Details on prototype Spider putter Rory McIlroy is using

Rory McIlroy put a new TaylorMade Spider prototype in play at the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions. The new Spider putter looked to have a copper body with a thick white line down the center of the crown, and black weights in the back on the wings.

At the 2019 Desert Classic, I caught up with TaylorMade’s Director of Global Tours Chris Trott to learn more. As it turns out, the Spider Tour putter may hit retail sometime in the future.

Learn more below from Trott about the prototype putter that McIlroy is using.

Trott on the design and possible retail release …

“So, Tour wise, there’s two different inserts. And the way you tell the difference is – one is the 8020 and there’s no paintfill, and the black paintfill would be the Surlyn, which is what (Jason) Day, (Jon) Rahm are using. This one is what DJ is using which is 8020. And then again, on TOUR we have multiple sightlines that you wouldn’t see at retail. We will see which one works out -- super popular -- and we may bring it to retail, that’s kind of how we do that."

"Other than that, different hosel options. You’ve seen the plumbers neck … the single-bend … the short slant. We’ve got one we’re going to call a number six, which is a mid-flow, it’s not ready yet. And we’ve got a center-shafted, which is here this week.”

On TOUR feedback …

“So we did a full testing with Rahm in The Kingdom. We potentially could go through the same thing again with other players as the year goes on, especially as we go near Torrey, that’s not a rare thing to happen. So far, everyone has liked the color. Everyone has liked this channel, this optical engineered channel that helps with the strike. Those are the positives. In terms of the negatives, there hasn’t actually been a lot so far. Usually, we’re used to hearing some negative complaints about the wings being too big. We haven’t heard any of that with this one yet. So beyond that, that’s the feedback we’ve had. It’s more like a mallet. More like a traditional mallet. I think the Spider Tour is quite big, so unless you’re fully buying into a huge stability putter… this one has the technology of the stability, but more like a mallet. And that’s what we’re going for, and that’s what guys are saying."

What about those weights?

“They are (weights in the back). I just changed ones here, (the player who’s testing it has) gone up (in weight). I’ve taken them from 3’s (3 grams) up to 9’s. They are (interchangeable) on TOUR. I’m not sure about retail … like I said earlier, we’re waiting on an aluminum (face) insert. So some of the head weights are a bit heavy. So this is the first time in the two weeks I’ve been working with it that we’ve gone up (in weight)."

On the KBS shaft …

“Lotta hype about this too … guys are liking this (points to shaft). The KBS shaft … they’ve done this stepless shaft, and a lot of guys are asking me online about this and a lot of players are like ‘Oh wow.’ It’s a KB(S) shaft. The KB(S) C-Taper as you know is a very stout, boardy shaft. This is a more stable golf shaft. I think the fact that KBS have put CT Tour on it, puts it in the C family. And it’s drawn attention. Obviously it’s a beautiful shaft sticker that goes with this, but it stands out being black. And I think the color, as well, and the paint finish on it. People are like, ‘OK is that graphite? What is that high-stability shaft?” The weight is slightly increased, but when you put the head weight on it… it’s quite stout.

"So far (all of the guys are using this shaft). Like Rory has got it in, he’s in this (shaft).”

On putter companies paying attention to putter shafts …

“We’ve not gone down the route of changing much at this point into the tip section. But we have partnered up with KB(S) to make this individually designed putter (shaft) to go with the head weights on this. Like I said the feedback and the feel… some of those other putter shafts in my opinion, the pitch goes up quite a bit when you strike the ball, and the feel is too boardy. I think, when I hit this, it’s still responsive. Now that could be a combination of the thicker insert, like I’ve said. I’ve only hit -- in defense of the other stuff – hit with a firmer insert. These inserts are new and designed for this one too.”