Tour V’s 27mm position.

Positioning the center of gravity even closer to the face should make the Spider Tour X Proto feel more blade-like than any other Spider Tour model.

By the way, those of you wondering how this release differs from the putter that Scheffler used, look at the weights. His Spider Tour X Proto SS didn’t have any sole weights, likely moving the center of gravity even closer to the front.

The Spider Tour X Proto’s Neck

The L-neck is another blade-like component and one that is not available in the stock Spider Tour X. This neck is found in many blade putters. Its inclusion gives the Spider Tour X Proto more toe hang than a double-bend shaft but less than a slant neck.

You can also find the L-neck as an option in TaylorMade’s mySpider Tour designer.

Final Thoughts on the TaylorMade Spider Tour X Proto Putter

All in all, the TaylorMade Spider Tour X Proto putter is exactly odd enough to make it a perfect limited-release putter. It shares some aspects with the retail versions, such as True Path alignment and the Spider X shape, but it also features some unique elements.

No, it’s not Scheffler’s exact Spider but the L-neck and the milled face are the same. The weighting is not quite the same but the plan of shifting the weight forward is the same.

The Spider Tour X Proto is the most CG-forward Spider Tour available to non-Tour players. For some, this could be the “blade-that-plays-like-a-mallet” design that is finally blade-like enough to actually work.

Remember, the main point of the blade-like mallet plan is to combine the feel and play of the smaller blade with the improved alignment optics and stability of the larger mallet. All of the new Spider Tour models are trying to hit that sweet spot this season.

Speaking of Spider Tour models, the new Spider models hit shops on Oct. 27. Have you had a chance to try them? What are your thoughts? Did you have a favorite? I’m especially curious to hear from those of you who gamed the old Spider Tour and Spider Tour X. Why are you switching to the new model or are you keeping your old one?

Find out more about the Spider Tour X Proto putter at www.taylormadegolf.com

FAQ: TaylorMade Spider Tour X Proto limited-release putter.

How many of these are being made? Is it really a collectible putter?

TaylorMade has not released exactly how many of these are being made. With that in mind, I don’t know that this is a putter that I would put away with plans of using it to pay for college in 10 years. This one is for brushing the grass.

Why wasn’t this putter part of the normal Spider Tour line?

Two reasons. First, it doesn’t really mesh with the other putters. Sure, they all share elements but the milled face makes this one the outlier of the bunch. Second, it is a solid marketing plan to release a limited-edition putter just about the time that the other putters are hitting retail locations. Brings attention back to the main release. I’m not saying that was the intention but, if so, it was a good plan.

What putter is Scottie Scheffler using?

I’m not sure. Perhaps the Spider Tour X Proto SS is still in the bag or he has gone back to his old blade. All I know is that if he can find a putter that allows his Strokes Gained putting stats to match his other Strokes Gained stats, then other golfers will watch him hoist all of the trophies next year. 

Does the Spider Tour X Proto actually play like a blade?

As you can tell from the photos, I did was able to compare the Spider Tour X Proto with the new Spider Tour X. Though they are similar in many ways, I did notice play differences. As expected, the face of the Spider Tour X Proto is hotter than the TrueRoll face. However, the impact sound was not much different. I expected more of a click with the metal face, but perhaps its thickness muted the tone a bit.

As one currently playing a plumber’s neck blade putter, the Spider Tour X Proto had a more familiar feel. The two versions of the Spider Tour had feels during the swing. Again, I expected this. What was unexpected was how different the feeling was at address. The neck of the Spider Tour X Proto seemed to frame the ball better at address. With the stock neck, I caught myself manipulating my hands to make the putter look right.

Not once did I think that the Spider Tour X Proto mallet was actually a blade. That said, it did feel and perform much more like my blade putter gamer than the stock Spider Tour X.

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