So far, the TaylorMade Spider is the hottest putter of 2026. As of June 1, eight PGA Tour events were won with TaylorMade Spiders. That’s double the win count for any other putter.
Being that PGA Tour wins often translate into retail sales, it’s a bit wild that TayorMade doesn’t have a new version of their Spider in golf shops.
That changes today with the release of the new TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched putter line. The line features a fresh finish and an ideal combination of adding new design tweaks and conserving the elements that made the Spider Tour so successful.
A new “torched” finish
The namesake PVD finish will no doubt be the first thing that people notice about the new Spider Tour Torched putters. The inspiration for the finish came from Rory McIlroy’s torched Spider Tour X. It’s a solid marketing move to make these look like McIlroy’s back-to-back Masters-winning Spider.
Unfortunately, actually torching thousands of retail putters is not really logistically possible. As such, TaylorMade needed to mimic the torched look with a PVD finish.
So the putters are not actually torched but the finish makes them look like they were.
It’s a very rich and interesting finish. Overall, the color is a mixture of chocolate and bronze. However, the intensity of the color varies with the shape of the putter head. The angles and cavitie produce subtle purple-ish hues and shift the finish between matte and glossy.
The finish also changes appearance dramatically with light level. It is far more bronze in the sun than indoors.
As I said, it’s a very interesting finish. I can see it being a bit polarizing since it is a departure from the classic putter choice of black or silver. Hopefully, shoppers will be able to take it outside to see how cool it looks under natural light.
The Spider Tour Torched center of gravity story
There is another story below the new finish that many golfers may miss entirely. The Spider Tour models are all unequivocally mallet putters. However, because of variations in center of gravity location, they do not all play the same, and will not fit the same players.
The classic Spider Tour was all about placing the weights in the rear corners. The Torched Spider Tour maintains this weighting scheme with its sole weights mounted all the way back in the rear corners.
When you look at the other three models, you’ll see the weights creeping toward the front of the putter.
At one time, the Spider Tour X weights were built into the periphery of the putter. Now they are on the sole and more toward the front. The Spider F weights are more forward and the Spider V weights are all the way at the front.
As the weights move forward so does the center of gravity. More importantly, the more forward the center of gravity, the more that the putter feels like a blade rather than a mallet.
This means the Spider Tour has the most mallet-like feel and the Spider V the most blade-like feel.
They all share the Spider Tour Torched name but they are very different putters. I know I always recommend that you roll everything in the shop but it is especially important for this line. I bet you will love the feel of one or two models and not really vibe with the others.
TPU PureRoll insert
Although it may not get the credit it deserves, I believe the PureRoll insert contributes greatly to the Spider’s success. The insert delivers expected roll with exceptional feel. That seems important to me.
It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact reason why the Spider has proven to be so successful but I have no doubt it would be less successful without the PureRoll insert.
The TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched putter models
The 2026 The TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched putter includes four distinct head shapes. The actual model count is much higher since three of the four heads come with optional neck and alignment options.
As with the weight position, your stroke needs will likely dictate the neck option that works best for you.
Spider Tour Torched
The classic Spider Tour should be a staple of any Spider line. Arguably, this is the model that kicked off the whole Spider phenomenon back when Jason Day and Dustin Johnson tore up the Tour with their red and black slant-neck versions.
The Spider Tour has the most rearward center of gravity and should feel the most mallet-like of the set. The standard version is available in slant-neck and L-neck builds. Interestingly, the slant neck features the TruePath alignment scheme and the L-neck has a single long line for targeting.
Spider Tour Torched Counterbalanced
Technically, the Spider Tour Torched Counterbalanced model is just a build variant of the Spider Tour. I wanted to include it as a separate model for a couple of reasons.
First of all, you can see what the Spider Tour looks like with the TruePath alignment scheme. Remember that TruePath first appeared with the Spider Tour X. It was added to Spider Tour models later.
This is also the face-balanced Spider Tour model. The spud neck makes this model fit putting strokes with minimal arc.
Although this is a counterbalanced model, it is built at a traditional length. While many counterbalanced putters are built to 38 inches, the stock length for this one is 35. That means you will not have three or more inches of shaft above your hands when you take your traditional grip.
This was my surprise favorite from the group. Overall, it feels a bit heavy but it seems so normal in my hands. I have yet to find my “it” 38-inch counterbalanced putter model but I dig this 35-inch CB Spider.
Don’t overlook this one in the shop.
Spider Tour X Torched
The Spider Tour X is the other classic Spider design. It feels like the little brother of the Spider Tour but it has produced big-time Tour wins (and resulting sales) for TaylorMade. Although I was not initially a fan of the new weight plan, I’ve warmed to it.
Moving the weights forward created a putter that fits a different player than the Spider Tour. With the original weight design, the difference between the Spider Tour and Spider Tour X was primarily aesthetic.
The new weight plan shifts the CG and now the Spider Tour X fits a different stroke.
Is that a significant design difference? It’s possible McIlroy misses a few putts with the old design that he made with the new one and would still be chasing his green jacket(s).
There are four Spider Tour X models: three with TruePath (L-neck, slant-neck, double-bend) and a L-neck with a single long line.
Spider Tour F Torched
Fang-shaped Spiders are not a new thing for TaylorMade. The 2020 Spider S putter was a fang-shaped model. The entire Spider GT and GTX lines were basically fang putters with turtle-shell tops.
The Spider Tour F has a traditional fang shape. It resembles the new TaylorMade SYSTM2 Bandon putter quite a bit.
The weight position gives the Spider Tour Torched F the second most forward CG position. The neck choice will dictate how blade-like you want the putter to feel. If you are wanting more of a mallet feel, go with the double-bend shaft. The L-neck will add toe hang and feel more like a blade.
Spider Tour V Torched
The Spider Tour Torched V is the most blade-like of the Spiders. It looks like a mallet but the forward CG and L-neck will make it feel like a blade.
If you have the chance, roll the L-neck versions of the Spider Tour and Spider Tour V side by side. They feel like very different putters because they are very different putters. The overall build components are the same but the arrangements make them different.
Think Chevy Corvette versus Chevy Silverado. Same materials and company, very different cars.
Of all of the Spider models, the Spider Tour V probably fits the most specific player. This player wants a blade putter with some of the alignment and stability gains of a mallet.
This may explain why the Spider Tour Torched V is only available with a L-neck.
Will the TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched release catch fire?
TaylorMade is not afraid of mixing things up with their Spider line releases. Some of them, like the Spider Tour X, end up being huge hits. Other Spider variants are not as popular and end up disappearing from the lineup.
Which end of the popularity spectrum will the Spider Tour Torched line end up on?
I believe this line will do well. The only possible consumer hang-up is the finish. If the finish is widely rejected, the line is doomed. That’s why I really hope folks get a chance to see it outside. It looks so much better under natural light.
Ignoring the finish, the Spider Tour Torched line is one of the most complete Spider lines TaylorMade has released. The Spider Tour and Spider Tour X are the perennial popular picks. The Spider F and Spider V are models that should attract players moving from blade putters to mallets.
In the current marketplace where $600 putters have become commonplace, the MSRP of $349.99 adds some heat to the release as well.
If the finish clicks with the consumer, the TaylorMade Spider Tour Torched putters will be the hottest putter of the summer season.
How’s that for a hot take?
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