TaylorMade and their putter problem

[von3jack]

It seems that most of their staffers are still using the Spider X model or other older models. What does TM have to do to get back on track? The last couple of iterations have seemingly missed the mark. What would you like to see from them that would reignite people's love for the Spider model?

[MattM97]

TaylorMade staffers also have access to any and all inserts they want plus custom made ones so if there is a shape they are comfortable and confident with they can just change the insert to whatever they wish on a whim. 

[03trdblack]

Get rid of the new insert first, it doesn't feel all that great to me. 

[getitdaily]

I don't think they have a problem. Their models have all done something slightly different. If there is a problem, it's communicating the differences in model iteration since spider x.

 

This new gt line is actually really good.

[von3jack]

30 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

TaylorMade staffers also have access to any and all inserts they want plus custom made ones so if there is a shape they are comfortable and confident with they can just change the insert to whatever they wish on a whim. 

 

It just seems that TaylorMade more than any other company is always trying to push the latest model on their guys. I just don't see too many Spider GTs out there. 

[Abh159]

Like @getitdaily I don't really think they have a problem. A putter is something players tend to stick with for a while if they find something they like. 

 

If you look around on tour how many guys are using putters that are 3, 5, even 10+ years old? And I don't just mean TM staffers. You can look at any OEM staffer (Titleist, Ping, or ect.) and the odds of their putter being the "oldest" club in the bag are very high. 

 

 

[MattM97]

2 minutes ago, von3jack said:

 

It just seems that TaylorMade more than any other company is always trying to push the latest model on their guys. I just don't see too many Spider GTs out there. 

 

They pump out like 8 new models and a new line every year, how can their guys get comfortable with a putter if they keep getting new ones shoved into their hands. Every other brand/company just lets their guys use the putter they like and are comfortable with. Morikawa is the one guy who does tinker a bit and is putting a Spider GT into play this weekend but he may be back to his Juno putter in a few weeks. 

[BombinJim]

If they can get the paint right so it doesn’t chip, then I’d buy another spider haha

[NJBigFish22]

Maybe they should stop making the ugliest putters known to man!

[2Down]

Why Taylormade is blamed more than titliest, Scotty Ping or the many others who put several new whatever’s every year is a wonder to me.  I putt with a n old ping but look forward to each years releases.  This years spider gt is actually pretty nice feeeling.   As most these days they seem a tad heavy to me but at least they’re not huge like the Eleven 2ball or Scotty x variation eleven or,,, dang name a new putter and Ill show you the scales I

[AmateurAmateur]

Until Taylormade comes out with at least one fully milled putter option, it is hard for me to take them seriously as a putter option. 30 billion spider iterations, not a single fully milled option. 

[Browns71213]

I  liked the older Spider design, but the last few iterations have been fugly! I know the guys get paid to highlight the newest products, but if you've got confidence in your flat stick it's hard to give it up. As mentioned above this latest generation of Spiders is ugly with design hints seemingly taken from the old Zebra putters. 

[zap311]

2 hours ago, Clyon8 said:

Until Taylormade comes out with at least one fully milled putter option, it is hard for me to take them seriously as a putter option. 30 billion spider iterations, not a single fully milled option. 

I believe their head of putter development (Bill Price) said TM are firm believers in inserts and the benefits of them for performance.
 

While I agree that a TM milled putter would be nice, that is pretty much what everyone else already offers (Scotty, Ping PLD, Toulon, etc). For TM to have differentiation in the putter market, it makes sense that they would continue with the PureRoll inserts. 

[rgk5]

Rather than fumbling around with only one brand/model go to a putter fitting with a completely open mind.  I did and ended up with a King Cobra Nova 40.  We upped the weights to 25 grams and installed a Garsen mid-size no taper grip.  The numbers from the Quintic syatem verfied it as the best over Evenroll, Scotty, T.Made and Bettinardi.

[getitdaily]

4 hours ago, Clyon8 said:

Until Taylormade comes out with at least one fully milled putter option, it is hard for me to take them seriously as a putter option. 30 billion spider iterations, not a single fully milled option. 

I'd say they're going to stick to what works...

 

https://Not allowed Per Todaysgolfer's UK request/features/equipment-features/2018/june/do-putter-face-grooves-actually-make-a-difference/

[NoTalentLefty]

5 hours ago, Browns71213 said:

I  liked the older Spider design, but the last few iterations have been fugly! I know the guys get paid to highlight the newest products, but if you've got confidence in your flat stick it's hard to give it up. As mentioned above this latest generation of Spiders is ugly with design hints seemingly taken from the old Zebra putters. 

I love that look . Both of them.

[WildGoose8]

Like the custom MyTP offer but they don't list stock weight and you can't specify your preferred weight. Big let down... Also the aftermarket weight kits are hard to find and you also need te tool separately. Just very poorly thought out imo... Would buy 100% if they at least listed the stock weight. Reached out to them on mail and IG and did not get a response...

[Jack Pearsall]

People like to pick on TM. 

And they have deserved some derision.

But they are somewhat innovative, even if the can't seem to adhere paint to putters. 

They make a lot of terrific stuff....

 

[Hoyoymac]

Just came back from a golf trip to Ireland and Scotland.  4 of the 8 guys’ clubs never arrived.

 

The first day we had Taylormade rental clubs.  2021 model year clubs.  The putter was one of the newer versions that kind of looks like a modified #7 fang style.  
 

The putter was so bad that one of the guys quit using it and putted with a bellied sand wedge instead.

 

I putted terribly with it also.

 

 

[Wardonation]

KIA line will do it for me...

[Carson33]

On 6/3/2022 at 2:15 PM, 03trdblack said:

Get rid of the new insert first, it doesn't feel all that great to me. 

That is what I would have said. The new insert looks and feels awful.

[LoopySwing13]

5 hours ago, Wardonation said:

KIA line will do it for me...

Yeah the black milled Kia line was solid, especially if you can get a hold of the tour only triple milled (Rosa bird on toe). 
 

I actually got DJs back up of that model (Kia Ma Daytona) but foolishly sold it. Best feeling TM putter ever.

Edited July 10, 2022 by LoopySwing13

[SUITS]

They made a classic looking line a short time ago and they very nice looking. That silver TP series looked the part but I don’t think they make an insert that the masses get along with. I think I see lots of the black DJ style spiders still in rotation with the silver face. 

[MattUtah]

I think they just need to do a new updated Spider shape that is more like the old ones. All these spider spin-offs and attempts to replace it haven’t done them any favors. I get that they probably felt like everyone owned a spider so they had to do something new, but I bet an updated Spider OG type putter would be very popular. 
 

I still think the Spider Tour (not the X) was the best balanced and forgiving mallet they’ve done.  X looked better but wasn’t nearly as stable or easy to align. 

[mogc60]

I think their groove technology is very good and they roll the ball well but I find their putters very light feeling and would be much more interested if they had steel inserts as opposed to the polymer. That feel I can never get used to. I used a monza for quite some time and those had metal faces. 

[tarrantian]

On 6/3/2022 at 2:50 PM, MattM97 said:

 

They pump out like 8 new models and a new line every year, how can their guys get comfortable with a putter if they keep getting new ones shoved into their hands. Every other brand/company just lets their guys use the putter they like and are comfortable with. Morikawa is the one guy who does tinker a bit and is putting a Spider GT into play this weekend but he may be back to his Juno putter in a few weeks. 

 

You were almost bang on with the few weeks comment...

[tarrantian]

Mostly productive comments here from those that have actually tried the products...

 

It is absolutely ridiculous to say their products are not on par w/the competitive offerrings from the other OEM's from a tech and quality perspective (Currently - I really believe the paint issue is behind them and has been for a few years now so get over it, oh and use a headcover FFS)...

 

I absolutely agree with the every year thing, I get as a business it may be profitable to churn out models/lines so fast, but to become more respectable they should have a dedicated pro line that are very high end, completely customizable (Agree this can't be a half @ssed thing, they came so close with 'MyTP') and have a semblance of consistency year to year.

 

This would attract the staffers more, and those of us who fancy them or to be them (LOL). I wonder how much pressure they apply to Rory for example, who seems to really be finding his putting groove w/his Spider X Hydroblast (See DJ has finally transitioned from his old Spider, albeit for who knows how long to the new Spider GT).

 

Once again, good comments however and I have to say that apart from the aesthetics of a 'milled' face, inserts provide more flexibility and can evolve more from a tech perspective in my opinion much more, but that is subjective for sure.

 

Cheers,

 

 - Ian 

[chisag]

On 6/3/2022 at 11:45 AM, von3jack said:

 

It just seems that TaylorMade more than any other company is always trying to push the latest model on their guys. 

 

 

... One of the myths for any OEM. While all of them are certainly happy when a player uses their newest models, the only thing that matters is the player being comfortable and winning. They can always put out ads that say "Collin Morikawa wins with TaylorMade putter" and then have a picture of their latest putter on the ad. Of course they don't say what putter (club) the player used, just that it is a TaylorMade. Talking to the Titleist VP in charge of Tour Players he confirmed the last thing they want is a player moving into a club they are not as comfortable playing compared to what they are using and then saying so when asked about poor results. He went on to say they always ask them to demo any new clubs that are similar to what they are playing but never put any pressure on them to change.